To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what research is currently funded by her Department into myalgic encephalomyelitis; and what research has been completed by her Department into myalgic encephalomyelitis since 1979;(2) what attempts she has made to ensure that all GPs are aware of the research and diagnostic criteria developed to ensure the proper health care for sufferers of myalgic encephalomyelitis;(3) what representations she has received from the Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Association in regard to counselling and support offered by the national health service to myalgic encephalomyelitis sufferers;(4) what information she has on the occurrence of myalgic encephalomyelitis in teenagers.

Information on the occurrence of myalgic encephalomyelitis in teenagers is not available centrally.The Department has received correspondence on various aspects of ME from the Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Association, its members and supporters. Ministers and officials have had meetings with representatives of the association and other ME voluntary bodies.The main agency through which the Government support biomedical and clinical research in the United Kingdom is the Medical Research Council, which receives its grant-in-aid from the office of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. The MRC is currently funding a study at the Institute of Psychiatry. The MRC is always willing to receive and consider soundly based research proposals in competition with other applications. The Department also keeps in touch with research being funded by bodies such as the Linbury Trust.Medical practitioners keep in touch with developments in diagnosis, health care and treatment through professional journals, post graduate education, attending scientific seminars and the activities and publications of the medical royal colleges. The Department is supporting a task force, including representatives from the ME voluntary bodies, the Royal College of General Practitioners and experts involved in research and patient management. The task force will be considering matters such as the publication of guidance on ME which will be of help to medical practitioners.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the oral statement by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Bolton, West (Mr. Sackville), on 24 March, Official Report, column 1208, if she will indicate the evidence underlying the statement that in April 1991 the baseline cost of general practitioner fund holders' prescribing of medicines was 10 per cent. less than that of non-fund holders' prescribing.

The Prescription Pricing Authority data show that in April 1991 the cost of non-fund holders' prescribing was £3·88 per person and that of fund holders was £3·49 per person.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what international co-operative projects exist in the field of schizophrenia research;(2) what research is being undertaken by or being financed by her Department into the causes of and possible cures for schizophrenia; what projects exist for rehabilitation and training of people suffering from schizophrenia; what crisis centres with 24-hour support her Department finances; what planned allowances of beds in hospitals is made for those with recurring mental illness; and if she will make a statement.

The Department is not involved in international projects or financing research. The main agency through which the Government support biomedical and clinical research is the Medical Research Council, which receives its grant-in-aid from the office of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.Health authorities, working with local authorities and the independent sector, should provide a comprehensive range of local services for mentally ill people, including in-patient beds and crisis intervention accommodation. The provision of rehabilitation and training for the long-term mentally ill is also part of the comprehensive district service. The level of provision is a matter for local management to determine, taking into account local priorities and available resources.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what studies the National Radiological Protection Board is undertaking of the effects of telecommunications equipment.

The National Radiological Protection Board advises Government on risks to human health from non-ionising electromagnetic radiation, including emissions from telecommunications equipment. The board's advice is that the radio frequency energy emitted by telecommunications equipment does not constitute a cancer hazard on the basis of available research evidence. The research work of the NRPB's non-ionising department encompasses biological research, programmes of physical measurements and theoretical dosimetry and health hazard assessment. The Department of Trade and Industry, together with the Science and Engineering Research Council and a number of industrial participants, are funding a research study of the physical interaction of electromagnetic fields and the human head. The results from this and other studies will enable a better assessment of the extent to which emissions comply with recommended restrictions on human exposures.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many doctors by hospital district health authority and region were working more than an average of 83 hours per week at 1 April.

We expect to receive reports from regional task forces shortly showing the number of junior hospital doctors and dentists in England who were contracted for more than a maximum average of 83 hours per week at 1 April.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the latest annual number of recorded cot deaths; what the figure was in 1988; and what further research is planned into cot deaths.

[holding answer 2 April 1993]: The latest annual numbers of recorded cot deaths for 1988 and for 1991 are shown in the table.Research into cot deaths is commissioned through the national health service research and development programme. The Department, together with the Anne Diamond Cot Death Appeal, is currently funding research into cot deaths in Avon. Funding for another proposal is under consideration. Work in this area commissioned by the Department of Health complements research by other agencies, including the Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths and the Medical Research Council, which receives its grant-in-aid from the office of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. Since 1979 the MRC has spent just over £4·2 million on research into sudden infant death, respiratory distress syndrome and related projects.The confidential inquiry into stillbirths and deaths in infancy, which is a long-term strategic initiative, also includes in-depth inquiries into cot death, in selected regions, in its current programme.

Cot deaths1 in England and Wales, 1988 and 1991
	1988	1991
Under one year of age	1,467	935
One year and over	32	39
1 In this table cot deaths refer to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS, ICD 9th revision 798·0) where the death certificate identified SIDS as either being (i) a main cause of death (deaths under 28 days of age) or (ii) the underlying cause of death (28 days and over).

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the annual cost of monitoring the religious affiliation of the employees of the General Consumer Council for Northern Ireland.

The annual cost is negligible.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the Northern Ireland social fund discretionary budget will be for 1993–94.

I am glad to be able to announce that the social fund discretionary budget for 1993–94 will be £28·5 million. This is an increase of £3·5 million over the original amount allocated to districts for 1992–93. Details of the allocations are being placed in the Library of both Houses together with a note explaining their basis.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made in establishing the child support agency for Northern Ireland.

