To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage, pursuant to his answer of 16 February, Official Report, columns 793–94, if he will publish a list of the civilian events to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the D-day landings on 6 June, showing for each the date, location and estimated cost and intended public participation.

Details of the Department of National Heritage's programme of civilian events will be announced in mid-April. Information about the large number of other events being planned in different parts of the country by various groups and individuals are available from the regional tourist boards.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) what was the remit of the Arts Council's cultural diversity unit; what were its objectives; and how such objectives will now be served;(2) what was the remit of the Arts Council's disability unit; what were its objectives; and how those objectives will now be served.

The Arts Council decided at its meeting in May 1993 to wind up in due course its strategic policy units covering cultural diversity, arts and disability and women in the arts, and to pass its continuing responsibilities to all relevant departments of the council.I understand that the decision to integrate the work of the units with the art form departments reflects the fact that the units have largely succeeded in their aims of changing attitudes and awareness among funded bodies, and bringing about changes in the council's own practices.The council will continue to take very seriously its commitment to these strategic policies in fulfilling its charter object to increase the accessibility of the arts to the public throughout the country.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many agency chief executives in his Department are currently paid more than £82,925, excluding performance-related bonuses; and whether such chief executives were recruited directly to their present post from outside the civil service.

The Department of National Heritage has two executive agencies. The chief executives of both agencies are currently paid less than £82,925.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how much his Department's computer-aided facilities management systems cost; from whom they were purchased; how many person hours were required to commission them; what the estimated and actual saving has been from their operation; and to what extent the use of such systems accounts for the apparent rise in theft noted in his answer to the hon. and learned Member for Fife, North-East (Mr. Campbell) of 16 February, Official Report, column 791.

My Department does not have a computer-aided facilities management system.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will make a statement on the use of freephone and freepost facilities currently being operated by his Department; how much these facilities are costing; for what purposes these facilities are being used; and how much his Department has spent on operating freephone and freepost facilities in each financial year since it came into operation.

My Department introduced a freepost facility in January 1994. It will be used when seeking advice or information from organisations, often of charitable status, whose members would provide their services free of charge, or when carrying out consultation exercises. Costs of the facility to date are £300. My Department does not operate a freephone facility.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how much his Department spends on child care; on what provision the sum is spent; how many children receive the child care; and if he will make a statement about child care.

[holding answer 7 March 1994]: The Department of National Heritage was established in April 1992.In the 1993–94 financial year, this Department spent £1,650. excluding running costs—on child care. This provides one day care place in a nursery which opened in November 1993. In this instance, the place is subsidised as it can be justified in value-for-money terms.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what percentage of overall development assistance was accounted for by the aid and trade provisions each year since 1978.

The percentage of the gross aid programme taken up by ATP expenditure since 1978 is:

	Per cent.
1979–80	3.4
1980–81	2.6
1981–82	5.1

	Per cent.
1982–83	4.5
1983–84	2.5
1984–85	5.0
1985.86	3.0
1986–87	6.4
1987–88	3.7
1988–89	4.0
1989–90	4.0
1990–91	5.6
1991–92	5.4
1992–93	4.8

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what arrangements have been established by the Overseas Development Administration to ensure the proper use of aid and trade provision funds provided by his Department; and what powers of discovery Overseas Development Administratioin officials have in regard to access to records of foreign nationals involved in ATP projects.

Following the announcement of the aid and trade provision review on 17 June 1993, Official Report, columns 675–76, ODA appraisal, approval and monitoring procedures for ATP projects have been brought into line with those applied to other bilateral aid projects. Under the Government-to-Government ATP grant agree-ment, ODA has rights of access to information relevant to the ATP contract between the overseas Government and the contractors.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will investigate allegations that ATP funds, or other public funds provided through ODA programmes, have been used to bribe foreign officials or business men to secure contracts for British companies.

Yes. If there is any such evidence available, we do and will investigate any allegations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance he is giving to the general programmes budget of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in 1994.

My noble Friend Baroness Chalker of Wallasey has approved a grant of £6 million for UNHCR's general programmes budget for 1994. This follows our highest contribution ever in 1993, at over £50 million, to both UNHCR's general and special programmes budgets. We shall be continuing to monitor UNHCR's work and needs during the year with a view to responding appropriately to appeals as they issue.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the proportion of the aid budget for (a) 1989 and (b) 1994 taken up by the funding for the Pergau dam scheme in Malaysia.

The estimated percentage of the aid budget taken up by the funding of the Pergau project in the financial year 1993–94 is 0.8 per cent. There was no expenditure on the project in 1989–90.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the build quality and value for money of (a) the Rihand power station in Uttar Pradesh, (b) Burri power station in Sudan, (c) the north Khartoum power station in Sudan, (d) the Ashuganj power station in Bangladesh, (e) the Pergau dam in Malaysia and (f) the Samanalawewa dam in Sri Lanka; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 28 February 1994]: Under ODA guidelines we appraise and monitor the technical soundness of projects—including their "build quality"—and, whenever appropriate, we undertake contract price investigations to ensure value for money. The following build quality and value for money assessments have been made on the projects listed:

(a) Construction at Rihand power station in India was assessed through ODA monitoring visits and reports during the successful completion of the project. Very high performance indicators for both production and on-line availability of the station indicate a good build quality. Operating costs per kilowatt hour generated by Rihand rank amongst the lowest of recently built coal fired power stations in India.

(b) and

(c) The Burri and Khartoum power stations in Sudan have been evaluated by ODA who concluded that the appropriateness of plant design was correct. There was competitive bidding for the two power stations among United Kingdom companies.

(d) The Ashuganj generating plant in Bangladesh was commissioned in 1982 following United Kingdom competitive bidding. ODA evaluated the project in 1990 and, although there were operational difficulties, the evaluation concluded that the appropriateness of plant design was broadly correct and that it had been well engineered.

(e) The quality of the design and construction of the Pergau project in Malaysia, which is about 50 per cent. complete, is good. A comprehensive value for money check was carried out before signature of the contract.

