To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the annual official development assistance by calendar year, through the joint funding scheme for NGOs, from its inception to the latest year for which data are available.

Annual official development assistance through the joint funding scheme is collated by financial year. The following table illustrates funding provided to NGOs, from the first full year of its operation:

To ask the Secretray of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he will take to ensure that the aid programme to Colombia meets the declared objectives of British aid and, in particular, to ensure that the aid programme addresses the specific needs of the poorest people in Colombia.

The aid programme for Colombia comprises entirely technical co-operation. We will continue to support activities aimed at aid programme priorities, including good government, renewable natural resource mangement and human resource development. The Columbia programme will therefore include projects with an indirect impact on poverty, as well as those with a more direct role, particularly those undertaken through non-governmental organisations within the joint funding scheme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent restrictions have been placed on the supply of humanitarian aid to and movement of humanitarian aid by international aid agencies within the Sudan.

In recent months, both the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Army have restricted access by aid agencies to some areas of need. International non-governmental organisations and the UN have difficulty securing permission to travel which prevents needs assessments and monitoring missions from taking place. In addition, the Government of Sudan have failed to meet their pledged food aid contribution for 1993. We continue to press all parties to lift restrictions on the international aid effort.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will raise the question of the people called disposables in Colombia with the Government of Colombia at the earliest opportunity.

When I met the Colombia Foreign Trade Minister on 3 February, I made clear the concerns felt in Britain over this question and urged the Colombian Government to take effective measures to tackle the problem.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library copies of communications submitted to the United Nations Security Council sanctions committee 724 on United Kingdom compliance with the United Nations embargo on arms and military equipment sales to the former Yugoslavia.

The United Kingdom has not been required to submit details of compliance to the United Nations sanctions committee established pursuant to United Nations Security Council resolution 724.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has received from the United Nations regarding the countries of design and manufacture of shells, mortars and bullets used against citizens of cities in Bosnia designated as having special protected status by the United Nations.

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment has been made by Her Majesty's Government since the establishment of the European Community's embargo on arms and military equipment exports to the former Yugoslavia, of 5 July 1991, of the effectiveness of the embargo in regard to United Kingdom exports.

No assessment has been made.We believe the embargo is being applied effectively in regard to exports from the United Kingdom. The Department of Trade and Industry applies a rigorous export licence policy. Her Majesty's Customs and Excise, which are responsible for the control of exports, make a careful check on all exports destined for the former Republic of Yugoslavia.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the implementation of United Nations Security Council resolution 724 of 15 December 1991 on the establishment of a sanctions committee to monitor the export embargo on military sales to the former Yugoslavia.

Following the passage of United Nations Security Council resolution 724 on 15 December 1991 a sanctions committee was established to advise on all aspects of the arms embargo against the former Republic of Yugoslavia. This committee has been empowered by subsequent resolutions to act as point of reference for all matters relating to sanctions against the former Republic of Yugoslavia. The committee meets on a weekly basis.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures he proposes to ensure close contact and liaison with the European Union Committee of the Regions.

I met United Kingdom members and alternate members of the Committee on 8 December last year. We discussed the role of the EC Committee of the Regions and contacts between United Kingdom members and the Government. Our permanent representation in Brussels has already been in contact with United Kingdom members and will provide a regular contact point for them, as well as following the work of the Committee as a whole. The Cabinet Office will co-ordinate contacts between Committee members and home Departments and supervise any briefing requirements.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the present United Kingdom nuclear explosive capability in its nuclear weapons inventory; and what it was in 1970.

I have been asked to reply.1970 was a period of transition for the United Kingdom's nuclear weapons inventory, with one generation of weapons being withdrawn and a new generation introduced. We are now in another period of transition, as around half our nuclear free-fall bombs have been withdrawn from the operational inventory and the first Trident submarine will soon enter operational service. It has been the long-standing practice of successive Governments not to give details of operational warheads or yields, but in broad terms, the total explosive power of the United Kingdom's operational nuclear inventory is currently about half of what it was in 1970.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster who are the members currently appointed to the political honours scrutiny committee.