I am pleased to announce that the Child Support Agency for Northern Ireland was established as an executive agency of the Department of Health and Social Services on 5 April 1993. The Child Support (NI) Order 1991 gives effect in Northern Ireland to a new system for the provision of child support. Under this system, the agency will have responsibility for the assessment, collection and enforcement of child support maintenance payment in Northern Ireland.I am certain that the new arrangements will be a significant improvement on the present system, which is fragmented, discretionary and, consequently, inconsistent in setting levels of maintenance. The agency has a crucial part to play in the efficient implementation and effective functioning of these new arrangements. I have delegated full managerial authority for the agency's day-to-day operations to its chief executive. The policy and resources framework of the agency is set out in the framework document, copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House.In addition, I have set challenging targets for the agency in its first year of operation. These are to achieve the following:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what legislative protection there is for residents of Broadmoor hospital who are disturbed by intrusive noise and nuisance; and what plans he has to enforce the protection contained in section 68 of the Control of Pollution Act 1974 in respect of Broadmoor hospital.

Local authorities may take action requiring the abatement of noise emitted from premises, including land, under part III of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Any complaints about noise at Broadmoor hospital should therefore be addressed to the local authority in the first instance. Section 68 of the Control of Pollution Act 1974 enables my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment to make regulations to control noise from plant or machinery. My right hon. and learned Friend has not made any regulations under the provisions of section 68 of the Control of Pollution Act.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he is taking to ensure that water companies follow the recommendations of his Department's letter of advice dated 5 October 1990, concerning action to be taken to prevent the grazing of grass-covered surface reservoirs by livestock.

The drinking water inspectorate has made detailed checks on the progress that water companies have made in preventing livestock from grazing on grass-covered service reservoirs. Most service reservoirs with previously unrestricted access to livestock have now been fenced. A few companies have encountered difficulties in obtaining permission to fence reservoirs located in national parks and other areas where restrictions apply. In these cases the inspectorate is encouraging companies to investigate less obtrusive fencing and other means that might be acceptable to the relevant authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much housing investment programme grant each London borough applied for; and how much they were awarded for the financial year 1993–94 and for each year since 1980–81.

Information on housing investment programme bids, HIP allocations and housing capital expenditure since 1980–81 for each of the London borough councils and the City of London has been prepared and the tables deposited in the House of Commons Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to reduce the level of pollutants in London's air listed in his Department's report "Urban Air Quality in the United Kingdom."

The Government have taken action to reduce urban air pollution on a number of fronts. The implementation of European Community directives on vehicle emissions will substantially reduce the level of pollution from road transport. The national plan for implementation of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe protocol on volatile organic compounds is designed to ensure that the levels of pollution from solvents in paints, ink and glues and from evaporation of liquid fuels will fall. Other measures which will act to reduce urban air pollution include the implementation of European legislation on emissions from large boilers and on fuel composition.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects his Department to publish research it has undertaken on the effect of road building on the inner-city economy.

My Department commissioned a literature review on the impact of transport investment upon the inner city from Dr. Margaret Grieco of the transport studies unit, Oxford university. The review offered mixed views on the effects of roadbuilding in inner cities. The contractor has been invited to publish the work under licence from HMSO.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the number of first-time buyers who have entered the housing market as a result of the measures announced in the autumn statement.

The housing market package, announced in the autumn statement, included £50 million for additional grants under the cash incentive scheme and tenants incentive scheme. These have enabled 3,300 tenants of local authorities and housing associations to buy homes of their own on the private market, freeing their previous homes for families in housing need.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the incinerators of which he is aware in Germany that are suitable to dispose of the toxic waste which he has requested his German counterpart not to allow to be exported to the United Kingdom for incineration by ReChem.

This information is not available. I am aware that Germany does have high temperature incinerators which are capable of disposing of this toxic waste.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many homes have been provided each year under the housing associations managing agents scheme; and how much central Government grant has been involved.

The housing associations as managing agents scheme was set up to encourage private owners to rent out their property. HAMA has been running with five pilot housing associations operating in Oxford and the south-east since 1992.During the first year of the scheme, up to 31 March 1993, 308 homes were brought into management. An additional 515 homes have been provided by one of the pilot housing associations which found leasing arrangements, as opposed to management agreements, more attractive to private landlords operating in their area. During 1992–93 a total of £300,000 was made available to run the HAMA pilot scheme.On 6 January, I was pleased to announce that HAMA will be extended to provide national coverage with another 22 housing associations managing schemes. These housing associations will be working with 140 local authorities throughout England. A further £1·25 million has been allocated to these associations which will allow for two staff plus running costs during 1993–94.I now hope to see 5,000 private sector homes brought into management and used to house families in need within the next year or so; this will take us a long way towards the target of 10,000 homes under HAMA by 1996.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will issue guidance clarifying the extent to which housing associations assisted with public funds apply the provisions of the public procurement directive.

The relevant provisions apply to contracting authorities carrying out civil engineering works or building works for hospitals, facilities intended for sports, recreation and ledisure, school and university buildings or buildings for administrative purposes. I would therefore not expect housing activities which housing associations carry out with public subsidy to be affected.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many times the task force on Government Departments' empty houses has met; and if he will make a statement.

The task force on Government Departments' empty houses has met twice since it was established on 8 December 1992. It has made good progress on the work necessary to deliver its remit of helping to bring empty Government residential properties back into housing use. The third meeting of the task force is due to take place on 28 April.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the impact of ending the local tax exemption of residential homes run by charities.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Local Government and Inner Cities to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe (Mr. Morris) on 31 March, Official Report, columns 290–91.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many consents have been given to housing authorities under section 27 of the Housing Act 1985.