(f) Construction of the components of the Samanalawewa dam in Sri Lanka part-funded by the United Kingdom —the engineering design, the tunnelling work, and the construction of the powerhouse—were assessed through ODA monitoring visits and regular reports from the United Kingdom contractors during the implementation of the project. Value-for-money checks were undertaken on the tenders for this work. Construction work not covered by the United Kingdom, including the dam itself, is the responsibility of the Japanese co-financiers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what contractual provisions apply to compensation to the contractors undertaking security work in respect of the M11 link road if the contract is cancelled.

The contract is let under the Institute of Civil Engineers conditions of contract which provide for determination. The form of contract between the main contractor and the security subcontractor is not for me to decide.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if the M11 link road contract 4 complies in every respect with the procedure previously used by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

All procedures, including those to comply with EC directives, have been used by the Department to procure this work in the same way as previous contracts.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what conditions apply to the payment of legal costs in relation to the possession of the construction sites for the M11 link road.

Each party bears its own legal costs incurred in the pursuance of court orders unless the court makes an order as to costs or legal aid is available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what conditions applied to the payment of security guards and policing of the construction site in respect of the M11 link road contract 4.

The contract provides for specific security measures which are included in the contract price and also for extraordinary security measures to be charged against a contingency item in the contract where the engineer considers it appropriate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department has made of the capacity required for the receipt and storage of oil wastes for ships at each United Kingdom port.

The Prevention of Pollution (Reception Facilities) Order 1984—SI 1984–862—requires harbour authorities and terminal operators in the United Kingdom to provide oil reception facilities for ships that are adequate to meet their needs without causing undue delay. Advice and guidance on the assessment of the type and capacity of facilities needed to satisfy the provisions of the order are contained in merchant shipping notice No. M1462.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the capacity of facilities at each United Kingdom port for the storage of oily wastes from ships.

Information on oil reception facilities in United Kingdom ports, collected by the Department of Transport, is contained in the International Maritime Organisation circular MEPC/Circ.234, copies of which have been placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received concerning the refurbishment of trains, track and signalling on the Northern line; and what meetings he has had with London Transport on this.

I have received representations on this matter from a wide range of interests, including manufacturers, Members of Parliament, and members of the public. I have discussed it on a number of occasions with the chairman of London Transport.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to undertake a study of combined transport links with Ireland; whether local authorities are to be consulted; and if he will make a statement.

The Irish and United Kingdom Governments have jointly appointed Mercer Management Consulting Ltd., in association with Indecon International Economic Consultants, to examine the potential for commercially viable combined transport services between Ireland, the United Kingdom and mainland Europe, as part of the EC Commission's PACT—pilot actions for combined transport—initiative.A number of local authorities have expressed an interest in the study and the consultants will be approaching them in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the use of freephone and freepost facilities currently being operated by his Department; how much these facilities are costing; for what purposes these facilities are being used; and how much his Department has spent on operating freephone and freepost facilities in each financial year since 1979.

My Department does not keep a central record of the use made of freephone and freepost services and could not say what use might have been made of these services in the past. From inquiries made within the Department we have not been able to trace any use of the services at present.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which organisations are exempt from the parking restrictions imposed on red routes; and if he will list for each organisation the reasons why.

The information is as follows:

• vehicles being used for the provision of a London bus service, while waiting at an authorised stopping place or stand;
• vehicles displaying a current disabled person's badge, when stopping for the purpose of enabling people with disabilities to board or alight from the vehicle;
• Royal Mail liveried vehicles engaged in the collection or delivery of letters in accordance with the statutory duty of the Post Office for the provision of services for the conveyance of letters;
• licensed cabs stopping for the purpose of enabling a person to board or alight from the vehicle or to load or unload their personal luggage;
• vehicles waiting at any place for so long as may be necessary for the purpose of giving help required as a result of an accident or emergency or taking other action in the interests of public safety;
• vehicles required by law to stop, or obliged to stop in order to avoid an accident, or prevented from proceeding by circumstances beyond the driver's control;
• vehicles when used for fire brigade, ambulance or police purposes;
• vehicles waiting with the permission or at the discretion of a police constable in uniform.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the definitions of loading and unloading for vehicles using the prescribed loading bays on red routes.

Loading and unloading is not defined in any statute; it would be for the courts to determine any disputed cases.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consideration his Department has given to the impact red routes will have on courier companies and the businesses they serve.

Red routes will improve traffic conditions for all road users so that people and goods can move around the capital more easily. Courier firms and the businesses they serve will benefit from more reliable journey times and improved parking and loading arrangements on London's main roads.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he plans to lay before the House orders affecting railway pensions as provided for by the Railways Act 1993.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State intends to lay these orders between Easter and the

£ million cash
	Nationalised industries			National roads	Central Government support to local authority capital expenditure (England)3
	British Rail1	London Transport2	Civil Aviation Authority	England	Total	of which:
						Local roads	Local public transport	Local ports and airports
Outturn
1979–80	367	—	12	402	—	—	—	—
1980–81	431	—	23	472	—	—	—	—
1981–82	409	—	24	557	—	—	—	—
1982–83	378	—	26	762	—	—	—	—
1983–84	439	—	20	641	—	—	—	—
1984–85	586	—	19	718	—	—	—	—
1985–86	550	—	19	734	—	—	—	—.
1986–87	530	225	30	766	—	—	—	—
1987–88	631	233	33	867	596	476	90	30
1988–89	695	270	35	889	672	584	52	36
1989–90	889	350	54	1,239	627	518	70	39
1990–91	1,022	495	74	1,668	747	563	113	71
1991–92	1,293	420	88	1,704	916	715	106	97
1992–93	1,573	782	119	1,784	1,022	838	102	81
1993–944	1,207	736	156	1,920	1,101	967	114	20
Plans
1994–95	—	997	120	1,829	978	857	109	11
1995–96	—	1,022	86	1,779	1,041	918	111	12
1 Individual figures for 1994–95 and 1995–96 not available, but in the three year period 1994–95 to 1996–97 total investment will be around £2.7 billion.
2 Prior to 1986–87, the Greater London council was responsible for London Transport.
3 Figures not available on a comparable basis prior to 1987–88.
4Forecast outturn.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will list for each metropolitan borough council in (a) South Yorkshire (b) West Yorkshire a summary of the transport supplementary grant made available for each of the past four years, broken down into (i) committed major scheme (gross), (ii) newly supported major schemes, (iii) bridge works, (iv) principal roads carriageways, (v) local safety silencers, (vi) packages, (vii) schemes specific, including bus priority, (viii) bus priority alone, (ix) minor works, (x) European regional development fund schemes and (xi) Industrial Development Act schemes;(2) if he will list for

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give a breakdown by mode, year on year, of Government investment in Britain's transport infrastructure for the period 1979 to 1995.

