To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has to require the Law Society immediately to report known cases of dishonest practice by solictors to the police; and if he will make a statement.

The Law Society is an independent body, regulated by statute. Section 32(4) of the Solicitors Act 1974 gives the Law Society the power to report dishonest practice, where there is prima facie evidence of it, to the Director of Public Prosecutions and it is a matter for it to decide when it should do so.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has to give powers to county courts to obtain debtors' current addresses when the courts have made an order in favour of a creditor, and to pass that information on to creditors or their representatives.

There are currently no plans to give county courts powers to obtain debtors' current addresses when the courts have made an order in favour of a creditor.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary., Lord Chancellor's Department how much his Department spent on legal advice regarding the implications of the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 for the market-testing programme.

From April 1992 to May 1993 inclusive, the Lord Chancellor's Department has spent £1,850 on legal advice regarding the implications of the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 for the market-testing programme. All advice was provided in-house.

To ask the Attorney-General how many sexual abuse cases were referred to the Crown Prosecution Service in 1992–93; how many were not proceeded with (a) due to staleness and (b) in total; and how many cases where the Crown Prosecution Service was satisfied as to the sufficiency of the evidence were not proceeded with.

The information sought by the hon. Member is not centrally recorded, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much her Department spent on legal advice regarding the implications of the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 for the market-testing programme.

Since November 1991 the Department has spent no money on the provision of external legal advice regarding the implications of the TUPE Regulations 1981.Over the period November 1991 to June 1993 the matter has been looked at by the Department's own legal staff as part of their continuing duties.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations she has received regarding imported disease in live cattle; how many incidents of diseased live imported cattle have been found by her inspectors since I January; and if she will make a statement.

The Department has received a number of representations seeking reassurance that the single market will not increase the risk of disease entering the country through imported livestock. Since 1 January warble fly has been found in animals imported from Poland, Belgium and France, some of which were imported before that date. A case of enzootic bovine leucosis in an animal that may have been imported is also under investigation.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will list, by county, those forest areas in England currently available for sale to the private sector.

[holding answer 22 June 1993]: The areas of forest land in England currently being offered for sale by the Forestry Commission on the open market are as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what new proposals he has to combat homelessness.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to my reply to his question of 25 June 1993 at column 330.In addition, we have made available a further £86 million over the next three years—1993–94 to 1995–96, to continue our rough sleepers initiative in central London. A strategy document, inviting bids for funding, was issued on 16 June. Emphasis will continue to be on funding permanent accommodation in houses and flats. Resources will be targeted more tightly, to make the initiative more effective, and some of the resources will be focused on "zones", starting with the Strand. Copies of the strategy document are in the Library.The latest quarterly homelessness statistics show an encouraging downward trend in the number of households Northumberland accepted by local authorities as homeless: the number of acceptances during the first quarter of 1993 was 5 per cent. lower than in the same quarter last year. The number of households in bed-and-breakfast accommodation fell by 37 per cent.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many acres of green belt have been used for urban development in the last five years; and if he will make a statement on Government policy.

Information is not available centrally in the form requested, but individual local authorities may be able to provide information about green belt decisions in their areas. Government policy is set out in "Planning Policy Guidance note 2" published by HMSO in January 1988.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the asset value of the Property Service Agency.

The value at 31 March 1993 of PSA Services fixed assets, excluding land and buildings, is estimated as £8 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on progress made in achieving the target of responding to all correspondence from the European Commission within agreed time limits.

Since the beginning of the year, we have received nine formal letters from the Commission on environmental issues, requiring a reply within two months. So far we have had to send interim replies in only two cases, but we were able to follow both of them up with full responses shortly afterwards.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made by his Department in establishing a statistics user group.

There are well-established liaison groups covering local authority statistics. In addition, a consultative committee on construction industry statistics was set up last year. We are also considering how best to take user interests into account for statistics in other areas.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will conduct a survey of the savings which have been achieved by those local authorities which have switched to independent suppliers of gas.

