To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will consider issuing statutory guidelines to local authorities to limit enabling development to those listed buildings with negative equity;(2) what plans he has to provide guidelines to local authorities in dealing with planning applications involving enabling development which contravene policies incorporating protection for the countryside, registered parks and gardens and the setting of listed buildings.

The term "enabling development" is not found in the Planning Acts and there are no plans to give it any statutory significance or make any specific reference to it in guidance.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the schemes given city grant in the north-west region in the last two years with the amounts in each case; and what were the amounts of any clawback of grant.

The schemes in the Department of the Environment's north-west region for which the provision of city grant was approved since April 1992, and the approved level of grant, are set out in the table. None of these schemes has yet reached the date for determining the level of any clawback. The urban development corporations offer their own grants analogous to city grant; schemes funded in this way are not included.

Project	Approved Grant (£)
Blackburn
Enamel Street housing	735,782
Farmers Market site offices	672,717
Hornby Hotel	127,439
Bolton
Sunnyside Mills housing	1,413,441
Burnley
Holy Trinity Church flats	300,000
Manchester
Broughton Street cash and carry warehouse	249,835
Sherborne Street housing	835,700
Blackett Street units	425,000
Express Offices redevelopment	1,972,000
Lever Street offices	350,000
Jackson Crescent student flats	575,000
Energy Street housing	520,000
Louisa Street housing	774,093
Kelbrook Road units, phase 1	151,000
Kelbrook Road units, phase 2	370,000

Project	Approved Grant (£)
Oldham
Cromford Street units	121,877
Park Road flats/units	1,012,316
Greengate Industrial Estate, phase 2	1,306,000
Preston
Avenham Terrace housing	101,170
Queens Mill housing	291,440
Rochdale
Perseverance Mill units	475,000
HQ Co-op Retail Building	3,000,000
Smallbridge Business Park	216,000
Salford
Deva Centre offices	2,770,000
Hamilton Garden housing	380,717
Griffin Court offices	220,000
Liverpool Road industrial units	196,981
Albion units	1,550,000
Wigan
Gordon Close housing	130,605
Kent Street mixed development	280,863
Piatt Lane units	147,405

To ask the Secretary aof State for the Environment what is the current situation regarding the city grant application made in respect of the Foleshill gas works site.

English Partnerships has made a proposal to British Gas, the site owners, under which a grant could be offered for a first phase of development on the Foleshill site. English Partnerships has also suggested a possible joint venture for the development of a second phase.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table showing the levels of atmospheric pollution and the levels of nitrous oxide and black smoke emissions in the Lewisham area in each year since 1985.

Annual average concentrations of black smoke and nitrogen dioxide in Lewisham is given in the table. No monitoring data on levels of nitrous oxide in the Lewisham area is available. However, Lewisham was included in both the 1986 and 1991 national nitrogen dioxide diffusion tube surveys. Black smoke is monitored in areas of the United Kingdom at risk of exceeding the limit value of the European Community directive on smoke and sulphur dioxide—89/427/EEC. The site in Lewisham was closed in 1989 since concentrations of these pollutants were not at risk of exceeding the directive limit values.Annual emissions of smoke and nitrogen dioxide between 1985 and 1991 are given in the Department of the Environment's 15th edition of the Digest of Environmental Protection and Water Statistics, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the grade and present duties of each member of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy employed in his Department; and if he will cross-refer each post to his Department's latest MINIS report.

Three members of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy are employed in the Department of the Environment. They are Mr. P. Rowsell, grade 5, listed as head of finance and local authority expenditure and resources division in page 28 of part 1 of MINIS 14; Mr. D. Weatherly, SEC) in construction division 5—page 38 of part 6 of MINIS 14 dealing with prequalification systems and the consultants register; and Mr. J. Gauld, SEO in management audit services division—page 32 of part 5 of MINIS 14 where the division is shown under its former name of finance management audit.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what plans he has to review the council tax transitional relief scheme;(2) what plans he has to change the rules governing transitional relief following the letter of 18 February from the hon. Member for Woolwich;(3) what estimate he has of the number of cases where persons in a higher property band pay less in council tax than someone in the same district or borough in a lower property band but in otherwise similar circumstances as a result of transitional relief; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 24 February 1994]: We have no plans to change the rules governing transitional relief. I have written to the hon. Member about the application of the transitional relief scheme in Greenwich.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to respond to the invitation he has received from the Metropolitan police, local churches, and local authorities, to attend the conference on King's Cross due to be held on 8 March.

[holding answer 2 March 1994]: Following an invitation from the leaders of Camden and Islington councils, my office telephoned the conference organisers on 18 February to say that, because of other commitments, I would be unable to attend.

To ask the Attorney-General whether the common law duty of a Minister of the Crown to sign public interest immunity certificates rests upon the contents of (a) an individual document or (b) the class of document; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to him on 3 February 1994, Official Report, column 833, and to the extract from the "Supreme Court Practice 1993" which I have already placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will make it his policy that the identities of all witnesses as to fact in a criminal investigation which leads to proceedings by way of complaint or indictment are disclosed to an accused person facing trial in a sheriff court or the High Court of Justiciary;(2) if he will make it his policy to accept the principle of full disclosure of evidence to the defence in criminal cases.

