To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in educating the public and health professionals about the importance of folic acid in the diets of women of child-bearing age to reduce the risk of their children being born with spina bifida.

Guidance has been issued to all doctors, senior nursing staff, midwives and health visitors and pharmacists as well as key professional organisations. Copies of the guidance will be placed in the Library.

	NW	NE	SE	SW	SH As
	Thames	Thames	Thames	Thames
Neurosciences	18·2	36·3	20·9	19·0	28·8
Cardiac	11·1	16·1	27·1	14·4	35·4
Renal	17·2	31·5	28·8	16·1	8·4
Cancer	21·4	24·0	20·7	7·9	12·9
Plastics and Burns	8·9	7·4	7·8	2·	0·9
Children	78·1	87·3	91·5	69·3	44·5

The future number of consultants will depend upon the pattern of provision of these services in the Thames regions which will be determined by a number of factors, including the strategic intentions of purchasers, the findings of the specialty reviews and those of the research reviews of the special health authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 8 June, Official Report, column 238, if she will list the infectious diseases associated with poor water supply and sewage disposal and the incidence of those diseases in each of the last five years.

There are many diseases which can be associated with poor water supply and sewerage disposal, few of which are commonly found in this country.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the total cost of general practitioner fund holding in 1991–92 to all parts of the national health service.

Number of NHS sight tests paid for, analysed by regional health authority
Thousands
Regional health authority	1984–85	1985–86	1986–87	1987–88	1988–89	1989–901	1990–911	1991–92	1992–93
Northern	592·1	600·0	627·6	698·0	740·4	336·8	275·6	314·7	—
Yorkshire	722·7	730·4	752·3	843·2	906·1	403·5	311·6	368·2	—
Trent	912·6	950·0	980·9	1,095·3	1,166·7	515·0	406·8	483·6	—
East Anglia	380·6	408·8	422·0	468·7	493·1	191·5	159·9	194·3	—
North West Thames	828·7	853·4	862·3	943·7	1,016·6	384·4	290·2	354·3	—

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) specialty beds and (b) specialists there were at the latest available date in each London region for (i) neurosciences, (ii) cardiac, (iii) renal, (iv) cancer, (v) plastics and burns and (vi) children; and what are the forecast numbers in each of those categories for each of the next five years.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave her on 24 June at columns 248–49. The whole-time equivalent number of consultants employed by each of the Thames regional health authorities and the special health authorities, by specialty, as at 30 September 1991, is shown in the table.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave her on 26 March at column 751.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what assumptions she is proceeding in her review of London hospitals about the number of beds and specialists needed per head of population in each specialty.

It is for local providers working with purchasers to maximise bed usage and to determine the number of consultants and the specialities they represent in order to meet their contractual commitments.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many national health service eye examinations have been undertaken since 1985 in each regional health authority and in England.

The number of national health service sight tests paid for by family health services authorities in each financial year is shown in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will order a public inquiry into the circumstances which led to the death of Jonathan Zito and its implications for community care policies.

The two regional health authorities concerned, South and North East Thames, are jointly holding an inquiry into the events which led to the death of Jonathan Zito. Any further action is dependent upon the report of the inquiry.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the future of the rules governing free dental treatment.

Sir Kenneth Bloomfield's review of the remuneration of general dental practitioners set out a number of options for changing the way in which we deliver general dental services. We have consulted widely on his report and shall announce our proposals in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many abortions have now been performed in total under the terms of the Abortion Act 1967 in the whole of the United Kingdom; and how many and what percentage of those abortions were performed in emergency to save the life of the mother.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave her on 5 May at column 44 for the total number of legal abortions and the number and percentage of those performed in emergency "to save the life of the pregnant woman", notified to the Chief Medical Officers of England and Wales under the terms of the Abortion Act 1967.Information relating to Scotland is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland. Northern Ireland is not covered by the Abortion Act 1967.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish details of the numbers of whole-time equivalent NHS nursing and midwifery staff employed on each grade and pay point of the clinical grades, educational grades and senior nursing and midwifery pay spine in (a) 1990, (b) 1991 and (c) 1992.