I have no plans to conduct such a survey. Local authorities have a duty to their taxpayers to secure value for money in their finanical affairs, including in the procurement of goods and services. It is for each local authority to decide whether value for money could be achieved by switching to an independent gas supplier.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will use the 1991 census data in compiling SSAs for 1994: and what safeguards there will be for those local education authorities whose grant is thereby reduced.

It is our policy to use the most up-to-date information available within SSAs. For 1993–94 SSAs, population estimates based on the 1991 census were incorporated and it is intended to make use of the remaining information now available from the 1991 census for 1994–95 SSAs. We will need to consider the effect of this and the outcome of the wider review of SSAs now in progress, before finally deciding whether it will be necessary to mitigate these effects, and if so what means and to what extent.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to compensate those local education authorities which have lost revenue as a result of the use of the 1981 census data and not the 1991 census data in compiling the education SSAs for 1993–94.

None. The SSAs for 1993–94 were compiled using the best posible information available at the time. For 1994–95 it is the intention that the information now available from the 1991 census will be incorporated.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from local authorities on the adequacy of standard spending assessments mechanisms for the tasks now being demanded of them; what account he has taken of the specific criticisms levelled by the recent Audit Commission review; and what action he proposes to take to restore confidence in the revenue support methodology.

[holding answer 28 June 1993]: As part of the current review of standard spending assessments—SSAs—we have received representations from more than 140 local authorities on all aspects of the SSA system.We welcome what the Audit Commission report "Passing the Bucks" has to say about SSAs and will consider the commission's conclusions carefully as part of our current review. The commission's finding that the system of SSAs is a more sophisticated mechanism for equalising needs than any overseas system examined in their study and that it is an improvement on its predecessor in many respects, is particularly welcome.The current review of SSAs which is being carried out in consultation with local authority representatives shows our continuing commitment to improve the system of SSAs used to distribute revenue support grant wherever possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what arrangements have been made for dealing with proposals to alter council tax valuations.

The Valuation Office agency (VOA) had received some 525,000 proposals to alter valuation lists in England by 25 June, the great majority in the first month of the initial appeal period. The rate at which new proposals have been received, however, has subsequently fallen significantly. While the initial appeal period does not end until 30 November 1993, the final number is likely to be substantially below earlier estimates. The overwhelming majority of appeals should therefore be settled by the end of 1994, and a high proportion well before then.We expect the agency and valuation tribunals to have settled some 560,000 council tax banding appeals in England by 31 December 1994, just 13 months after the initial appeal period ends on 30 November 1993. Any remaining appeals will be decided as rapidly as possible in 1995.In keeping with citizens charter principles, the agency has set standards for service for handling appeals. On receipt of a proposal the Valuation Office agency's objective will be:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from local education authorities on the range of support funding now generated by the additional educational needs factor in the standard spending assessments methodology; and if he will make it his policy to look afresh at the validity of the small number of proxy indicators employed and the very heavy weighting then given to this AEN factor in determining overall assessments.

[holding answer 28 June 1993]: As part of the current review of standard spending assessments—SSAs—we have received representations from more than 140 local authorities, including 57 local education authorities, on all aspects of the SSA system.We made clear at the start of the review that we would take this opportunity to consider the range of social factors used within SSAs including the additional educational needs index and the weight placed upon them.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what survey his Department has carried out of banks' lending policies towards building and construction companies; and if he will make a statement;(2) what steps he is taking to ensure that the building and constuction industry is given sufficient financial support to enable it to expand; and if he will make a statement;(3) if he will meet representatives of the Chartered Institute of Building to discuss the institute's Bank Watch Campaign.