The present members of the political honours scrutiny committee are:

• The Lord Pym MC DL (Chairman)
• The Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos CH
• The Lord Thomson of Monifieth KT DL

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster who are the members currently appointed to the Advisory Council on Science and Technology.

Last year's White Paper on science, engineering and technology announced that a new Council for Science and Technology would replace the Advisory Council on Science and Technology. The members of the Council for Science and Technology are:

• Professor William Stewart FRS FRSE
• Professor Sushantha Bhattacharyya FEng
• Professor Sir Aaron Klug FRS
• Sir Robin Nicholson FRS FEng
• Dr. Bridget Ogilvie FBiol
• Sir Ralph Robins FEng FRAes
• Dr. Alan Rudge FRS FEng
• Professor Stewart Sutherland FBA
• Sir Richard Sykes
• Mr. John Towers
• Dr. Peter Williams CBE

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how often a review is undertaken of the names on the public appointments unit central list; and how many of these names have been on the list for (a) more than five years, (b) two to five years and (c) under two years.

The public appointments unit has completed a first review of the names on the central list, and in future aims to ensure that the information held about individuals is reviewed and updated every two years. Information about the length of time that names have been held on the list is not recorded.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how the Daresbury and Rutherford Appleton laboratories will be affected as a result of the planned changes to the research councils.

I am currently examining the future structure and organisation of the Rutherford Appleton and Daresbury laboratories, which are at present part of the Science and Engineering Research Council. From 1 April 1994, as an interim step consequent on the splitting of SERC into the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council, the two laboratories will be run as a combined operation under the auspices of the new EPSRC. In the longer term I am looking to put the two laboratories on a more indepedent footing to enable them better to serve their customers and users from the research councils, universities and industry. Given the high regard in which the Rutherford Appleton and Daresbury laboratories are held, both nationally and internationally, it is important that we consider carefully what changes should be made to their status as a result of the reorganisation of the research council system.The Government have developed a standard set of tests on how Government-funded work can best be organised, known as "prior options". In the 1993 next steps review—Cm 2430—we announced new procedures to encourage those in outside organisations with innovative ideas about how such functions can best be discharged to put them forward. These procedures for "prior options" review and outside involvement apply, where appropriate, to executive non-departmental public bodies, such as the Daresbury and Rutherford Appleton laboratories.The "prior options" tests consider whether the functions provided by the organisation continue to be needed, in whole or in part; whether responsibility for the activity needs to remain in the public sector; and whether some or all of the functions provided should be contracted out or market tested. The consultants KPMG have conducted a preliminary study of these issues. In common with the recent National Audit Office report, they found much to admire at the laboratories. They have advised that there is a need for the services which the laboratories provide, and that privatisation would not represent a sensible option. In considering this advice, I wish to take account of the widest possible range of views. I am therefore inviting organisations and individuals who may have ideas or proposals as to how the Daresbury and Rutherford Appleton laboratories should be organised in future to submit them to the Director General of the Research Councils in my Department.The results of this review will be taken into account in the wider scrutiny of public sector research establishments which I announced to the House on 2 February,

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment who are the members currently appointed to each of the industrial tribunals.

A list of the lay members of the industrial tribunals was placed in the Library in January.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment who are the members currently appointed to the Employment Appeal Tribunal.

The Employment Appeal Tribunal consists of both judicial and lay members. The president is the Honourable Mr. Justice Mummery, a High Court judge. A judge of the Court of Session—the Honourable Lord Coulsfield—sits at the EAT in Scotland and there are also visiting judges in England and Wales. The judges are nominated in England and Wales by the Lord Chancellor from among the judges of the High Court and the Court of Appeal and in Scotland by the Lord President of the Court of Session from among the judges of that court. The lay members are appointed by Her Majesty the Queen on the joint recommendation of the Secretary of State for Employment and the Lord Chancellor. A list of the lay members has been placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment who are the members currently appointed to the board of the Commissioner for the Rights of Trade Union Members.

There is no such board.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his answer of 18 January, Official Report, column 548, what is the sectoral breakdown of his estimate of jobs lost as a result of a statutory minimum wage.

