To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what progress is being made on proposals to allow interest to be paid on county court judgments for sums (a) above £5,000 and (b) below £5,000.

That part of section 74 of the County Courts Act 1984 which deals with interest on county court judgments of £5,000 and over was implemented on 1 July 1991. Since that date it has been possible to claim interest on a county court judgment for £5,000 and over. Following consultation last year on extending the provision to judgments below £5,000, no workable proposals were identified which would not place undue burdens or costs on creditors and the courts. The matter is still under review.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what progress has been made by the Law Commission since 17 December 1990 in examining the law in relation to treason, treason felony and piracy; what recommendations have been made concerning the continued existence of the death penalty for these offences; and if he will make a statement.

The Statute Law Repeals Act 1993, which implemented recommendations of the Law Commissions in their joint reports, "Statute Law Revision: Fourteenth Report" (Law Com. No. 211, Scot. Law Corn. No. 140, Cm. 2176), repealed among other obsolete measures the Piracy Acts of 1698, 1721 and 1744. The Law Commission has made no recommendations in this area other than those in this report.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what information he has on the political affiliation of justices of the peace in (i) Basingstoke, (ii) Rugby and (iii) Newcastle.

The political affiliation of magistrates in north-west Hampshire, which includes the former Basingstoke bench, and in Rugby and Newcastle on the latest information available is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many retired Chinese civil servants were resident in Hong Kong at the latest available date; and if he will make a statement.

There are approximately 38,000 retired Hong Kong Government civil servants living in Hong Kong. There is no indication of any exodus of these pensioners away from Hong Kong.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many retired Chinese civil servants are expected to be resident in Hong Kong in 1997.

Of the current 41,000 Hong Kong Government pensioners, 38,000 are living in Hong Kong. It is expected that most of those living in Hong Kong will remain after 1997. There will also be a few thousand more who retire between now and 1997.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the agreement with China over the question of pensions which will be paid to retired Chinese civil servants resident in Hong Kong in 1997.

Annex 1 to the Sino-British joint declaration of 1984 provides that pensions will continue to be paid after 1997 on terms no less favourable than before. This guarantee is repeated in article 102 of the Basic Law.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will agree to supply the names and addresses of retired Chinese civil servants to the Hong Kong Civil Service Association.

In the light of article 14 of the Hong Kong Bill of Rights 1991 on protection of privacy and the Hong Kong Government's guidelines on protection of personal data, it is not possible to pass the names and addresses of retired civil servants to a civil service pensioners' association. However, the Hong Kong Government will pass on any information which an association wishes to convey to pensioners.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether it is United Nations policy to support the peace process set in motion at the Boroma conference in Somaliland.

It is United Nations policy to encourage all peace efforts throughout Somalia which are aimed at returning stability to the country.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he proposes to take at international level to aid the peace process in Somaliland.

We take every opportunity during discussions with the United Nations and in our contracts with other international bodies and Governments to stress the importance of seeking an early solution to the problems in Somalia.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further action he proposes to take to increase the commitment of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to Somaliland.

Officials from our embassy in Addis Ababa will continue to pay regular visits to north-west Somalia. The frequency of these visits, and of other assistance to the north west, will depend on there being a stable and secure environment in the region.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he is taking to ensure that there is funding to ensure security of the heavy weapons currently being handed over by militias in Somaliland.

UNDP experts have developed a plan for demobilisation and disarmament which is currently under review by UNDP. We will consider the plan when it issues.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has about the progress of disarmament in Somaliland.

The latest information we have is that one tank, three heavy technicals, 20 technicals and a quantity of heavy weapons have been surrendered by clan brigades. The weapons are to be stored in two sites outside Hargeisa. The local administration continue to urge the clan militias to hand in their weapons.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the implications of the most recent UN Security Council resolution for the provision of extra resources to Somaliland.

The most recent Security Council resolution makes it clear that priority for directing international resources will be given to those regions which are secure and where representative and accountable institutional structures exist to facilitate the effective use of aid.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 15 February, Official Report, column 709, what information he has on the causes of the intra-Muslim tension in the Bihac pocket; and if this tension has led to armed conflict.

Infra-Muslim tension in the Bihac area resulted from the declaration of the autonomous province of Western Bosnia by Fikret Abdic. This has led to conflict between Abdic's forces and those loyal to the Bosnian Government.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 17 February, Official Report, column 939, what report was made to the United Nations Security Council on 17 February on the presence of regular Croatian troops in Bosnia-Herzegovina; what numbers he estimated were deployed there; in which areas they were deployed; and what action he recommended.