[holding answer 28 June 1993]: Banks' lending policies are a commercial matter for the banks themselves to determine; however, I am aware of the construction industry's concern, and of the Chartered Institute of Building's Bank Watch Campaign. I regularly meet representatives of the construction industry and would expect to discuss this and other issues with them at such meetings.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is her Department's policy on the purchase and use of (a) recycled paper, (b) low-energy light bulbs, (c) tropical hardwoods, (d) peat and (e) cars with catalytic converters.

The Department's aim in purchasing goods and services is to obtain the best possible value for money for the taxpayer. Where environmentally friendly products are available which fully meet our specifications and provide value for money then these are preferred. In respect of the specific products our policy is as follows:recycled paper—we are exploring with potential suppliers as part of a competitive tendering process, the feasibility of substantially increasing the use of environmentally friendly stationery supplies.low-energy light bulbs—a programme for changing all lighting on our departmental estate to low-energy tubes is well advanced; this also offers demonstrable long-term savings and an improved working environment.tropical hardwoods—are not purchased.peat—is not purchased.cars with catalytic converters—since January 1991 we have acquired only diesel vehicles or cars propelled by petrol and fitted with catalytic converters.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children were born either mentally or physically handicapped in each year since 1990.

The exact information requested is not available centrally. Such information as is available centrally for 1990 is given in the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys publication "Congenital malformation statistics" series MB3 no. 6; copies of which are available in the Library. Information for 1991 and 1992 is not yet available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of (a) viral hepatitis and (b) dysentery have been reported in each district health authority in each of the last five years.

Notifications of viral hepatitis and dysentery are not collected for district health authorities. Notifications are available for county districts and are published in the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys publication "Communicable disease statistics" series M B2; and are available in the Library. Information for 1992 has not yet been published.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the number of emergency admissions to (a) the Doncaster Royal and Montagu trust, (b) the Tickhill Road hospital in Doncaster and (c) to hospitals in the Trent regional health authority in 1991–92 and 1992–93.

The number of non-elective admissions in the general and acute specialties provided by national health service hospitals in Trent region and by Doncaster Royal infirmary and Montagu NHS trust and Doncaster Healthcare NHS trust—of which Tickhill Road hospital is a part—for 1991–92 and 1992–93 are shown in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many acute beds would be closed or created on current trends by the year 2001 based on (a) growth in patient activity of 1 per cent. per annum, (b) decline in length of hospital stay of 4 per cent. per annum and (c) an increase in day care surgery of 25 per cent.

All the information required to make the proposed calculation is set out in the "Statisical Bulletin" for 1991–92, a copy of which is available in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much her Department spent on legal advice regarding the implications of the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 for the market-testing programme.

All legal advice on these regulations has been provided by the Department's in-house solicitors office. It is not possible to identify separately the costs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will place in the Library a copy of each letter sent to the chairman of the Wessex regional health authority by the Secretary of State following each annual review meeting in the years from 1986 to 1989.

Copies of the letters will be placed in the Library. From 1989 annual reviews have been conducted by the chief executive of the national health service management executive with the regional general managers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 25 May, Official Report, columns 507–8, if the funding which her Department will provide for the multidisciplinary research centre will come wholly from her existing research and development budget.

Yes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list each research project her Department currently funds in the field of primary health care, with (a) the institution in which it is based, (b) the funds provided by her Department, (c) the numbers of staff involved and (d) the start and end date.

The Department's research and development division currently funds and manages the following primary health care related research projects:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 25 May, Official Report, columns 507–8, what will be the prime consideration in judging tenders for the multidisciplinary research centre.

The prime consideration will be the extent to which the universities concerned can provide high-quality, scientific, research-based information for the Department, in the key strategic field of primary care. Of particular importance will be intentions as to leadership, clarity of management arrangements and the commitment of the university to the centre, its funding and staff. Proposals will be expected to specify how collaboration with other funders is to be achieved. A copy of the statement of requirements for the centre for research and development in primary health care will be placed in the Library. This has been sent to all vice-chancellors, a wide range of researchers and all those inquiring.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 23 April, Official Report, column 233, if she will list for each of the 13 research units currently subject to peer review (a) the date of the site visit, (b) the end date of the unit's current contract and (c) the timetable for making decisions about the future of each unit.

