To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has to limit unnecessary multiple representation by barristers of participants in court cases; and what response he has made to the comments made by Mr. Justice Ward on this matter following a High Court case in Nottingham in 1992.

In the light of remarks made about recent cases, the Legal Aid Board has been asked to consider what action might be taken to ensure that applications for separate representation for parties with the same interest can be identified at an early stage in the proceedings with a view to avoiding duplicating costs.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department (1) what plans he has to bring forward legislation to end the use of public interest immunity certificates.(2) what plans he has to introduce legislation governing the issue of public interest immunity certificates.

Public interest immunity certificates are one of the subjects under investigation by Lord Justice Scott. The Government will take careful note of any conclusions and recommendations in his report.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how the activities and performance of the careers service pathfinder areas will be assessed; what are the terms of reference of the pathfinders evaluation exercise commissioned by his Department; who is conducting the evaluation of the pathfinder process; what information will be made available about the activities and performance in each of the pathfinder areas; what restrictions the new pathfinder contract places on the ability of those organisations running the Careers Service to make public comments on the performance of the Careers Service; if a copy of the contract will be placed in the Library; and if he will make a statement.

Performance will be assessed against the standards specified in the requirements and guidance for providers, which is a public document. I am placing a copy in the Library.The Department is commissioning an independent evaluation of the pathfinder arrangements. This will be carried out in two phases. The terms of reference for the first phase, which is largely complete, are to provide a comprehensive picture of the performance of a sample of careers services prior to the start of the new arrangements. This will provide a baseline against which the subsequent performance of pathfinder careers services can be compared. This initial study has been carried out by the National Foundation for Educational Research, which won the research contract through competitive tender. The second phase of the study will be commissioned during 1995–96 to allow the pathfinders to make progress. This phase of the evaluation will also be competitively tendered.Much of the information collected by the Department during normal contract management and by researchers in the evaluation will be commercially sensitive. The Department will not publish such information in a way which allows an individual contractor to be identified or which hampers subsequent contract negotiations.Careers Service providers will produce client entitlement statements setting out the careers guidance and other key services to be provided. The main conclusions about the delivery of the Careers Service under contract will be presented in the Careers Service annual report.Under the Careers Service contract, providers are free to make factual statements about the performance of the service, but will require agreement from the Department to any proposed public statement about Government policy which is intended to be made by or on behalf of the provider.I shall place a copy of the standard contract in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many civil servants are currently employed at his Department's offices at Caxton house; and how many were women (a) in 1990 and (b) at the latest date for which figures are available.

[holding answer 17 March 1994]: The figures are not available for Caxton house. The following figures are for staff in all the Department's London headquarters buildings: 1,313 at 1 January 1994, of whom 662 were women. The comparable figures for 1 January 1990 were 1,337 and 667 respectively.

To ask the Attorney-General what are the precedents for courts going into closed session where disclosure of evidence would be detrimental to the public interest; and what sanctions are available to the courts to ensure that no disclosure is then made of matters which the court finds should not be disclosed.

I have been asked to reply.As a matter of general principle in civil and criminal proceedings, the public interest lies in open justice. Section 8(4) of the Official Secrets Act 1920 and section 11(4) of the Official Secrets Act 1989 give courts the power to allow evidence to be heard in camera if disclosure to the public would be prejudicial to national security. In addition, the courts have a discretion at common law to rule that evidence may be heard in camera where a public hearing would defeat the interests of justice. Such a discretion is only exercised exceptionally and the courts will consider first whether any action short of excluding the public, such as communicating certain information confidentially to the court, would be appropriate. Unauthorised disclosure of evidence given in camera may be punished as a contempt of court which carries a maximum of two years imprisonment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what contribution his Department makes to single regeneration budgets; and what percentage of his Department's previous budgets will pass the single regeneration budgets.

I am not contributing specific transport resources to the single regeneration budgets, but I shall be taking into account the views of senior regional directors in allocating resources within national transport programmes to the areas concerned.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library a copy of the environmental assessment carried out in respect of each of the major national road starts in 1994–95 announced on 28 February.