The Secretary-General's report to the Security Council concluded that there may be as many as 5,000 regular Croatian troops in Bosnia, but that UNPROFOR had not found any command structures or any regular Croatian army brigades operating as formed units. We have repeatedly condemned Croatian interference in Bosnia. The issue is now being considered by the Security Council. In the meantime, we shall continue to press the Croatian Government to withdraw their forces.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 15 February, Official Report, column 709, if he will list those who gave evidence to the United Nations investigative team who looked into the massacre at the Sarajevo market on 5 February.

The report of the United Nations investigative team has not been published. Details of witnesses or others consulted in the investigation have not been made available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent communication he has had from Lord Owen in respect of an UNPROFOR report about the massacre at the Sarajevo market on 5 February; what information was contained in that communication; and if he will make a statement.

Lord Owen communicates regularly with European Union Foreign Ministers, reporting on his talks with the Bosnia parties. The contents of these communications are confidential.The United Nations investigative team, established by United Nations Secretary-General's Special Representative, Yasushi Akashi, concluded that it was not possible to establish who was responsible for the Sarajevo market massacre.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 17 February, Official Report, column 939, what is the basis for his belief that Belgrade is recruiting personnel and providing equipment for the war in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

That belief is based on reports from Belgrade and theatre.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 7 February, Official Report, column 14, what is the name of the conservation consultant for the British Indian Ocean Territory; what resources have been made available for this consultant; and what plans there are to reduce the military presence on the British Indian Ocean Territory at Diego Garcia.

The consultant's name is Mr. J. M. W. Topp. He has the full support of the authorities of the British Indian Ocean Territory and regularly visits the territory. Mr. Topp has access to all scientific data gathered from previous expeditions to the area and has been provided with a computer and related software. Mr. Topp is working closely with Warwick university on a conservation management plan for the territory.There are no plans to reduce the military presence on Diego Garcia.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress is being made in establishing a stable Government in Burundi.

After several rounds of discussion between all interested parties in Burundi, President Ntaryamira was sworn in on 5 February. He has appointed a new Tutsi Prime Minister from the main opposition party. Every party contesting the June 1993 election, successful or not, has a slot in the new cabinet. The army appears to be supporting the civil Government.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to redirect the savings from the reduction in MIRAS into a housing subsidy targeted at low income home owners.

None.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue would be raised by an extra 2 per cent. non-returnable VAT on commercial fuel use.

Based on expenditure in 1992, it is estimated that an extra 2 per cent. irrecoverable VAT on commercial fuel use, excluding expenditure on road transport would raise around £300 million in a full year.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects the 1994 departmental reports to be published.

Proposed publication dates for 1994 departmental reports are as follows:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to change the rate of insurance premium tax during this Parliament.

[holding answer 22 February 1994]: The Government have announced a package of proposed changes to the insurance premium tax provisions of the Finance Bill, designed to simplify the operation of the tax, mainly in response to representations made by the insurance industry. As part of that package it is proposed to tax gross premiums, inclusive of commission, at 2·5 per cent. rather than net premiums at 3 per cent. This change means that the total yield and the impact of the tax remain broadly the same as originally forecast.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the tax losses to the Exchequer of (a) all exemptions from air passenger tax, (b) the exemption from air passenger tax of aircraft under 10 tonnes in weight, or with fewer than 20 seats and (c) of the exemption from air passenger tax of flights for which tickets are not issued and (d) the total of the exemptions for private aircraft under (b) and (c).

[holding answer 22 February 1994]: It is estimated that if all passengers departing from a United Kingdom airport were liable to air passenger duty, there would be an additional revenue yield of around £80 million in 1995–96. Of this total, around £30 million is in respect of passengers on return domestic flights; £45 million is in respect of transit and transfer passengers; and around £5 million is in respect of passengers on aircraft with fewer than 20 seats or having a maximum take-off weight below 10 tonnes. Data are not available on the proportion of non-chargeable aircraft which are private aircraft. No estimates have been made for the revenue yield that would result from extending the duty to cover children under two. The issuing of tickets is not a criterion used to determine whether air passenger duty is payable.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will provide estimates of the percentage of passengers who fly to, from and between the Scottish islands, that will be exempt from payment of the air passenger tax.