In Scotland, disclosure of the case for the prosecution is achieved by providing the defence with a list containing the names and addresses of witnesses who may be called to give evidence. The defence is then entitled to obtain statements from these witnesses. In summary cases, copies of all police witness statements are given to the defence on request.An experiment in the provision of some civilian witness statements is being conducted in Paisley. In cases prosecuted on indictment, the accused will also have a list of productions served on him. The production will be lodged in court prior to the trial diet, and they may be examined by the accused or his represenative prior to the trial.My noble and learned Friend the Lord Advocate confirms that the policy of the Crown in Scotland is to disclose to the defence any information which supports the defence, even though it may be damaging to the prosecution case. Procurators fiscal are also instructed to provide assistance to the defence if it is necessary to enable witnesses for the defence to be traced. The overall aim is to ensure that the true facts of any case are laid before the judge or jury.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement regarding contact between Dumfries and Galloway health board, and Mr. Frank Brown of Ayrshire and Arran health board on urology services.

Mr. Brown, commissioning manager of Ayrshire and Arran health board, contacted Dumfries and Galloway health board in September 1993 to establish that board's purchasing intentions for urological services.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 2 December, OfficialReport, column 689, if he will list the contracts currently in operation between the South Ayrshire and North Ayrshire and Arran NHS trusts and Dumfries and Galloway health board; and if he will make a statement.

Currently, the South Ayrshire hospitals and North Ayrshire and Arran NHS trusts each have a block contract with Dumfries and Galloway health board for a variety of specialties.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he has taken to assess whether, in deciding not to oppose afforestation plans at Cloanaig, Kintyre, Scottish Natural Heritage took adequate account of the interests of local communities within the terms of the Natural Heritage (Scotland) Act 1991.

The formulation and provision of advice to the Forestry Commission on the natural heritage aspects of woodland grant scheme applications is solely a matter for Scottish Natural Heritage.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether tax options of the kind described in the recent Country Landowners Association report, "Focus on Woodlands", are being considered by the forestry review group.

The Country Landowners Association report was one of a large number of representations received by the review group in the course of its work. The views expressed in these representations have been valuable to the group in preparing its advice to Ministers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will ensure that the Government's forestry review group is considering in detail all types of incentive for both tree planting and management.

The forestry review group was asked, among other things, to review the effectiveness of the current incentives for forestry investment, in accordance with the manifesto commitment. Ministers are now considering its advice before deciding what action, if any, should be taken.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish the targets for each national health service general manager, unit general manager and chief executive in the next year; and what is the performance-related pay payable for achievement of these targets.

Numbers of personal injury accidents on the A1
	1991				1992				1993
	Fatal	Serious	Slight	Total	Fatal	Serious	Slight	Total	Fatal	Serious	Slight	Total
East Lothian
January	—	2	3	5	—	3	2	5	—	—	6	6
February	—	—	3	3	—	1	1	2	—	1	—	1
March	—	1	1	2	—	—	3	3	—	—	1	1
April	—	—	—	0	—	—	1	1	—	—	2	2
May	—	1	3	4	2	—	2	4	—	—	2	2
June	—	1	2	3	—	1	1	2	—	1	1	2
July	1	—	2	3	1	—	5	6	1	1	5	7
August	1	1	3	5	—	—	4	4	—	3	5	8
September	—	—	3	3	2	—	2	4	—	—	2	2
October	—	1	2	3	2	—	2	4	—	2	2	4
November	—	—	2	2	—	—	—	0	n/a	n/a	a/a	n/a

This information is not held centrally. The setting of targets for each NHS general manager, unit general manager and chief executive is determined locally. Arrangements for assessment of performance-related pay for achievement of targets are matters for the remuneration committee of the employing body.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many (a) corporate and (b) individual insolvencies were recorded in Scotland for each of the past five years.

The number of insolvencies in Scotland for each of the past five full accounting years was as follows:

(a) Corporate insolvencies
Year	Number
1988–89	663
1989–90	651
1990–91	720
1991–92	862
1992–93	915

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing the total number of (a) minor, (b) serious and (c) fatal road traffic accidents on the Al in (i) East Lothian and (ii) Berwickshire in each month for the last three years.

The information is given in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give details of the number of new homes to be built in the Blairgowrie, Alyth, Coupar Angus, Meigle, Newfyle, Birk Hill and Muirhead areas of Tayside in the next three years and five years, as advised by Tayside regional council, Angus district council and Perth and Kinross district council.

The information requested is not held centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he intends to publish the report of the forestry review group.

No. The report of the forestry review group was prepared for the confidential advice of Ministers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how the Sea Mammals Research Unit estimates the number of grey and common seals in Scotland; if the seal population of lochs is included; and what assessment he has made of the method of counting.

Each year, the sea mammal research unit—SMRU—carries out counts of grey seal pups using aerial photography. All major Scottish colonies are surveyed, including Loch Eriboll—the only site within a loch where significant numbers breed.The SMRU counts common seals along the Scottish coastline during August each year, using a thermal-imaging camera mounted in a helicopter. The survey is repeated on a five-year cycle and includes all islands and sea lochs.The SMRU survey programme for Scottish seals is reviewed annually by the special committee on seals, an independent group of experts.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 17 February, Official Report, columns 955–56, if he will make a statement listing the current annual fees levied by the private schools with pupils under the assisted places scheme.