Site visits to two of the units have already taken place. For the remaining 11 units, five site visits are taking place over the next four months. Dates for the final six site visits are to be arranged soon and are expected to be completed in March 1994.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the cost to public funds of (a) publication, (b) conferences, (c) staff and (d) press liaison costs in connection with the paper. "The Health of the Nation".

Total costs of publicity and communications in connection with "The Health of the Nation" Green and White Papers are shown in the table:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the assessed accuracy, expressed in percentage terms, of census figures relating to the size of the ethnic minority communities settled in the United Kingdom; and to what extent the census figures are believed to reflect the numbers of immigrants living illegally in the United Kingdom.

The 1991 census is estimated to have counted 98·1 per cent. of the resident population of Great Britain.No estimates are yet available of the coverage of particular ethnic groups in the census. Such estimates as are possible when the "Census Report for Great Britain on Ethnic Group and Country of Birth" is published in late summer will be included in that volume. A copy will be placed in the Library.The census validation survey for Great Britain, carried out soon after the census to help assess coverage and quality of census statistics, will provide some information on the accuracy of answers to the ethnic group question. Preliminary results on accuracy of answers will be published in an Office of Population Censuses and Surveys monitor in the autumn. A full report will be published in 1994.As the census contained no questions relating to nationality or immigration status, no information on these topics is available from the census.The 1991 census in Northern Ireland did not contain a question on ethnic group.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish details of the distribution of average gross weekly earnings per person for each of the NHS clinical nursing and midwifery grades, listing the percentages of each grade earning under (a) £140, (b) £150, (c) £160, (d) £170, (e) £180, (f) £190, (g) £200, (h) £210, (i) £220, (j) £230, (k) £240, (l) £250, (m) £275, (n) £300 and (o) those earning £300 and over in 1991 and 1992.

[holding answer 23 June 1993]: The information is in the tables.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will publish the terms of reference of the imminent consultancy study of HMSO.

I am arranging for a copy to be placed in the Library.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much his Department spent on legal advice regarding the implications of the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 for the market-testing programme.

All such legal advice to my Department—including its agencies, HMSO and COI—has come from the Treasury Solicitor's Department at an estimated cost to date of £16,500.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the maximum road freight movements which the existing road system can accommodate; and if he will set targets for reducing such movements.

My right hon. Friend has made no estimates of the maximum road freight movement that can be accommodated on the existing road system, which would depend on assumptions about vehicles used, other traffic and many other variables.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will consider setting targets for traffic flow reductions (a) within urban areas and (b) on inter-urban roads; and if he will make a statement;(2) if he will list the initiatives he is assessing to reduce traffic flows and the use of private vehicles; and if he will set targets for each initiative.

The Government set no targets for reducing traffic flows: it is for individuals and businesses to decide where and how to travel. Nevertheless, the Government do have a responsibility to ensure that, collectively, individual decisions do not have unacceptable consequences for the environment.Policies aimed at reducing congestion and the environmental impacts of traffic include:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what traffic growth forecasts have been made for (a) each region of England, (b) Wales and (c) Scotland, for (i) the period 1993 to 2000 and (ii) periods beyond 2000.

My right hon. Friend does not make forecasts for traffic growth for the regions of England. Forecasts are made for particular roads and areas as necessary when considering road schemes. The method used, which is described in the Department's "Traffic Appraisal Manual"—a copy of which is available in the Library—ensures that these scheme specific forecasts are consistent with the national road traffic forecasts. My right hon. Friend's responsibilities do not extend to Scotland and Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the route mileage, listing the actual sections, of British Rail track capable of operating to western European or Berne loading gauges; and what studies of the extension of such mileage are under consideration; and along which routes.