[holding answer 23 June 1993]: Figures for 1992 are not yet available. The information for 1990 and 1991 will be placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how long it is expected it will take to settle outstanding disputes over council tax banding valuations in the Chelmsford parliamentary constituency; and if he will make a statement.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Circencester and Tewkesbury (Mr. Clifton-Brown) by my hon. Friend the Minister for Local Government and Planning on 29 June 1993 at column 416.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are his proposals for a review of procurement and contracting arrangements in the construction industry; and if he will make a statement.

I have today chaired a meeting of representatives of the construction industry at which it was unanimously agreed to appoint Sir Machael Latham to undertake a review of procurement and contracting arrangements in the construction industry. We want less litigation and conflict and more productivity in the construction industry.Sir Michael will begin work later this month and complete the review within 12 months. An interim report will be produced by the end of the year. Sir Michael will be assisted by a number of specialist assessors who will channel the views of their respective organisations. Where appropriate, groups of client and contracting organisations will stand behind the assessors and provide representative opinion on key issues.The review will be jointly funded by the Department of the Environment, the Construction Industry Council, the Construction Industry Employers Council, the National Specialist Contractors Council and the Specialist Engineering Contractors Group. It will be closely supported by a number of other bodies, in particular the British Property Federation and the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply.The terms of reference of the review, which have been placed in the Library, require Sir Michael to consider the current procurement and contractual arrangements, and the roles and responsibilities of all participants in a contract. Sir Michael's objective will be to present recommendations to Government and other bodies about practical reforms to reduce conflict and litigation and to encourage productivity and competitiveness.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much the market-testing programme has cost his Department since November 1992.

The approximate cost of market testing since November 1992 is £430,000 including consultancies.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which railway organisations have responsibility for considering the benefits and costs of a rail tunnel under the Thames at Woolwich.

London Transport, with the London Dockland development corporation, and consulting British Rail, are conducting further studies of the costs and benefits of a rail tunnel at Woolwich. In addition Union Railways has invited comments on its proposals for a "Union Metro", which would incorporate a rail tunnel at Woolwich.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will consider a rail tunnel at Woolwich.

I shall certainly consider any well-founded investment proposal for a rail tunnel at Woolwich, and I look forward to seeing comments on the Union Metro proposal.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures British Rail will be introducing to improve the locking mechanisms on InterCity trains; and if he will make a statement.

British Rail is implementing the main recommendations of the "Slam Door" report issued by the Health and Safety Executive, which included the redesign and replacement of primary door locks.In addition InterCity has recently awarded a £17 million contract to ABB Transportation Ltd. to fit secondary door locks to the InterCity fleet of slam-door coaches.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent consideration he has given to the Jubilee line extension.

My right hon. Friend keeps in close touch with the negotiations on the private sector contribution to the funding of the extension.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which part of European Community law governs the submission of bids to run passenger service franchises by the boards of nationalised railways and their subsidiaries.

There is no Community legislation which directly deals with the role of nationalised industries in bidding for passenger rail franchises.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to publish the report by McKinsey on the future of British Rail Maintenance Ltd.

This is an internal BR report that was prepared in confidence for the British Railways Board. I will be making an announcement on the future of British Rail Maintenance Ltd. as soon as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many new passenger rail vehicles including locomotives, rolling stock and multiple units are scheduled for delivery to the British Railways Board during the financial years (a) 1993–94, (b) 1994–95 and (c) 1995–96.

In addition to the answer I gave the right hon. Member in the Official Report on 12 March at column 768, delivery of new leased rolling stock is planned for 1995 and 1996 using the £150 million facility announced in the autumn statement. The number of leased vehicles will depend on which of the supplier's bids currently being assessed by BR is successful. In addition BR may undertake fuller operating leases for, rail vehicles subject to recent guidance issued by HM Treasury.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what were the average hours worked per week by British Railways Board train drivers during the latest period for which figures are available.

During the week ending 26 June 1993, BRB train drivers, excluding those absent through sickness or other reason for all or part of the week, worked an average of 47·8 hours.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what were the average hours worked per week by British Railways Board signalmen during the latest period for which figures are available.

During the week ending 26 June 1993, BRB staff operating signals, excluding those absent through sickness or other reason for all or part of the week, worked an average of 50·8 hours.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many British Railways personnel are employed on the maintenance of locomotives and rolling stock.

On 26 June 1993, BRB had in its employment 17,146 personnel on the maintenance of locomotives and rolling stock.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his oral answer of 28 June, Official Report, column 643, if he will set a target date for the diminution of state aid to shipping companies in all European Community member states; and if he will make a statement.