This information is publicly available in the publication "Which School" which is available from the Independent Schools Information Service (Scotland) at the following address:

• Floor 2/1
• 11 Castle Street
• Edinburgh
• EH2 3EH

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what agencies are employed by the Highlands and Islands Enterprise to provide its public relations; and what is the annual cost to the company.

This is an operational matter for Highlands and Islands Enterprise. I will ask its chairman to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will place in the Library a copy of his speech on Saturday 26 February.

I have placed in the Library a copy of the extract from my speech at Paisley on 26 February which was released to the press. I shall be replying shortly to the hon. Member's letter to me on the subject.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will publish the Howie report on the reform of the upper secondary school curriculum.

The Howie report was published on 5 March 1992.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about the report of the Howie committee on curriculum and examinations in upper secondary education in Scotland.

I am pleased to announce that I am publishing the Government's response to the Howie committee's proposals today. Details of my decisions, which build on the strengths of the current system, are set out in the document "Higher Still: Opportunity For All", copies of which have been deposited in the Library of the House and the Vote Office.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of newly qualified nurses completed their training in Scotish NHS hospitals in the 12-month period ended December 1993 and found full-time permanent employment in NHS hospitals in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 3 February 1994]: The exact information requested is not available centrally. The table shows the status of nurses who were final year students in Scotland on 30 September 1992 one year later.It should be noted that the methods by which this information is collected do not permit account to be taken of certain students, for example those who have been unable to complete their training within the normal three year period; those who, having qualified, may have chosen to have a break in service before seeking employment; those who have found employment as a nurse outwith the NHS; and those who may have qualified, joined the NHS and left. Those who qualify and work occasionally in the NHS, for example, bank or agency nurses, also cannot be identified and have therefore been counted with the "not employed" category.

Status of final year basic student nurses in Scotland one year later: year beginning 30 September 1992:
Status at 30 September 1993	Headcount	Per cent.
In full-time post in NHS	889	37·5
In part-time post in NHS	325	13·7
Total in post in NHS	1,214	51·2
Taking further training in NHS	16	0·7
Not employed in NHS	1,143	48·1
TOTAL	2,373	100

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland who are the members currently appointed to the Scottish health service advisory council.

[holding answer 24 February 1994]: The advisory council was abolished last year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will list the people from Clydebank who have been appointed to (a) Glasgow health board, (b) Dumbartonshire local enterprise company, (c) the board of management of Clydebank technical college and (d) other Government bodies;

[holding answer 28 February 1994]:: No resident of Clydebank has been appointed to Greater Glasgow health board. One resident of Eastwood has been appointed to the board, Rev. R. D. M. Campbell.No resident of Eastwood has been appointed to Argyll and Clyde health board.No resident of Clydebank has been appointed to local NHS hospital trusts. The names of those residents of Eastwood who have been appointed to local NHS hospital trusts are as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland 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.

[holding answer 28 February 1994]: Such action as is necessary has already been taken or is in hand. All the bodies to which I appoint members and which undertake expenditure directly either produce audited accounts or, in some minor cases, have their expenditure included in the accounts prepared by my Departments. Most also produce annual reports. These reports and accounts are laid before Parliament and they may be examined by the Committee of Public Accounts.In addition, the Comptroller and Auditor General may conduct inquiries into the economy, efficiency and effectiveness with which bodies to which I appoint members and which receive more than half their income from public funds, have used their resources. Reports by the Comptroller and Auditor General may be submitted to Parliament and the Committee of Public Accounts may question senior officials both of my Department and, in many cases, of the bodies themselves.Management statements have been, or will be, prepared for most executive NDPBs. These will be published and will define the role and responsibilities of the body, its relationship with its sponsor departments, its accountability, aims and objectives. In addition, executive NDPBs are expected to meet the charter standards of the citizens charter and the principles of the Government's White Paper, "Open Government". A code of conduct for NHS boards which encourages transparency about NHS activities has already been issued for consultation. It is also planned to produce a code of practice to follow up steps already taken as part of the patients charter initiative to incorporate into the NHS the principles of the Government's White Paper, "Open Government".The only bodies which carry out functions formerly undertaken by local authorities, are the colleges of further education for which I became responsible on 1 April 1993. The colleges produce annual reports and audited accounts and the Comptroller and Auditor General has a right to inspect their books and records and to carry out value for money studies. Again, he may report the results of these studies to Parliament and the Committee of Public Accounts can question relevant officials. This year, for the first time, each college will also be required to publish a shortened development plan, describing its forward objectives and its performance in meeting past objectives.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has received a report on the escape of two patients from Carstairs state hospital; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 2 March 1994]: Yes. On 27 January two patients who were being transported from the west wing to the east wing of the State hospital, forced open the back door of the van and attempted to escape. They were in sight of security staff at all times and monitored by the hospital's close circuit television. They were apprehended within 90 seconds.As a result of the incident rigorous daily checks are now carried out on all vehicles used for transporting patients at Carstairs.The recent announcement by my noble and learned Friend to invest £14 million in the creation of the state hospital on a single site will remove the possibility of a recurrence of this type of incident.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 15 February, c. 683–84 what is the total cost per annum to the Overseas Development Administration, including accommodation and air fares of (a) the inspector of banks and trust companies, (b) the insurance services adviser and (c) the principal tax adviser in the British Virgin Islands.