Since the provisions of section 27 of the Housing Act 1985, as amended by section 10 of the Housing and Planning Act 1986, came into force, the Secretary of State has given 116 consents to management agreements entered into under these powers.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information is held by OFWAT as to the percentage of domestic houses that have a water meter installed, region by region, at the most recent date for which information is available and the same date 12 months perviously.

The information is not available by region. Information for each water company for 1991–92 is shown in the table. For similar information for 1992–93, I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Northfield (Mr. Burden) on 2 April, Official Report, column 521.

Water Company	Metered Supply Households	Proportion Percentage
	(000)
Anglian Water Services Ltd	30	2·1
Bournemouth and West Hampshire Water Company	4	2·5
Bristol Water plc	10	2·5
Cambridge Water Company	3	3·0
Chester Waterworks Company	1	2·3
Cholderton and District Water Company Ltd	<1	1·5
Dwr Cymru Cyfyngedig	29	2·8
East Surrey Water plc	2	1·6
East Worcester Water plc1	13	14·7
Essex Water plc	6	1·1
Folkestone and Dover Water Services Ltd	1	1·6
Hartlepools Water Company	<1	0·1
Mid Kent Water plc	3	1·5
Mid Southern Water plc	8	3·2
North East Water plc	3	0·6
North Surrey Water Ltd	7	4·0
North West Water Ltd	29	1·1
Northumbrian Water Ltd	1	0·2
Portsmouth Water plc	< 1	0·1
Severn Trent Water Ltd	94	3·6
South East Water Ltd	7	3·0
South Staffordshire Water plc	9	1·9
South West Water Services Ltd	19	3·4
Southern Water Services Ltd	84	9·9
Suffolk Water plc	3	3·1
Sutton District Water plc	<1	0·3
Tendring Hundred Water Services Ltd	2	3·5
Thames Water Utilities Ltd	72	2·5
Three Valleys Water Services plc	16	1·8
Wessex Water Services Ltd	16	3·9
Wrexham and East Denbighshire Water Company	2	3·6
York Waterworks plc	<1	0·1
Yorkshire Water Services Ltd	29	1·7
England and Wales	503	2·6
1> For 1992–93, figures for East Worcester Water plc have been included with those for Severn Trent Water Ltd.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has for the future of the Advisory Council for Business and the Environment.

The Advisory Committee on Business and the Environment was established in May 1991 for a two-year term. The Government are currently considering the future of the committee.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to require water companies to make open to the public any investigative report of a major fault in the water supply which has put water supplies to the public at risk.

The Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 1989 require water undertakers to notify the relevant local authority and district health authority of any event which by reason of its effect or likely effect on the water supplied by it gives rise to, or is likely to give rise to, a significant risk to health, and to supply such information relating to the event and its consequences as the authorities may reasonably require.Directions given under section 202 of the Water Industry Act 1991 require water undertakers to report such events to the Secretary of State. The conclusions of consequent investigations by the drinking water inspectorate are made available to the relevant local authorities and district health, and to any other concerned parties who have expressed an interest.I have no plans for further legislation.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is the current number of homeless families in each London borough; and what is the current number of homeless people in bed and breakfast accommodation in each London borough;(2) what is the current total number of homeless people in London; and if he will list the figures by borough.

Information on the number of households for which local authorities in England accept responsibility to secure permanent accommodation under the homelessness provisions of the Housing Act 1985 is reported in part E of the quarterly P1 return.Details of the numbers of homeless households are published quarterly in a DOE Information Bulletin—"Households found accommodation under the homeless-ness provisions of the 1985 Housing Act 1985: England". Tables 1(a) and 4(a) of the latest bulletin, which gives statistics for the fourth quarter 1992, contain figures on total homeless households and households temporarily accommodated in bed-and-breakfast hotels in London. Details of figures reported by individual local authorities in London can be found in the suplementary table to the bulletin. Copies of both are in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his Department's current estimate of the number of people sleeping rough within the Greater London area.

My Department does not make estimates of the numbers of persons sleeping rough. The 1991 census recorded the numbers of persons found sleeping rough at pre-identified sites in Greater London on census night, 21–22 April 1991; the total number recorded was 1,197.A count conducted in November 1992 by voluntary organisations that work with homeless people found 419 homeless people sleeping rough in central London; this compares with a figure of over 1,000 prior to the introduction of the Department's rough sleepers initiative in 1990.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the number of new local authority and housing association housing starts for the last three years for which figures are available; and what is his Department's estimate of the number of new housing starts for each of the next 10 years in each London borough.

Estimates are shown in the table for the total number of housing association and local authority housebuilding starts in England during the last three years. Housing associations are now the main providers of additional social sector housing.

	Number of dwellings
Year	Housing associations	Local authorities
1990	14,400	6,500
1991	15,700	3,000
1992	27,400	1,400

Estimates of housebuilding starts for each London borough are published in "Local Housing Statistics". Issue No. 103 contains annual figures up to 1991; issue No. 104 contains estimates for the first nine months of 1992. Copies of these publications are in the Library.The Department does not prepare forecasts of housebuilding activity.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what advice and guidelines on environmental protection, Iand and wildlife conservation his Department has given to London-wide bodies; and how often he updates the advice.

Advice and guidance is issued, and revised as required, nationally and sent to London-wide bodies where appropriate to their statutory functions.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to reply to the first report of Session 1992–93 from the House of Commons Environment Committee on forestry and the environment.

[holding answer 2 April 1993]: The Government expect to respond within two months.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those local authorities which are assuming less than a 98 per cent. success rate in levying council tax for the year 1993–94.

[holding answer 14 April 1993]: There are 228 authorities which have assumed a collection rate of less than 98 per cent. I have arranged for the available information to be placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average weekly rent for rented accommodation in London, the south-east, the midlands and the private sector which has been let in the last 12 months.