[holding answer 21 February 1994]: Civil Aviation Authority data suggest that around a third of passengers departing from airports on the Scottish Islands and from Inverness and Wick are on non-chargeable aircraft. This includes North sea rig operations. It is likely that around half of all passengers departing from those airports on chargeable aircraft will be exempt because they are on the return leg of a domestic journey. No estimates have been made for the proportion of passengers who are exempt because they are either transfer passengers or under two years old.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many VAT-registered companies and individuals became insolvent following action by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise in each year since 1991; how much outstanding VAT was recovered from these concerns after formal insolvency occurred; what was the cost to Customs and Excise of pursuing those insolvencies; and how many VAT registrations were affected after guarantees were sought because of previous insolvency action against persons in the new venture.

[holding answer 24 February 1994]: The numbers of VAT-registered companies and individuals who were declared to be insolvent by the courts following presentation of a petition on behalf of Customs and Excise were 6,775 in the financial year 1991–92 and 7,543 in 1992–93. In the vast majority of these cases other creditors were also involved. Figures for recoveries and costs related to insolvencies resulting from petitions on behalf of Customs and Excise are not available separately. Where Customs and Excise seek security from a business this follows VAT registration. The number of cases in which security was sought was 106 in 1991–92 and 573 in 1992–93.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the net effect on the public sector borrowing requirement in each year since 1991 of the removal of students' entitlement to housing benefit and income support.

[holding answer 23 February 1994]: Benefit entitlement will vary according to individual circumstances. There is no information available to enable a meaningful estimate of the overall effect of the changes on the PSBR to be made.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the reasons for his decision to recall to custody Anthony Jeffs following his release on licence after serving 20 years of a life sentence for the murder of PC Peter Guthrie in 1972; and if he will make a statement.

On 31 January 1994, the Secretary of State exercised his power under section 39(2) of the Criminal Justice Act 1991, to revoke the life licence of Anthony Charles Jeffs and recall him to prison. This decision was taken in the light of information received from the probation service responsible for Mr. Jeffs' supervision in the community under the terms of his life licence. That information gave rise to concern about the risk Mr. Jeffs might pose to others, although there was nothing to indicate that he had committed any criminal offence since his release from prison on life licence on 3 September 1993.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his estimate of the percentage of people aged (a) 18, (b) under 21 and (c) under 24 years that are missing from the electoral roll in (i) the parliamentary constituency of Newham, North-West and (ii) each London borough.

The information requested is not available. I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a question from the hon. Member for Truro (Mr. Taylor) on 18 January at column 477.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Governor of Hong Kong has submitted a further report on the discharge of his functions under the British Nationality (Hong Kong) Act 1990.

The Governor of Hong Kong submitted a third report to me on 3 January. A copy has been placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much his Department spends annually on (a) drug education, and (b) drug welfare programmes aimed at children.

Since 1990, the Home Office drugs prevention initiative has, through the work of its 20 local teams and the central drug prevention unit, generated, supported and funded a wide range of activities to encourage drugs prevention in the community, including drugs education and support for families and children. The total cost of the initiative to date is about £14 million. The third annual report of the initiative, which describes a cross-section of work supported, is in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) 14, (b) 15, (c) 16 and (d) 17-year-olds were (i) given cautions (ii) fined and (iii) imprisoned on drugs offences in each year since 1987.

Information on the number of 14, 15, 16 and 17-year-olds who were given cautions, fined or given immediate custodial sentences for drug offences, in each of the years since 1987, is contained in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many cases of household burglary were recorded by the police in each parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom for each year from 1989 to 1993;(2) how many cases of arson against a domestic dwelling were recorded by the police in each parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom for each year from 1989 to 1993.

The information requested is not collected centrally. Figures for domestic burglary by police force area and figures for arson offences for all of England and Wales are published annually in "Criminal Statistics England and Wales". Details on the types of building subject to arson attacks are not collected centrally. Requests for figures relating to Scotland and Northern Ireland should be addressed to the Scottish Office and Northern Ireland Office respectively.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many household fires to which the emergency services were called were reported in each parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom from 1989 to 1993.

The most detailed information available centrally is for fire brigade areas. Details of fires in dwellings in these areas are published in the annual Home Office report "Fire Statistics United Kingdom", copies of which are in the Library. The latest published data are for 1991 and are shown in table 61 of the 1991 volume. Comparable data for previous years are in table 61 of the 1990 volume and table 59 of the 1989 volume.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to remove the offence of blasphemy from the statute books.