There is no sectoral breakdown of that estimate. In order to calculate such a figure, reliable information is needed about the relationship between pay and employment. Information on this relationship is available for the whole economy, but not for individual industries.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list each of the main United Kingdom special employment measures since 1970; if he will give the date when the scheme came into operation and its date of closure if it is still not running, and the annual and cumulative amount of public expenditure spent on each scheme; and if he will detail the annual and total number of claimants helped under each scheme.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the cost of administering unemployment benefit in the London travel-to-work area in each of the past five years.

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 which trade unions have made representations to him in the last 10 years on whether campaigning on issues including pensions, health and safety, and job conditions has to be paid for out of a political fund.

I am unaware of any such representations. A trade union does not need a political fund unless it wishes to spend money on electoral or other party political activities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many employers have been prosecuted, since April 1986, under each of the regulations identified as candidates for revocation in his press notice 154/93 of 20 July 1993.

[holding answer 9 February 1994]: The number of employers prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive's field operations division's inspectors, since April 1986, under each of the regulations identified as candidates for revocation in the Employment Department press notice of 20 July are set out in the following tables. The aim of any repeals or revocations will be to increase the effectiveness of the regulatory regime, which will include continuing to prosecute employers who fall below acceptable standards of health and safety.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer who are the members currently appointed to the Top Salaries Review Body.

As announced in the Official Report, 26 July 1993, column 559, the Top Salaries Review Body was renamed the Senior Salaries Review Body last year. Its current members are:

• Sir David Nickson KBE DL (Chairman)
• Professor George Bain
• Mrs. Louise Botting CBE
• Ms Ann Burdus
• Sir Peter Cazalet
• Sir Cecil Clothier KCB QC
• Mr. Gordon Hourston
• Mr. Hugh Pigott
• Sir Anthony Wilson

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) who are the members currently appointed to each of the child support appeal tribunals;(2) who are the members currently appointed to each of the medical appeal tribunals;(3) who are the members currently appointed to each of the disability appeal tribunals;(4) who are the members currently appointed to each of the social security appeal tribunals;(5) who are the members currently appointed to each of the vaccine damage tribunals.

I have been asked to reply.The appointment of members of all the appeal tribunals is the responsibility of the President of the Independent Tribunal Service, His Honour Judge Thorpe. The hon. Member may wish to write to him direct.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security who are the members currently appointed to the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee.

I have been asked to reply. The members currently appointed to the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee are:

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the industrial diseases which are under review by the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council or its research working group.

The council is currently investigating hand/arm vibration syndrome, process injuries, disorders of the knee, osteoarthritis of the hip and occupational rhinitis and keeps scientific evidence on all other industrial diseases under review on an ongoing basis.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his Department's estimate of the current scale and volume of benefits tourism.

Information is not held centrally on the number of foreign nationals who are in receipt of benefits without having contributed either taxes or national insurance contributions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the hospitals where medical examinations are carried out for the purpose of assessing entitlement to war pension.

The majority of examinations are carried out by medical boards or medical specialists at local medical boarding centres or consulting rooms. In such instances hospital referral is not necessary.Where examinations are to be carried out at hospitals all attempts are made to have this done at a hospital convenient for the claimant.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many assessments have been made by the Child Support Agency up to 2 February.

Figures for the latest period available, to the end of December, are already in the Library and information relating to January will be placed in the Library in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what proportion of the money contributed to an average personal pension at the rebate-only level by a man of 30 years would be absorbed in expenses, charges and commission during the lifetime of the contract if it were terminated after five years;(2) what proportion of the money contributed to an average personal pension at the rebate-only level by a man aged 30 years would be absorbed in expenses, charges and commission during the lifetime of the contract up to maturity;(3) what proportion of the money contributed to an average personal pension at the rebate-only level by a man aged 30 years would be absorbed in expenses, charges and commission in the first year of contract.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Langbaurgh (Mr. Bates) on 30 November 1993 at columns 432–33.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what change is projected in the population of those aged (a) over 65 years, (b) over 75 years and (c) over 85 years in each of the next 10 years.

The information is in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many children there were in families in Wales receiving invalidity benefit or its equivalent in 1979 and at the latest available date.