No. Details of the environmental assessment for each of these schemes was made available to the public before a decision was taken to proceed. Copies of all the documents relevant to these assessments are not readily available and could not be obtained at reasonable cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many staff will transfer to the Highways Agency; and to what locations.

Some 2,416; initially the Highways Agency will have its headquarters in London and regional offices in Bedford, Birmingham, Bristol, Dorking, Exeter, Leeds, London, Manchester, Newcastle and Nottingham.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement in respect of the railway stations to be withdrawn from service during 1994.

Currently, British Rail has proposed the closure of 14 stations under the Transport Act 1962. The proposals are at various stages in the statutory procedure. British Rail is considering proposing a further two stations for closure under the 1962 Act.From 1 April, responsibility for bringing forward closure proposals will rest with the operator or the Franchising Director. The rail regulator will be responsible for deciding whether or not the closure should be permitted. Appeals against the regulator's decision can be made to the Secretary of State I am not aware of any plans at present to propose the closure, under the Railways Act 1993, of any station used for passenger services.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his policy regarding intervention in the bidding process for Greater Manchester Buses North Ltd.; what action his Department has taken since preferred bidder status was won by the bid from Greater Manchester North's employees; and if he will make a statement.

The responsibility for the actual sale process lies with the Greater Manchester passenger transport authority, the owner of Greater Manchester Buses North Ltd.The Department is keeping closely in touch with what is happening with regard to the sale of both the GMB North and GMB South bus companies. The Secretary of State's consent to both the sales will eventually be required. As in the sales of all the public transport companies, his role is to give or to withhold consent.In view of the Secretary of State's quasi-judicial function in these sales it would not be appropriate for me to comment further or make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what was the cost of a return journey by rail from Doncaster to London King's Cross at the (a) first-class and (b) standard class rate for each year since 1975;(2) what was the cost of a return journey by rail from Doncaster to London King's Cross at

The costs of first-class ordinary and standard-class ordinary return journeys in January of each year since 1975 are set out in the table. The fare structure for off-peak rates has changed significantly over the same period and makes comparison less straightforward.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will provide details of the statements made by each Minister in his Department during November 1989 which referred to a completion date for the channel tunnel rail link; and what completion date was announced in each case.

[holding answer 15 February 1994]: Following a further search, I can provide the following additional information:

Question by Kenneth Warren MP, 6 November 1989:

"To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assurance has been received from British Rail regarding availability for use when the tunnel opens of a high-speed rail link to London from the Channel Tunnel for passengers and freight."

Michael Portillo: "In the early years of the tunnel's operation, BR plan to use existing lines, upgraded as necessary, for international passenger and freight services. British Rail and their joint venture partners, Eurorail, are planning to build a new passenger rail link between the Channel Tunnel and London to overcome capacity constraints on the existing network. This new line, which is expected to be operational in 1998, will release additional capacity on existing lines for the growth of international freight traffic."—[Official Report, 6 November 1989; Vol. 159, c. 417.]

To ask the Seccretary of State for Northern Ireland how many claims against the Northern Ireland Office in respect of criminal injury or criminal damage were disposed of by way of settlement or adjudication in the period (i) 1 July 1991 to 30 June 1992 and (ii) 1 July 1992 to 30 June 1993; in how many of such cases within each period junior counsel was instructed giving (a) the number of junior counsel with the number of cases in which each was briefed and (b) the perceived religious affiliation of the number of counsel instructed and the number of cases in which each was briefed.

Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Compensation Agency under its chief executive Mr. John Robinson. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many abortions were performed by each health and social services board in Northern Ireland for each year from 1990 to 1993; and what was the total number of women aged 15 to 44 years who were resident in each board area in 1991.