The Government have no plans to change the law in this area.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if it remains his advice to Somalians and British citizens of Somali descent in the case where his Department refuses to issue prior visa authority for their relatives to apply direct on their behalf to the nearest British diplomatic post.

In cases raised on or after 27 January 1994, Somalis who wish to join relatives in this country are expected to make entry clearance applications in person in the normal way, although it will be open to sponsors to write to posts on behalf of their relatives.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what plans he has to publish the Government's position on negotiations to alter the means of petitioning the European Court of Human Rights;

At present, under the European Convention on Human Rights, acceptance by member states of the right of individuals within their jurisdiction to petition the European Commission on Human Rights may be on a renewable or indefinite basis. Since 1966 the Government, in successive declarations, has recognised the competence of the Commission to receive such petitions from people who claim to be the victims of a violation of the convention in the United Kingdom.We are currently considering a proposal within the Council of Europe that indefinite acceptance of the right of individual petition should be a requirement on member states.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he last met the President of the European Court of Human Rights.

My right hon. and learned Friend has not met the President of the European Court of Human Rights.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals the Government have made to reform the European Court of Human Rights.

The Government are contributing fully to work within the Council of Europe on the reform of the European Commission and Court of Human Rights by their replacement with a single body, with the aim of enabling the increasing number of cases to be dealt with more speedily while maintaining the highest standards of jurisprudence.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to review the right of United Kingdom citizens to seek legal redress for violations of the European declaration of human rights.

The Government fully accept, and have no plans to review, their obligations under article 13 of the European convention on human rights to provide effective national remedies in respect of claims of violations of the convention. Under present arrangements, the right of individuals within the jurisdiction of the United Kingdom to petition the European Commission of Human Rights will be reviewed in 1996. We are currently considering the proposal that indefinite acceptance of that right should be a requirement on states party to the convention.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he has received the report on the review of the Fire Precautions Act 1971 which began in July 1993; and if he will make a statement.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Hertfordshire, North (Mr. Heald) on 17 February at column 909.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list all television advertising, newspaper advertising, radio advertising and other promotional campaigns with a budgeted cost in excess of £10,000 conducted by his office (a) in the current financial year and (b) planned for 1994–95, showing for each the objectives and mechanisms for assessing the effectiveness of the advertising.

No advertising has been incurred in my office on promotional or advertising campaigns in the current financial year. None is planned for 1994–95.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list those areas with regard to the royal family, on which it is his practice to answer questions.

I will answer questions which are within the conventions of this House and raise issues of public policy, where appropriate.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 24 February.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 24 February.

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

To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 21 February, Official Report, columns 33–34, if Russia would be consulted and its approval need to be given before NATO air-strikes in Bosnia-Herzegovina were carried out.

United Nations Secretary Council resolution 836 authorises the use of air power in support of UNPROFOR in and around the safe areas in Bosnia-Herzegovina. There is no need for further decisions by the Security Council.We nevertheless regard consultation with Russia as of the utmost importance. We welcome the Russians' positive contribution to lifting the siege of Sarajevo, which demonstrated their commitment to bringing the conflict to a peaceful end.

To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 21 February, Official Report, columns 33–34, if he will give President Yeltsin's response to his description of the specific terms of the North Atlantic Council's response to the United Nations Secretary-General's request for NATO asssistance at Sarajevo; and if he will make a statement.

I have nothing further to add to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member on 21 February at columns 33–34.

To ask the Prime Minister in what circumstances gifts made to the Prime Minister which are state property may be used; and, in the case of gifts of jewellery, who is entitled to wear it.

These are matters for the Prime Minister's discretion.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has, in the review of fire legislation and organisation of fire safety enforcement announcement by his Department on 17 January, to consult the representative bodies and organisations of the United Kingdom fire service.

The review team have now begun their consultations on fire safety legislation and enforcement with all known interested parties. These include the Fire Brigades Union, the Chief and Assistant Fire Officers Association, the National Association of Fire Officers and the Fire Service college. They are being assisted by a small contact group which includes a fire brigade chief officer and are also proposing to consult a selection of individual senior fire service staff.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will seek to amend the legislation which currently allows ticket agencies to take and hold people's money without giving a guarantee that they can provide tickets; and if he will make a statement.