[holding answer 14 April 1993]: On the basis of data from the 1991 family expenditure survey it is estimated that the average weekly rent in 1991 for all households in rented accommodation that they had moved into in the previous 12 months was £47. The average for those households renting in the private sector, excluding housing association properties, was £65. The sample on which these figures are based is relatively small and the estimates are, therefore, subject to quite large sampling error. The sample size of the FES is too small to provide satisfactory estimates for individual regions.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures he has to improve the unemployment situation in the construction industry on Merseyside; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 14 April 1993]: My Department has a substantial programme of capital spending on Merseyside which will create new opportunities for employment in the construction sector. In housing almost £100 million will be provided in 1993–94 through the estate action and housing investment programmes, while the Housing Corporation will support about £95 million of housing association expenditure. The Liverpool housing action trust will be spending over £100 million over the next seven to 10 years on improvements to tower blocks. The three Merseyside city challenges currently anticipate the creation of over 200,000 person weeks of construction employment, and further opportunities will be created by the ongoing programme of Merseyside development corporation.In addition, the Liverpool city action team is working with a wide range of agencies and organisations to improve access to construction employment opportunities for local residents.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list by local authority the number of archaeologists currently in post; and what the corresponding figure was 10 years ago.

I have been asked to reply.This information is not held centrally. However, English Heritage estimates that approximately 300 archaeologists are employed by county councils and about 30 by district councils. It is estimated that in 1980 approximately 50 archaeologists were employed by local authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the benefits to British business of the global technology partnership conference in Birmingham, 23 to 25 March.

I have been asked to reply.The United Kingdom's global technology partnership conference aimed to encourage greater technology co-operation between businesses in the United Kingdom and those in the more industrialised developing countries. Representatives of British business had the opportunity to establish contact with key business men and women from over 40 different developing countries, to learn of their local needs and difficulties and to offer solutions. The conference also discussed sources of help and funding available to United Kingdom and developing country businesses to assist technology co-operation. It generated much interest overseas and created opportunities for business follow-up. This should be facilitated through the three year follow-on initiative.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many companies from(a) Wales,(b) England,(c)Northern Ireland,(d) Scotland,(e) other nations of the European Community and(f)other nations outside the European Community were represented at the global technology partnership conference in Birmingham, from 23 to 25 March; what revenues were raised from the participation of these companies; and what benefits accrued from their attendance.

I have been asked to reply.Representatives of companies from all areas of the United Kingdom were invited to the United Kingdom's global technology partnership conference. In addition, key individuals from businesses in 44 developing countries were invited.There were 189 participants from the United Kingdom, including speaker/participants. Most were present for the three days of the conference, although a number exercised the option to attend for one day only. There were three participants from Wales, 178 from England, one from Northern Ireland and seven from Scotland. A total of 106 key business men and women attended from non-EC countries overseas. In addition, there were four speakers from EC member states.Revenue raised from these delegates was approximately £26,000 with further sums raised through industrial sponsorship.There are both potential commercial and environmental benefits for all businesses involved. United Kingdom participants were able to learn first hand of the environmental problems faced by businesses in developing countries and to discuss the solutions available in the United Kingdom. The conference also discussed sources of help and funding available to United Kingdom and developing country businesses to assist technology co-operation.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the weekly cost to BNFL of the thermal oxide reprocessing plant remaining idle.

I have been asked to reply.British Nuclear Fuels plc has said that it assesses the reduction in profit arising from the delay in the THORP project at about £2 million a week.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the fees charged by each of the local authorities in the United Kingdom for licences to operate premises offering special treatments such as electrolysis or massage for which a licence is required by law.

I have been asked to reply.The information requested is not collected centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the health effects of radioactive discharges from (a) Amersham International plc in Cardiff and (b) the atomic weapons establishment at Llanishen.

Discharges of radioactive wastes may only be made in accordance with the terms and conditions of authorisations under the Radioactive Substances Act 1960.Authorisation is dependent upon the operators demonstrating that discharges will be below levels set by the Government to ensure that the public is not exposed to any significant radiological risk. Regular monitoring by the regulatory authorities has consistently shown that the discharges are made within such levels.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he has taken to increase radiation protection measures for members of the public in Wales following the details of radioactive contamination in the Principality included under each of tables 4.01 to 4.06 and 4.08 to 4.35 of the Environmental Digest for Wales 1992.

The environmental monitoring exercises detailed in the digest form part of a routine monitoring programme which provides an additional check that members of the public are not being exposed to unsafe radiation levels. The data show that radioactivity levels from artificial sources are generally very small and declining, are in total substantially less than the levels resulting from natural sources and present no significant risk to public health. It is not therefore necessary to take steps to increase radiation protection measures for members of the public in Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to the answer of 24 March by the Secretary of State for the Environment to the hon. Member for Halesowen and Stourbridge (Mr. Hawksley), Official Report, column 633–34 on the creation of registers of potentially contaminated land under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, how he will update table 1.48 on potentially contaminated sites by district in the Environmental Digest for Wales 1992.

The information in table 1.48 of the Environmental Digest for Wales 1992 is based on a survey of potentially contaminated land undertaken in 1988 on behalf of the Welsh Office. The survey information continues to provide a helpful guide to local authorities in undertaking their statutory duty to identify and tackle sites which pose a public health or environmental hazard; and the need to update it will be kept under review.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much and on what basis general practitioners are paid per head in Wales.