It is not in our power to set a target date. This is primarily in the hands of the Commission. But we shall continue to take every opportunity within the Community to press for the early removal of state aids which distort competition among shipowners.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made with the establishment of local coastal search and rescue committees since his announcement of 9 March 1992; and if he will make a statement.

The chief coastguard has now reached agreement with the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) for England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, on the guidelines for the establishment of what will be called local search and rescue (SAR) committees. It is hoped that a similar agreement will soon be reached with the association for Scotland.The committees, jointly chaired by HM coastguard and police, will provide a consultative body to consider co-ordination problems on the shoreline, improved liaison between interested authorities, and to assess the availability, readiness, and effectiveness of rescue resources. Such requirements are already embodied within a memorandum of understanding between HM coastguard and the police.As far as practicable the jurisdiction of the committees will align with police force boundaries. Membership will comprise representatives of the emergency services, Royal National Lifeboat Institution—RNLI—Ministry of Defence helicopter bases, county and district council officials, harbour and port authorities, and recognised voluntary rescue services such as the Royal Life Saving Society—RLSS—and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents—RoSPA. Additional members may be co-opted from time to time as necessary.Local search and rescue committees will be independent of my Department's district marine safety committees but will liaise as necessary with them on matters of mutual interest and concern.A copy of the joint coastguard and police document, "Guidelines for the Establishment of Local Search and Rescue Committees" will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to make provisions for disabled passengers in the code of practice to be issued to the new railway operators; and if he will make a statement.

We have introduced an amendment to the Railways Bill, currently before the House of Lords, which will place a duty on the regulator to prepare and promote a code of practice for protecting the interests of disabled passengers, and to consult the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee—DPTAC—in preparing or revising the code. This will be a published code of practice available to all new railway operators.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the maximum age at which a pilot is permitted to fly an aircraft for a commercial flight in the United Kingdom.

Under schedule 8 of the Air Navigation Order 1989, the holder of an airline transport pilot's licence shall not at any time after he attains the age of 60 years, act as pilot in command or co-pilot of any aeroplane for the purpose of public transport, if the aeroplane's maximum total weight authorised exceeds 20,000 kg.For aeroplanes below that weight, the licence holder may continue to fly an aircraft after he attains the age of 60 years, up to a maximum of 65 years, if the aeroplane is fitted with dual controls and carries a second pilot who holds an appropriate licence entitling him to act as pilot in command or co-pilot of that aeroplane.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the age of the pilot who flew the aircraft which crashed on the M27 motorway on Wednesday 26 May.

I understand that the pilot is 63 years of age.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport to what extent he envisages that the recommendations of the Sheehy committee will apply to the British Transport police.

As my hon. Friend is aware the terms of reference of the Sheehy inquiry did not extend to non-Home Department forces, but we nevertheless await the Home Secretary's response with interest. In the meantime we will study the report carefully and consider its recommendations in the context of the British transport police. I look forward to a further meeting in due course with my hon. Friend and representatives of the British Transport Police Federation to discuss this matter.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to invite British Rail to bid for all franchises.

Under clause 22 of the Railways Bill, British Rail could not be a franchisee; under clause 23(3) the franchising director could not therefore invite it to tender.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 24 June, Official Report, column 259, if he will make available the report of Her Majesty's fire service inspectorate following its visits to the Palace of Westminster to monitor progress on the agreed programme of work over the past 10 years; and if he will list the specific points which have required the other visits to which he refers.

The record of visits to monitor progress on the programme of works leading to fire certification is not kept in the form of a report. The other visits have been numerous, usually to provide advice on a variety of fire safety matters such as the enclosure of stairways, fire doors, signs, and the appointment of in-house fire safety specialists. In both cases the information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers were disciplined by the Police Complaints Authority in 1992.

None. Responsibility for discipline lies with chief officers. The Police Complaints Authority may recommend that disciplinary charges are brought and did so in relation to 56 charges in 1992.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases were dealt with by the Police Complaints Authority in 1992.