When a ticket agency takes money from a consumer it enters into a contract with him and its obligations will depend on the terms of that contract. If the agency is in breach of its obligations under the contract, the consumer can take action to recover the money paid. I see no need for any change in the law in this area.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will give a list of current research contracts concerning any aspects of transport and the environment, giving costs and the names of consultants employed.

No research contracts of the type indicated by the hon. Member are currently being carried out on behalf of my Department.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade why the CENELEC report of 1991 "Live with the Differences on Plugs and Domestic Wiring" was referred back to CENELEC by the European Commission; and what representations he made on the reference back.

The Commission did not mandate the current work in CENELEC. CENELEC itself decided to commence work in this area at its General Assembly in 1992.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the application of subsidiarity to the harmonisation of electrical plugs on CENELEC standards.

The question of subsidiarity does not arise because the Commission has made no formal proposals. The harmonisation in question may emerge from discussions in the relevant standards body, CENELEC. It is uncertain whether a standard which emerged from this process would be enforced by an EC Directive, but if a new standard were to be agreed, it would be for the United Kingdom to decide whether to accept it or seek a derogation.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a further statement on the proposed transfer of The Independent newspaper.

I have received a second application for my consent to acquire a controlling interest in Newspaper Publishing, owner of The Independent and The Independent on Sunday.The application is made by Independent Newspapers plc (INP). INP currently holds 24·99 per cent. of the shares in Newspaper Publishing. It has agreed, subject to securing my consent, to acquire a further 5 per cent. shareholding in Newspaper Publishing. My consent is required if INP wishes to acquire 25 per cent. or more of Newspaper Publishing.I announced to the House on 17 February that I have received an application to acquire a controlling interest in Newspaper Publishing from a consortium including Mirror Group Newspapers. As with that application, I am considering whether I should give my consent to this second application without an inquiry by the Monopolies and Mergers Commission under section 58(3)(a) of the Fair Trading Act 1973.This section gives me discretion to consent to a newspaper transfer without an MMC inquiry where I am satisfied that the newspaper concerned is not economic as a going concern and as a separate newspaper, and that, if the paper is to continue, the case is one of urgency. I am inviting comments from interested parties by 7 March on whether I should give my consent without an MMC inquiry.I have placed in the Libraries of both Houses a note describing the main features of the proposed transaction and explaining how the newspaper merger provisions of the Act apply to this case.I expect to make a further statement to the House announcing my decision following the period of public consultation.

To ask the President of the Board of 'Trade what differentiation in terms of the loan guarantee scheme exists between applications from firms in inner-city areas and from firms in other areas.

.[holding answer 18 February 1994]: Some eligible small firms with trading addresses within inner city task force or successful city challenge areas receive more favourable terms under the small firms loan guarantee scheme. The comparable terms are:

• Inner city task force and successful city challenge areas
• 85 per cent. guarantee on all loans;
• 0·5 per cent a year premium on the outstanding loan paid by borrower;
• No minimum loan size.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade which of his task forces on deregulation considered policies on (a) the planning system, (b) hedgerow legislation and (c) forestry; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 23 February 1994]: The construction, retail, tourism and transport deregulation task forces considered planning issues. The food, drink and agriculture task force considered hedgerow legislation and forestry issues. Their recommendations were published as part of the overall recommendations of the business task forces on 19 January.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what financial support the port of Liverpool and the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company has received from (a) his Department and (b) Liverpool city council in each financial year from 1990–91 to 1993–94.

The port of Liverpool and the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company received no direct financial support from my Department in the financial years 1990–91 to 1993–94. I have no information about the level of financial assistance offered in this period by Liverpool city council.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what financial support the port of Liverpool and the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company are expected to receive from (a) his Department and (b) Liverpool city council in 1994–95 and in subsequent years.

The port of Liverpool and the Mersey Docks and Harbour company received no direct financial support from my Department in 1994–95 and there are no plans for such assistance in subsequent years. I have no information about the level of financial assistance offered in this period by Liverpool city council.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will provide a table which lists (a) the non-local authority employers who employ staff covered by the local government superannuation scheme, (b) the numbers of (i) current and (ii) retired employees covered by the local government superannuation scheme attached to each such non-local authority employer and (c) the total number of non-local authority (i) current and (ii) retired employees covered by the local government superannuation scheme.