While the Abortion Act 1967 does not extend to Northern Ireland, therapeutic terminations of pregnancy may be carried out in Northern Ireland hospitals on strictly medical grounds. The number of such terminations cannot be identified separately in the statistical information collected centrally on obstetric and gynaecological procedures.The total number of females aged 15 to 44 resident in each board area on 30 June 1991 was as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much his Department spends on child care provision for the under-fives and out-of-school provision for children aged over five either directly, excluding provision for departmental staff, or indirectly through resources made available to local authorities or other organisations; what form of provision is thereby provided; how many places are thereby provided; and if he will make a statement on child care.

[holding answer 14 March 1994]: The Department of Health and Social Services directly assists the development of child care for pre-school and school age children by grant aiding regional voluntary child care organisations in Northern Ireland working in this field. In the current financial year over £235,000 has been provided in this way.In 1991–92, the latest year for which the information is available, health and social services boards in Northern Ireland spent £1,598,000 on support for local day care projects, either through direct provision or in support of voluntary and community facilities. In that year, boards also spent £148,000 on family day centres, but these do not cater exclusively for parents with young children.Details of the forms of provision and number of places available, as at 31 March 1993, are as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many beds per 1,000 people are available in (a) Northern Ireland hospitals and (b) Belfast hospitals.

The available information is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what is the average cost per child under 18 of general dental services in Northern Ireland for (a) children registered with a general dental practitioner and (b) all other children.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Rochdale (Ms Lynne) on 11 March 1994, Official Report, c. 436–37.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what representations he has received in support of postponing the closure of the Customs and Excise group's Blyth office, on 31 March, pending a further independent review; and if he will make a statement;(2) what estimate he has made of the number of job losses which will occur as a result of the proposal to close the Customs and Excise group's Blyth office on 31 March.

I have received representations from the hon. Member for Blyth Valley (Mr. Campbell) against the closure of Customs' Blyth office on 31 March. The closure will result in the loss of one and a half jobs.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what property, leased or owned by his Department, is not in current use.

Property Holdings is responsible for the Government's reusable office estate—the common user estate. There are currently over 3,200 properties on the common user estate. Of these, 165 or 5 per cent. are not in current use. Some 128 are surplus to operational requirements and are either being actively marketed by external consultants or being prepared for disposal action; nine have been allocated for re-use; and six are held for redevelopment-refurbishment.Decisions on the future of the remaining properties, which are ever changing, are under constant review in the context of normal portfolio management activity.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the change in the average payment per head in cental and local taxation in the London borough of Ealing between (a) 1986 and 1990 and (b) 1990 and 1994 in real and percentage terms; and if he will make a statement.

Both the rating system which operated in 1986–87 and the council tax are property-based taxes. This, and the extensive changes which have occurred in the local government finance system since the 1980s, mean that it is extremely difficult to make the comparison suggested.It is not our practice to produce estimates of central taxation at the sub-regional level as they are not, in general, reliable.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the measures that he is taking to ensure that operators who use landfill are held to account for any subsequent pollution of domestic and other water.

Since 1976 active landfill sites have required licences under the Control of Pollution Act 1974. The purpose of these licences includes ensuring that the activities to which the licence relates do not cause pollution of water. Licences are granted by the waste regulation authority for the area, which is required by statute to consult the National Rivers Authority or, in Scotland, the river purification authority. As the then Minister for the Environment and Countryside announced on 29 November, Official Report, column 384, we intend to bring new waste management licensing regulations into force in May 1994. These regulations will strengthen the powers of waste regulation authorities to protect the environment. The Government is currently reviewing the arrangements for dealing with contaminated land and the related liabilities. As I announced on 8 March, Official Report, column 110, we have published a consultation paper, "Paying for our Past", as part of that review.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the number of appointments he makes to, and the budgets of, the non-departmental agencies he has responsibility for.

Information about the non-departmental public bodies for which the Secretary of State for the Environment is responsible is contained in "Public Bodies 1993". A copy is available in the House of Commons Library and shows the number of bodies, their gross expenditure and the number of appointments to each body."Public Bodies" includes the Commons Commissioners and valuation tribunals for which the Secretary of State is responsible but to which appointments are made by the Lord Chancellor and local authorities, respectively.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the change in the average payment per head in central and local taxation in the London borough of Lewisham between (a) 1986 and 1990 and (b) 1990 and 1994, in real and percentage terms; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Lady to the answer which I gave to my hon. Friend, the Member for Ealing, North (Mr. Greenway) today.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what will be the implications for the operation of his Department of the code of practice on open government.