It is usual in this country to observe the practice of maintaining the confidentiality, on pay and allowances, between employer and employee and therefore it is not our practice to reveal remuneration details for individual technical co-operation officers. However, average costs for the British Virgin Islands were contained in my answer of 15 February, columns 683–84.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what bilateral aid programmes the United Kingdom is pursuing with Vietnam; what is the level of aid; and if he will make a statement.

We are providing know-how to help prepare for investments in strategic infrastructure and assistance for resettlement of returned economic migrants. Expenditure in 1993–94 will be about £3 million. We also intend to provide concessional support for £50 million worth of projects.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to, or received from, authorities and agencies in Mozambique in respect of the diversion of aid.

The only reported losses of British bilateral aid have been pilferage of food aid. We estimate losses of about 2 per cent. in 1993. All out bilateral food aid in 1993 was provided through British nongovernmental organisations—NGOs—who employ contractors, paid on performance, to store and transport the food to specific destinations. Distribution to beneficiaries is supervised by NGOs. Where there are losses in storage and transit, we expect the NGOs to recoup the losses from the contractors concerned.Regular co-ordination meetings are held between the Government of Mozambique, donors, and implementing agencies to monitor the distribution of emergency relief and food aid. Where specific cases of diversion of United Kingdom bilateral food aid has been suspected, they have been taken up by the ambassador with Ministers in the Government of Mozambique and provincial governors. In such cases assurances have been received that action is being taken to prevent further instances.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what payments were made to Biwater Berhad of Malaysia in 1986; and for what purpose.

One payment of £48·6 million was made to Antah Biwater JV under the United Kingdom—Malaysia grant 1986 in respect of the rural water supply project, which provides clean water supplies to about 4 million people in 134 areas in Malaysia.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what payments were made in 1986 to Antah Holdings of Malaysia; and for what purpose.

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what payments were made to citizens of Malaysia and Malaysian companies by the ODA for proposed aid-related projects in the years 1985, 1986; 1987 and 1988; and for what purposes such payments were made.

None.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the value of United Kingdom exports of computers in the latest year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

The United Kingdom exported computers worth £3·8 billion in 1992, the last full year for which data are available. Exports of computers in the first nine months of 1993 were worth £3·5 billion. Due to changes in the system of collecting trade data, figures for 1993 as a whole are not yet comprehensive enough for direct comparisons with earlier data. However, the value of United Kingdom exports of computers in 1993, as a whole, are expected to reach a record level.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received about Liverpool as the location for an international trade centre; and if he will make a statement.

My Department has received only one such representation, from a local Liverpool resident. It is being considered by officials.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he intends to complete his review of the Post Office.

My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade is anxious to complete the Post Office review as soon as possible. The Government will not however set an artificial date.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans his Department has to resolve the legal anomalies regarding the import and sale of moderns not approved for connection to the United Kingdom public telephone network; and whether he intends to press for a Europewide solution.

My Department is reviewing the United Kingdom approvals regime for telecommunications terminal equipment, including the placing on the market of modems capable of, but not approved for, connection to the network. One of the main objectives of the review is to introduce a regime consistent with our obligations under the Telecommunications Terminal Equipment Directive —91/263/EEC. At the same time, my officials are discussing the particular problems caused by unapproved modems with the Commission and other member states with a view to developing a pan-European solution.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what decisions were taken at the governing council of GATT in Geneva on 22 February on the link between trade and the environment.

On 22 February the GATT council considered and agreed the outline of the GATT report to the United Nations Commission for Sustainable Development on GATT activities following the 1992 UNCED conference. The report will highlight the contribution of the Uruguay round to sustainable development, as well as pointing to the value of analytical work already carried out in GATT. Contracting parties see the December 1993 decision on future trade and environment work as evidence of continued commitment to this important issue.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what information his Department has on the benefits to date arising from regulations covering furniture foam; and if he will make a statement.

The Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988, as amended, include requirements for the flammability resistance of foam filled furniture. Statistics for deaths and injuries in fires are compiled by the Home Office from data collected by fire brigades. The data records that the number of deaths caused by combustion originating in upholstery and covers in dwellings has fallen from 193 in 1988 to 117 in 1991. Though other factors, such as an increased use of smoke alarms, may have influenced these figures the fall in the death rate associated with fires in upholstery and covers was much steeper than the fall in death rate from fires in dwellings overall.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what measures he has taken to promote the development of information super-highways in the United Kingdom.

A recent study, commissioned by this Department, concluded that the United Kingdom is one of the most advanced countries worldwide on a range of key telecommunications infrastructure indicators, including use of optical fibre at trunk and local level, digitalisation of exchanges and availability of advanced services such as ISDN. This position has been achieved through our policies of privatisation, liberalisation and competition. A large number of companies are now competing to provide high-capacity telecommunication services, including BT, Mercury, Energis, COLT, MFS and the cable TV operators. I hope to license more shortly.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement about the progress of the general agreement on tariffs and trade regulations on aviation services.

Air transport services fall within the scope of the general agreement on trade in services, which forms part of the GATT agreement. The annex on air transport services notes that the agreement does not apply to measures affecting air transport traffic rights. A number of countries have made liberalisation commitments in services related to repair and maintenance, sales and marketing and computer reservation systems. There will be periodic reviews to consider whether the extent of the application of the agreement to air transport services should be expanded.The GATT negotiations on trade in civil aircraft will continue for a further year following the conclusion of the GATT round. The Government are keen that these negotiations should resume at the earliest opportunity, in order to allow time for the negotiation of an agreement covering the whole aerospace sector, to include balanced disciplines on direct and indirect support while protecting existing Government launch aid. Meanwhile, the Government, in conjunction with industry, the European Commission, and other EU Governments, are carrying out an analysis of the various options for achieving such an agreement.