Government transport expenditure plans have enabled investment shown in the table. The latest expenditure plans were published on 10 March in the "Transport Report 1994", Cmnd. 2506. alone, (ix) minor works, (x) European regional development fund schemes and (xi) Industrial Development Act schemes;(3) if he will list for each metropolitan borough council in

I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will bring forward legislation to bring public interest immunity certificates within statute law and parliamentary scrutiny.

The Government will consider carefully any comments or recommendations Lord Justice Scott makes on this issue when his report is completed.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 10 March.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 10 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 this House, I shall be having further meetings later today.

To ask the Prime Minister what arrangements have been made to ensure that there is no conflict of interest between Sir Peter Levene's appointment as chairman of Canary Wharf and his position as the Prime Minister's efficiency adviser.

Sir Peter Levene will take no part in Government consideration of any issue which could involve a conflict of interest for him. There will be a review every six months of any prospective issues which could raise such a conflict so that appropriate arrangements can be made.

To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 22 February, Official Report, column 162, what happens to moneys raised from the sale of official gifts received by recent Prime Ministers.

[holding answer 9 March 1994]: Gifts of small value are the property of the Prime Minister; the use of the proceeds from the sale of any such items is therefore a matter for the Prime Minister of the day to determine. Both my predecessor and I have made it our practice to donate all proceeds to charity. If any gifts from the official inventory were sold, the proceeds would accrue to official funds.

To ask the Prime Minister what was the annual total cost of the Prime Minister's office in each year (a) between 1974 and 1979 and (b) since 1990.

[holding answer 11 January 1994]: Figures on a consistent basis are not available. Information on the total costs of the Prime Minister's office is not available before 1979–80. Spending in 1979–80 is recorded as £1.409 million, but that did not include charges for: the use of MOD aircraft; the use of buildings and for services supplied by the Property Services Agency and its successors; the use of the Government car service; the service personnel at Chequers; or for office services supplied by the Cabinet Office.The present No. 10 budget now includes charges for all these services. On that basis, the total annual cost for the completed financial years since 1990 has been as follows:

Year	£ thousands
1990–91	8,226
1991–92	8,664
1992–93	9,866

These figures show payments made in the years in question. In some cases, this may relate to expenditure incurred in the previous financial year.

To ask the Prime Minister when the hon. Member for Walsall, North will receive a reply to his question of 11 January, relating to expenditure of his Office.

[holding answer 8 March 1994]: I have done so.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the flexibility of the limits on therapeutic work for recipients of invalidity benefit.

We are considering the flexibility of the therapeutic work provisions in the context of the conditions which will apply to incapacity benefit.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations he has received about the amount of voluntary work that may be disregarded in considering entitlement to invalidity benefit.

We have received a number of representations. One of the measures introduced by the Social Security (Incapacity For Work) Bill will allow people receiving incapacity benefit or severe disablement allowance to do up to 16 hours voluntary work a week without it affecting their benefit.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the number of over-80s who are not entitled to the basic retirement pension; how much it would cost for them to be provided with one; what help they will receive towards value added tax on their fuel; and if he will make a statement.

It is estimated that approximately 75,000 persons in Great Britain who are aged 80 or over do not receive a basic state retirement pension. The estimated net cost of providing standard rate basic retirement pension to them is approximately £85 million per year at April 1994 prices.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when the hon. Member for Sheffield, Heeley will receive replies to his letters to the chief executive of the Child Support Agency of 16 November and 12 January.

I understand that Ros Hepplewhite, the chief executive of the Child Support Agency, replied to the hon. Member on 9 March 1994.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the annual numbers with (a) terminal illness, (b) a prescribed condition and (c) the highest rate of the care component of disability living allowance who should be considered for fast-tracking to the higher rate of incapacity benefit.

We are considering this issue.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will reconsider the rules for the treatment of capital made by the DSS in its calculation that for every £250 of saving, or part of £250, over and above £3,000 there could be a reduction of £1 in benefits payable.

The arrangements for the treatment of capital in the income-related benefits are kept under review, but we have no plans for change at present. The formula applied for taking account of capital above £3,000 does not imply any particular return on investments. It ensures that help is targeted on those who need it most, while not denying benefit to those with only a moderate amount of capital.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what assessment he has made of the number of pensioners in their eighties who will receive less than pensioners in their sixties to compensate for the extra cost of VAT on their fuel bills; and if he will make a statement;(2) how many pensioners in their eighties have no entitlement to a basic retirement pension and how many are in receipt of a special over-80s pension; and what addition they will receive towards the additional cost of VAT on fuel.

It is estimated that approximately 75,000 persons in Great Britain who are aged 80 or over do not receive a basic state retirement pension and that approximately 28,000 people aged 80 or over receive a non-contributory retirement pension.Extra help towards VAT on fuel for those aged 80 or over will be available on the same general basis as for all persons of pensionable age, with the exception that those not in receipt of basic pension or income support but who receive a non-contributory retirement pension, available only to persons aged 80 or over, will receive total extra help of 20p per week.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what compensation for VAT on fuel will be paid to married women with an entitlement to a reduced retirement pension based on their own contributions; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Newbury (Mr. Rendel) on 28 February at column 615.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much will be added to war disablement pensions to compensate for the additional costs of VAT on fuel; how much will be received by a war widow also in receipt of a retirement pension towards the additional cost of VAT on fuel; and if he will make a statement.

The basic war disablement pension will not be increased beyond normal price indexation. The majority of war disablement pensioners are over pension age and will receive extra help through retirement pension; others will gain through invalidity benefit or severe disablement allowance. War pensioners who choose to receive war pension unemployability supplement instead of retirement pension will receive the same extra help as retirement pensioners.The standard war widows pension will be increased by 50p a week on top of the normal uprating. A war widow who also receives, as a result of her own contributions, the full basic retirement pension, will receive a further 50p a week compensation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the preliminary findings of the cost-benefit analysis of legislation to outlaw discrimination against disabled people undertaken by his Department; and when he expects to publish the full findings.