A code of practice will reinforce and build on my Department's existing arrangements for the provision of information, which are already particularly extensive in relation to the release of environmental information. Operational details will be announced at the time of the launch.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his Department's response to the key recommendations of the Black Training and Enterprise Group on the draft bidding guidance for the single regeneration budget; and what actions are planned by the Government to ensure that the integrated regional offices (a) establish clear requirements for race equality for TECs and local authorities, (b) employ staff at a senior level to formally liaise with the black voluntary sector to ensure they are given the necessary support to put funding bids together, (c) employ staff to assist black businesses and enterprise agencies in accessing contracts funded by the SRB and ensuring that TECs and local authorities have clear guidelines as to how they should assist black enterprise and (d) have a specific budget allocation targeted at the black voluntary sector.

We have received a large number of responses following the extensive consultation on the proposed bidding guidance for the new single regeneration budget. We are now considering the comments that have been received, including the recommendations contained in the response from the Black Training and Enterprise Group, and this will inform the revision of the bidding guidance. The revised bidding guidance will be issued by the new regional offices in early April.The Home Office will be posting an officer to each of the new regional offices, who will monitor objectives for supporting the ethnic minorities, and will provide advice to the senior regional directors.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he published his most recent departmental circular on the transfrontier shipment of waste regulations; how many copies have been printed; and to whom they have been circulated.

I refer the hon. Member to the Department of the Environment circular 16/89, published on 2 June 1989, relating to the Transfrontier Shipment of Hazardous Waste Regulations 1988, Statutory Instrument No. 1562. The printing and distribution of this circular are matters for HMSO. As part of the initial, official distribution, copies were sent to all local authorities and waste authorities in England and Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures his Department will be taking to cut emissions of sulphur dioxide and to rectify damage already caused to buildings and wildlife from acid rain.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by the then Minister of State for the Environment and Countryside to his question of 25 November 1993, Official Report, column 189, and to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's reply to the question from the hon. Member for Norwich, North (Mr. Thompson) of 9 December 1993, Official Report, columns 366–67.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions his Department is having on the proposed sale by Wandsworth council of land of the former John Archer school site.

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what products claimed to contain tiger bone have been imported into the United Kingdom during each of the last three years.

No permits have been issued by my Department in the last three years to authorise the importation of products claimed to contain tiger bone.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consultations he has had with the Environment Commissioner of the European Communities in relation to the impact of the 1979 wild birds directive and the habitats directive on the consents required for the construction of the Cardiff bay barrage.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 1 March, Official Report, column 643.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what controls exist in England, Wales and Scotland over the sale of unauthorised fuels in smoke control areas and the sale of high sulphur solid fuels for domestic use; and what proposals he has to introduce further regulations.

The Clean Air Act 1993 contains provisions to control the sale and acquisition of unauthorised fuels in smoke control areas. Solid fuels with a sulphur content greater than 2 per cent. are not authorised for use in smoke control areas. In view of the decline in annual average concentrations and emissions of smoke and sulphur dioxide from domestic sources, we have re-examined our proposals for further regulations and do not propose any additional controls at present. The need for such controls will be reviewed if any significant risk emerges to the maintenance of air quality.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to make the amendments to the Town and Country Planning (Assessment of Environmental Effects) Regulations 1988 announced on 16 December 1992 by the Minister for Local Government and Planning.

My right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for the Environment and for Wales have today laid amendments to the Town and Country Planning (Assessment of Environmental Effects) Regulations 1988. These add privately financed toll roads to schedule 1 of the regulations, thus requiring environmental assessment in every case; and wind generators, motorway service areas and coast protection works to schedule 2 of the regulations, the effect of which will be to allow local planning authorities to require EA where a particular development proposal would be likely to have significant effects on the environment. The amendments will come into effect on 8 April.The amendments will bring privately financed toll roads promoted by local authorities in line with similar toll roads promoted by the Department of Transport. The addition of motorway service areas reflects the fact that EA has been undertaken for motorway service areas proposed in the past by the Department of Transport. Future motorway service areas will be provided instead by private developers, but the measures announced today will ensure that they continue to be subject to EA. Coast protection works, which are carried out by maritime district councils, have been added to bring them in line with new flood relief works, including sea defence works, which are already included in schedule 2 of the regulations and subject to EA where appropriate. Wind generators have been added because they can often have a significant visual impact on the local environment, particularly in sensitive areas.The amendments to the regulations also include the technical changes referred to in the reply which my right hon. Friend the Member for Ealing, Acton (Sir G. Young) gave on 16 December 1992,

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the rent arrears, in cash and percentage terms, for each of the London boroughs as at the date for which figures are kept.

[holding answer Monday 28 February 1994]: The latest available information is as follows:

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, pursuant to his answer of 15 March, c. 645, (1) how many free air miles were accrued by civil servants on official business prior to new guidance being issued;(2) when it was decided that the benefits of frequent flyer schemes should be used only for official travel or forgone;(3) how many civil servants accrued free air miles in each Government Department on official business prior to new guidance being issued.

Departments were asked on 24 February to issue guidance to their staff. The other information sought is not available.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the employment of disabled people in the civil service.

The annual report on the progress in the employment of disabled people in the civil service is presented in the magazine "Independent" published today.The report shows that during 1993 8,384—1·5 per cent.—registered disabled people were employed in the civil service departments and agencies, a small increase over 1992. In addition to this, the civil service employs many more disabled people who choose not to register as disabled.I am arranging for copies of "Independent" to be placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will state in pounds sterling what is the total annual payment in unemployment benefit and related measures in (a) the European Union and (b) the United Kingdom.

Details of the total benefit expenditure on benefits paid to unemployed people is given in table 5, page 81, of the 1994 "Social Security Departmental Report", a copy of which is in the Library. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has responsibility for expenditure in respect of Northern Ireland.There are also payments of training allowances under several schemes including: youth training bridging allowance, training for work, learning for work and TEC challenge. For 1993–94 the total for Great Britain is estimated to be in the region of £525 million.In addition to these amounts there are a number of miscellaneous payments made to unemployed people by the Employment Department. Many of these are payments for travel or subsistence when attending interview or certain training courses, but there are also other payments such as those made under the visually impaired, personal reader services. These payments are estimated to total approximately £20 million for the year April 1993–94.Comparable information for the European Union is not available in the form requested. The Eurostat publication "Social Protection Expenditure and Receipts 1980–1991" gives the latest information available about expenditure on unemployment for EC member states. A copy of this publication is also in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 9 March, Official Report, column 214, what factors are taken into account by the Child Support Agency when deciding not to implement a reduced benefit deduction to protect single mothers who have disabilities or children with disabilities; how many decisions of this kind have been made; and how many cases of this kind have been considered.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many applications for crisis loans made in the Doncaster area, have been refused in each of the last 24 months.

The administration of the social fund is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency, He will write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many inquiries are currently waiting to be dealt with in his Department's Stoke on Trent, North office relating to the Child Support Agency;

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many Benefits Agency managers have requested a supplementary allocation to their social fund budget; what is his Department's response; and if he will make a statement;(2) what percentage of applicants were turned down for a grant from the social fund on a monthly basis, campaign commencing April 1992 and concluding in March 1993 both for the west midlands and nationally; what reasons were given; and if he will make a statement.

The administration of the social fund is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what will be the implications for the operation of his Department of the code of practice on open government.

The code of practice will reinforce and build on this Department's existing arrangements for the provision of information. Requests will be handled as part of the normal business process, keeping procedures as simple as possible. Decisions on the release of information will be taken by the unit with primary responsibility for the policy, action or decision. Internal reviews where an applicant complains that information has been unreasonably withheld will be carried out by someone of senior rank within the same area but who had no involvement in the original decision.In recent months the Department has published a number of papers including "The growth of social security"—July 1993; "Containing the cost of social security"—October 1993—and "Equality in State Pension Age"—December 1993. Customer charters have been published by the Benefits Agency—December 1993; the Contributions Agency—January 1994—and the Child Support Agency—April 1993. Statements on standards of service are displayed in local offices and each agency reports publicly on performance against targets. A customer charter will be published by the War Pensions Agency after its launch in April 1994.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claimants living in (a) local authority and (b) private sector rented accommodation were found to have made fraudulent claims for housing benefit in each year since 1989; and what was the total amount paid out by local authorities to claimants later found to have made fraudulent claims for housing benefit in each year recovered by local authorities from claimants in each year.

The information is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his current estimate of eligible households in the Huddersfield and Dewsbury areas who do not claim family benefit.

Take-up figures for family credit are not available on a regional basis. The latest estimates for take-up of family credit for Great Britain for 1991 are that 64 per cent. of eligible families were claiming it, and that 71 per cent. of available benefit was being claimed¹.As at 18 February 1994, 2,283 families in Huddersfield, and 2,868 families in Dewsbury were receiving family credit.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list for the last 12 months how many parliamentary questions he has referred to one of his Department's agencies for answer; and what percentage of parliamentary questions to his Department this represents.

In the period 1 March 1993 to 28 February 1994, 2,775 parliamentary questions were received by the Department. Of these, 463, which is 17 per cent. of the total, were referred to and answered by the chief executive of one of the Department's agencies.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many registered disabled people are employed in his Department; and what percentage this is of the total.

The information requested can be found in the 18 March 1994 issue of the magazine "Independent", copies of which are in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence who are the members currently appointed to the board of the Royal Naval museum, Portsmouth.

[holding answer 28 January 1994]: The information requested is as follows:

• Admiral Morton (Chair)
• Dr. Knight, NMM
• Captain Pack, SOF
• Rear Admiral Morris, SNR
• Councillor Emery-Wallis
• S. Thomas, PCC
• O. Aisher
• M. Drummond
• T. Ferrers-Walker
• Lord Strathcona
• A. Jaffray
• P. Trumper
• Mr. and Mrs. J. McCarthy

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his policy on the export of mine clearance equipment.

Mine clearance equipment is covered by the Export of Goods (Control) Order of 1992 and as such requires a licence before export. All applications for such exports are considered on a case by case basis.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made as to the effect on sovereignty of article 16, paragraph 4, of the agreement establishing the multilateral trade organisation.

Article XVI, paragraph 4 of the agreement establishing the World Trade Organisation, as it is now to be known, has no effect on national sovereignty. Under this paragraph, the parties to the agreement undertake to ensure the conformity of their laws and regulations with the obligations under the WTO agreement and its annexed agreements. The purpose of this is to ensure full implementation of the GATT agreement by the parties to it. Parties to a treaty always need to ensure the conformity of their domestic legislation with their obligations under the treaty in order to avoid any breach of those obligations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will urge upon the European Union and United Nations the need for an international observer force to be established in the occupied territories.

European Foreign Ministers issued a statement on 7 March supporting the establishment in the occupied territories of an international presence and declaring the willingnes of their states to participate. With our support, the United Nations is considering a resolution which would call for an international presence.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what approaches he has had about his willingness for the United Kingdom to play a role in an international observer force in the occupied territories; by whom; and what was his response.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs told Nabil Sha'ath, political adviser to Chairman Arafat, when he called on him on 3 March, that if an international civilian observer presence is agreed upon for the occupied territories, Britain will not be absent.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Indonesian Government on their human rights record.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs raised this issue with the Indonesian Government when he visited Indonesia in April 1993. We regularly discuss human rights issues with Indonesia in other bilateral contacts and in international bodies.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will set out the official functions of the Secret Intelligence Service and GCHQ.