To ask the Prime Minister what further plans he has to visit a children's nursery.

I have no immediate plans to do so.

To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to visit Milton Keynes.

I have no immediate plans to do so.

To ask the Prime Minister how many public interest immunity certificates he or his predecessor have been asked to sign in each year since 1979; how many he or his predecessor declined to sign; and if he will make a statement on his policy of signing public interest immunity certificates.

No central record has been kept of the number of public interest immunity certificates put to Ministers since 1979, and a search of all the records in No. 10 would involve disproportionate cost. I do not recall being asked to sign such a certificate and it is unlikely that either I or my predecessor would have been asked to sign one since immediate responsibility for the relevant documents or information would normally rest with the head of a separate Department.

To ask the Prime Minister what matters were discussed, and what decisions taken, during his visit to the United States of America.

We discussed current international issues, and established a wide measure of agreement on points for joint United Kingdom-United States action. These included sending a joint British-American civil planning mission to Sarajevo; continuing support for the process of democratic and economic reform in Russia; steps to promote the process of democratic reform in South Africa; reaffirmation of United States support for the joint declaration on Northern Ireland; and support for Governor Patten's policies on Hong Kong.

To ask the Prime Minister who pays for the ceremonial dress worn from time to time by the Lords Lieutenant of England.

On appointment, Lords Lieutenant are offered a contribution from public funds towards the cost of the ceremonial uniform worn on their official engagements.

To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 28 February, column 579, if he will place in the Library a copy of the official inventory of items given to Prime Ministers.

A variety of gifts are received from heads of government, heads of state and others. They are all handled in accordance with "Questions of Procedure for Ministers". It is not considered appropriate to provide a list.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will give details of the official gifts he has presented on the official visits abroad he has made since November 1990.

[holding answer 2 March 1994]: No. The customary practice is to give official gifts to heads of government, heads of state and small numbers of officials on the occasion of each visit to a country, but it is not considered appropriate to give details of these.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 3 March.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 3 March.

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

To ask the Prime Minister what plans Her Majesty's Government have to celebrate St. Winwaloe's day.

None.

To ask the Prime Minister what offers of aid to Malaysia were discussed during his visit to Malaysia in September 1993; and what were the amounts involved for each potential project.

[holding answer 28 February 1994]: There was no substantive discussion of aid offers during this visit.However, I attended the unveiling of a plaque at the Connaught Bridge power plant for which the Government had provided £23·485 million aid and trade provision support. I was also present at the signature of a document between the Kuala Lumpur international airport Berhad and the Anglo-Japanese airport consortium, on the role the consortium would play in the Kuala Lumpur airport project.

To ask the Prime Minister what plans Her Majesty's Government have to celebrate St. David's day.

[holding answer 1 March 1994]: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales held a reception on the eve of St. David's Day, to mark the occasion.

To ask the Prime Minister where the handwritten records of the Cabinet Secretary of each Cabinet meeting are kept; and how far back such records go.

[holding answer 2 March 1994]: The Cabinet Secretary's notebooks, which contain the handwritten records of each Cabinet meeting, have been preserved since 1947. They are retained in the Cabinet Office with the approval of the Lord Chancellor under section 3(4) of the Public Records Act 1958.

To ask the Prime Minister what rules apply to the use of air miles credited to Ministers undertaking official journeys.

[holding answer 2 March 1994]: I have recently made it clear that I do not believe that Ministers or officials travelling on Government business, necessarily paid for from public funds, should make private use of air miles which may arise as a result of that expenditure. There is no objection to re-applying the benefits of these schemes to travel on Government business.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he is taking, and what funding is being withheld from colleges of further education, to require them to change the contracts of existing staff; whether any targets for the percentage of existing staff moving to new contracts have been proposed by him; what additional finance is being made available to colleges to allow them to offer incentive packages to existing staff to take new contracts; what limits he has placed on the scale of these offers; and if he will make a statement.

The holdback of grant from the Further Education Funding Council relates to newly employed staff. It is for individual colleges to decide whether they wish to move existing staff onto new contracts and how rapidly they wish to do so. It is also for individual colleges to decide what incentives they will offer their staff, within the resources available to each college and within the framework of the Government's policy on public sector pay.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will give a ranking by county of the percentage of female school leavers leaving school with five or more GCSEs at grades A to C.

The table gives details of the ranking by county of the percentage of female school leavers estimated to be leaving maintained schools in England in 1992 with five or more GCSEs at grades A to C. The latest year for which the information is available is 1991–92, when the school examinations survey was undertaken with a reduced sample of 3 per cent.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has to amend the regulations for mandatory awards for those students in higher education, who were abducted from the United Kingdom as children, and who therefore would not qualify for an award under the current regulations because of their limited period of residence; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has no present plans to amend the Education (Mandatory Awards) Regulations in the way the hon. Member proposes. Normally, a student must have been ordinarily resident in the British Islands throughout the three years immediately preceding the start of the first year of his course to qualify for a mandatory award. Periods of temporary absence abroad do not breach a person's ordinary residence in the British Islands. Under the regulations, it is for an applicant's local education authority to decide whether the period during which he was abroad as a result of his abduction should be considered a temporary absence in deciding if he is eligible for a mandatory award. Where a student is not eligible for a mandatory award, the LEA has the power to make a discretionary award to him.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many Malaysian students have entered the United Kingdom in each year since 1980 for the purpose of studying; and what financial support they directly, or the Malaysian Government on their behalf, received from the Government.