The independent Doctors and Dentists Review Body has responsibility for making recommendations to Government on the level of remuneration it considers appropriate for doctors and dentists in the national health service in Great Britain. Specifically, it is responsible for:

(i) the provision to be made for estimated practice expenses for the average GP;

(ii) intended average net income per GP;

(iii) the application of a balancing correction where appropriate;

(iv) a scale of fees and allowances designed to deliver the sum of (i), (ii) and (iii) (intended average gross income) to the average GP.

Following the decision that it would not be appropriate for the review body to make recommendations for 1993–94, announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health on 3 December 1992, and in line with the announcement by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his autumn statement that public sector pay settlements for 1993–94 will be restricted to no more than 1·5 per cent., the intended average net income for general medical practitioners in England and Wales from 1 April 1993 is £40,610.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he has taken to consult on the future funding arrangements and powers for local authorities to provide welfare services to council tenants in Wales.

The Welsh Office issued a consultation paper to local authorities, their associations and other interested bodies on 5 April. I have placed copies in the Library of the House.The paper sets out proposals for the longer-term funding and provision of welfare services for tenants of local housing authorities. It proposes that housing authorities should retain powers to provide these services, which are being considered as part of the Housing and Urban Development Bill, until after local government re-organisation. The paper also sets out options for the exclusion of welfare services from the housing revenue account and the possible timing of such changes.My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment is consulting separately on these matters in England.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what is the maximum financial assistance that can be claimed for overnight subsistence by unemployed people under the travel-to-interview scheme; and if she will make a statement;(2) what are the maximum travelling expenses that can be claimed by unemployed people who are given assistance under the travel-to-interview scheme when they travel by

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 when she expects to receive the annual report of the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has received the ACAS report for 1992, which will be laid before both Houses of Parliament on Tuesday 20 April. The report is also to be published on that day and copies will then be available from the Vote Office.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consideration he has given to making direct payments from frozen Iraqi Government accounts to Iraqi students and their host academic institutions in the United Kingdom for fees and support.

We have always considered applications to debit Iraqi accounts for living and educational expenses of residents of Iraq in the United Kingdom. Reasonable amounts are normally permitted. However, the permission of the account holder must also be obtained before accounts can be debited.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many certificates have been signed under the terms of section 27 of the Data Protection Act 1984 for each year since 1987.

I am aware of none so far as the Treasury is concerned.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the current practice on the effect of the receipt of grant income to Government research institutions from EC research programmes on the available resources of those institutions; and what arrangements are made for research institutions which are "next steps" agencies.

Payments from EC research programmes are available in full to add to the resources of Government research institutions. The precise level of resources available to a Government research institution is a matter for decision by the departments which are responsible for them. This is so whether or not the research institutions are "next steps" agencies.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what income the Government derived from EC research framework programme grants placed in Government research institutions and agencies in each year since 1990–91.

The bulk of EC research framework programme grants coming to the United Kingdom are paid directly to the private sector, including universities. Details of receipts to the private sector are not held centrally. Expenditure in relation to contracts with Government departments, agencies and research councils, which count as public sector receipts, was as follows:

Year	£ million
1990–91	5·0
1991–92	9·5
11992–93	8·6
1 estimated outturn

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to his answers of 29 March to the hon. Member for Wallsend (Mr. Byers), Official Report, columns 66–75, if he will list the payments made and the average payment per student under the assisted places scheme to (a) Dame Allans Boys, (b) Dame Allans Girls, (c) Central Newcastle High, (d) Kings, Tynemouth, (e) La Sagesse Convent School, (f) Newcastle upon Tyne Church High and (g) the Royal Grammar, Newcastle.

The information requested is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received regarding the security implications for the Korean peninsula and south-east Asia of North Korea's announcement of its intended withdrawal from the non-proliferation treaty.

There is widespread concern about the North Korean announcement of its intention to withdraw. We are working actively with other concerned Governments to encourage North Korea to retract its announcement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the representatives of the civil community which the British high commissioner met during his visit to Jaffna on 18 February; and what issues were discussed at these meetings.

The high commissioner did not meet representatives of the civil community during his visit to Jaffna on 18 February.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to ensure the maximum economic independence of the Falkland Islands from the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

Apart from the costs of defence, the Falkland Islands are economically independent of the United Kingdom.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many certificates have been signed under the terms of section 27 of the Data Protection Act 1984 since June 1992.

I am aware of none so far as the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is concerned.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress made with the German Government concerning the claims for compensation by Channel Island detainees deported to German internment camps during world war II; if he will make it his policy to raise also the position of merchant seamen from elsewhere in the United Kingdom who were similarly detained; and if he will make a statement.

Representatives of the British and German Governments have, since German unification, been discussing the settlement of our claim in respect of the Channel Islanders illegally deported by the German occupation authorities. We have raised this with the Germans on many occasions and at many levels, including that of Foreign Secretary.The German Government have told us definitively that they are not prepared to give the Channel Islanders any form of compensation or settlement. We are disappointed by the decision, but I regret that we see no realistic prospect that their claims can be met.Merchant seamen detained by the Germans during the second world war fall into an entirely different category. Their detention was proper according to the rules of war. There is no question of claiming compensation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to ensure that, either through the United Nations Secretary-General or unilaterally, monitors are sent into northern Iraq under resolution 688, to verify the human rights situation throughout the country.

We have consistently supported the proposal, put forward by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Iraq in his report of February 1992, for the positioning of human rights monitors throughout Iraq. With our European Community partners we co-sponsored the resolution passed at the Commission on Human Rights on 10 March 1993 which called on the Secretary General to take the necessary measures to send human rights monitors to Iraq. We will continue to do all we can to support him in carrying out this mandate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps British diplomatic staff in the United States are taking to inform the people there, and in particular the incoming Congressmen, of the true situation in Northern Ireland and of the activities of members of the IRA.