There are no railways cleared to such loading gauges in the United Kingdom at present. Although there are no plans to upgrade existing British Rail track to European gauges, it is proposed that the channel tunnel rail link—68 route miles—should be built to the UIC B+ loading gauge. The merits of upgrading certain freight routes to an intermediate gauge are being discussed by British Rail and other interested parties.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what proposals he has to improve driver training and testing; and if he will make a statement;(2) what proposals he has to introduce compulsory or voluntary motorway training as part of a programme to improve driving standards; and if he will make a statement;(3) when he will issue a consultation paper on issuing a probationery driving licence after taking the driving test.

My right hon. Friend is considering possible measures to reduce accidents involving new drivers and to improve their training and testing, and hopes to issue a consultation paper shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Department spent on legal advice regarding the implications of the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 for the market-testing programme.

Approximately £15,000 has been spent on external legal advice on the implications of the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations in the past year. Costs of in-house legal advice by activity is not separately recorded.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give details of his Department's programme of port inspection of ships, targeted on pollution control compliance; how many prosecutions the port inspection of ships has led to; and if he will give details of the offences which have been committed.

[holding answer 24 June 1993]: The United Kingdom has inspection programmes for both United Kingdom and foreign-registered ships which include the targeting of ships which may present a special hazard such as tankers. All ship types may be inspected for pollution control compliance as part of such an inspection. Port inspections have led to two successful prosecutions of ships in the last 12 months, both for deficiencies in safety equipment. However, detention has been found to be generally more effective than prosecution in securing early remedial action and can result in the ship owner incurring considerable financial penalties. Non-compliance with international safety and pollution prevention standards led to the detention in United Kingdom ports of 188 United Kingdom and foreign-registered ships during 1992.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give details of prosecutions that have taken place under the United Kingdom Merchant Shipping (Prevention of Pollution by Garbage) Orders since 1988; and if he will give details of the fines imposed and the policing that enforces the regulations.

[holding reply 24 June 1993]: Since the regulations entered into force, one prosecution has been instigated by my Department's marine pollution control unit. The vessel concerned was found guilty of the offence, fined £750 and ordered to pay £515 in costs. Further cases may have been brought by other authorities but records are not held centrally.My Department investigates reports of contravention of the regulations and recommends prosecution where it is considered there is adequate evidence.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if Her Majesty's inspector of constabulary met (a) the Atomic Energy Police Federation, (b) the British Transport Police Federation and (c) the Ministry of Defence Police Federation and the representative organisation of other ranks, without their management representatives being present on the occasion of his last inspection of the respective forces.

The British Transport police has its own inspector, separate from Her Majesty's inspector of constabulary. The Atomic Energy police force and the Ministry of Defence police are inspected by Her Majesty's inspector of constabulary by invitation. The conduct of the inspection is a matter for the HMI concerned.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether copies of reports of Her Majesty's inspector of constabulary are made available to the respective local police federation and representative organisations of other ranks.

Yes.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what powers Her Majesty's inspector of constabulary has with respect to (a) the Royal Parks constabulary and (b) the Northern Ireland Airport police.

Her Majesty's inspector of constabulary may inspect non-Home Office forces only by invitation.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to request Her Majesty's inspector of constabulary to meet local police federation and representatives of other ranks, without their management representatives being present, when he makes an inspection of a police force.

It is the existing policy and practice to do so.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what new methods his Department is proposing to deal more effectively into persistent juvenile offenders.

I refer my hon. Friend to the statement made by my right hon. and learned Friend, the Member for Rushcliffe (Mr. Clarke) on 2 March at columns 139–42, in which he announced the Government's intention to provide courts with a new sentence, provisionally entitled a secure training order, to assist them in dealing with persistent juvenile offenders aged 12 to 15. We will bring the necessary legislation before the House as soon as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress he has made in enabling young people who have committed serious offences and represent a danger to the community to be named at an early stage.