The information requested is not available. A cost-benefit analysis has not been prepared. Should the Civil Rights (Disabled Persons) Bill reach Committee stage, a compliance cost assessment will be provided in the normal way.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimates he made of the numbers of students on two-year higher education courses before his recent announcement of notional tuition fee levels for 1994–95; and if he will make a statement.

The Government's expenditure plans, including tuition fee levels, announced at the time of the Budget allowed for a specified total number of students in higher education. In order to translate total numbers into the numbers of new entrants, it is necessary to make assumptions about a number of factors, including the average length of courses. However, the number of students on two-year higher education courses was not separately assessed or identified.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much his Department's computer-aided facilities management systems cost; from whom they were purchased; how many person hours were required to commission them; what the estimated and actual saving has been from their operation; and to what extent the use of such systems accounts for the apparent rise in theft noted in his answer to the hon. and learned Member for Fife, North-East (Mr. Campbell) of 16 February, Official Report, column 841.

The Department has no computer-aided facilities management systems. The information provided on 16 February shows a decline in 1993 in the incidence of theft.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many agency chief executives in his Department are currently paid more than £82,925, excluding performance-related bonuses; and whether such chief executives were recruited directly to their present post from outside the civil service.

None.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Inland Revenue next intends to publish updated guidance on approved employee share schemes, to replace versions dated 1991, and updated guidance on profit-related pay to replace the present editions published five years ago.

The Inland Revenue published revised versions of its booklets and leaflets on approved employee share schemes on 7 March. Revision of the guidance notes on profit-related pay is currently under consideration.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how soon he expects to announce details of the introduction and operation of approved employee share schemes and of statutory employee share ownership plans up to the end of March 1993.

The Inland Revenue expects to issue the latest figures on the introduction and operation of approved employee share schemes in April 1994—and annually in April thereafter. Similar information for statutory employee share ownership plans is not available.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if employees of the information technology office of the Inland Revenue will benefit from civil service redundancy arrangements if they refuse to relocate consequent upon their being taken over by a private contractor.

If employees of the Inland Revenue's information technology office transfer with their work to a private company as a result of the current procurement which forms part of the Department's market-testing programme, it is expected that the transfer will be within the scope of the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981. This means that current terms and conditions of employment will transfer to the new employer. If, following the transfer, the new employer asked employees to relocate, those employees whose terms and conditions did not include a mobility requirement would not be obliged to do so unless the new location was within reasonable daily travelling distance of their home. If the new employer was unable to offer alternative jobs to non-mobile employees, as a last resort they could be made redundant.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what revenue currently accrues to the Treasury from amusement with prizes and jackpot machines from each main category of premises on which they are located.

An estimated breakdown of gaming machine licence duty for 1992–93 is as follows:

Amusement with prizes	£ million
Pubs	33
Inland arcades	15
Seaside arcades	13
Bingo halls	12
Single sites	3
Others	7
Total amusement with prizes	83
Jackpot machines	15
Total gaming machine licence duty	98

There is no breakdown for jackpot machines.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what calculations he has made as to the potential revenue that would accrue to the Treasury in respect of amusement with prizes machines in licensed betting offices.

No calculations have been made.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what calculations the Treasury has made as to the potential loss in tax revenue from licensed betting offices as a consequence of competition from the national lottery.

A duty rate of 12 per cent. is to apply to national lottery stakes. This rate has been set so as broadly to offset the anticipated revenue loss from expenditure diverted from other taxed goods. Any attempt to apportion this revenue loss between different taxes would be purely speculative.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 3 February, Official Report, columns 825–26, if he will give the percentages of earnings taken in income tax and national insurance contribution from a single-wage married couple at (a) half, (b) three quarters, (c) average, and (d) twice average male manual earnings, in the years 1990–91, 1992–93 and 1993–94.

The information is in the table:

Income tax and national insurance contributions1 as a percentage of gross earnings
Multiple of average earnings2	1978–79	1990–91	1992–93	1993–94
Half average earnings	14.1	12.8	11.6	12.1
Three quarters average earnings	22.4	19.9	19.0	19.2
Average earnings	26.7	23.4	22.8	22.9
Twice average earnings	31.2	26.1	26.1	26.4
1 National insurance contributions are at the standard class 1 rate for employees not contracted-out of the state additional—earnings-related—pension scheme. Tax has been calculated assuming that no allowances or reliefs are available other than the standard allowance.
2 Average earnings are taken to be the gross weekly manual earnings of full-time males on adult rates with pay unaffected by absence. These are £244.50 and £272.00 in 1990–91 and 1992–93 respectively. In 1993–94 these are estimated to be £281.50 using an illustrative growth rate of 3.5 per cent.

To ask the chancellor of the Exchequer if he publish for each year since 1978 a table showing (a) average earnings and (b) income tax liability on taxable income equal to (i) one quarter average earnings, (ii) one

Income tax liability2 on taxable income at multiples of average earnings £ per week
Year	¼	½	1	5	10	100
1978–79	6.50	14.16	29.47	248.77	633.89	7,566.05
1979–80	7.48	15.67	32.07	238.72	566.62	6,468.82
1980–81	9.86	19.71	39.42	295.64	689.84	7,785.44
1981–82	10.94	21.89	43.77	339.14	776.84	8,655.44
1982.83	11.81	23.61	47.22	360.08	832.28	9,331.88
1983–84	12.83	25.65	51.30	385.02	898.02	10,132.02
1984–85	13.88	27.75	55.50	419.62	974.62	10,964.62
1985–86	14.89	29.78	59.55	452.71	1,048.21	11,767.21
1986–87	15.50	31.00	62.00	489.53	1,130.93	12,676.13
1987–88	15.77	31.54	63.07	540.38	1,241.18	13,855.58
1988–89	16.02	32.04	64.08	456.93	969.53	10,196.33
1989–90	17.49	34.99	69.98	500.09	1,059.89	11,136.29
1990–91	19.14	38.27	76.55	552.69	1,165.09	12,188.29
1991–92	20.54	41.09	82.18	589.03	1,246.43	13,079.63
1992–93	19.81	41.54	85.00	625.11	1,320.51	13,837.71
1993–94	20.09	42.58	87.57	649.03	1,368.83	14,325.23