Our diplomatic staff in the United States, in close conjunction with the Northern Ireland Office and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, make every effort to ensure that key opinion-formers in the United States, including Congressmen, are aware of the true situation in Northern Ireland. Our information activities there include written and oral briefings, interviews and speeches by British officials, and visits to Northern Ireland by selected American opinion-formers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent communications Her Majesty's Government have had with the People's Republic of China on (a) nuclear testing and (b) nuclear non-proliferation.

We have recently had discussions with Chinese authorities about the announcement by North Korea of her intention to withdraw from the non-proliferation treaty. We have had no recent bilateral communications with the Chinese on nuclear testing, but both subjects are discussed regularly in United Nations and other multilateral forums.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his recent visit to the Republic of Korea.

My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary paid a successful visit to the Republic of Korea last week. He had full and useful exchanges with, among others, the President, the Foreign Minister, and the Defence Minister. As well as bilateral matters, their discussions covered regional and international issues including North Korea, market access, trade, technology co-operation, investment and the European Community. This was a very good opportunity to establish contact with the new South Korean Administration. My right hon. Friend also met and had useful discussions with representatives of the British business community.

To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Rhondda (Mr. Rogers) of 18 March, Official Report, column 357, if he will list the appropriate authorities to whom evidence on unlawful shipments of arms to South Africa should be submitted.

Her Majesty's Customs and Excise.

Domestic tourists in the United Kingdom/Great Britain Percentage figures for type of location stayed at on all holidays trips are shown below:
Type of location stayed at	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990	1991
	per cent.	per cent.	per cent.	per cent.	per cent.	per cent.	per cent.
Seaside	34	35	31	36	—	40	40
Small town	18	17	17	18	—	17	18
Large town	12	14	14	14	—	18	18
London	7	7	8	6	6	5	5
Countryside	26	25	27	22	—	23	23
Unspecified	6	6	5	7	—	*	*

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 15 April.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 15 April.

This morning I presided at a meeting of the Cabinet and had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in this House I shall be having further meetings later today.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many applications were made for bail to (a) the Crown court, (b) the High Court and (c) the Court of Appeal, during the last two years for which figures are available by persons whose application for bail had been refused by a lower court.

This information is not collected.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many certificates have been signed under the terms of section 27 of the Data Protection Act 1984 since April 1982.

My Department was formed in April 1992 and I assume that the question relates to the period since then. No certificates have been issued so far as the Department of National Heritage is concerned.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what percentage of holidays were undertaken by British domestic tourists in the United Kingdom in each year since 1985 (a) at the seaside, (b) in a small town, (c) in a large town, (d) in London, (e) in the countryside and (f) other.

The available information is contained in the following table:

To ask the Secretary of State for National heritage if he will list the membership of the heritage advisory agencies; what were the dates of appointment and terms of office for each individual; and what qualification was required for appointment.

I have two bodies to advise me on issues relating to the built heritage: the Historic Buildings and

Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission (English Heritage)
Commissioners	Appointed	End of appointment
Jocelyn Stevens CVO (Chairman)	11 September 1991	31 March 1997
Terry Farrell OBE	16 July 1990	15 July 1993
Sir David Wilson	16 July 1990	15 July 1993
Sir Hugh Cubitt CBE	11 January 1989	31 December 1994
Candida Lycett-Green	9 March 1992	8 March 1995
Roger Suddards CBE	9 March 1992	8 March 1995
Geoffrey Wilson	9 March 1992	8 March 1995
HRH The Duke of Gloucester	21 October 1983	30 September 1995
Dr. Ronald Brunskill OBE	11 October 1989	30 September 1995
Dr. Neil Cossons OBE	1 1 October 1989	30 September 1995
Lord Cavendish of Furness	1 October 1992	30 September 1995
Bridget Cherry	1 October 1992	30 September 1995
Julian Seymour	1 October 1992	30 September 1995
Jennie Page	15 April 1991	14 April 1996

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many people applied and signed for the information memorandum for the sale of National Transcommunications Ltd.

Fifty copies of the confidential information memorandum were sent out.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many competitive bids were (a) considered and (b) investigated for National Transcommunications Ltd.

Three indicative bids were shortlisted; two continued preparation for bidding up until the final deadline.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how much National Transcommunications Ltd. was sold for on privatisation; and how much it was valued at before sale.

£70 million. This was towards the top end of the indicative valuation of the company. The National Audit Office report, published on 27 November 1992, concluded that the price was satisfactory.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will list the planned summary allocation of Arts Council spending for 1993–94 by regional arts board areas and on a per capita basis.

[holding answer 14 April 1993]: The figures requested are as shown in the table. It includes all Arts Council spending regionally:

Regional arts board area	Arts Council and RAB spending1 1993–94	Population2	Per capita
	(£000)	(000)	(£)
London	372,254	6,794	10·63
Southern	4,778	4,548	1·05
South Eastern	3,196	3,945	0·81
South West	5,377	3,779	1·42
Eastern	7,125	5,708	1·25
East Midlands	4,701	3,342	1·41
West Midlands	415,361	5,219	2·94
Yorkshire and Humberside	10,256	4,952	2·07
North West	11,202	6,474	1·73
Northern	6,361	3,075	2·07
1 Includes grants to national companies. Does not include touring, for which no regional breakdown is available.
2 Based on OPCS figures, 1990.
3 Includes estimate of £3·332 million for support for the Royal Shakespeare Company's London activity.
4 Includes estimate of £5·138 million for support for the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what weight is given to population and to cultural deprivation in the assessment of Arts Council allocations to regional arts boards.