The following table shows the number of Malaysian students enrolled as full-time and sandwich course students at universities, polytechnics, Scottish central institutions and all other colleges maintained or assisted by local authorities or grant-aided by Education Departments in the United Kingdom. Information on independent sector further and higher education institutions is not collected centrally.

(000s)
Year	Number
1980	12·9
1981	9·0
1982	6·5
1983	5·5
1984	5·0
1985	6·3
1986	6·5
1987	6·8
1988	6·4
1989	7·5
1990	7·5
1991	7·9

United Kingdom Government support for Malaysian students is shown in the following table; figures are not available prior to the 1984–85 financial year.

	£000s
1984–85	3,063
1985–86	2,947
1986–87	2,836
1987–88	3,158
1988–89	2,560
1989–90	2,797
1990–91	2,874
1991–92	2,913
1992–93	2,403

To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what assessment he has made of the amount of paperwork sent to chairmen of governors of secondary schools;(2) what measures are being taken to reduce the level of documentation being sent to chairmen of governors of secondary schools.

We are aware of concerns expressed about the amount of paperwork sent to schools from my Department. We have responded to those concerns by regulating, since 1991, the flow of paper so that only essential documents, mainly those relating to statutory responsibilities, are sent automatically. I constantly invite suggestions from schools of paperwork which is redundant —with a view to reducing or eliminating it.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will place in the Library the action plan from Crook primary school governors; and if he will also place in the Library the advice to him on that plan from (a) Durham county council and (b) Ofsted.

I have deposited a copy of the governors' action plan in the Library. As required by section 211 of the Education Act 1993 Durham local education authority has sent its commentary on the action plan to my right hon. Friend and Her Majesty's chief inspector for schools. It is for the LEA to decide whether to make copies more widely available. HMCI's advice to my right hon. Friend is given in confidence.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will list the occasions since 1979 when Ministers have issued written instructions to override his Department's accounting officer's objections.

[holding answer 24 February 1994]: The Secretary of State has not since 1979 issued any formal instructions to override the advice of his accounting officer.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will give a full list of all non-ministerial Government Departments financed from public funds in the United Kingdom.

A list of non-ministerial Government Departments is contained in the list of ministerial responsibilities produced by the Cabinet Office. Copies of the latest LMR—June 1993—are available from the Vote Office. Since June 1993, three new non-ministerial Government Departments have been established—the Office of the National Lottery, the Office of Passenger Rail Franchising, and the Office of the Rail Regulator.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) if he will list the non-departmental public bodies in operation in the United Kingdom each year since 1979;(2) if he will list all publicly funded advisory bodies in the United Kingdom;(3) what has been the total cost of non-departmental public bodies to the Exchequer in each year since 1979;(4) how many people are employed in non-departmental public bodies in the United Kingdom.

Such information is contained in the publication "Public Bodies 1993", and earlier editions of the same publication. Copies are available in the Libraries of the House.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list all non-ministerial Government Departments responsible for regulating the privatised utility services.

The following non-ministerial Government Departments are responsible for regulating the privatised utility services—the Office of Electricity Regulation, the Office of Gas Supply, the Office of Telecommunications, and the Office of Water Services.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) what research the Government are funding or initiating into the dangers of bacterial strains becoming resistant to available antibiotics; and if he will make a statement.(2) what research the Government are funding or initiating into the possibility that antibiotic-resistant strains of enterococcus may pass on their immunity to other more deadly types of bacteria; and if he will make a statement;(3) what research has been conducted into the antibacterial resistant traits of staphylococcus aureus.

The Medical Research Council attaches importance to research into the mechanisms of pathogenicity and drug resistance in bacterial infections and supports a range of studies in this area which are relevant to understanding how antibiotic resistance develops. As part of its clinical research initiative in Nottingham, the council is building up support for several groups studying a range of bacterial infections. One group has a particular interest in problems related to staphylococcal infections. The MRC is also reviewing the literature relating to septic shock, especially in relation to possible studies of monoclonal antibody therapy. In addition, the Public Health Laboratory Service, a non-departmental public body, is undertaking surveillance programmes to monitor the incidence and effects of multiple antibiotic resistance to staphylococcus aureus and to enterococcus bacteria.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list those answers to parliamentary questions since 1990 that have subsequently turned out to be incorrect.

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

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster which bodies will be covered by the multi-departmental scrutiny of public sector research establishments.

I announced the terms of reference for this efficiency scrutiny on 2 February. The bodies which will be covered are listed in the table. The team will make recommendations to Sir Peter Levene, the Prime Minister's efficiency adviser, by the end of April 1994. It is normal practice for efficiency unit reports to be published.

Science and technology establishments included in the PSRE scrutiny
Life sciences sector	Topic area
MAFF
1.ADAS	Plant/Animal/ Environment
2. Central Veterinary Laboratory	Animal

Life sciences sector	Topic area
3. Central Science Laboratory	Plant/Animal/Environment
4. Food Science Laboratory	Food
5. Torry Research Station	Food
6. Directorate of Fisheries Research	Fish/Environment
ODA
7. Natural Resources Institute	Plant
Scottish Office
8. Marine Laboratory/Fisheries Research Services	Fish
9. Scottish Agricultural Science Agency	Plant
SARI
10. Scottish Crop Research Institute	Plant
11. Rowett Research Institute	Food
12. Hannah Research Institute	Animal
13. Macaulay Land Use Research Institute	Plant/Animal/Environment
14. Moredun Research Institute	Animal
AFRC
15. Institute for Animal Health	Animal
16. Institute for Food Research	Food
17. Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research	Plant/Animal/Environment
18. Institute of Arable Crops Research	Plant
19. Roslin Institute	Animal
20. Babraham Institute	Animal
21. Institute of Plant Science Research	Plant
MRC
22. Radiobiology Unit	Health
23. Toxicology Unit	Health
24. Dunn Nutrition Unit	Health
25. Virology Unit	Health
26. Reproductive Biology Unit	Health
NERC
27. Institute of Virology and Environmental Microbiology	Environment
28. Institute of Terrestrial Ecology	Environment
29. Institute of Fresh Water Ecology	Environment
30. Dunstaffnage Marine Laboratory	Environment
31. Plymouth Marine Laboratory	Environment
Other public bodies
32. Public Health Laboratory Service (DH)	Health
33. Horticultural Research International (MAFF)	Plant
34. National Institute of Agricultural Botany (MAFF)	Plant
35. National Radiological Protection Board (DH)	Health
36. National Institute for Biological Standards (DH)	Health
37. Forestry Commission Laboratories (Secretaries of State for Scotland, Wales and Agriculture, Fisheries and Food)	Plant

Science and technology establishments included in the PSRE scrutiny
Physical sciences sector	Topic area
DOE
1. Building Research Establishment	Engineering
DOT
2. Transport Research Laboratory	Engineering
Home Office
3. Police Scientific Development Branch	Engineering
4. Forensic Science Service	Forensic
DTI
5. National Engineering Laboratory	Engineering
6. National Physical Laboratory	Analytical
7. AEA Technology (and Warren Spring)	Engineering
8. Laboratory of the Government Chemist	Analytical
9. National Weights and Measures Laboratory	Analytical

Physical sciences sector	Topic area
HSE
10. Research and Laboratory Services Division	Analytical
AFRC
11. Silsoe Research Institute	Engineering
NERC
12. Proudman Oceanographic Laboratory	Environment
13. Institute of Hydrology	Environment
14. British Geological Survey	Environment
SERC
15. Daresbury Laboratory	Analytical
16. Rutherford Appleton Laboratory	Analytical

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will give the details of the public appointments she is responsible for making in addition to those identified in "Public Bodies 1993", including non-executive agency and other departmental management boards.

The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

to ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will give the (a) number and (b) location of (i) fish passes and (ii) screens.

The Minister and the State for Wales are required only in certain circumstances to approve the design of fish passes and gratings—screens—installed in England and Wales. Our records show that 212 fish passes and 10 gratings have received such approval or have been granted provisional approval. The location of each is as shown. No record is kept of those passes and gratings which do not require approval.

Location of approved fish passes and gratings in England and Wales
NRA region and river	Location
GRATINGS
North West
Leven	Low Wood power station
Southern
Cuckmere	Arlington reservoir
South West
Bole	Longham pumping station
Exe	Exwick mills
Exe	Pynes water works
Taw	East Yelland power station
Thames
Thames	Chertsey intake
Welsh
Wye	Bwlch-Gwyn
Wessex
Avon	Sluice at Chippenham
Yorkshire
Esk	Ruswarp

NRA region and river	Location
PASSES
Anglian
Chad Brook	Hall mill
Stour	Brandon hall
Stour	Brandon mill
Stour	Cornand weir
Stour	Flatford mill
Stour	Judas Gap weir
Stour	Lamara weir
Northumbrian
Coquet	Moor ford
Saltburn by the Sea	Skelton Beck dam
Tees	Blue House point
Tees	Broken Scar
Wansbeck	Amenity weir
Wear	Harelow bridge
Wear	Harelow weir
Wear	Harelow dam
North West
Calder	Oakenclough Garstang
Calder	Calder hall
Caldew	Cummersdale weir
Caldew	Hawksdale weir
Caldew	Holme head
Derwent	Fitz weir
Derwent	Yearl weir
Duddon	Duddon hall
Duddon	Ulpha
Eamont	Brougham mill
Ehen	Ennerdale lake
Ellen	Netherhall weir
Kent	Burneside mills
Kent	Bumeside weir
Kent	Cowen head weir
Kent	Staveley mill weir
Kent	Stramongate
Leck	Cowan bridge
Lowther	Askam
Lune	Broadraine weir
Lune	Lower Halton weir
Lune	Halton weir
Lune	Skerton weir
Lune	Upper Halton weir
Marron	Branthwaite weir
Leven	Low Wood, Haventhwaite
Ribble	Locks weir
Ribble	Settle weir
Ribble	West Bradford weir
Wiza	Wigton
Severn Trent
Severn	Castle weir
Severn	Shrewsbury weir
Tanat	Carreghofa weir
Trent	Beeston weir
Trent	Cromwell weir
South West
Avon	Bicton mill
Avon	Chippenham
Avon	Downton
Avon	Lower Twerton
Axe	Axminster bypass
Axe	Tower weir
Axe	Westford mill
Axe	Weycroft weir
Axe	Whitford bridge
Barle	Perry weir
Barle	Sticks weir
Bray	Clapworthy weir
Bray	Skentaway bridge, Muxworthy
Camel	Camelford weir
Coly	Coles weir
Dart	Totnes weir
Dean Burn	Buckfast Leigh