There are 1,345 non-local authority employers classified as scheduled or admitted bodies under the local government superannuation scheme in England. I will send the hon. Member a list of their names shortly. The Department keeps no record of the numbers of active and retired scheme members of each non-local authority employer. That information is available only from the local authorities which administer the LGSS. The total number of employees of non-local authority employers in the LGSS, as at 31 March 1993, was 58,634; retired employees, including dependants and former members of the LGSS entitled to deferred benefits, totalled 67,773.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many (a) current and (b) retired employees are covered, in total, by the local government superannuation scheme.

The number of employees in the local government superannuation scheme (LGSS) in England as at 31 March 1993, totalled 948,663. The number of retired employees, including dependants and former members of the LGSS entitled to deferred benefits, totalled 999,794.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has about an application by Coal Contractors Ltd. to mine opencast coal in the area of the Hazel Grove/Paynton boundary, Middlewood way; whether one or more neighbouring local authorities are expected to receive revenue should planning permission be granted; what entity owns the mineral rights; and if he will make a statement.

My Department has received a copy of the environmental statement submitted with the planning application. From this it would appear that the proposal would involve the extraction of 250,000 tonnes of coal from a site known as Towers Farm and New House Farm over a period of approximately two and a half years. We have no information relating to any local authority receiving revenue should planning permission be granted. The mineral rights are owned by British Coal.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total amount of European funding obtained by local authorities in each year from 1979.

This information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will list the total budget for each of the European funding schemes for which local authorities are eligible;(2) what is the total amount of European funding that is allocated for uptake in England.

The United Kingdom is to receive 2,430 million ECU for 1994–1999 for Objective 1 regions, including 840 million ecu for Merseyside, 2,142 million ecu for 1994–96 for objective 2 regions and 817 million ecu for 1994–99 for objective 5(b) regions, from the EC structural funds. The amounts under objective 2 and 5(b) have not yet been broken down between Scotland, Wales and the English regions. In addition, further structural funds are likely to be available under Community initiatives, details of which have yet to be announced by the European Commission.Funds allocated to objective 2 and 5

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has held and what decisions taken on the nomination of a national focal point for the European Environment Agency.

None. The United Kingdom national focal point for the European Environment Agency has already been set up in the environmental protection statistics division of my Department.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects his Department's "Digest of Environmental Protective and Water Statistics No. 16" to be published.

We are aiming to publish the next edition of the "Digest of Environmental Protection and Water Statistics" in April 1994.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to publish the third year report on the 1990 White Paper, "This Common Inheritance".

We expect to publish the third year report on "This Common Inheritance" after the Easter recess. As well as the 1990 White Paper, this year we have to take account of the strategy for substainable development published on 25 January.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to announce his proposals for the Urban Regeneration Agency in the regions; and if he will make a statement.

These are matters for the board of the Urban Regeneration Agency, now known as English Partnership. English Partnership's board will shortly be submitting to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State its first corporate plan, which will include its proposals on structure and future programme.It is anticipated that there will be a strong regional structure with a small London office.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proportion of socially rented houses are provided by (a) council houses, (b) housing associations and (c) private rented houses; and if he will make a statement.

The number of dwellings rented from local authorities, from housing associations and rented privately is shown in table 2·23 of the September quarter edition of "Housing and Construction Statistics, Part 2". This table also shows the proportion of the total dwelling stock represented by each category.A copy of this publication is in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what actions he will take or policy changes he will make to implement the requirements of European Union directive 92/43 EEC on the conservation of natural habitats of wild fauna and flora; and if he will make a statement.

The Government are committed to the achievement of the objectives of the habitats directive. The Government set out their policies and proposals for legislative changes in a public consultation paper issued on 4 October 1993. We are currently considering the responses to the consultation. The wider objectives for the conservation of our natural heritage were further addressed in the biodiversity action plan, published on 25 January 1994. Copies of both documents were placed in the House Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to secure greater transparency in the affairs of non-elected bodies whose membership in whole or in part is appointed by him or who exercise functions previously carried out by local authorities.