[holding answer 14 April 1993]: In assessing allocation to RABs, the Arts Council takes population and cultural deprivation into account along with a range of other factors, one of which is the level of direct funding by the council to organisations within the RAB area.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when his Department intends to provide guidance on the interpretation of the phrase "severe traffic congestion" in section 7 of the Transport Act 1985.

My Department intends to issue guidance to traffic commissioners on their use of traffic regulation conditions under section 7 of the Transport Act 1985 as soon as possible after a decision has been reached on the current appeal to the Secretary of State about the use of these powers in Sheffield. Interpretation of the phrase "severe traffic congestion" is a matter for the traffic commissioner in the light of prevailing traffic conditions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has on the ages of the current fleet of full-sized buses in London; what provision for investment has been made for the future for buses; and what was the level of past investment in each of the last 10 years.

The current average age of full-sized buses in the LBL fleet is 13·1 years. Bus investment expenditure is given in the table:

£ million
Year	Investment expenditure 1993–94 prices
1983	52·5
11984–85	31·7
1985–86	20·9
1986–87	13·1
1987–88	3·7
1988–89	8·5
1989–90	15·2
1990–91	15·7
1991–92	24·9
1992–93	26·0
1 1984–85 was a 15-month year.

I understand that LBL plans to invest £12 million on new buses in 1993–94, which will be the last full year before the completion of privatisation of the LBL subsidiaries.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research his Department is (a) carrying out and (b) commissioning into the sustainability of transport policy.

The Department has established a group to monitor longer term and transport research. Projects are currently under way or have recently been completed in the following areas:

• —demand management and forecasting;
• —network modelling;
• —transport and the environment;
• —transport safety.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what have been the environmental achievements of the designated Green Minister in his Department during the past year.

Speed limiters for new heavy goods vehicles were introduced on 1 August 1992. Certain existing vehicles over 16 tonnes will be required to have speed limiters from 1 August this year. These measures will improve fuel consumption and reduce emissions.Since 31 December 1992 most new cars have required catalytic converters to meet tighter EC emission standards. The United Kingdom Government continues to press for even tighter emissions and noise standards for vehicles and to discuss with other member states and the Commission measures to improve the fuel efficiency of new cars.In 1992–93 some £4 million was allocated for bus priority measures, which will encourage the use of buses. A further £15·5 million has been allocated for 1993–94.At the beginning of March the Department published "The Good Roads Guide". The guide is aimed at professionals involved in the design of trunk roads. It is essentially a checklist and source book covering many of the issues that have to be tackled in designing roads to make them as environmentally satisfactory as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what overall strategy for London his Department has undertaken to improve and increase pedestrian routes;(2) what overall strategy for London his Department has undertaken to co-operate in the improvement and proliferation of pedestrian routes;(3) what overall strategy for London his Department has undertaken with the Metropolitan police to advise or co-operate with London boroughs on the upgrading, improvement and proliferation of pedestrian routes in the interests of safety.

Local authority circular 5/92 (copy in the House of Commons Library) states the Department's policies with respect to facilities for pedestrians in London. The main responsibility for pedestrian routes rests with the London boroughs. Borough schemes that enhance pedestrian safety may be eligible for transport supplementary grant as a local safety scheme. Additionally, the traffic director for London will fund the development and introduction of pedestrian facilities which he approves as part of the priority (red) route local plan process.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will list the names of the companies shortlisted in the tender for the privatisation of the Drivers, Vehicles and Operators Information Technology Agency.

Companies interested in purchasing DVOIT have put forward their responses to the advertisement in the EC Official Journal, and to subsequent requests for information, in confidence, and it would not be right for me to list them.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the Hackney M11 link plan.

The scheme will provide a strategic link between the A102(M) east cross route at Hackney Wick and the junction of the M11, the Al2 and the A406 North Circular road at the Redbridge roundabout east of Wanstead. It will comprise about 3·75 miles of continuous, dual-carriageway trunk road.It will relieve existing unsuitable roads of strategic traffic. Stratford, Leyton, Leytonstone and Wanstead will all benefit when the heavy through traffic is removed from residential and shopping streets.Following the recent successful defence of a challenge to the scheme in the High Court, tenders have been reinvited. We aim to start work in Wanstead in the autumn. The whole scheme will take about four years to complete.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many additional aircraft movements he estimates as a result of the construction of a fifth terminal at Heathrow.

My Department does not produce forecasts for aircraft movements. The number of aircraft movements at Heathrow and its relation to terminal capacity may well be a matter for debate at the public inquiry into a fifth terminal.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his Department's estimate of the number of passengers transferring to the new rail link from Paddington to Heathrow from (a) private cars, (b) tube and (c) road public transport.

I understand that the Heathrow link is expected to carry about 6 million passengers a year. The Department has not produced detailed estimates of transfer from each alternative mode.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many additional passenger journeys to and from Heathrow airport he estimates will result from the construction of a fifth terminal at Heathrow by (a) rail and (b) road; and what is his estimate of the numbers travelling by road by (a) public transport and (b) private cars.

The Department will be working on figures as part of its examination of the British Airports Authority's proposals for a fifth terminal.Some estimates of this kind have been prepared by BAA and are contained in the environmental statement issued in connection with its planning application for a fifth terminal. I am putting a copy in the House Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations his Department has had from outside bodies calling for a single strategic authority to oversee transport, land use and environment in London; and if he will list them.