Information on the different categories of cases dealt with by the Police Complaints Authority in 1992 is contained in chapter 10 of its annual report for 1992, available in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what criteria are followed by his Department in approving the transfer of a prison inmate from a closed prison establishment to an open prison establishment; and if he will make a statement;(2) how many prison inmates in prisons in England and Wales requested a transfer to a prison nearer their home during the last six months for which figures are available; and how many such requests were granted.

Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the director general of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether officers of the North Wales police force will be equipped with side-handled extendable batons for the purpose of testing their effectiveness; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to a question by the hon. Member for Cardiff, South and Penarth (Mr. Michael) on 21 June at column 2.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received about the delays in enforcing the law concerning criminal behaviour on housing estates.

As far as I can ascertain, no representations on this subject have been received recently. The deployment of resources to investigate crime is an operational matter and is therefore the responsibility of chief officers of police.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many copies of the Sheehy inquiry report will be distributed to branches of (a) the Police Federation and (b) the Police Superintendents Association.

The Sheehy inquiry secretariat supplied two copies of the report to the Police Federation and Police Superintendents Associations headquarters. In addition, the Home Office distributed 60 copies to the Police Superintendents Association.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consultations he has had since 28 April with bodies representing London borough councils concerning his proposals for policing in London as contained in Cm 2281.

My right hon. and learned Friend met with the Association of Metropolitan Authorities on 17 June and again on 28 June. Copies of my right hon. and learned Friend's statement of 28 June and that of his predecessor, announcing the Government's intentions, and copies of the White Paper were sent to the local authority associations, including the Association of London Authorities, the London Boroughs Association and the Outer London Districts Metropolitan Police Consultative Association.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers have been denied access to the United Kingdom's asylum procedures on third country grounds in the past 12 months and been subsequently removed from this country; and how many of these were subsequently returned by the third country to the United Kingdom.

In 1992, 441 port asylum applicants—excluding dependants—were removed from the United Kingdom following refusal of their application on the ground that they had arrived from a safe third country. Information on cases subsequently returned by the third country is not recorded.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps his Department is taking to evaluate the use of pepper sprays for police purposes.

We are assessing the information which is available about these products, in relation to their possible use by the police against dogs.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has reached a decision with regard to moving the United Kingdom to central European time; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply on 24 June to a question from the hon. Member for Cannock and Burntwood (Dr. Wright), columns 255–56).

To ask the Prime Minister what charges are made for the use of 10 Downing street for charitable or other fund-raising events; and what use is made of the catering and other facilities of 10 Downing street at such events.

Where charitable or other non-official events are held at No. 10 Downing street, the organisers are responsible for all catering and staff costs, as well as other miscellaneous direct costs. Organisers may use the kitchens or other facilities at No. 10 Downing street.

To ask the Prime Minister (1) what are the rules governing the use of No. 10 Downing street for non-official purposes;(2) if he will give details of the rules governing the use of 10 Downing street for the purposes of fund raising for political parties.

[holding answer 22 June 1993]: Ministers under this and previous administrations have been allowed—at their own or party expense—to host non-official or party receptions or functions in Downing street. All catering, staff and other direct expenses must be met by the organisers of the event. Appropriate arrangements are required for security clearance.

To ask the Prime Minister how many functions to raise money for political parties have been held at No. 10 Downing street since 1980.

[holding answer 22 June 1993]: Under this and previous Administrations, a variety of functions have been held at No. 10 Downing street where the costs have been met by political parties. The purpose of such functions is not a matter for the Government, but I can confirm that since November 1990, there have been no functions at 10 Downing street at which funds have been raised for political parties, or for which tickets have been sold for the benefit of political parties.

To ask the Prime Minister what charities benefited from functions organised in No. 10 Downing street in each year since 1984.

[holding answers 22 and. 23 June 1993]: Since November 1990, there have been a total of 25 receptions, dinners or other functions at No. 10 Downing street for charities or voluntary bodies. The organizations concerned have been:

• NSPCC
• Surrey County Cricket Club Youth Trust
• Lords Taverners
• MENCAP
• Age Concern
• EUREKA
• Wordsworth Trust
• Huntington's Disease Association
• Action Research
• Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Trust
• National Council of Hospice and Specialist Palliative
• Care Crossroads Care¹
• Animal Health Trust
• ORT
• Youth Clubs (UK) ChildLine
• Silver Trust
• Marie Curie Cancer Care
• Excalibur Scheme Motability
• Westminster Foundation for Democracy
• London Community Cricket Association
• International Spinal Research Trust
• Cambridge Arts Theatre Trust
• ¹ two functions

To ask the Prime Minister if he will give details of the functions attended by Mr. Asil Nadir in No. 10 Downing street since 1984.