Income tax liability as a percentage of taxable income at multiples of average earnings
Year	¼	½	1	5	10	100
1978–79	28.0	30.5	31.8	53.6	68.3	81.5
1979–80	27.4	28.7	29.3	43.7	51.8	59.2
1980–81	30.0	30.0	30.0	45.0	52.5	59.2
1981–82	30.0	30.0	30.0	46.5	53.2	59.3
1982–83	30.0	30.0	30.0	45.8	52.9	59.3
1983–84	30.0	30.0	30.0	45.0	52.5	59.3
1984–85	30.0	30.0	30.0	45.4	52.7	59.3
1985–86	30.0	30.0	30.0	45.6	52.8	59.3
1986–87	29.0	29.0	29.0	45.8	52.9	59.3
1987–88	27.0	27.0	27.0	46.3	53.1	59.3
1988–89	25.0	25.0	25.0	35.7	37.8	39.8
1989–90	25.0	25.0	25.0	35.7	37.9	39.8
1990–91	25.0	25.0	25.0	36.1	38.0	39.8
1991–92	25.0	25.0	25.0	35.8	37.9	39.8
1992–93	22.8	23.9	24.4	36.0	38.0	39.8
1993–94	22.3	23.7	24.3	36.1	38.0	39.8

Average earnings are taken to be the average gross weekly earnings of all full-time males on adult rates with pay unaffected by absence. The half average earnings, (iii) average earnings, (iv) five times average earnings, (v) 10 times average earnings and (vi) 100 times average earnings.

The information is in the tables. Because taxable income excludes income covered by allowances, the gross incomes of taxpayers with these levels of taxable income would be significantly higher. The figures show that tax liability as a proportion of taxable income has fallen at all income levels over this period.

Year	Average earnings1 £ per week
1978–79	92.8
1979–80	109.3
1980–81	131.4
1981–82	145.9
1982–83	157.4
1983–84	171.0
1984–85	185.0
1985–86	198.5
1986.87	213.8
1987–88	233.6
1988.89	256.3
1989–90	279.9
1990–91	306.2
1991–92	328.7
1992–93	347.7
1993–94	359.9

figure for 1993–94 is based on an illustrative assumption of 3.5 per cent. growth over 1992–93.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the cost of a 20 per cent. basic rate of income tax in (a) 1993–94, (b) 1994–95 and (c) 1995–96.

Estimates based on a projection of the 1991–92 survey of personal incomes are given.

Revenue cost compared with a basic rate of 25 per cent, in a full year
	£ billion
1993–94	7.8
1994–95	9.2
1995–96	9.7

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the revenue cost to the Exchequer of the personal allowances in 1993–94, 1994–95, 1995–96 and 1996–97 in constant 1994 prices.

Estimates for 1993–94 and 1994–95 based on information about individuals on Inland Revenue records are given. These costs exclude the value of personal allowances to some individuals whose income is below the tax threshold. The costs for later years will depend on allowance levels for those years.

Revenue cost of personal allowances1 in a full year at constant 1994–95 prices
	£ billion
1993–942	33.1
1994–952	31.1
1 This includes the personal allowance, the married couple's allowance and the linked allowances, and the blind person's allowance.
2 Assuming that prices increase by 2 per cent, in 1993–94 and 3.25 per cent, in 1994–95 in line with the illustrative assumptions in the "Financial Statement and Budget Report" 1994–95.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the revenue saving of the abolition of the married couple's allowance in (a) 1993–94, (b) 1994–95 and (c) 1995–96.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the cost to the Exchequer of the married couples allowance in 1993–94, 1994–95 and 1995–96.

[holding answer 1 March 1994]: The estimated costs in a full year are given in the table:

Year	1Cost £ billion
1993–94	5.0
1994–95	3.9
1995–96	3.1
1 Includes the cost of allowances related to the married couples allowance, namely the additional personal allowance and the widow's bereavement allowance.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will provide a table showing (a) the total number of taxpayers, (b) the number of taxpayers with incomes in excess of £100,000 and (c) the percentage of taxpayers with incomes in excess of £100,000 for (i) each region and (ii) each county of the United Kingdom for each of the last five years.

Estimates for each region in 1989–90, 1990–91 and 1991–92, the latest year for which information is available below United Kingdom level, are included in the first table. Married couples are counted as one unit in 1989–90 prior to the introduction of independent taxation. The second table includes estimates of the total number of taxpayers in each county in 1989–90, 1990–91 and 1991–92. All estimates are derived from the survey of personal incomes and the size of the survey limits the extent to which reliable estimates can be given at the county level for taxpayers with incomes over £100,000. The third table gives approximate numbers and percentages in 1991–92 for those counties estimated to have at least 500 taxpayers with incomes over £100,000.

Table 1. Numbers of taxpayers by region, 1989–90 to 1991–92
	Number of taxpayers(thousands)	Number of taxpayers with total income of more than £100.000 (thousands)	Percentage of total taxpayers with total income of more than £100,000
1989–901
North	1,060	1	0.1
Yorkshire and Humberside	1,770	3	0.2
North West	2,270	6	0.2
East Midlands	1,460	4	0.3
West Midlands	1,890	3	0.2
East Anglia	821	3	0.3
South East	7,110	47	0.7
South West	1,710	5	0.3
Wales	954	2	0.3
Scotland	2,060	3	0.1
Northern Ireland	483	1	0.1
1990–91
North	1,240	1	0.1
Yorkshire and Humberside	2,160	4	0.2
North West	2,840	5	0.2
East Midlands	1,910	2	0.1
West Midlands	2,340	5	0.2
East Anglia	991	3	0.3
South East	8,850	50	0.6
South West	2,350	5	0.2
Wales	1,220	1	0.1
Scotland	2,340	3	0.1
Northern Ireland	542	1	0.1
1991–92
North	1,270	2	0.1
Yorkshire and Humberside	2,140	5	0.2
North West	2,740	7	0.3
East Midlands	1,840	4	0.2
West Midlands	2,260	5	0.2
East Anglia	1,030	4	0.4
South East	8,610	64	0.7
South West	2,270	6	0.3
Wales	1,240	2	0.1
Scotland	2,320	4	0.2
Northern Ireland	513	1	0.1
1 Married couples count as one taxpayer.