We are examining the current legislation closely to determine the extent of the present restrictions on publication in order to see what precise changes are necessary. We are determined to come forward with proposals as soon as possible with a view to introducing the necessary legislation in the next Session.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how often, over the most recent period for which figures are available, courts have hound over the parents of (a) children under 16 years who have committed criminal offences and (b) 16 and 17-year-olds who have committed criminal offences.

Information for 1991 is given in the table. Data for 1992 will not be available until the autumn.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the value of the assets seized from people convicted of drug offences in the United Kingdom in each of the last three years.

For information relating to England and Wales only, I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a question from the hon. Member for Cardiff, South and Penarth (Mr. Michael) on 27 May at column 722.Similar information is not readily available for Scotland and Northern Ireland.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of (a) men and (b) women waiting for entry clearance visas for entry into the United Kingdom at high commission offices in Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka as of 1 June.

The latest available information for posts in Pakistan and India relates to 31 March 1993 and is given in the table. No information is available centrally on the gender of applicants.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what specific help his Department is giving to assist action against theft and vandalism through the use of video cameras to assist in crime prevention in Portsmouth.

No specific assistance has been given to Portsmouth. But the Home Office crime prevention centre gives practical advice to all police forces on the use of closed circuit television as a crime prevention measure and the police research group has published an evaluation of the effectiveness of CCTV in car parks which has been sent to all police forces.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the Government's response to the third report of Session 1992–93 from the Home Affairs Committee on domestic violence (HC 245).

I refer the hon. Member to the Government's reply to this report which is being published today as Command Paper 2269. A copy has been placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Chinese nationals are now political refugees in the United Kingdom arising from the Tiananmen square demonstrations: and if he will make a statement.

The available information is that in the period 4 June 1989 to 31 December 1992 a total of 115 Chinese nationals—excluding dependants—who had applied for asylum in the United Kingdom were recognised as refugees and granted asylum here. In addition, 95 Chinese nationals—excluding dependants—who had applied for asylum were not recognised as refugees but were granted exceptional leave. At 31 December 1992, about 600 applications for asylum by Chinese nationals—excluding dependants—were awaiting a decision.Also, as at end January 1993, an estimated 900 Chinese nationals—excluding dependants—had been allowed to remain in the United Kingdom on an exceptional basis without applying for asylum, under the arrangements announced in June 1989 for those in the United Kingdom on 4 June 1989 and who were unwilling to return to China for the time being.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much his Department spent on legal advice regarding the implications of the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 for the market-testing programme.

Since November 1991 all legal advice regarding the implications of the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1988 for the Home Office market-testing programme has been obtained from Home Office legal advisers. It is not possible to isolate the cost of this advice.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many copies of the Sheehy report he proposes to supply free of charge to the Superintendents Association of England and Wales, on publication of the report.

Sixty.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many dependants have been admitted for settlement in each of the past 25 years from (a) Africa, (b) the Indian sub-continent, (c) the rest of Asia, (d) the Caribbean and (f) the rest of the world.

Information on the total numbers of spouses and dependants for settlement in the United Kingdom in the years of 1974 to 1992 is given in table 14 of Home Office Command Paper "Control of Immigration: Statistics United Kingdom 1984", table 9 of "Control of Immigration: Statistics United Kingdom 1991" and table 3 of Home Office statistical bulletin issue 14/93 "Control of Immigration Statistics-Third and Fourth Quarters and Year 1992". Copies of these publications are in the Library.A breakdown by the nationality regions requested of acceptances of spouses and children in the years 1981 to

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements he has made to allow applicants for British national (overseas) status in Hong Kong to continue to hold a British dependent territories citizen passport when they are registered as British national (overseas) status.

We have agreed with the Hong Kong Government that the following arrangements will come into effect on 1 July:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many cases of(a)viral hepatitis and(b)dysentery have been reported in each regional health authority in each of the last five years.

The information is as follows: