To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much grant (a) Coventry city council, (b) Solihull metropolitan borough, (c) Walsall metropolitan borough, (d) Wandsworth borough council and (e) Westminster city council will receive this year as a result of homelessness being a factor in the standard spending assessment settlement.

Indicators of homelessness contribute the following amounts to the specified authorities' standard spending assessments for 1994–95:

Authority	£ million
Coventry city council	-1·483
Solihull metropolitan borough	-0·155
Walsall metropolitan borough	-3·091
London borough of Wandsworth	-2·296
Westminster city council	-4·218

Homelessness is one of a large number of indicators that are included within composite indices in the personal social services and the all other services service blocks.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he received from (a) the Association of District Authorities, (b) the Association of County Councils and (c) the Association of Metropolitan Authorities about the use of nature of tenure as a proxy for disadvantaged for the purpose of standard spending assessment distribution.

Since my right hon. Friend announced details of the provisional revenue support grant settlement for 1994–95, none of the local authority associations listed has made representations on the use of nature of housing tenure as an indicator in standard spending' assessments.Indicators of the nature of housing tenure are used in the personal social services and all other services standard spending assessments. We discussed these assessments with representatives of each of the local authority associations as part of the review of standard spending assessments for 1994–95.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many administrative staff were employed for school maintenance and equipment at (a) county hall and (b) elsewhere in the education department of North Yorkshire county council in each year since 1989.

The information is not available centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what response he has made to recent comments by the Director General of Gas Supply on funding for energy saving grants; and what assessment he has made of the effect of reduction or abolition of these grant schemes on the Government's target for carbon dioxide reductions.

I have not responded to the Director General of Gas Supply's recent comments as the funding of energy saving expenditure through the "E" factor is a matter for her and British Gas plc. The Government are fully committed to the Energy Saving Trust, and the target for reducing carbon dioxide emissions by the year 2000.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received on the effect of uncertainty about the continuation of the Energy Saving Trust's condensing boiler grant scheme on new equipment and installation orders; and if he will make a statement regarding future funding for the scheme.

I have received a number of representations about the funding of the Energy Saving Trust Ltd's condensing boiler grant scheme. This is a matter for the trust, British Gas plc and the Director General of Gas Supply.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many council homes in Sunderland his Department estimates to have had the kitchen gas combustion air provision blocked off by fitted kitchen furniture;(2) how many complaints were

This information is not collected by the Department.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures his Department has taken since 1992 to extend city challenge.

A second round of city challenge was held in 1992—there were 20 winners bringing the total number of partnerships to 31. From April 1994 city challenge will become part of the single regeneration budget. Bids for support from the single regeneration budget will be invited in April.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress his Department has made in setting up an urban regeneration agency in order to clear up and develop derelict land since 1992.

Following enactment of the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993, the Urban Regeneration Agency was launched, under the name of English Partnerships, on 10 November 1993. At that point, it took over responsibility for the city grant programme. On 1 April 1994, it will also incorprate the derelict land grant scheme and the existing programmes of English Estates. These initiatives will in due course be combined within English Partnerships' unified financial regime.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what criteria are used when determining the return air zones when drilling ventilation holes through the front doors of council homes in the north-east for the purpose of ensuring adequate combustion in natural gas fires.

The Building Regulations 1991 require heat-producing appliances to be so installed that there is an adequate supply of air to them for combustion and for the efficient working of any flue-pipe or chimney. Where combustion appliances are not room-sealed, the provision of an appropriately sized ventilation opening in the room or space containing the combustion appliance will satisfy the requirement. Where the opening is to an adjoining room or space, this should have an opening of the same size direct to external air. Ventilation openings should not be in fire-resisting walls. A fuller explanation of what provisions are satisfactory is given in approved document J which accompanies the regulations.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many council homes in the north-east his Department estimates to have clothes drying compartments lined with unsealed amosite.

This information is not available centrally and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures his Department has taken since 1992 to support urban development corporations in their task of urban regeneration.

The Government have provided urban development corporations in England with a total of £895·8 million in grant in aid in the years 1992–93 and 1993–94.UDCs have completed over 24,400 homes, more than 4,800,000 m

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many households his Department estimate to be made up solely of a mixture of full-time students and people in receipt of income support or unemployment benefit; and how much his Department estimates such households contributed to local government through the payment of council tax.

My Department does not collect statistics on household composition and has made no such estimates.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures his Department has taken since 1992 to bring together resources for targeted inner-city programmes into a single budget.

My right hon. Friend announced to the House on 4 November 1993, Official Report, columns 515–25, details of the single regeneration budget which will bring together 20 inner-city and other programmes for regeneration and development from April 1994. On 10 November 1993 he launched English Partnerships, a new public body under the chairmanship of Lord Walker, which will unify three initiatives which benefit urban and other areas: English Estates, city grant and derelict land grant. The resources for English Partnerships will form part of the single regeneration budget. The budget will be worth some £1·4 billion in 1994–95. Details of the single regeneration budget and English Partnerships have been placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish details of how local authority housing in Wandsworth was disposed of other than through the right-to-buy in the last 10 years.

[holding answer 16 February 1994]: Wandsworth council has reported to us the following disposals of council dwellings since 1983–84:

	Built for sale	Improved for sale	To sitting tenants (RTB)	Other	Total
1983–84	0	0	812	521	1,333
1984–85	128	16	1,065	591	1,800
1985–86	12	0	649	1,141	1,802
1986–87	7	0	724	703	1,434

	Built for sale	Improved for sale	To sitting tenants (RTB)	Other	Total
1987–88	2	0	1,334	635	1,971
1988–89	0	0	1,788	529	2,317
1989–90	9	0	1,625	628	2,262
1990–91	0	3	627	420	1,050
1991–92	0	0	517	323	840
1992–93	0	0	338	334	672

Local authority statistical returns on the sale of their housing do not enable us to provide an accurate breakdown of what is included in the "Other" category of disposals. More detailed information on such sales would have to be obtained from the local authority itself.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has to extend the scope of legal aid to allow council tenants to gain an independent survey of the safety of their homes when the tenants find themselves in dispute with the Health and Safety Executive.

I will write to the hon. Gentleman about this matter shortly.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what assessment he has made of the effect of changes in legal aid provision on the ability of arachnoiditis sufferers with a history of treatment with Myodil to pursue claims for compensation against the manufacturers of the dye; and if he will make a statement.

No separate assessment has been made of the effect of the legal aid eligibility changes on litigants pursuing claims against the manufacturers of Myodil. The financial eligibility of any applicant for legal aid depends on his or her income and the expenses which may be allowed against it. The financial limits for pesonal injury actions remain higher than those for other categories of civil proceedings.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has to introduce statutory regulation for solicitors.

Solicitors are regulated by the Solicitors Act 1974, the Administration of Justice Act 1985, and the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990. The Government have no plans to extend any of this legislation at the present time.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many complaints his Department has received concerning the solicitors complaints bureau; and if he will make a statement about its future.

The figures are not centrally available, and could be acquired only at a disproportionate cost. The Law Society has the statutory powers to deal with complaints about solicitors, and in 1986 it delegated its powers in this respect to the solicitors complaints bureau. The future of the bureau is therefore for the Law Society to consider.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many complaints he received each year about the Law Society's regulatory function.

The figures are not centrally available, and could be acquired only at a disproportionate cost.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is his assessment of the effectiveness of the self-regulatory system for solicitors.

Self-regulation is the most effective way of maintaining standards in professional life in general. It is particularly important that citizens with disputes, against other citizens, institutions or the state, have access to a completely independent legal profession. The Government are thus committed to the principle that in the first instance the maintenance of professional standards among solicitors should be the responsibility of the Law Society. To reinforce public confidence, the Government have also established the Office of the Legal Services Ombudsman, to provide independent scrutiny of the way the Law Society carries out its duties, and who may advise on the effectiveness of its complaints-handling procedures. His 1993 annual report contains a summary of recommendations.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many applications a debtor may make to pay a debt by instalments following a county court judgment ordinary payment.

A debtor may make as many applications for an instalment order as he wishes unless he is debarred—disqualified—from doing so by the court.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what proposals he has to amend the law relating to county court judgments, small claims and debt and the number of applications a debtor may make to pay debts by instalment.

There are currently no proposals to change the law in respect of any of the areas mentioned. A package of major changes to county court procedures was introduced in July 1991 and amendments to the small claims procedure came into effect in October 1992. Following evaluation of the 1991 changes and subject to public consultation, some minor amendments to debt recovery procedures are planned for later this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures are proposed to protect people who live alongside existing railway lines to the channel tunnel from the effects of additional noise arising from international freight trains.

As well as taking steps to reduce the effects of the international freight trains by the introduction of new locomotives and rolling stock, and continuously welded rail, British Rail has agreed jointly funded schemes with Kent and Surrey county councils and the London borough of Bromley for the provision of acoustic barriers alongside existing tracks at locations expected to be most affected at night. Kent county council has decided also to offer double glazing for certain isolated properties which cannot be protected by noise barriers.Supplementary credit approvals have previously been allocated to Surrey and Kent. I have now agreed to provide further credit approvals of £375,000 to Kent, to cover the balance of their costs, and £336,000 to the London borough of Bromley.I and my colleagues will be prepared to consider TPP applications for resources in 1995–96 from other authorities in London which agree appropriate schemes with BR. Such applications will be considered on their merits and in the light of the resources available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list by date and place all internal management meetings held by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency to discuss the vehicle registration office review.

There have been two meetings of the steering group set up to oversee the review and a third has been scheduled. Details as follows:

• 13 December at DVLA's London enforcement office
• 28 January at DVLA's Birmingham vehicle registration office
• 21 February at 123 Buckingham Palace road, London

In addition, a workshop meeting of DVLA management representatives was held on 24 January at DVLA's Bristol vehicle registration office.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport who are the members currently appointed to the Standing Advisory Committee on Trunk Road Assessment.

The current membership of the Standing Advisory Committee on Trunk Road Assessment is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the purpose of the visit of the chief executive of the DVLA to the Department of Transport headquarters at Marsham street on 12 January.

On 12 January, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport and I met departmental officials, including the chief executive, to discuss enforcement issues.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his policy on the future of the Wales European centre at Brussels; and if he will make a statement.

The Wales European centre is supported by a consortium of public bodies in Wales. I have no present plans to change it.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many students are currently training in Wales for speech therapy qualifications; and how many of these are Welsh speaking.

There were 76 students in further and higher education establishments in Wales including the University of Wales, whose subject of study was speech therapy, for the academic year 1992–93.The number of these students who speak Welsh is not recorded.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people were employed in Wales in (a) 1979 and (b) at the latest available date in (i) the NHS, (ii) the civil service, (iii) HM forces, (iv) local government and (v) the police services.

The information requested is shown in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his policy regarding out of town retail stores being established on green field sites; and if he will make a statement.

Government policy on retail development is set out in planning policy guidance note 6, "Town Centres and Retail Developments". Local planning authorities shall determine applications for retail development and, where feasible, propose sites in their local plans taking into account the needs of the community, the likely effect of any development on the vitality and viability of existing town centres and whether access provides a choice of transport modes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects to receive the comments of the Cardiff Bay development corporation on his Department's quinquennial review into the corporation's financial and management policy.

The board of the corporation considered the draft report on 4 February.I am accordingly placing a copy of the report's conclusions and recommendations in the Library of the House today.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he will announce the chairman of the Arts Council of Wales; and if he will make a statement.

I am pleased to announce that my right hon. Friend has appointed Sir Richard Lloyd Jones as chairman designate of the new Arts Council of Wales from 1 April 1994.Sir Richard has held a wide range of posts in the civil service, culminating as permanent secretary at the Welsh Office between 1985 and 1993. He has a strong personal interest in the arts and will provide a sound leadership for the council.I also pay tribute to the current chairman of the Welsh Arts Council, Mr. Mathew Prichard CBE, who is retiring on 31 March 1994. Mr. Prichard has held that office since 1 April 1986 and has made a valuable contribution to the arts in Wales. I am grateful to him for his sterling work.I intend to announce the rest of the membership of the Arts Council of Wales shortly.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what guidance he has issued about the effect of the Employment Protection (Consolidation) Act 1978 and the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 on the transfer of pension rights in services in his Department which are subject to contracting out.

Guidance on the assessment of pensions arrangements offered by external bidders during the conduct of a market test is set out in paragraph 5.18 of "The Government's Guide to Market Testing", which was published in August 1993. Copies were placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on which occasion since 1979 his Department has employed the services of external consultants; and if he will give details of the purposes for which they were employed and the cost of employing them.

The information is not held centrally in the form requested and is available only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether the review of the civil service fast stream entry recommended by the career management and succession planning study is yet under way.

A review of the civil service fast stream entry is now under way as recommended by the "Career Management and Succession Planning Study"—the Oughton report. The review team has been asked to report by the end of June 1994.The team will consider whether the fast stream entry should continue and, if so, whether the arrangements need to be revised to ensure that sufficient people with the right qualifications and aptitudes are attracted to the civil service, and how far these arrangements need to be adapted to reflect the more explicit criteria being developed for the senior open structure—the top three grades in the civil service.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he has begun his review of the Recruitment and Assessment Services Agency.

A review of the agency status of Recruitment and Assessment Services—RAS—is now under way. As a next steps agency the performance of RAS will be evaluated and RAS activities will be subjected to the normal prior options tests set out in the 1993 "Next Steps Review"—Cm 2430.This work will take into account the further review of the civil service fast stream entry which has been set up following the Oughton report, "Career Management and Succession Planning Study" and on which I am announcing progress today. In addition, the review team will consider the appropriate relationships between the civil service recruitment services, the role of the civil service commissioners, and the recruitment responsibilities of Government Departments.Comments and contributions from those with an interest in RAS and its work would be welcome and should be sent by 25 March 1994 to David Clark, recruitment studies team, Cabinet Office, Office of Public Service and Science, room 69A/2, Horse Guards road, London, SW1P 3AL.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what progress is being made on implementing the policies for postgraduate training announced in the White Paper "Realising our Potential: A Strategy for Science, Engineering and Technology".

The Office of Science and Technology, with the help of the research and funding councils, has prepared a consultation document seeking views on how best to implement the White Paper's policy that research students supported by the research councils should normally complete a Master's year. The document is being circulated to higher education institutions, companies, professional and learned bodies, and I have placed copies in the Library. Consultation will last until the end of April.

To ask the Prime Minister who is to be the new Data Protection Registrar.

I am pleased to announce that Her Majesty the Queen has approved the appointment of Mrs. Elizabeth France as the new Data Protection Registrar, on the retirement of Mr. Eric Howe later this year.Mrs. France is currently head of information systems and pay services division of the Home Office. She is expected to take up her duties as registrar in the summer.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many complaints were (a) lodged and (b) substantiated against Northern Gas in each year since 1983.

The number of complaints lodged against British Gas Northern is a matter for the Director General of Gas Supply.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade which body is responsible for investigating complaints against Northern Gas.

Responsibility for investigating complaints against British Gas Northern lies with the Office of Gas Supply.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what measures his Department has taken since 1992 to make inner-city task force and city challenge areas eligible for regional innovation grants.

From 18 May 1992, regional innovation grants have been available in all inner-city task force and city challenge areas. It is a discretionary grant and all applicants must satisfy the criteria of the scheme to be eligible for support.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the value of British exports to Malaysia in each year since 1987.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Leeds, East (Mr. Mudie) on 31 January, Official Report, column 588.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish a list of the equipment stolen from his Department in the last three years for which information is available; and what was the approximate value of each item.

[holding answer 16 February 1994]: Details of equipment stolen from the Department during the three financial years in question are:

Item	Amount £
1990–91
Panasonic answering machine	100·00
Panasonic answering machine	60·80
Panasonic answering machine	60·80
Video cassette recorder and remote control and remote control for TV	506·25
Panasonic answering machine	52·50
Dictating machine	51·33
SPO31 single channel IEEE to analogue unit	716·00
Digital multimeter model 168/1688	127·00
M300 base unit	1,964·00
Three desktop personal computers	2,800·00
Three printers	800·00

Item	Amount £
Keyboard for PC	50·00
Mouse for PC	25·00
Monitor for PC	250·00
Removable hard disc for PC	400·00
Software package	unknown
1991–92
TV-video presenter	643·50
JVC recorder-player model No. HRD 9520EK	255·00
Computer (keyboard, monitor, printer) plus manuals	4,000·00
Liberator printer	800·00
Eight telephones	200·00
Answerphone	120·00
Two wall clocks	30·00
Photocopier	1,500·00
Phillips pocket memo dictaphone	90·00
Video cassette recorder	312·91
Cannon photocopier model no. QUA 05127	386·00
Multifax image master F30 no. X016 0004165	891·00
Multifax image master F30 no. N 312463 J 6006	891·00
Toshiba T1000 portable computer (inc mains adaptor)	391·00
WP diskette	196·00
Sony 21" TV and stand	536·59
VHS video recorder	272·26
Panasonic VHS video recorder and tripod	986·14
Video cassettes	20·00
Swan jug kettle	20·00
Toshiba radio cassette player	60·00
Wall clock	20·00
2 pictures	60·00
Tefal toaster	5·00
Moulinex microwave oven	158·00
Mirror	10·00
Canon fax no. E0407824	469·00
Phillips pocket calculator no. LSH 0292	41·00
Phillips dictating machine no. 98614	63·00
Answerphone (Panasonic Easaphone)	60·00
2 Sonyo mini cassette recorders model no. TRC 3570A	138·00
2 Phillips 0185 pocket dictating machines and 1 Decimo 50311 pocket dictating machine	156·10
HP 85 Calculator	2,984·00
Ealing Beck electric control equipment	3,125·00
Tektronix oscilloscope model No. TEX 2213	769·00
Barr and Stroud helium non-laser	398·00
Liberator portable text processor	187·50
Dictaphone model No. 1240	41·00
Panasonic Easaphone	60·00
Brother M-2518 printer	1,200·00
Apricot microcomputer	1,875·00
Telephone	15·00
Compaq personal computer	2,500·00
Toshiba lap-top computer	750·00
Arcnet passive hubs	149·50
Telephone answering machine	60·00
Answer machine No. 81CHA 17684	60·00
NEC Pinwriter P200 printer	173·00
Answer machine No. 8CB HB/6900	60·00
Toshiba computer 1000	450·00
Panasonic Easaphone	60·00
Pitney Bowes transcriber No. 1704	130·00
Compaq deskpro 286E	217·00
RML Puffin computer	1,125·00
ICL model No. M40 PC	263·00
5 TDK floppy discs	8·00
Toshiba T5200–100 computer	2,700·00
Panasonic video recorder	399·00
Nimbus AX/2 hard disc and WordPerfect 5·0 manual	650·00
Lotus 1–2–3 software	187·00
Widows software	48·00
Panasonic Easaphone	52·83
Olympia typewriter	60·00
3 Hand-held dictating machines	127·50
3 Pictures	146·25
3 Portable personal computers	8,600·00
4 Software packages	1,000·00
3 Hard discs	2,000·00

Item	Amount £
Software manual	200·00
Year 1992–93
Phillips dictating machine model number LFH 0285	49·35
Toshiba 3100 personal computer	1,725·00
Telecom ivory hand held phone	254·00
Telecom ivory hand held phone	210·62
Briefcase	28·00
2 Portable printers	500·00
2 printers	1,500·00
Hard disc	400·00
4 Portable personal computers	6,750·00
3 PC base units	4,000·00
Printer switching box	150·00
Software discs	400·00

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what representations he has received from students over the age of 50 years about the difficulty in acquiring grants.

My right hon. Friend has received no representations on this subject. The same conditions of eligibility for mandatory awards apply to students of all ages.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has to increase the amount of money available for grants.

I refer to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Moray (Mrs. Ewing) on 18 January, Official Report, column 542. Decisions for years after 1994–95 will be taken at the appropriate time.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will make it his policy to increase student grants annually in line with inflation.

Support for students is provided through grants and loans. As my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer told the House on 30 November, Official Report, column 929, the total support available to students through the main rates of grant and loan will be increased by 4 per cent. in 1994–95. Within this total, the main grant rates will be reduced by around 10 per cent. a year from 1994–95 to 1996–97, and corresponding increases made in the loan facility. The total support available in subsequent years will be for decision at the appropriate time.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what representations he has received from students in Coventry about the hardships caused by the student loans scheme.

In the last year I have received one representation about the level of the student grant forwarded from an hon. Member for a Coventry constituency. Information about other representations received in the last year could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what measures his Department has taken since 1992 to ensure that more schools in the inner cities have the opportunity to develop their technological expertise;(2) what measures his Department has taken since 1992 to seek opportunities to open new city technology colleges in deprived inner-city areas.

In 1992–93 and 1993–94, 70 secondary schools in inner London and metropolitan authority areas have received technology schools initiative awards, enabling them to enhance their technology facilities. Self-governing and voluntary-aided secondary schools, including those in inner cities, are eligible to become technology colleges, which will have the backing of private sponsors and receive Government grants to develop their teaching of technology, science and mathematics.One city technology college has opened since 1992, the John Cabot CTC in Bristol, bringing the total to 15. No further CTCs are planned, but sponsors are welcome to come forward with new proposals.The Department continues to provide substantial financial support for the use of information technology in schools, both in inner cities and elsewhere. Most recently we announced a £4·5 million scheme to equip some primary schools with CD-ROM equipment and software, with funding allocated to take account of the needs of urban areas.

Local Education Authority	Sub-block	1991–92	1992–93	1993–94	1994–95
City	5 to 10	0·124	0·097	0·090	0·094
	11 to 15	0·176	0·066	0·101	0·101
	16+	0·398	0·380	0·032	0·031
Camden	5 to 10	20·246	21·475	23·975	24·152
	11 to 15	19·312	20·136	23·245	22·977
	16+	11·071	12·235	5·622	5·350
Greenwich	5 to 10	35·906	38·868	40·168	42·898
	11 to 15	37·160	40·732	41·430	43·179
	16+	13·624	15·555	6·729	7·055
Hackney	5 to 10	37·247	39·525	42·859	41·212
	11 to 15	35·653	38·589	43·327	39·377
	16+	17·571	21·986	4·972	4·436
Hammersmith	5 to 10	16·610	18·177	20·220	19·909
	11 to 15	16·329	18·276	19·298	18·683
	16+	9·577	11·579	2·837	2·337
Islington	5 to 10	26·384	29·051	30·858	32·033
	11 to 15	25·471	28·968	30·647	30·587
	16+	13·174	15·936	2·255	2·571
Kensington	5 to 10	10·312	11·052	11·492	11·129
	11 to 15	9·684	11·246	11·034	10·547
	16+	6·743	7·569	1·921	1·979
Lambeth	5 to 10	43·414	48·456	51·761	48·450
	11 to 15	40·112	42·817	46·347	42·096
	16+	21·862	27·323	4·410	3·791
Lewisham	5 to 10	36·852	40·911	43·614	45·488
	11 to 15	35·545	38·655	39·369	40·062
	16+	16·361	19·699	5·882	5·969

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has to safeguard the funding by student unions of student newspapers in his proposals for the reform of student unions.

The Government are determined to reform student unions and to secure choice, democracy and accountability in their activities. It is not our intention to jeopardise student services, for which funding will remain available in institutions' budgets.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much money has been made available for spending on primary and secondary education in each of the London boroughs in each of the last three financial years; what is the figure for 1994–95; and if he will make a statement.

For the purpose of determining standard spending assessments, the education component of standard spending, net of specific grants, is divided into five sub-blocks—under fives, five to 10, 11 to 15, 16 plus, and other education. The table sets out the year-on-year changes in the level of five to 10, 11 to 15 and 16 plus sub-blocks within the education standard spending assessment for London boroughs over the last three financial years, together with the figure for 1994–95. Education standard spending assessments are not ear-marked for local authority spending on primary and secondary education, as each authority is free to determine its spending priorities between and within services.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education who made the decision to appoint Mr. Philip Head as property controller for the Further Education Funding Council.

Short-listed candidates for the post of the Further Education Funding Council's head of property services were interviewed by a panel chaired by Mr. Roger McClure, the council's director of finance and the senior line manager with overall responsibility for the property services team. Subsequent discussions leading to the offer of appointment to the post were conducted by Mr. McClure.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education on what criteria the approval of the Secretary of State was given to the appointment of Mr. Philip Head as property controller for the Further Education Funding Council.

The Secretary of State's approval is not required for the appointment of staff of the Further Education Funding Council below the level of chief executive.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has to implement the recommendations for environmental education in further education contained in the report of the Toyne committee.

It is primarily for the further education institutions and the Further Education Funding Council to decide how to respond to the recommendations of the Toyne committee report, "Environmental Responsibility: an Agenda for Further and Higher Education". The Department wrote to the funding council and further education institutions drawing their attention to the committee's recommendations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the number of claimants of incapacity benefit who will be eligible for income support for the period (a) between the 28th and 52nd week of incapacity and (b) from the end of the first year; and what are the estimated savings in each case.

We estimate that around 25 per cent. of people awarded incapacity benefit after April 1995 will also be entitled to income support between the 28th and 52nd weeks of incapacity; and that around 30 per cent. will be entitled to income support after 52 weeks. We estimate that the introduction of the higher rate of short-term incapacity benefit between the 28th and 52nd weeks of incapacity will produce net savings of around £110 million in 1995–96, and around £150 milliion in 1996–97; and that the introduction of long-term incapacity benefit after 52 weeks will produce net savings of around £20 million in 1995–96, and around £170 million in 1996–97.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the cost to the Exchequer if the pensions payable to British citizens now living abroad were indexed for the cost of living in the same way as if these people had remained living in the United Kingdom.

The estimated additional cost of paying fully indexed benefits to all state retirement and widow pensioners living abroad is £275 million a year. Separate figures are not available on the cost of indexing benefits only for those who are British citizens.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security in which areas in the United Kingdom cold weather payments have been triggered since the start of the present severe weather in February; and if he will relax the regulations in order that such payments can now be made to all those eligible.

Payments have been triggered for the area covered by the Wilsden weather station for 10 to 16 February; and by the Meterological Office forecast for the area covered by Eskdalemuir, for the period 16 to 22 February.All those eligible already receive automatic payments.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the number of people in receipt of invalidity benefit in Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney, and in Wales, in (a) 1979, (b) 1983, (c) 1987 and (d) 1992.

This 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 how many recipients currently in receipt of invalidity benefit are over the age of 58 years in (a) Merthyr Tydfil, (b) Rhymney and (c) Wales.

This 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 is the average length of time for the Child Support Agency to (a) acknowledge a letter from a member of the public, (b) answer any questions raised and reply in writing, and what is the current amount of correspondence awaiting (c) an acknowledgement and (d) a full reply; and what is the overall backlog of correspondence at the Child Support Agency.

The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for Ros Hepplewhite, the chief executive. She will write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the total salary costs for the Child Support Agency for the current year broken down by grade.

The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for Ros Hepplewhite, the chief executive. She will write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how long on average it takes the Child Support Agency to carry out the whole maintenance application process, broken down by area CSAC.

The administration of the Child Support Agency is the responsibility of its chief executive, Ros Hepplewhite. She will write to the hon. Member shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many of the Child Support Agency's staff are on performance-related pay.

The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for Ros Hepplewhite, the chief executive. She will write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many persons were employed in North Norfolk Action after six months of operation.

One hundred and twenty-five people have participated in the North Norfolk Action work experience scheme during its first six months of operation. At the end of that period there were 60 participants.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many persons had moved into regular employment following participation in North Norfolk Action.

In its first six months of operation, 16 people have gone directly into work from the North Norfolk Action work experience scheme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what evaluation has been made of the first six months of North Norfolk Action.

Evaluation of the North Norfolk Action scheme is currently under way. Results are expected in the summer.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many persons had ceased to claim benefit immediately following interview for North Norfolk Action.

A variety of opportunities are offered at Restart interviews in Cromer and North Walsham jobcentres. Since May 1993 North Norfolk Action has been one of them. By mid-February 1994 a total of 82 people had signed off after their restart interview without giving a reason.