Table 2. Number of taxpayers by English and Welsh County and Scottish Region, 1989–90 to 1991–92
County	1989–901	1990–91	Thousands 1991–92
Tyne and Wear	386	434	445
Cleveland	147	177	178
Cumbria	196	251	266
Durham	219	225	232
Northumberland	112	151	148
Humberside	320	379	345
South Yorkshire	432	486	519
North Yorkshire	291	346	383
West Yorkshire	729	949	898
Cheshire	388	462	442
Lancashire	542	632	631
Greater Manchester	874	1,160	1,090
Merseyside	469	586	582
Derbyshire	345	423	412
Leicestershire	344	435	406

County	1989–901	1990–91	Thousands 1991–92
Lincolnshire	226	285	269
Northamptonshire	209	281	305
Nottinghamshire	338	487	447
West Midlands	835	1,080	1,080
Hereford and Worcester	271	349	332
Shropshire	153	194	177
Staffordshire	424	474	445
Warwickshire	211	245	227
Cambridgeshire	274	321	346
Norfolk	297	334	373
Suffolk	249	336	309
Greater London	2,800	3,470	3,350
Bedfordshire	200	254	248
Berkshire	283	415	356
Buckinghamshire	256	324	302
East Sussex	312	352	332
Essex	600	751	770
Hampshire	606	801	769
Hertfordshire	464	524	497
Kent	575	688	708
Oxfordshire	184	256	265
Surrey	418	574	560
West Sussex	351	371	390
Isle of Wight	56	72	56
Avon	326	467	448
Cornwall	155	231	208
Devon	401	491	527
Dorset	256	336	320
Gloucestershire	212	290	269
Somerset	163	229	221
Wiltshire	198	308	281
Gwent	153	182	161
Mid Glamorgan	172	217	225
South Glamorgan	139	177	177
West Glamorgan	103	142	148
Dyfed	113	149	192
Gwynedd	75	101	73
Powys	31	52	74
Clwyd	167	204	193
Grampian	249	241	231
Tayside	145	174	202
Fife	141	154	150
Lothian	334	418	367
Central	104	143	122
Borders	48	36	72
Strathclyde	902	985	955
Dumfries and Galloway	50	74	76
Highlands	71	91	115
Island Authorities	19	23	26
1 Married couples count as one taxpayer.

Table 3. Taxpayers with total income over £100,000 by English and Welsh County and Scottish Region 1991–921
County	Number (thousands)	Taxpayers with total income over £100,000 as apercentage of total taxpayers
Tyne and Wear	1	0.2
North Yorkshire	1	0.4
West Yorkshire	2	0.3
Cheshire	1	0.3
Lancashire	1	0.2
Greater Manchester	4	0.3
Merseyside	1	0.2
Derbyshire	1	0.3

County	Number (thousands)	Taxpayers with total income over£100,000 as apercentage of total taxpayers
Leicestershire	1	0.2
Northamptonshire	1	0.2
Nottinghamshire	1	0.2
West Midlands	2	0.2
Hereford and Worcester	1	0.4
Staffordshire	1	0.4
Warwickshire	1	0.2
Cambridgeshire	2	0.4
Norfolk	1	0.2
Suffolk	2	0.7
Greater London	36	1.1
Berkshire	2	0.5
Buckinghamshire	3	0.8
East Sussex	1	0.3
Essex	4	0.5
Hampshire	2	0.2
Hertfordshire	3	0.7
Kent	3	0.4
Oxfordshire	1	0.4
Surrey	8	1.4
West Sussex	1	0.3
Avon	2	0.5
Devon	1	0.3
Gloucestershire	1	0.2
Wiltshire	1	0.2
South Glamorgan	1	0.3
Grampian	1	0.4
Lothian	1	0.2
Strathclyde	2	0.2
1 Only counties where there are estimated to be at least 500 taxpayers with total income over £100,000 appear.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect of the European directive relating to the importation of wine, spirits and tobacco products by postal or other services without carriage by those claiming importation for personal consumption.

Excisable goods cannot be imported into the United Kingdom by post or otherwise without paying United Kingdom rates of duty on them, except when the goods are accompanied by the purchaser and are for his or her personal consumption.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 23 February, Official Report, columns 271–72, what were the results from monitoring the sales of the £5 coronation crown before and after the advertising campaign.

Research showed that the advertisements increased public awareness of the circulating standard £5 coronation anniversary crown. There were also significant increases in the number of crowns issued after the advertisements appeared. Total issues of 1.7 million coins were therefore higher than they would otherwise have been.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will call for a report from LAUTRO as to how marry life assurance salesmen have left the register during 1993; for what reasons; and if he will make a statement.

I understand that LAUTRO recorded a net decrease of around 48,000 salesmen from the register during 1993. It believes that this reduction reflets mainly the higher standards now required by virtue of the training and competence arrangements introduced in April 1993.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the public sector borrowing requirement was funded from overseas in each year since 1991.

Data on "External and foreign currency financing of the public sector" are published by the Central Statistical Office in "Economic Trends" in the table "Counterparts to changes in money stock M4".

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 22 February, Official Report, column 96, if he will provide whatever information is available of those occasions on which he, or other Ministers in his Department now or in the past, have signed public interest immunity certificates, and for what reasons.

I refer to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member on 9 March 1994, Official Report, column 223.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is his estimate of the net cost to the Treasury of providing legal aid in personal injury cases (a) at all levels of claim and (b) for claims of up to £2,500.

It is estimated that in the financial year 1992–93 the net cost to the legal aid fund of all personal injury cases was £25 million. It is not possible to break this down according to size of the claim. Other factors, such as the cost to the court service and legal aid administration, and the impact on the Department of Social Security's compensation recovery unit, none of which can be readily quantified, also have a bearing on the total net cost to the Exchequer of such cases.