Information for 1979 is unavailable. The latest date for which information is available is 4 April 1992, but not in the form requested. Such information as is available is the following:Number of child dependency increases in payment to invalidity benefit recipients in Wales—24,000

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what arrangements he intends to make for an equivalent premium after 28 weeks for those recipients on income support, housing benefit and council tax benefit who are incapable of work following the introduction of incapacity benefit in 1995 and the award of a higher rate of short-term benefit after 28 weeks.

The rules for the disability premium will be changing to be consistent with the incapacity benefit rules.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what additional resources he plans to provide to fund the Benefits Agency medical service, to take account of the operational costs of incapacity benefit;(2) what additional resources he plans to provide to meet the costs of additional medical assessors and social security appeal tribunals following the introduction of incapacity benefit.

The estimated additional administrative costs and manpower consequences of the introduction of incapacity benefit appear in the financial memorandum accompanying the Social Security (Incapacity for Work) Bill. Further refinement of these figures will depend upon decisions still to be taken by Parliament. We are still considering the additional resources that may be required for the appeals system for incapacity benefit.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his Department's budget for disability working allowance in 1993–94 and 1994–95 and the expected budget in 1995–96 and 1996–97.

Planned expenditure for disability working allowance was £16 million in 1993–94, and £50 million in 1994–95 and 1995–96, rounded to the nearest £50 million. Figures for 1996–97 will be available in the departmental report which is expected to be published in March.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much has so far been paid in disability working allowance in 1993–94.

Disability working allowance outturn figures for 1993–94 will not become available until the departmental report is published in March.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the arrangements for claimants currently in receipt of severe disablement allowance whose incapacity for work is due for review after April 1995.

From April 1995 people in receipt of severe disablement allowance will no longer have to undergo any kind of review of their capacity for work.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many giro payments of income support are reported missing in each year; what percentage of total giro payment this is; and how many giros remain missing without being cashed.

The payment of income support by girocheque is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member with such information as is available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what rules he proposes to apply for the award of disability premium for people on income support, housing benefit and council tax benefit, following the introduction of incapacity benefit in 1995.

The disability premium provides extra help in income support, housing benefit and council tax benefit for long-term sick and disabled people.For those claiming these benefits as long-term sick the rules for the disability premium will be changed from April 1995 to reflect the incapacity benefit changes announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 1 December 1993. The new long-term incapacity benefit will act as a passport to the disability premium. Severe disablement allowance will continue to bring entitlement to the disability premium. For those who have no other means of entitlement, the period of incapacity needed to qualify will increase from 28 to 52 weeks and the new definition of work and assessment of incapacity will apply.Disability living allowance, attendance allowance and mobility supplement are other passporting benefits to the disability premium, which can be awarded on other grounds—for instance, if the person is registered blind. These routes to the disability premium will not be affected by the incapacity benefit changes.

To ask the Attorney-General what services he or his predecessors have performed under the Treasury Solicitor Act 1876 on behalf of International Military Services Ltd.

I know of none.

To ask the Attorney-General if he will list the size, grades and costs of the staff of the Treasury Solicitors' Department in each of the last three years ending on 31 March and the current figures for numbers and grades.

The following table sets out the size and grades of the staff of the Treasury Solicitor's Department in each of the first three years ending on 31 March and the current figures:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what public funding is provided for the Bryn Melyn home in Wales.

I am not aware of any public funding for this private children's home. No funding has been provided by the Department or other agencies for which the Welsh Office has direct responsibility.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations on school league tables he has received from the Institute of Welsh Affairs; what reply he has sent; and if he will review current policies as a result.

None directly, but the report published by the institute in January, "Towards an educational policy for Wales", makes reference to the publication of school performance information.Before decisions are taken on the extent of school/college performance information to be published in autumn 1994 there will be consultations with schools, FE colleges, and education interests.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give the present waiting list for open-heart surgery in Wales.

Information on waiting lists is collected centrally on the basis of specialties recognised by the royal colleges. Open heart surgery is not one of these recognised specialties and hence the information requested is not available. However, at 30 September 1993, the latest date for which information is available, there were 301 people waiting for in-patient treatment in Wales in the specialty of cardiac surgery.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the chairman of the South Glamorgan health authority concerning the provision of University Hospital of Wales staff at the Cardiff BUPA hospital to provide immediate postoperative care for NHS cardiac surgery patients operated on at the BUPA hospital at NHS expense; and if he will make a statement.

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultation he has had with the chairman of the South Glamorgan health authority concerning the training of BUPA nursing staff in post-operative cardiac surgery recovery techniques at the University Hospital of Wales; and what remuneration he has arranged for the South Glamorgan health authority for such training activities.

None. It would be for the Health Authority and the University Hospital of Wales to negotiate an appropriate charge for any services provided to private hospitals.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give the present numbers who were treated at the BUPA hospital, Pentwyn, Cardiff, for open-heart surgery at the expense of the South Glamorgan health authority; and if he will make a statement.

In 1992–93, almost 1,000 adult open-heart operations were performed on NHS patients in South Wales, 50 of them under contract with the BUPA hospital in Cardiff. Commissioning authorities are fully funded to secure that level of service.Fifteen NHS open heart operations on patients from South Glamorgan were carried out at the BUPA hospital in Cardiff in 1992–93.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the total number of chairpersons and board members of the training and enterprise councils in Wales.

There are seven chairpersons and 85 board members of the training and enterprise councils in Wales.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade who are the members currently appointed to the London regional passengers' committee.

The members of the London regional passengers committee as at 21 January 1994 are:

• Professor Eric C. Midwinter (Chairman)
• Mr. David R. Bruck
• Mrs. Delia M. Buckle
• Mrs. Beverley J. Davies
• Mr. Lekh C. Dindayal JP
• Mr. Nicholas P. Ellis
• Mrs. Stella A. Fowler
• Sir Alan Greengross
• Mr. Karl T. Gurney
• Mr. Michael J. Harris
• Mr. I. Haynes
• Mr. Andrew J. Holt
• Mr. Ernest C. King
• Miss Faith C. Lawson
• Mr. Stepehen J. A. J. Le Bras
• Mr. Laurie Mack
• Mrs. Suzanne C. May
• Mr. Peter Nichols
• Mr. Peter L. Noble
• Mrs. Dawn Penso
• Mr. John A. K. Phillips

To ask the President of the Board of Trade who are the members currently appointed to the Advisory Committee on Telecommunications for Small Businesses.

Appointments to the Advisory Committee on Telecommunications for Small Businesses are the responsibility of the Director General of Telecommunications. However, I understand that the current members are:Chairman:Mr. Michael AshtonMembers:

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the (a) budgeted and (b) actual expenditure by his Department on (1) internal and (2) overseas travel by the President of the Board of Trade in 1992–93 after 11 April 1992 and so far in 1993–94.

The expenditure incurred by my Department from 11 April 1992 to 31 March 1993 on my domestic travel was £8,745, and on my overseas travel was £5,866. From 1 April 1993 to 8 February 1994 the equivalent figures were £8,727 on my domestic travel and £16,360 on my overseas travel. These figures do not include the cost to my Department of my car. My Department does not allocate budgets for travel by individual Ministers.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the total cost paid out to witnesses attending the Scott inquiry under the provisions available under the order 62, r 12(1) of the rules of the Supreme Court, by the costs branch of the Treasury Solicitor's Department; and to whom such expenses have been paid.

To date, no expenses have been paid for legal costs to witnesses before the Scott inquiry.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what estimates he has made of the reductions in consumption of domestic fuel resulting from the imposition of value added tax.

My Department has published a range of energy demand projections in "Energy Paper 59", a copy of which is in the Library of the House. Those projections showed domestic sector energy demand approximately 6 per cent. higher in 2000 than in 1990. The imposition of VAT on domestic fuels is expected, in the long run, to reduce domestic sector consumption of coal by about 2 per cent. and of electricity and gas by about 4 per cent. This takes no account of the effects of any offsetting measures.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement about the outcome of the review of options for the future of the Accounts Services Agency.