We have received a number of representations suggesting that some sort of agency is required to oversee transport, planning and related issues.These have included the former National Economic Development Council in its "Amber Alert" report and the CBI's London region in the interim report of its transport task force.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many additional aircraft movements he estimates at Gatwick, Luton, Stansted, Heathrow and London City on a year on year basis until 2010.

My Department does not produce forecasts for aircraft movements in the format requested. However, the RUCATSE working group on runway capacity to serve the south east will be considering assumptions about aircraft movements. Its report will be published later this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received about the future of the British Transport police following (a) publication of the consultative document, "The Future Status of the British Transport Police" and (b) 2 February; and if he will make a statement.

Some 50 responses to the consultation document have been received, two of them since 2 February. In addition, I have met representatives of the British Transport Police Federation. Many of the comments we received emphasised the desirability of the force remaining under public sector control, and the importance of standards of law and order being maintained. The consultation period has now closed and we will publish our conclusions shortly.I have already announced that it is the Government's intention to ensure that the British Transport police will remain in the public sector as a single unified force. There is no intention to split "L" division from the rest of the force, so policing of the London Underground will continue largely as at present. We propose, through licensing, to make it compulsory for operators to use BTP for law and order purposes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what moves he is considering to create a framework to maximise private sector investment in the railway network; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced in the autumn statement on 12 November 1992, Official Report, column 996, the Government's support for joint ventures between the public and the private sector for the construction of infrastructure, along with a £150 million special leasing arrangement for BR in respect of new rolling stock. My right hon. Friend has since announced in the Budget on 16 March 1993, Official Report, column 194, the Government's commitment to joint ventures for the channel tunnel rail link, crossrail and Heathrow express.These new measures are set in the overall context of the Government's proposals to privatise and liberalise the railway, which will encourage the development of an efficient and modern industry responsive to customer requirements, and thus encourage private sector investment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what positive representations he has received from the private sector to build new railways following publication of the Railways Bill; and if he will make a statement.

The Department has received a number of representations from private sector parties interested in the financing and construction of new railways; the details are commercially confidential.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what specific criteria he has established for companies seeking grants under section 8 of the Railways Act 1974; and if he will make a statement.

Applications for freight facilities grants under section 8 of the Railways Act 1974 have to meet both environmental and financial criteria. Applicants have to demonstrate that the provision of rail facilities will result in the traffic in question being moved by rail, rather than over unsuitable roads, and that the proposed facilities could not be justified commercially without assistance.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many representations he has received following his proposal to sell the British Rail freight business; and if he will make a statement.

The Department has received a number of expressions of interest in the Government's plans for privatising and liberalising rail freight.Discussions with interested parties have been on a commercially confidential basis.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received about the future of the Railway Heritage Trust; and if he will make a statement.

I met Mr. Leslie Stone, a director of the Railway Heritage Trust, on 11 February to discuss future funding for the trust. I expect discussions to take place between the Railway Heritage Trust and those concerned in British Rail with the formation of Railtrack to cover future funding of the trust.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to ensure the future operation of Britain's steam railways following publication of the Railways Bill; and if he will make a statement.

The Railways Bill contains powers for the Secretary of State to exempt railways individually or by class from the requirements for licensing, franchising and open access it imposes. The Government will grant appropriate exemptions to preserved railways, and will consult interested parties on the form of exemption.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received about the future of the present range of reduced fares and railcards since publication of the Railways Bill; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has received a number of representations about these matters.After privatisation, the offer of railcards and discounted ticketing arrangements will be a matter for operators' judgment, as it is now for BR. Through tickets will continue to be available in a range of ticket and fare types, but it will be for operators to determine their price by negotiation. In a competitive environment there will be every incentive for operators to seek to attract custom and maximise revenue by offering discounted tickets.The Government therefore see no need to impose specific requirements on operators to offer particular types of discount facility, with the exception of the disabled persons railcard which is provided voluntarily by British Rail and does not make a profit. We have announced our intention that all passenger rail franchisees should be obliged to offer common discount facilities to disabled people on broadly similar lines to the present arrangements.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received following the publication of "Railway Pensions after Privatisation"; and if he will make a statement.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer that I gave on 1 April to the hon. Member for Cunninghame, North (Mr. Wilson), Official Report, column 362.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals his Department has for (a) new additional motorway service areas and (b) lighting additional sections of unlit motorways; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 1 April 1993]: Under a new policy announced on 6 August 1992, it is now for the private sector rather than the Government to identify where there is a need for further motorway service areas and to secure their development. There are, however, sites on the M6, M11, M20, M25 and M40 (two) where planning clearance for motorway service area use was granted to the Department before the new policy was announced. We are continuing to pursue development of these sites jointly with the private sector.Motorway lighting is provided, subject to environmental appraisal, where it can be justified on safety grounds, taking account of the savings in night-time accidents. When motorways are widened to four lanes it is general policy to install lighting. Over the period to 1996 I expect lighting to be installed on more than 90 miles of motorway.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when his Department and the Lord Advocate's office 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.

My Department conducted a voluntary survey of the ethnic origins of staff in 1987 with a follow-up, reminder exercise in 1989 and thereafter all new entrants have been invited to complete questionnaires.Following the 1987 survey, the employment of persons from ethnic minorities is also constantly monitored by the Lord Advocate's Department.Neither Department has any plans to conduct additional surveys of ethnic origins.In both Departments surveys of women employees are unnecessary as the sex of all employees is clearly identified in staff records.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he has taken to recruit women, members of ethnic minorities and disabled people, respectively, in top grades of employment at the Scottish Office and at the Lord Advocate's Department.

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 higher education institutions;
• equal opportunities training for those involved in selection;
• using validated selection procedures.