To ask the Attorney-General what representations he has received over the media coverage of the arrest and subsequent court proceedings against Frederick West in Gloucester magistrates court.

Representations have been made to my office by solicitors representing both Mr. West and his wife in respect of certain published material. They were both arrested on 25 February 1994 and at that time the proceedings became "active" within the meaning of paragraph 4 of schedule 1 to the Contempt of Court Act 1981. Mr. West is now charged with three offences of murder and his wife is on police bail. Proceedings therefore remain "active" in relation to both. Editors are under a legal obligation not to publish material which gives rise to a substantial risk of serious prejudice in the proceedings. I shall consider any material submitted to me in the context of the 1981 Act and other relevant legislation.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether there is a deliberative process within the EC's current policy formulation within the field of telecommunications that might lead to the standardisation of plugs and sockets for the connection of consumer equipment to (a) the public switched telephone network, (b) the integrated services digital network and (c) the public data networks.

I can confirm that deliberative processes on possible standardisation of plugs and sockets are at different stages depending on the network and method of access used. For (a), the public switched telephone network, study by the Commission and the European Telecommunications Standards Institute remains at the information-gathering stage. On (b), requirements for direct attachment to the integrated services digital network have been technically defined prior to final adoption. For (c), any public data networks not covered by (a) and (b) above, there is much less clear agreement at the European level on the extent to which public data networks should be harmonised and deliberative processes have not advanced to any extent so far.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list in table form (a) the number of commercial advisers, brokers and underwriters his Department has employed in preparation for coal privatisation, (b) the names of such commercial advisers, brokers, underwriters, etc. and (c) the fees and commission (i) already paid and (ii) projected to such companies; and if he will make a statement.

N M Rothschild and Son Ltd. is employed as the Department's financial advisers on coal privatisation. Payments to the company are commercially confidential. My Department currently employs no brokers or underwriters in connection with coal privatisation.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what has been the total amount spent by English Estates in providing new factory premises and serviced sites in Copeland since June 1991; and if he will make a statement.

English Estates has spent £4.1 million in Copeland.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many acres of serviced industrial land have been provided by English Estates in Copeland since 1991 under the Cumbria special support initiative announced by the Government in June 1991.

English Estates has bought 49 acres of land of which 26 acres have been serviced.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 22 February, Official Report, column 165, what plans the Post Office has to franchise the operation of Irvine and Kilwinning Crown post offices; and if he will make it his policy not to franchise the operation of these two Crown post offices.

I understand from the Post Office that there are no present plans to franchise the operation of either Irvine or Kilwinning Crown post offices, but, if suitable opportunities arose, they do not preclude conversion of these offices to agency status. Decisions on the conversion of individual Crown post offices are an operational matter for the Post Office.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 22 February, Official Report, column 168, how many Post Office staff have left the Post Office under voluntary redundancy terms.

I understand from the Post Office that records of voluntary redundancies are not held centrally and the information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade which post offices in Scotland are currently being considered for franchising; and within which parliamentary constituency each lies.

I understand from the Post Office that local consultations prior to conversion to agency status have taken place in respect of the following post offices in Scotland:

• Post Office and Parliamentary constituency
• Peterhead—Banff and Buchan
• Kirkcaldy—Kirkcaldy
• Stranraer—Galloway and Upper Nithsdale
• Annan—Dumfries
• Thurso—Caithness and Sutherland
• Livingston—Livingston
• Partick—Glasgow Hillhead
• Renfrew—Paisley North
• Anniesland—Glasgow Garscadden
• Elgin—Moray
• Wester Hailes—Edinburgh Pentlands
• Milngavie—Clydebank and Milngavie
• Greenock—Greenock and Port Glasgow
• Newington—Edinburgh South
• Charing Cross—Glasgow Hillhead

To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 22 February, Official Report, columns 166–67, within which parliamentary constituency each of the post offices in Scotland converted to agency status between April 1989 and January 1994 lies.

I understand from the Post Office that the parliamentary constituencies in which the post offices in Scotland converted to agency status between April 1989 and January 1994 are as follows:

• Post Office and Parliamentary Constituency
• Alexandria—Dumbarton
• Anstruther—Fife North East
• Arbroath—Angus East
• Banchory—Gordon
• Banff—Banff and Buchan
• Barrhead—Eastwood
• Bearsden—Strathkelvin and Bearsden
• Beith—Cunninghame North
• Bishopbriggs—Strathkelvin and Bearsden
• Bo'ness—Linlithgow
• Blairgowrie—Tayside North
• Brechin—Angus East
• Brodick—Cunninghame North
• Broughty Ferry—Angus East
• Broxburn—Livingston
• Bruntsfield—Edinburgh South
• Buckhaven—Fife Central
• Buckie—Moray
• Burns Statue Ayr—Ayr
• Burntisland—Kirkcaldy
• Campbeltown—Argyll and Bute
• Carnoustie—Angus East
• Cathcart—Glasgow Cathcart
• Coldstream—Rosburgh and Berwickshire
• Cowdenbeath—Dunfermline East
• Crieff—Perth and Kinross
• Cumnock—Carrick Cumnock and Doon Valley
• Cupar—Fife North East
• Dalbeattie—Galloway and Upper Nithsdale
• Dalmuir—Clydebank and Milngavie
• Dingwall—Ross Cromarty and Skye
• Dunbar—East Lothian
• Dunblane—Stirling
• Dunoon—Argyll and Bute
• Duns—Roxburgh and Berwickshire
• Ellon—Gordon
• Forfar—Tayside North
• Forres—Moray
• Forrest Road—Edinburgh Central
• Fraserburgh—Banff and Buchan
• George Street Aberdeen—Not indentified
• Girvan—Ayr
• Glasgow Airport—Renfrew West and Inverclyde
• Gourock—Renfrew West and Inverclyde
• Grangemouth—Falkirk East
• Grantown on Spey—Inverness Nairn and Lochaber
• Hawick—Roxburgh and Berwickshire
• Helensburgh—Dumbarton
• Hillhead—Glasgow Hillhead
• Huntly—Gordon
• Invergordon—Ross Cromarty and Skye
• lnverurie—Inverness Nairn and Lochaber
• Jamaica Street—Cunninghame North
• Jeburgh—Roxburgh and Berwickshire
• Johnstone—Paisley South
• Kelso—Roxburgh and Berwickshire
• Kelvinbrige—Glasgow Maryhill
• KilmacolmRenfrew West and Inverclyde
• Kilsyth—Cumbernauld and Kilsyth
• Kinross—Perth and Kinross
• Kirkcudbright—Galloway and Upper Nithsdale
• Kirriemuir—Tayside North
• Kyle of Lochalsh—Ross Cromarty and Skye
• Lairg—Caithness and Sutherland
• Larkhall—Clydesdale
• Lanark—Clydesdale
• Largs—Cunninghame North
• Leith—Edinburgh Leith
• Leith Walk—Edinburgh Leith
• Leven—Fife Central
• Lochee—Dundee West
• Lochgelly—Dunfermline East
• Lochgilphead—Argyll and Bute
• Lockerbie—Dumfries
• Lossiemouth—Moray
• Maryhill—Glasgow Maryhill
• Maybole—Ayr
• Melrose—Tweeddale Ettrick and Lauderdale
• Moffat—Dumfries
• Montrose—Angus East
• Musselburgh—East Lothian
• Nairn—Inverness Nairn and Lochaber
• Newton Stewart—Galloway and Upper Nithsdale
• Newlands Glasgow—Not Identified
• North Berwick—East Lothian
• Norton Park—Edinburgh East
• Oban—Argyll and Bute
• Parkhead—Glasgow Shettleston
• Peebles—Tweeddale Ettrick and Lauderdale
• Penicuik—Midlothian
• Pitlochry—Perth and Kinross
• Pollock—Glasgow Pollock
• Port Ellen—Argyll and Bute
• Port Glasgow—Greenock and port Glasgow
• Portobello—Edinburgh East
• Portree—Ross Cromarty and Skye
• Prestonpans—East Lothian
• Prestwick—Ayr
• Rothesay—Argyll and Bute
• Selkirk—Tweeddale Ettrick and Lauderdale
• Shawlands—Glasgow Pollock
• Shotts—Motherwell North
• St. George's Cross—Glasgow Maryhill
• St. Rollox—Glasgow Central
• Stevenston—Cunninghame North
• Stonehaven—Kincardine and Deeside
• Strathaven—East Kilbride
• Stromness—Orkney and Shetland
• Tain—Ross Cromarty and Skye
• Tollcross—Edinburgh Central
• Tranent—East Lothian
• Troon—Ayr
• Turriff—Banff and Buchan
• Uddingston—Hamilton
• West Kilbride—Cunninghame North

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the use of freephone and freepost facilities currently being operated by his Department; how much these facilities are costing; for what purposes these facilities are being used; and how much his Department has spent on operating freephone and freepost facilities in each financial year since 1979.

Comprehensive information about the Department's use of toll-free telephone lines is not collated centrally; but the Department currently operates three national toll-free telephone inquiry services. Their purposes and costs are as follows:ENTERPRISE INITIATIVE HELPLINE (0800 500 200)

To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he will publish the report of the stage 3 radio spectrum review committee; and if he will make a statement on the future management of the radio spectrum.

The stage 3 radio spectrum review committee, chaired by Sir Colin Fielding and examining use of the spectrum from 28 to 470 MHz, has completed its task and I am pleased to announce that, in agreement with my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Defence, Home Affairs, Scotland and National Heritage, I am today publishing the Committee's report. Copies have been placed in the Libraries of the House.The review was initiated as part of a rolling programme recommended by the Merriman committee, to audit present use of the radio spectrum, to analyse emerging developments and to assess potential new demands. The report addresses both civil and military use of the spectrum, and builds on previous work by the stage 1 and stage 2 spectrum review committees which examined use of the spectrum from 470 to 3400 MHz and 3400 MHz to 30 GHz respectively.I am sure that industry, commerce, service providers and users will all welcome this comprehensive analysis of the current uses and future demands of one of the most congested portions of the radio spectrum. Growth in mobile radio services and increasing competition in the provision of all manner of telecommunication services make this part of the spectrum of vital interest to the economic and social welfare of our nation.Sir Colin Fielding and members of the committee are to be congratulated on completing a comprehensive analysis of a complex and heavily used part of the spectrum. I am especially pleased that they have included management aspects of the spectrum under review, and addressed the potential of new technology as a means of making more efficient use of this scarce and valuable resource.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many (a) first class and (b) second class letters were delivered by how many postmen or postwomen in the past year; at what cost; what were the comparable figures, five, 10 and 15 years ago; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 9 March 1994]: I understand from the Post Office that the information requested is as follows:

	First class letters	Second class letters	Postmen/ women	Total cost
Year	Million	Million	Thousands	£ million
11993–94	6,454	9,456	125.5	3,968
1988–89	6,067	7,137	132.9	2,539
1983–84	4,398	5,790	129.0	2,661
1978–79	3,620	5,718	125.5	1,410
1 Budget figures for 1993–94.

Prior to 1986–87 letters and parcels prepared combined accounts and it is therefore difficult to draw comparisons between the present business performance and that of 10 and 15 years ago.The staff numbers given are for those actually in post at the financial year-end and are not the average number in post during the year. Part-timers have been included on the basis of a 0.5 full-time equivalent.Direct comparisons of costs over the period could be misleading as there have been changes in accounting procedures and in the classification of costs during the period.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to ensure that extensions to cable networks in the United Kingdom are carried out in rural areas as well as business and urban areas.

[holding answer 8 March 1994]: I am keen to see the benefits of cable TV and telephony extended to as many communities as possible. Some existing cable TV franchises, under which the franchisee must make services available to every home, already cover rural as well as urban areas. The new franchising arrangements in the Broadcasting Act 1990 were specifically designed to encourage the extension of cable TV to semi-rural and rural areas, by giving franchisees the option of using radio as well as cable to deliver services, and allowing applicants to tailor build programmes to local conditions. The Independent Television Commission advertises new franchises where a credible interest in providing services has been received.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he expects that a fibre optic cable system will cover all areas of the United Kingdom.