PA Consulting Group has completed its review of the options for the future of the Accounts Services Agency. In parallel, the Department has reviewed the scope for its financial accounting services to be met from the private sector, concluding that all but a small number of the services currently supplied by the agency could be contracted out, with appropriate safeguards.I have accepted PA's recommendations that:

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what guidelines he has produced for the research councils on the patenting of human genes; what discussions he has had on this subject with his European counterparts; and if he will make a statement.

I have been asked to reply.I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on 1 February,

To ask the President of the Board of Trade on what date British Aerospace advised the Minister of its intention to sell Rover to BMW; and on what date the Minister notified the Japanese ambassador of this intention.

[holding answer 8 February 19941: British Aerospace advised the Department in confidence of its decision in principle to sell Rover shortly after the BAe board meeting on 27 January and also subsequently, again in confidence, of the final decision shortly after it was made on 29 January. The Government did not notify the Japanese ambassador of BAe's decision.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give details of the block grants and rate support grant allocated to authorities in west Yorkshire for each year since 1983; and if he will list the services covered by the grants.

The available information is set out in the table. The rate support grant was not a service-specific grant and nor is revenue support grant. Both were or are paid to support expenditure which local authorities incur in performing their functions and which but for these grants, and national non-domestic rates from 1 April 1990, would have to be met from local taxes.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 2 February, Official Report, column 799, if Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution will publish the monitoring results of the Eskmeals site to which he refers.

The decision to publish the monitoring results of the Eskmeals site is a matter for my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Defence.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 2 February, Official Report, column 794, if he will set out the points on THORP raised with him on 16 December 1993 by the ambassador of the Irish Republic.

No. Such communications between the United Kingdom and other Governments are treated in confidence.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the revised effluent discharge charging scheme launched by the National Rivers Authority.

The NRA's original scheme of charging for discharges came into effect in July 1991. As promised at that time, we have now reviewed it in the light of experience and on the basis of full consultation. We concluded that, in general, dischargers were satisfied. However, some changes have been made which will result in lower bills for some dischargers, particularly smaller businesses. There will also be an allowance for seasonal discharges which will benefit camping and caravan sites in particular. The NRA's considerable efforts in improving efficiency mean there will be no increase in either the application charge or the annual charge factor for 1994–95. The new arrangements will be introduced on 1 April 1994 and run until 31 March 1999.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what study his Department has made of the extent to which estate agencies are refusing to deal with properties which are situated above the fifth floor in tower blocks bought under the right-to-buy legislation; and if he will make a statement.

None. The Department has no evidence to suggest this is a widespread problem. Research has been commissioned into the scale and range of problems leaseholders of council flats have with service charges and resale of their dwellings. Preliminary data are expected shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of homes in the United Kingdom were owner-occupied in each year since 1987.

Estimates by type of tenure of the stock of dwellings in the United Kingdom appear in "Housing and Construction Statistics, Great Britain". Figures of owner-occupied dwellings expressed as a percentage of total dwelling stock are shown in table 9.3 of the 1982–92 annual edition for each year from 1987 to 1992.A copy of this publication is in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps the Government have taken to implement the recommendations made in the first report of the Select Committee on the Environment of Session 1992–93, on forestry and the environment—HC, 1992–93, No. 257.

The Government have already implemented several of the Select Committee's recommendations, including the publication on 25 January of our response to the Rio forest principles, "Sustainable Forestry: The UK Programme". Other matters are under consideration. We will be providing the Select Committee with a follow-up report before the Whitsun recess.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, how much public money was paid to private landowners in the last financial year as an inducement not to plant conifers; what were the highest sums of money that were paid to landlords for not planting conifers; and to whom these sums were paid.

Within the last financial year no new management agreements which compensate landowners for not planting conifers have been made in England by English Nature. I will write to the hon. Member with details of any such payments made under existing management agreements.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment has been made of the costs of any closure of the South Crofty tin mine in Cornwall on the environment, in particular the financial impact on the National Rivers Authority operation at Wheal Jane; and if he will make a statement.

The NRA does not expect any additional cost to its operations at Wheal Jane but, as contingency planning, is investigating what might need to be done to avoid pollution were South Crofty to close.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the estimated net aggregate expenditure of (a) county councils and (b) district councils in the current financial year.

County councils' and shire districts' budgeted net revenue expenditure for 1993–94 is £18,025 million and £3,202 million respectively.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will meet a deputation of tenants from Gloucester Grove estate in Southwark;(2) if he will visit Gloucester Grove housing estate;(3) if he will make a statement about the estates action programme improvement of the Gloucester Grove estate in Southwark;(4) if he will make a statement about phase 7 improvements to Gloucester Grove housing estate in Southwark;(5) how many of the blocks in the Gloucester Grove housing estate remain to be improved; and if he will make a statement.

Estate action improvements have been in progress on the Gloucester Grove estate since 1986–87. The Government have already made available £8·6 million of resources and have earmarked a further £8·85 million for phases 5 and 6 which are currently on site. These phases will be completed in 1996–97 and will complete the improvement of 10 blocks in total.The London borough of Southwark submitted a bid for a further eight blocks to be included in the 1994–95 estate action programme. Competition for resources was extremely tight, with 47 bids for support in London alone, and it was not possible to support that bid this year.At the end of phase 6, 19 blocks will remain unimproved. Future proposals for these blocks will form part of Southwark's proposed strategy for five council estates in the Peckham area. I hope that the proposed partnership between the borough, the private sector and housing associations will produce some imaginative proposals for improvements and a mixture of tenures on Gloucester Grove and the other estates.I have visited Southwark estates on a number of occasions in recent years and spoke to tenants from Gloucester Grove at Southwark's housing investment programme presentation in October 1992. Efforts are now best directed towards drawing up realistic proposals within Southwark's strategy for the area.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recommendations were put forward with regard to Southport by the Local Government Commission prior to the beginning of the Lancashire review.

It was the Local Government Boundary Commission, abolished in October 1992 and the Local Government Commission's predecessor, which conducted a review of the boundaries of Sefton metropolitan borough with West Lancashire and Wirral. In its final report, submitted in June 1992, report No. 664, it recommended only minor boundary changes. The Secretary of State accepted these recommendations and an order was made on 1 May 1993, with the boundary changes taking effect from 1 April 1994—SI 1206/93.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has had with representatives of Liverpool city council in respect of its standard spending assessment; and if he will make a statement.

My hon. Friend the Minister for Local Government and Planning met a delegation from Liverpool city council, on 17 January, to discuss Liverpool's proposed standard spending assessment for 1994–95.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will set out the standard spending assessment and the expenditure levels for each shire county for each of the last eight years, the current year and his proposals for 1994–95; and if he will set out the percentage change in each case (a) between each year and (b) over the full range of years for which figures are available.

[holding answer 3 February 1994]: I have placed in the Library tables showing: standard spending assessments for the years 1990–91 to 1994–95; grant-related expenditure assessments for the years 1985–86 to 1989–90; and equivalent expenditure figures for the years 1985–86 to 1993–94 for each shire county. Since comparisons cannot be made between GREs and SSAs, nor between equivalent expenditures under the two regimes, the percentage changers are given between each year, between 1985–86 and 1989–90, and between 1990–91 and 1994–95.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if his Department or any agencies for which he is responsible has engaged the services of the firm Touche Ross or any of its partners since 1 July 1993.

holding answer 3 February 1994]: The Department of the Environment has engaged the services of Touche Ross since 1 July 1993 to a total value of £178,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what provision has been made for the public accountability of further education colleges incorporated under the provisions of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992; and if he will make a statement.

The framework for the public accountability of colleges in the further education sector is set by the financial memorandum between the Department and the Further Education Funding Council, and the financial memoranda between the council and colleges. The financial memorandum between the Department and the council makes it clear that it is part of the duty of the chief officer of the council, as accounting officer, to satisfy himself that further education colleges have appropriate arrangements for financial management and accounting.Under the financial memoranda between the council and colleges, colleges are required to provide the council with audited accounts for each financial year. Each governing body must ensure that its college has a sound system of internal control and must appoint an audit committee and internal audit service for the college. The council may undertake examination of colleges' internal financial and management controls. Colleges' books and records are open to inspection by the council and by the Comptroller and Auditor General.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proportion of (a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools in London, Ofsted expects to inspect in the academic year 1993–94.

The arrangements for inspecting schools under the Education (Schools) Act 1992 are a matter for Ofsted.I have asked Professor Sutherland to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what further guidance will be given on schools' environmental management practices as indicated in the sustainable development strategy.

The guidance promised in the United Kingdom strategy on sustainable development will be published later this year.It will be in the form of a simple environmental audit scheme which the schools can carry out themselves to evaluate and improve the environmental impact of their school buildings.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what plans he has for schools to have a policy for environmental education guaranteeing provision and continuity between different subject areas of the curriculum;(2) if he will make it his policy to encourage all schools to appoint a co-ordinator for environmental education;(3) if he will publish guidance to advise schools of good practice in teaching about care for the environment;(4) what plans he has for providing guidance to schools on delivering environmental education on biodiversity and sustainable development;(5) what plans he has to provide grants to voluntary bodies to produce teaching resources and facilities that promote the concept of sustainability declared at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development.

Provided that the statutory requirements are met, it is for the individual school to determine the character of its curriculum, its organisation and the mode of its delivery, taking account of any relevant information or advice produced by the Office for Standards in Education. Where environmental education is addressed through the statutory subjects of the national curriculum, content and continuity will be specified within the statutory documents. My right hon. Friend is giving priority to the revision of these documents and has no plans to publish additional guidance for schools on these matters. He does not publish curriculum resources and has no plans to fund voluntary or other bodies to do so. He prefers to provide specific grant to support expenditure by schools on books, materials and equipment or teacher training, as they see fit to develop national curriculum provision.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has to ensure that within the school's inspection framework the responsibility of schools for raising awareness and understanding of the environment and conservation issues is subject to inspection and comment.

Under the Education (Schools) Act 1992, registered inspectors conducting inspection of schools must report on the quality of education and standards achieved in schools in accordance with Ofsted's pubished framework for inspection.I have asked Professor Sutherland to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what mechanisms exist to resolve any dispute or disagreements between the Further Education Funding Council and individual colleges, including disputes over levels of funding; and if he will make a statement.

In the first instance, my right hon. Friend would expect a college to pursue its concerns with the Further Education Funding Council; in the last resort it could complain to the Secretary of State.If the Secretary of State is satisfied that the Further Education Funding Council has failed to discharge its duties under the Education Acts, he may issue a direction to the council under section 57 of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992. If he is satisfied that the council is exercising its functions unreasonably, he may issue a direction under section 68 of the Education Act 1944, as applied by paragraph 9 of schedule 8 to the Further and Higher Education Act 1992. The Further and Higher Education Act 1992 also gives the Secretary of State power to issue general or special directions to the council. Special directions may, in particular, relate to the provision of financial support by the council in respect of activities carried on by a particular institution. The Secretary of State would expect to exercise this power only in very exceptional circumstances.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is his policy on the publication of names and addresses of chairpersons and members of further eduction colleges incorporated under the provisions of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992; and if he will make a statement.

Under the charter for further education, colleges are expected to publish the names of governors and how to contact them, which would normally be through the college. There is no expectation that governors' private addresses should be published.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what provisions exist for the independent monitoring of the financial situation of further education colleges incorporated under the provisions of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992; and if he will make a statement.

Independent monitoring of the financial position of colleges in the further education sector is secured through the requirement in the financial memoranda between the Further Education Funding Council and colleges for the appointment of an audit committee, and also through the requirement on colleges to appoint external auditors. In addition, under section 53 of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992, colleges' accounts are open to inspection by the Comptroller arid Auditor General.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many official engagements have been carried out in the last year by each Education Minister (a) in total, (b) at grant-maintained schools and (c) at local education authority schools.

The figures requested are as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what advice he will seek from the Chief Secretary to the Treasury about encouraging foreign visitors to London; and if he will make a statement.

None. It is not for the Chief Secretary to the Treasury to advise on such matters of policy.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage who are the members currently appointed to the board of the Royal Armouries.