I refer the hon. Member to clauses 1 and 3 of the Intelligence Services Bill, which is before Parliament.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 3 March, Official Report, column 828, if the documents which were the subject of claims by his Department for non-disclosure on public interest immunity grounds were disclosed to Lord Justice Woolf and Mr. Justice Pill in the High Court during proceedings concerning Mr. Lorrain Osman; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 15 March 1994]: Nine documents, for which public interest immunity had been asserted and upheld in earlier proceedings, were examined by Lord Justice Woolf and Mr. Justice Pill in the course of Mr. Lorrain Osman's seventh application for habeas corpus.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's policy towards the proposals for a ceasefire in north-west Kurdistan, south-east Turkey, put forward by Abdullah Ocalan.

[holding answer 17 March 1994]: The resolution of their Kurdish problem is a matter for the Turkish Government, provided it encompasses full respect for human rights. We understand their reluctance to enter into negotiations with terrorists.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs who authorised an entry visa to the United Kingdom for General Augusto Pinochet; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 17 March 1994]: Chilean nationals do not require visas to visit the United Kingdom. General Pinochet did not apply for prior entry clearance at the British embassy in Santiago before making his recent private visit.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will name four or more secondary schools within the residential sector occupied new, extended, or modified buildings for which he has recently approved significant capital expenditure and which are over 90 per cent. full.

Such information on LEA-maintained boarding schools is not centrally available.Since the financial year 1989–90 the Secretary of State has made capital grants to the following non-maintained special schools which meet the criteria in question:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what will be the implications for the operation of his Department of the code of practice on open government.

The code of practice will reinforce and build on the Department's existing arrangements for the provision of information. A considerable amount of information is already provided on request to the public through routine correspondence. In addition, the annual publication of performance tables is increasing the amount of information available to parents and others on the achievements of schools and colleges; while the parents, further education and higher education charters also emphasise the importance of information for all those involved.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what action he is taking to stop the use of amyl nitrate in schools.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Surrey, East (Mr. Ainsworth) on 1 March, Official Report, column 774–75.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what analysis he has made of the effect of the system of categories of quality assessment currently used by the Higher Education Funding Council for England on the recruitment of overseas students;(2) what consideration he has given to abolishing the categories of quality assessment currently used by the Higher Education Funding Council for England in favour of a single quality threshold.

Under the Further and Higher Education Act 1992, responsibility for all aspects of the system of quality assessment rests with the funding council. It is currently considering recommendations arising from an evaluation of the quality assessment process in its first full year of operation. My right hon. Friend will look to the council to take decisions on those recommendations, having regard to the need for helpful information for students and others, and for the council itself in respect of its funding decisions; and to the desirability of encouraging improvements in the quality of teaching and learning as well as assuring that it meets minimum requirements.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to his answer of 8 March, Official Report, column 131, if he will place in the Library information extracted from the management plans of the 12 schools listed in his announcement of 28 February that identifies and quantifies their key targets, including in particular targets for the achievements of pupils.

No, for the reason given in my earlier answer. Schools did not necessarily prepare their management plans with any expectation that they would become public documents.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will describe the arrangements he has made, or intends to make, in order to monitor progress by each of the 12 schools listed in the announcement of 28 February towards the key targets of their management plans; what reports he expects to receive; and by whom such progress will be audited or independently reviewed.

All of the schools approved to start as technology colleges on 1 September 1994 will be required to submit to the Department a report on progress towards their targets in December 1995, and annually thereafter.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will list the areas in which the management plans of each of the 12 schools listed in his announcement of 28 February identified key targets for achievement.

Each of the schools' plans includes one or more targets relating to increased curriculum provision in the specialist subjects of technology, science and mathematics; one or more targets relating to increased take-up of such provision by pupils; and one or more targets relating to improved test and examination attainment in these subjects.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to his answer of 8 March, Official Report, column 131, whether parents of registered pupils at the 12 schools listed in his announcement of 28 February have a right to inspect the school's management plan; and whether the governing body will be expected to provide a factual summary of the management plan in the next annual report to parents, including in particular targets for the achievements of pupils.

These are matters for the governing bodies of the schools.