NRA region and river	Location
Exe	Boleham weir
Exe	Bridgetown weir
Exe	Pynes weir
Exe	Rushford and Witney Brooks
Exe	Thorverton weir
Exe	Thorverton weir
Exe	Trew's weir
Kensey	Ridgegrove weir
Mole	Head weir
Okement	Monkokehampton weir
Otter	Honiton flood alleviation
Quarme	Enterwell
Rushy Ford	Rushy Ford and Witney Brook
Stannon	Allenford
Swincombe	Swincombe intake works
Tamar	Gunnislake weir
Tavy	Abbey weir
Tavy	Denham bridge
Tavy	Evans weir
Tavy	Lopwell dam
Taw	Colleton weir
Taw	Eggesford weir
Taw	Meahay Dunsford
Tone	Firepool weir
Tone	French weir
Tone	Ham weir
Tone	Newbridge
Torridge	Torrington weir
Southern
Bull	Leabridge farm
Cuckmere	Milton lock
Great Stour	Abbots mill
Itchen	Gaters mill
Itchen	Woodmill pool
Itchen	Woodmill
Itchen	Allbrook lock
Little Test	Drawing room pool
Medway	Eldridges sluice
Meon	Longwater bridge, Fontley
Meon	Titchfield mill
Meon	Wickham mill
North	Newhurst lane
Ouse	Fletching mill
Ouse	Goldbridge weir
Ouse	Pools bay
Rother	Coltershore bridge
Rother	Goldbridge weir
Rother	Hardman weir
Rother	Hardman
Rother	Moorland farm
Stour	Deans (Hookers) mill
Test	Abbey mill
Test	Nursling mill and Testwood mill
Test	Testwood mill
Uck	Uckneld mill
Thames
Charwell	Banbury town
Thames	Cookham weir
Thames	Molesey weir
Thames	Molesey upper weir
Welsh
Afon Syfynwy	Llys-y-Fran
Bowy	Blynpurffaith
Brynbonian	Llethrmadynt Rhyd-y-Bed
Brynbonian	Pont Brynbonian weirs
Ceiriog	Brynkinalt
Ceiriog	Clynceirlog weir
Cleddau	Haverfordwest
Cledlyn	Maes-y-Felin weir
Clwyd	Bala lake
Clwyd	Bala lake
Clwyd	Bala lake scheme
Clwyd	Nant Clwyd hill
Clwyd	Ruthin weir
Clwyd	Ruthin weir

NRA region and river	Location
Conwy	Conwy falls
Dee	Chester weir
Dee and Clwyd	Tryweryn weir
Dulais	Talyfan
Eastern Cleddau	Canaston bridge
Eastern Cleddau	Canaston intake
Eastern Cleddau	Vickers mill weir
Eddw	Franksbridge
Elwy	Bont Newydd weir
Elwy	Nont Newydd
Glandy	Glandy Joint ford
Grannel	Penbry dam
Gwendraeth Fach	Old Forge weir
Gwyrfou	Llyn Cwellyn
Honddu	Castle weir
Istrad	Brookhouse weir
Leri	Talybont
Leri	Leri weir
Llethi	Llanarath bridge
Nant Crymlyn	Corneldu Mawr Farm
Reidol	Reidol falls weir
Shedi	Derw mills
Solva	Whitechurch
Syfynwy	Llys-Fran
Taff	Black weir
Taff	Radyr weir
Tarvelan	Johnstown
Tawe	Swanage barrage
Tawe	Panteg weir
Tawe	Tawe barrage
Tolog	Tolog weir
Tryweryn	Bala weir
Twrch	Penarth bridge
Usk	Berthin brook
Usk	Pentrefelin weir
Usk	Pentrefelin weirs
Westfield Pill	Neyland
Yseir Fawr Brook	Upper weir
Wessex
Avill	Hurlypool weir
Avill	Loxhole bridge
Avon	Avon mill
Avon	Bickton mill
Avon	Bickton top weir
Avon	Downton
Avon	Great weir, Knapp mill
Avon	Keynsham weir
Avon	Keynsham weir
Avon	Knapp mill
Avon	Knapp mill works extension
Avon	Lower Tiverton
Avon	Melksham Townbridge
Avon	Old mill, Harnham
Avon	Ringwood
Avon	Salisbury generating station
Avon	Standlynch mill
Avon	Standlynch weir
Avon	Wild weir
Chew	Chewton place
Chew	Keysham park weir
Dart	Staverton weir
Exe	Exeford
Frome	Bindon mill
Frome	Welsh mill
Nadder	Harnham mill
Stour	Throop mill weir
Tone	Longaller weir
Washford	Upstream and downstream
Wylye	Chilhampton
Yorkshire
Derwent	Kirkham abbey weir
Don	Thrybergh weir
Esk	Ruswarp weir
Ouse	Linton weir
Ure	Boroughbridge