To ask the Prime Minister how many times in the last 10 years Mr. Asil Nadir has attended functions in No. 10 Downing street.

[holding answer 22 June 1993]: I understand that Mr. Nadir attended six functions in No. 10 Downing street between 1984 and 1989. These were a dinner and a reception for the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children; a reception for the Harold MacMillan Trust; a lunch for the President of Turkey; and two lunches for industrialists.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will raise the issues of the extent of religious freedom in Vietnam, and the continued imprisonment of persons in that country for their faith, with the Prime Minister of Vietnam during his forthcoming visit.

I intend to raise our concerns about human rights in Vietnam with the Vietnamese Prime Minister, Mr. Vo Van Kiet, during his forthcoming visit to the United Kingdom.

To ask the Prime Minister if inscriptions on plaques which are unveiled in the course of visits by foreign Heads of State are viewed in advance by representatives of Her Majesty's Government.

We would agree in advance any inscriptions on plaques unveiled at official engagements. We would not expect to be consulted about private engagements.

To ask the Prime Minister if proposals by the person holding the position of President of the Irish Republic to visit the United Kingdom are communicated to Her Majesty's Government by the office of the President of the Irish Republic.

Proposals for visits to the United Kingdom by the President of the Irish Republic are communicated to Her Majesty's Government by the Government of the Irish Republic.

To ask the Prime Minister what information he receives from the office of the President of the Irish Republic on thanks received in respect of visits by the person holding the position of President of the Irish Republic.

None.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the private visits to Northern Ireland by foreign Heads of State in each of the last three years.

The information is as follows:

• 16 December 1990—President Robinson
• 4 February 1992—President Robinson
• 22 May 1992—President Robinson
• 6–7 September 1992—President Robinson
• 18–19 June 1993—President Robinson

To ask the Prime Minister what criteria are used to distinguish between private and official visits to the United Kingdom by foreign Heads of State.

Official visits are those undertaken at the invitation of the British Government.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the public engagements which have been fulfilled by Heads of State during private visits to Northern Ireland in each of the last three years.

The information is as follows:

16 December 1990

President Robinson attended the Installation of Archbishop Daly at Armagh and visited the Armagh Observatory.

4 February 1992

President Robinson met women's groups at the EOC Offices in Belfast; had lunch with the Law Society; met voluntary groups and cultural traditions groups in the Linenhall library; and attended a reception in Stormont castle.

22 May 1992

President Robinson, as part of "Impact 92" in Londonderry, lunched with Church leaders, visited Foyle day care centre, opened "The Craft Village", visited community groups, and attended a civic reception and pageant.

6–7 September 1992

President Robinson attended the "Beyond Hate Conference" in Londonderry; opened Belcoo enterprise unit; lunched with Enniskillen Rotary; and met community groups in Enniskillen library.

18–19 June 1993

President Robinson visited the Northern, Ireland Voluntary Trust, Down museum, and West Belfast community groups; attended the Solicitors' Association annual dinner; and visited Coalisland enterprise centre and Ballance house, Glenavy.

All the above visits were private. President Robinson attended each engagement at the invitation of the organisers.

To ask the Prime Minister which of the undertakings given by the Federal Yugoslav Government at the London conference on 26 and 27 August 1992 have been fulfilled; what assessment he has made of changes in their policy and actions towards the crisis in the former Yugoslavia; what changes he considers to be still required; and if he will make a statement.

The London conference established principles and a negotiating structure as the basis for a settlement of the problems of the former Yugoslavia and set out specific steps to secure an effective and durable cessation of hostilities. The Yugoslav authorities have failed to co-operate satisfactorily with the efforts of the international community to achieve peace in Bosnia and to resolve the problems of minorities in Croatia and Serbia. The international community is committed to the rigorous enforcement of United Nations sanctions against Serbia and Montenegro until the conditions for their lifting have been met.

To ask the Prime Minister when the question of sanctions against the Republic of Croatia was last considered by Her Majesty's Government; and what plans he has to raise this matter again with the international community in the future.