Since 1991 we have published Management Statements for many of the non-departmental public bodies—NDPBs—sponsored by the Department, and are preparing statements for others. These describe the bodies' roles and responsibilities, their aims and objectives, financial management arrangements and lines of accountability to Parliament, Ministers and the public. Copies of most statements are available in the Library. In December 1993 we issued guidance to the chairmen and board members of all executive NDPBs on the exercise of their responsibilities. Housing action trusts and urban development corporations, which currently exercise some functions previously carried out by local authorities in their areas, are statutorily required to consult the relevant local authorities about their key pains and they make strenous efforts to involve the local community in their activities. The boards of housing action trusts include representatives of tenants. All executive NDPBs publish annual reports and accounts and follow the principles of the citizens charter in their dealings with the public. The provisions of the White Paper on Open Government, Cm. 2290, July 1993, also apply to public bodies.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment in respect of which non-elected bodies whose membership, in whole or in part, is appointed by him (a) meetings are open to the public, (b) there is scrutiny of financial procedures by independently appointed audit and (c) there are rules governing the declaration of interest.

It is for such bodies themselves to determine how best to keep the public informed and consulted on their activities. All housing action trusts consult their tenants frequently and allow them to attend their board and committee meetings, and most urban development corporations hold open planning meetings. The accounts and financial procedures of all the executive non-departmental public bodies—NDPBs—sponsored by the Department are subject to annual scrutiny by the Comptroller and Auditor General, the Audit Commission or external auditors appointed by the Secretary of State. All executive NDPBs have rules requiring board members to declare any potential conflicts between their public duties and other interests.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will provide financial assistance to the royal borough of Windsor and Maidenhead under the Bellwin scheme towards their costs of dealing with the flooding incident which occurred between 12 and 14 October 1993.

Yes. My right hon. Friend is satisfied that financial relief under the Bellwin scheme would be justified given the exceptional nature of this incident. A scheme of assistance will therefore be established under section 155 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989. Grant will be paid to cover 85 per cent. of eligible costs which are above a threshold, and which have been incurred by the royal borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in respect of this flood damage.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proportion of homes in (a) London, (b) the south-east of England, (c) the south-west of England, (d) the midlands, (e) the north-east of England, (f) the north-west of England, (g) Scotland, (h) Wales and (i) Northern Ireland were affected by flooding for each year from 1985 to 1993.

I have been asked to reply.The information requested is not held centrally.

To ask the Attorney-General, pursuant to his answer of 22 February, column 96, if he will place in the Library the report of the Metropolitan police into and transcript of the evidence at the inquest on the death of Omasase Lumumba.

No. Police reports relating to the investigation of alleged criminal offences and submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service are confidential. The coroner will, on application, and on payment of the prescribed fee, supply a copy of the transcript of proceedings to anyone who in his opinion is a properly interested person.

To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee what steps are proposed to secure the return to the House of Commons of the portrait of Lady Astor; and if he will make a statement.

The picture of Lady Astor was re-hung near the Terrace entrance on 22 February, following its temporary removal for photography.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement about the Committee on Women in Science and Technology.

In March 1993 I established an independent committee to advise me on how the potential, skills and expertise of women could best be used for national advantage and for the benefit of science, engineering and technology. The committee published its report, "The Rising Tide", this morning and I am arranging for copies to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses. The Government welcome the report as a valuable contribution to the debate and will now consider its recommendations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will detail the amount of finance available to Freight Company West to modernise satellite and other depots; and if he will list their locations.

Trainload Freight West will exist as a division of the British Railways Board from 1 April. The allocation of finance for specific purposes such as depot modernisation is a matter for the Board.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 2 February, Official Report, column 763, where the police scientific development branch is located; what is its annual budget; and if he will publish a breakdown of its staff by grade and area of expertise.

I have been asked to reply.The police scientific development branch—PSDB—is located at two sites; Sandridge, Hertfordshire and Horsham, Sussex. PSDB's budget estimate for financial year 1993–94 is £5,533,000.A breakdown of PSDB's staff as at 18 February 1994, by civil service grade, is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what further changes he proposes to make to his Department's cash limits for 1993–94.

Further to the reply that I gave to my hon. Friend on 4 February 1994 at col. 1004, subject to parliamentary approval of a revised spring supplementary estimate the cash limit for class VI, vote 2 will now be increased by £30,778,000 from £202,236,000 to £233,014,000. There is no change to the previously announced reduction of £309,000 in the Department's running costs limit. The additional £20,000,000 now sought on vote 2 is to provide a payment to the United States Government if, as expected, we are shortly able to conclude an agreement to settle a dispute with them over airport user charges. The addition on this vote will be offset by a further reduction in the cash limit on class VI, vote 1 of £20,000,000 from £2,249,797,000 to £2,229,797,000. The extra provision now sought on vote 2 will not therefore add to the control total of public expenditure.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he intends to issue safeguarding directions for the channel tunnel rail link.

Planning directions to safeguard the route of the channel tunnel rail link and the terminus at St. Pancras were issued today and come into force tomorrow.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what criteria his Department uses in setting the priorities for the road programme.

I announced on 5 August 1993 a package of measures to speed up the delivery of national road schemes. One measure was a review of the road programme aimed particularly at ensuring that schemes were prepared and delivered in accordance with a clear set of priorities. I will make an announcement about the results of that review shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether it is his intention to use joint industry scheme assets after rail privatisation for purposes other than the payment of pensions.

I have no intention of using scheme assets for any purpose. I intend that the new scheme should be used for paying pensions and other benefits for which the present scheme is designed. The present scheme would permit payment to the employer of an element of residual surplus on winding-up. The winding-up rules of the new scheme are still under discussion.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how the current preserved benefit arrangements of the British Rail pension scheme will be affected by the privatisation of British Rail and the introduction of the joint industry scheme.

My officials are discussing with the trustees of the BR pension scheme simplification of the present arrangements which involve separate "preserved benefits" sections, but members with preserved benefits will not lose any protection as a result.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if the pension arrangements for employees following rail privatisation will include in the membership of trustee boards and local management committees employer/employee nominees on a 50:50 basis; and whether existing provisions for trade union nominees to represent members will be unchanged.

The Government intend that equal employer/member representation should continue at all levels of the governance of the new scheme. The precise method of appointing the members' representatives is under discussion and I hope to put forward proposals for consultation shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if the existing British Rail pension scheme surplus and deficit requirements will be replicated in the post-privatisation joint industry scheme;

My officials are presently discussing drafts of the trust deed and rules of the joint industry scheme with BR and the trustees. It will not always be possible to replicate the existing provisions exactly in the new scheme because its structure will be different. But the sections of the new scheme covering people to be protected under the Railways Act 1993 will have to satisfy the condition that they are "no less favourable" than the BR pension scheme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if the arrangements for the collection of employee and employer pension contributions following rail privatisation will conform with the existing British Rail pension scheme rules in respect of remitting contributions to the trustees within seven days.

Yes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to announce the publication of his circular on the planning of motorway service areas, including their spacing; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced the deregulation of motorway service areas (MSAs) in August 1992. His statement included detailed guidance to intending developers and specified that MSA,s should not generally be located at intervals of less than fifteen miles. A circular to local authorities in England and Wales setting out these policies is in preparation. I expect to issue it shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the estimated cost of the construction of the M11 link road in Wanstead.

The total estimated works cost of the A12 Hackney Wick to M11 link road is £170 million of which the current contract in Wanstead has been awarded at a tender sum of £31.5 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the schemes his Department operates to assist staff facing financial hardship following a transfer, showing (a) the particular criteria and rules applying to each one, including the circumstances under which any loans can be written off, (b) the total amount loaned or granted under the schemes in 1992–93 and so far in 1993–94 and (c) the number of staff assisted in 1992–93 and so far in 1993–94.

Since January 1992 the Department has had in place a contract with a relocation company which offers to individual members of staff being compulsorily transferred a guaranteed selling price for their home based on an agreed valuation. All staff being transferred compulsorily are encouraged to participate in these arrangements. Staff are reimbursed other reasonable expenses incurred in their move.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list each scheme in Greater London in his Department's current trunk roads and motorways programme with the total cost in each year since construction commenced up to estimated completion at both current and constant 1992–93 prices for (a) junction improvements, (b) other improvements, (c) maintenance and (d) new construction.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the total expenditure on (a) construction, (b) maintenance and (c) improvements to (i) trunk roads and (ii) motorways in Greater London in each year since 1978 at both current and constant 1992–93 prices; and what is his planned expenditure in the years up to and including 1996–97.

Spend on major trunk road schemes and trunk road and motorway maintenance in London (including land costs, preparation costs and VAT where appropriate) from 1982–83 onwards is given in the table.

The table gives the information available. It lists trunk road improvement and new construction schemes in progress in London. Works costs are at 1992–93 prices and include preparation, Iand and VAT as appropriate. No indices are available for the forecast expenditure comparable with 1992–93.The large number of individual small projects in the maintenance programme make it impossible to itemise spend except at disproportionate cost. The forecast expenditure for maintenance for 1993–94 is £61.7 million.