Policy towards Croatia is regularly reviewed in the light of Croatian Government cooperation with the efforts of the international community both to ensure a peaceful resolution of the problems in the Krajinas and to achieve a lasting and equitable peace in Bosnia. Croatia was put on notice by the 8 June meeting of EC Foreign Ministers that restrictive measures would be initiated against Croatia if the situation so requires.

To ask the Prime Minister to what extent the Croatian Government have complied with its obligations, as outlined in the London conference; and if he will make a statement.

The London conference established principles and a negotiating structure as the basis for a settlement of the problems of the former Yugoslavia and set out specific steps to secure an effective and durable cessation of hostilities. The Croatian Government are expected to do more to co-operate with efforts to achieve peace in Bosnia. Croatia was put on notice by the 8 June meeting of EC Foreign Ministers that restrictive measures would be initiated against Croatia if the situation so requires.

To ask the Prime Minister which of the undertakings made by the Serbian Government at the London conference on 26 and 27 August 1992 have been fulfilled; to what extent there have been changes in their policy and actions towards the crisis in the former Yugoslavia; if he will list the changes still required; and if he will make a statement.

The London conference established principles and a negotiating structure as the basis for a settlement of the problems of the former Yugoslavia and set out specific steps to secure an effective and durable cessation of hostilities. The Belgrade leadership has failed to co-operate satisfactorily with the efforts of the international community to achieve peace in Bosnia and to resolve the problems of minorities in Croatia and Serbia. The international community is committed to the rigorous enforcement of United Nations sanctions against Serbia and Montenegro until the conditions for their lifting have been met.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his recent meeting with the hon. Member for Liverpool, Riverside and the deputation representing the unemployed in Liverpool.

I met the hon. Member for Liverpool, Riverside with a number of other people from the area on 16 June. I will be writing to him shortly about points raised at the meeting.

To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 27 May, Official Report, column 663, what further information he has received about the detention in India of Mr. Shabir Shah and Mr. Yasin Malik; and if he will make a statement.

Our high commission in New Delhi is in regular touch with the Indian Ministries concerned, but have received no further information on the cases of Shabir Shah and Yasin Malik since receiving the aide memoire from the Indian Home Ministry which my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs forwarded to the hon. Gentleman under cover of his letter of 30 June.

Table showing the proportion of the potential schools budget (PSB) delegated to schools: 1990–94
(1) Local education authority (LEA)	(2) Proportion of potential schools budget included in schools' budget shares
	1993–94	1992–93		1991–92		1990–91
	Percentage	Percentage	Rank order number	Percentage	Rank order number	Percentage	Rank order number
All LEAs where LMS in operation before April 1992
1. Hertfordshire	91·1	87·1	16	86·2	18	n/a	—
2. Dudley	90·5	85·1	59	84·5	54	84·0	35
3. Solihull	90·1	85·8	34	85·6	28	85·3	18
4. Leicestershire	90·0	85·4	48	84·3	58	n/a	—
5. Wolverhampton	89·9	80·9	97	81·6	93	81·8	69
6. Brent	89·8	86·9	20	83·5	72	83·6	38

To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 8 June, Official Report, column 226, what further information he has received about court proceedings in Pakistan relating to Mr. Gazanfer Ali; and if he make a statement.

My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs wrote to the hon. Member for Bradford, West on 24 June with information on the two cases involving murder charges against Mr. Gazanfer Ali. Both cases have been further adjourned.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what were the class sizes in January in Lancashire in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

The average sizes of single teacher classes in maintained primary and secondary schools in Lancashire local education authority for the years 1983 to 1992 are given in the table.

Average sizes of classes taught by one teacher in maintained primary and secondary schools in Lancashire Local Education Authority1 1983–92 (Position as at January each year)
	Primary Schools	Secondary Schools
1983	26·4	20·9
1984	25·9	20·8
1985	26·5	21·1
1986	26·9	20·8
1987	27·0	20·3
1988	26·7	20·2
1989	27·2	20·0
1990	27·5	20·2
1991	27·7	20·7
1992	27·76	20·7
1Figures for 1990, 1991 and 1992 include self-governing schools.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will show, for each local education authority and for each year since 1989 for which information is available, the proportion of the potential schools budget delegated to schools, listing local education authorities by rank order of the proportion delegated in the most recent year for which information is available and showing the rank order in each year.

The information requested is as follows: