To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of 18 March, Official Report, column 888, if he will implement the recommendations of the Ritchie report to standardise the documentation covered by section 136 of the Mental Health Act 1983.

As stated in the reply given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health on 18 March, this recommendation is under consideration.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 2 March, Official Report, column 737, if he will make a statement on the automatic redundancy entitlement of DTELS staff who do not consent to a variance in staff severance terms; and how long is the period after the sale in which National Transcommunications has confirmed that it will not be seeking to discuss and agree changes to staff terms.

If National Transcommunications Ltd. varies or attempts to vary staff severance terms without the consent of DTELS staff, the normal legal remedies will be available to those staff. I have no further knowledge of National Transcommunication Ltd.'s intentions regarding conditions of service. This is a matter for the company and DTELS staff.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the Acts of Parliament and Consolidation Acts affecting local government that have been introduced by his Department since 1990.

The following Acts of Parliament that have an effect on local government have been introduced by the Department since 1990. The list also includes consolidation Acts in respect of which the Department has responsibility.

• Criminal Justice Act 1991 (c.53)
• Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 (c.65)
• Charities Act 1992 (c.41)
• ¹Charities Act 1993 (c.10)
• Asylum and Immigration Appeals Act 1993 (c.23)
• ¹Probation Service Act 1993 (c.47)
• ¹Consolidation Acts

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what structures have been put in place to ensure effective monitoring of the implementation of section 95 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991; and what information is available to show the outcome of its first year of operation.

Section 95 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991 came into effect in October 1991. The matters with which it is concerned are kept under regular review by officials in my Department, assisted and advised by officials from the Lord Chancellor's Department and the Crown Prosecution Service. Separate publications dealing with race and gender issues were widely distributed in September 1992; and a booklet about costs received a similar distribution in January 1993. Additional material on race, prepared specifically for the Judicial Studies Board, was also published in 1993. Further information about race will be published shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total number of places available in bail hostels; and what will be the number in 12 months' time.

On 1 April, there was a total of 2,597 available places in approved bail and probation-bail hostels in England and Wales. Included in this figure are a number of approved hostel places scheduled for closure. The currently projected total of available places on 1 April 1995 is 2,560.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the estimated number of remand prisoners who have been awaiting trial (a) for more than three months, (b) for more than six months, (c) for more than 12 months and (d) for more than 18 months.

The latest available provisional data are for 31 December 1993 and are in the table.

Inmates recorded as being untried held in custody on 31st December 1993 by time on remand
	Number
For over 3 months up to and including 6 months	1,960
For over 6 months up to and including 12 months	1,020
For over 12 months up to and including 18 months	170
For over 18 months	190

Not all these defendants will have been in continuous prison custody since their first remand. This period excludes any time spent in non-Prison Service establishments—for example, police cells—before reception on remand into a Prison Service establishment; it includes inmates who are awaiting trial and those being tried.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many remand prisoners were being held in police cells on the most recent date for which figures are available.

Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the ethnic composition of the remand population in prison at the latest available date.

Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the average waiting time for trial at (a) magistrates courts and (b) Crown courts for defendants granted bail and those remanded in custody.

The readily available information for magistrates courts relates to proceedings for indictable

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total number of people remanded in custody by magistrates courts in each of the last five years.

The information requested is given in the table. It is also published annually in chapter 8 of "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales", a copy of which is in the Library.

Number of persons remanded in custody in England and Wales
	Thousands
1988	46·8
1989	49·6
1990	48·5
1991	50·8
1992	49·3

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the proportion of persons in each police force area proceeded against at magistrates courts who are remanded on bail for (a) indictable offences and (b) summary offences.

The data available for each police force area are not reliable enough to be able to answer this question. Information on a national basis is given in the table. These figures are published in chapter 8 of "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales", a copy of which is in the Library of the House.—including either-way—offences. Sample surveys during 1993 show that the average time interval from first listing to completion of such cases at magistrates courts was 7·3 weeks for defendants remanded in custody throughout proceedings and 10·1 weeks for those remanded on bail only. Provisional figures for the Crown court show that the average time interval from committal for trial to start of hearing for cases disposed of during 1993 was 12·6 weeks for those remanded in custody and 16·7 weeks for those remanded on bail.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many taxpayers in (a) Lancashire and (b) the United Kingdom earn £64,000 or more a year.

There were estimated to be about 4,000 taxpayers resident in Lancashire and 260,000 taxpayers in the United Kingdom with income of £64,000 or more in 1991–92, the latest available year for which information can be provided below the United Kingdom level.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the yield from providing tax relief for pension contributions of higher-rate taxpayers at the basic rate only.

It is estimated that the full-year yield might be about £520 million at 1993–94 levels. This takes no account of possible behavioural effects following such a change.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the equivalised disposable income, at 1992 prices, at the bottom, second and top decile groups, ranked by equivalised disposable income, in conformity with tables 3 and 7 of "Economic Trends" No. 483 for 1992 for (a) all households and (b) non-retired households with children for (i) 1979 and (ii) 1986.

The figures are available only at current prices. Those given in the table, and those for later years, are not strictly comparable over time because of changes in classification of both income and taxation and because of changes in the family expenditure survey.

Average equivalised disposable income by decile groups of all households in the family expenditure survey, ranked by equivalised disposable income of all households using the McClements equivalence scale with a household of a married couple = 1
	Current prices
Decile groups of equivalised disposable income	1979 £ per year	1986 £ per year
Bottom	1,689	3,094
2nd	2,179	4,065
Top	8,664	20,229

Average equivalised disposable income by decile groups of non-retired households with children ranked by equivalised disposable income of non-retired households with children using the McClements equivalence scale with a household of a married couple = 1
	Current prices
Decile groups of equivalised disposable income	1979 £ per year	1986 £ per year
Bottom	1,819	2,991
2nd	2,474	3,990
Top	7,706	17,062

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the contracts currently being worked on for his Department by Coopers and Lybrand, Ernst and Young, Price Waterhouse, KPMG Peat Marwick, Grant Thornton, Robson Rhodes, Levy Gee, BDO Binder Hamlyn, Hacker Young, Pannell Kerr Forster and Stoy Hayward.

The table lists relevant companies currently working on contracts for HM Treasury, together with the type of consulting work for each company.COMPANY AND TYPE OF CONSULTANCY WORK

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total aggregate indebtedness of Uganda to the United Kingdom, by way of outstanding bilateral loans; and what is Her Majesty's Government's policy towards easing the burden of this debt.

Uganda's outstanding debts to the United Kingdom total £25£5 million, all of which are in respect of business insured by the Export Credits Guarantee Department. All outstanding debts to the Overseas Development Administration were written off in 1981 under the provisions of retrospective terms agreement.On 17 June 1992, Uganda rescheduled its official bilateral debts to Paris club creditors under a concessional, Trinidad terms agreement. This involved writing down by 50 per cent. the maturities falling due over the period of Uganda's International Monetary Fund programme. It also included a commitment by creditors to consider action on the whole of Uganda's official bilateral debt stock in three years' time, subject to Uganda maintaining a good debt servicing record and a satisfactory performance under an IMF programme.The United Kingdom is pressing the other Paris club creditors to improve the existing Trinidad terms. In particular, we should like the Paris club to increase the rate of debt reduction above 50 per cent. and to offer immediate stock of debt reductions for countries with a good track record of debt servicing and economic reform.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish minutes of his monthly monetary meetings with the Governor of the Bank of England.

Yes. I agree with the recommendation by the Treasury and Civil Service Select Committee that I should publish, with a lag, minutes of my monthly monetary meetings with the Governor. I believe that greater transparency has helped the operation of monetary policy and increased accountability.I am, therefore, publishing today the minutes of the meetings held in January, February and the beginning of March. Thereafter, the minutes of each meeting will be published around two weeks after the subsequent meeting has taken place. I have arranged for copies of the minutes to be placed in the Library of the House.I am confident that the minutes of these and future meetings will confirm the Government's commitment to sustained low inflation and sound monetary policy.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the latest figures for manufacturing output in (a) the west midlands and (b) Coventry.

Estimates of gross value added in manufacturing for the west midlands and Coventry are set out in the table. The latest available figures are for 1991.

Gross value added in manufacturing—1991
Area	Gross value added £ million
West midlands	6,585·2
Coventry	1,311·4

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the effect of pre-payment by large-scale gas and electricity users to avoid value added tax on domestic fuel from 1 April; and what assessment he has made of the scale of pre-payment and its effect on (i) the revenue expected from the tax and (ii) the level of savings held in building societies.

[holding answer 12 April 1994]: It is estimated that about 5 per cent. of domestic electricity consumers and about 4 per cent. of domestic gas consumers paid fuel bills in advance of the imposition of VAT on 1 April. No breakdown of the figures by size of user is possible. The effect of these prepayments on the revenue yield is estimated to be small in comparison with the yield from VAT on domestic fuel and power. It is not possible to quantify the effect of these prepayments on the level of savings in building societies.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment under which schemes local authorities have received European funding since 1979.

The principal sources of EC funding that local authorities may receive are the European structural funds. Prior to 1989, applications for European regional development fund assistance for specific projects were submitted to the European Commission for approval. Since 1989, projects have been considered at regional level under Community support frameworks, agreed between the member state and the European Commission, for areas eligible under structural fund objectives 1, 2 and 5(b). Local authorities have also been able to apply for European social fund projects under objectives 3 and 4. Other funding from the structural funds has been available to local authorities through Community initiatives of which there have been a total of 14 in the period 1989–93. Examples of these initiatives are Rechar for coalfield areas and Interreg for cross-border areas. New Community support frameworks, and European Commission proposals for Community initiatives, for the period 1994–99 are in the process of being established.Local authorities have also been able to obtain grants or loans or other awards from various other European sources. My Department does not have records of funding that may have been received in this way.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total staff complement of Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution; how many of these are inspectors with responsibility for integrated pollution control enforcement at site level; how many site visits have been made to part A prescribed processes in 1991, 1992 and 1993; and what targets have been set for IPC inspection staff, enforcement activity and site visits for 1994 and 1995.

As at 1 April 1994, the total staff complement of Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution was 434.5. At that date, there were 122 complemented inspector posts with responsibility for integrated pollution control enforcement at site level. Data on site visits are kept by financial year. In 1991–92, there were 1,205 site visits to part A prescribed processes regulated under integrated pollution control·IPC; in 1992–93, there were 3,364 visits and in 1993–94—in the period to end of December 1993—there were 3,495 visits.The target is to maintain the complement for IPC inspection staff in 1994–95 at 122 posts. Enforcement activity is reactive, but resources will be made available for it as necessary. The target for site visits to part A prescribed processes in 1994–95 is 3,030.The actual number of visits is expected to be greater than this number because of additional reactive visits which will be made in response to complaints and incidents as they arise.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list, by local authority area, each London Docklands development corporation-owned site in the Docklands urban development area which is currently undeveloped.

I have asked my Department to produce this information. I will write to the hon. Member as soon as it is available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total spending that the London Docklands development corporation is committing to social projects in 1994–95; and if he will break this figure down into amounts to be spent on (a) training, (b) social housing, (c) Tower Hamlets accord, (d) Newham memorandum of agreement, (e) community grants and (f) health projects; and if he will make a statement on the future of the social programme.

The London Docklands development corporation is proposing to spend £14,518,000 in 1994–95 on social projects. This allocation is due to be discussed formally with the Department in the corporate plan round currently under way.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information technology consultants his Department has employed, for what purpose and at what total cost for each of the last five years.

The information technology consultants have been used for a wide variety of purposes including facilities management, research, training, risk assessment, and data administration. The total cost for each of the last four years is as follows:

Year	£
1990–91	1,427,230
1991–92	4,029,342
1992–93	2,742,459
1993–94	1,794,048

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has had with the Council of Mortgage Lenders in relation to the Assistance for Local Authority Leaseholders Bill.

Ministers and officials have had a number of discussions with the Council of Mortgage Lenders about the difficulties faced by some leaseholders of local authority dwellings. We are currently consulting them and other relevant organisations about the possible revision of the standard mortgage indemnity agreement used by local authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment which EC member states have no specific legislation on zoos; and what steps he takes to ensure the welfare of animals exported from the United Kingdom to zoos in such countries.

According to our latest information, I understand that Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain do not have specific zoo legislation.Live animals must be transported in accordance with the International Air Transport Association's live animals regulations. The welfare of animals in zoos is a matter for individual member states.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when draft guidelines were issued by his Department in connection with possible applications for assistance under the single regeneration budget; what response he received to those draft guidelines; on what date he expects to be able to publish final guidelines; by what date initial approval for applications under the scheme must be made; and what is the final deadline for approved applications.

Draft guidance to those with an interest in bidding for funding from the single regeneration budget for 1995–96 was issued for consultation on 14 January, with responses requested by 25 February. Ten thousand copies of the draft guidance were circulated, 11 seminars held throughout England, and several hundred written responses received. Those responding to the consultation were broadly in favour of the budget, but made a wide range of detailed points.The final guidance, taking account of the responses to consultation, will be issued on 14 April, and copies will be placed in the Library of the House. The guidance will require applications for funding to be made to Government offices for the regions by 7 September 1994. Bidders will be encouraged to discuss their potential bids in outline with regional offices by the end of May 1994. It is intended that final decisions on the bid applications will be made known in early January 1995.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many representations he has received opposing the granting of national park status to the New Forest.

Between 24 September 1992, when we published our consultation paper on our proposals for the future of the New Forest, and 8 April 1994 we have received 223 letters and a petition with three signatures opposing national park status for the New Forest.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many representations opposing the granting of national park status to the New Forest were initially mislaid by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

My Department did not mislay any representations opposing the granting of national park status to the New Forest.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many representations opposing the granting of national park status to the New Forest he has received since January; and how many of these were printed pro-forma letters recommending an enhanced role for the verderers in the management of the New Forest.

Between 1 January 1994 and 8 April, we have received 198 letters opposing the granting of national park status to the New Forest. Of these, 181 were printed pro-forma letters recommending an enhanced role for the verderers in the management of the New Forest.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what action he is taking to ensure that the recent policy guidance in respect of out-of-town retail sites is not being avoided by planning application for such developments which are proposed under misleading descriptions; and if he will call in all such applications;(2) what action he will take to prevent the further expansion of retail sites in South Yorkshire.

Our revised planning policy guidance note 6 "Town Centres and Retail Developments" sets out clear advice on the issues that local planning authorities, including development corporations, will need to take into account when considering planning applications for retail developments. Local planning authorities have adequate powers to obtain all the necessary information to enable them to make a decision. The Secretary of State expects local planning authorities to use those powers where necessary.Local planning authorities must notify the Secretary of State, under the Town and Country Planning (Development Plans and Consultation) Direction 1992, of any applications which involve specified departures from the development plan. They are also required to notify the Secretary of State of certain proposals for retail development under the Town and Country Planning (Shopping Development) (England and Wales) (No. 2) Direction 1993. If any local authority failed to notify the Secretary of State of a planning application subject to either of these directions, its decision could well be challenged in the courts.Proposals for the development of retail sites in South Yorkshire and elsewhere continue to be monitored under the provisions of these directions. The Secretary of State will consider calling-in any application for retail development which appears to conflict with published policy on the development of retail sites set out in planning policy guidance note 6 "Town Centres and Retail Developments" or otherwise raises issues of more than local importance.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to publish minerals planning guidance note 6 on planning guidance for aggregates; and if he will make a statement.

We are today publishing the revised mineral planning guidance note 6 on aggregates—MPG6—for England.To help achieve a more sustainable approach, we are reducing the landbank—the amount of land-won material, that is, sand and gravel, with planning consent at any one time—from 10 to seven years.An assured supply of aggregates for construction is a basic requirement of a healthy economy. But sustainable development means that we must reduce our very high dependence on primary aggregates and make more use of substitutes such as secondary and recycled material. We need to seek better patterns of supply and use of resources, and more environmentally acceptable ways of working mineral sites and restoring these sites once work has ceased.As a first step in achieving this, industry is being asked to reduce its dependence on land won aggregates from 83 to 68 per cent. by 2006. Provision of sand and gravel in the south-east will be 10 per cent. less than that envisaged for the same 15-year period in the current MPG6 guidelines, published in 1989. Industry is asked to increase its use of secondary and recycled materials by 100 per cent. To make clear that the Government are looking for early progress towards sustainable development, these guidelines will run to 2006 and not 2011 as assumed in the draft guidelines issued in January 1993.We are inviting industry to come forward with proposals on how these targets can be achieved and developed.We propose to establish, on a trial basis, a help line to provide practical advice to the industry on specifications and ways to increase the use of recycled and secondary materials in particular projects.As the construction and repair of roads consumes some 30 per cent. of all aggregates, my Department intends to conduct research, jointly with the Department of Transport, into how to increase the use of recycled and secondary materials in the construction and repair of roads.We will also be commissioning further research to enable monitoring and measurement of the progress towards the target set in MPG6.A copy of MPG6 has been placed in the House Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will lay before Parliament regulations to enable the introduction of waste management licensing under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

The Waste Management Licensing Regulations 1994, laid before Parliament today, will come into force on 1 May 1994, when the waste management licensing sections of part II of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 will be commenced. The 1990 Act will then have replaced and updated most of the last generation of controls on waste under the Control of Pollution Act 1974. In the case of the scrap metal industry, however, I propose that the new system should come into force on 1 October 1994. This is to give that industry further time to consider the implications of the new system and to make any representations; in the meanwhile, that industry will remain subject to the 1974 Act.The new waste management licensing system will bring real improvements and benefits, putting responsibility firmly on waste operators, empowering local authorities to act to prevent pollution, making more information available to the public and raising the standards of dealing with waste. At the same time, the new regulations are closely targeted on the potentially polluting operations that need control, and will remove unnecessary burdens and red tape from many small-scale activities and especially from many types of recycling.The regulations are the outcome of public consultations launched when draft regulations were published in August 1992 and continued since. In the light of those consultations, there has been extensive redrafting to meet the concerns and interests of industry, local authorities and the public. The regulations have also been revised to take account of European measures on waste regulation, including a new definition of waste consistent with the European definition.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what further information he has made available to local authorities about standard spending assessments for 1994–95.

A publication, "Standard Spending Assessment Handbook 1994/95", has been produced to provide details of the standard spending assessment of each local authority. Copies have today been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. Copies are also being sent to every local authority in England, and to the local authority associations.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is the floor area in square feet of Alexander Fleming house; and what proportion of this is currently in use;(2) what is the annual cost of upkeep of Alexander Fleming house;(3) what is the current market value of Alexander Fleming house.

[holding answer 12 April 1994]: Alexander Fleming house was formerly occupied by the Department of Health and is now vacant following rationalisation of the Department's London offices and relocation of staff to Leeds. The building has a net internal floor area of 272,000 sq ft and future maintenance and security costs are estimated to average £500,000 per annum. The current rent is £313,157 per annum—£1·15 per sq ft—which is payable up to expiry of the lease in 1997. The offices are unlettable in the current market owing to their age and obsolescence and discussions have been held with the freeholder, with a view to early surrender of the lease. So far, however, it has not proved possible to reach agreement on acceptable terms.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will now meet representatives of the Child Migrant Trust to discuss the British child migrants scheme and Government policy towards former child migrants.

The Government's policy towards former child migrants was debated in the Adjournment debate initiated by the hon. Member on 22 November 1993, Official Report, columns 301-8.

To ask the Prime Minister which Government Departments hold personal files relating to individual child migrants and their families.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health, my hon. Friend the Member for Battersea (Mr. Bowis), gave details of the policy files held by the Department of Health and the Public Record Office in the Adjournment debate on 22 November 1993, Official Report, columns 305-6. No Government Department holds personal files relating to individual child migrants and their families.

To ask the Prime Minister what was the total amount paid in grants by central Government Departments to voluntary bodies in the financial year 1992–93; and if he will make a statement.

Central Government funding of voluntary organisations in 1992–93 amounted to £3,925 million. Of this, £3,362 million was payments to housing associations and £563 million went directly to voluntary organisations to support the provision of services and a wide range of activities and projects. The latter figure shows that Government funding of the voluntary sector increased in cash terms by 15 per cent. and in real terms by 11 per cent. over the level of provision in 1991–92—£490 million. Between 1979–80 and 1992–93, the level of Government support for voluntary bodies has risen by 172 per cent. in real terms.The amount spent under individual departmental programmes in 1992–93 was as follows:

	£
Agriculture, Fisheries and Food	209,248
Defence	16,555,426
Education	7,337,719
Employment
Direct grants	35,452,818
Equal Opportunities Commission	22,000
Environment (including Energy Efficiency Office)
Direct grants	25,542,597
Urban programme	51,700,000
Housing corporations	2,862,000,000
Countryside Commission	1,242,000
English Nature	621,000
Rural Development Commission	4,595,000
Derelict land grant	317,000
Foreign and Commonwealth Office	2,697,820
Overseas Development Administration	147,426,026
Health
Direct grants	52,138,716
Health Education Authority	2,450,755
Home Office
Direct grants	50,596,492
Commission for Racial Equality	702,539
National Heritage
Direct grants	566,808
Sports Council	14,535,000
Northern Ireland Office
Direct grants	18,455,323
Housing associations and societies	57,404,589
Sports Council for Northern Ireland	658,037
Youth Council for Northern Ireland	1,357,803
Scottish Office

To ask the Prime Minister what consultations he has had with ex-service men's organisations regarding the proposed participation of former axis powers ex-service men's representatives at the 1995 50th anniversary commemorations of the ending of world war II or Remembrance day parades; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 31 March 1994]: The commemorations of the 50th anniversary of the end of world war II will include a service in St. Paul's cathedral, a parade in central London, a lunch or dinner for visiting Heads of State and a number of other events throughout the country. Peace and reconciliation will feature strongly in themes for these events.The Ministry of Defence is leading the planning for the Government, but, at this early stage, no decision on the nature of the parade has been taken. The Ministry of Defence will consult a variety of appropriate organisations, including veterans' associations in the United Kingdom, over the content of the commemorations before final decisions are taken.There are, however, no plans for veterans' representatives from former axis powers to take part.

Imports of sheep from Spain and Poland since 1 January 1994
(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)	(5)	(6)	(7)	(8)	(9)
Date of arrival at slaughterhouse	Country of origin	Point of departure	Lairages on route	Journey time1	Number of sheep dead or recumbent	Sheep deemed unfit for transit	Carcases condemned:
							(a) Full	(b) Partial
17 February 1994	Poland	Sielinko, Brody, Paproc, Cicha Góra and Granowko	Dover	40¾ hours (25½ hours to Dover)	3	none	none	6
8 March 1994	Poland	Cicha Góra and Gluponie	Dover - several days stopover	123½ hours (max 24 hours between staging posts)	7	4	30	39
9 March 1994	Poland	Podale and Kielpino	Belgium - several days stopover, and Petham, Kent	Not determined	none	1	18	7

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps the United Kingdom Government are taking to ensure the enforcement, within the European Union, of regulation 91/628, chapter 2, article 31B concerning the transport of live animals.

Each member state is required to bring into force the laws and administrative provisions necessary to implement directive 91/628 EEC. The directive is implemented in Great Britain through the Welfare of Animals during Transport Order 1992. In the case of contraventions involving trade with other member states, the Government take the matter up as appropriate with the authorities concerned.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) pursuant to her answer to the hon. Member for Glanford and Scunthorpe (Mr. Morley) of 18 March, Official Report, column 900, how many of the live sheep imported from Poland and Spain since 1 January were known to have given birth in transit or immediately on arrival in the United Kingdom;(2) how many sheep have been held back or destroyed at lairages as being unfit to travel onwards since 1 January 1994 after import from abroad.

Three sheep were found to have lambed in consignments imported from Spain and Poland and a further six were found to be close to lambing upon veterinary examination. A total of 32 sheep were detained in portal lairages as unfit to continue their journey. These were humanely destroyed.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if she will list the total consignments of animals destined for slaughter arriving from Poland or Spain since 1 January listing (a) the original point of departure of each consignment and (b) the points of lairage on route;(2) if she will give, for each consignment of animals destined for slaughter arriving from Poland or Spain since 1 January

The information is given in the table.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will make a statement on the recently established Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew conservation group; and what funding will be made available.

The centre for plant conservation at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew incorporates elements from the body's former economic and conservation section, the living collections department, the Jodrell laboratory and seed bank. The centre's conservation activities include research, advice, and support to field programmes worldwide. It is funded mainly from the grant in aid provided annually by the Ministry to the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will make a statement on the present initiative being pursued for Mauritius by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew was invited to collaborate with the Government of Mauritius and the Mauritian wildlife appeal fund to review the needs for plant conservation on the islands of Rodrigues and Mauritius. The intention is to develop a habitat restoration programme to ensure the long-term survival of threatened habitats and plant species on the islands. In addition, the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew is a lead organisation in the production and editing of the "Flora of the Mascarenes" and is currently propagating a number of critically endangered species for future reintroduction.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many cases of lumpy skin disease occurred in each year since 1985.

There has never been a case of lumpy skin disease diagnosed in Great Britain.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to her answer of 28 March, Official Report, column 578, if she will list the 11 statutory instruments affecting the food farming and fishing industries which have been rescinded and the 18 that have been retabled during the course of this Parliament.

The following statutory instruments rescinded or relaxed burdens imposed on the food, farming or fishing industries up to the end of February 1994:

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the outcome of the Fisheries Council held in Luxembourg on 12 April; and if she will make a statement.

I represented the United Kingdom at a meeting of the Council of Fisheries Ministers on 12 April in Luxembourg, together with my noble Friend the Minister of State, Scottish Office.The major issue before the Council was a proposal arising from the Act of accession for Spain and Portugal. The Act requires that the provision for the Irish box must end at 31 December 1995. In addition, the Council can adopt any necessary changes in the light of a review of the operation of the provisions of the Act. Any changes decided on have to apply from 1 January 1996.As the House knows, the Council has been addressing the issues raised by the terms of the Act at successive meetings since June 1993. At its meeting yesterday, the Council concluded the first stage of this work by adopting by qualified majority a presidency compromise proposal on the procedure to be followed for amending the current arrangements applying to Spanish and Portuguese access to the waters of the other member states. It sets out in legal form the principles to guide the Commission and the Council in settling the detailed provisions.The regulation ensures that no changes can be made to the current rules governing Spanish and Portuguese fishing until the replacement arrangements have been set out and agreed by the Council. All the changes will have to conform to the key principles of relative stability and no increase in fishing effort. In formulating the changes, the Commission will also have to provide specifically for sensitive zones, in particular to take account of the need to balance resources and the fishing effort deployed. The area of the Irish box is noted as such a zone where fishing effort will need to be closely monitored and any necessary measures taken.Another issue which is of particular concern to United Kingdom fishermen is the position regarding areas in which Spain and Portugal are currently not allowed to fish, such as the North sea. There is no obligation on the Commission to make any proposals for access to these areas. But if it does, access can only be given to stocks not currently subject to total allowable catches and would have to be on the basis of track records in a recent and representative period. Spain and Portugal have had no track record in the North sea since the date of their accession. This is a satisfactory outcome which fully protects the interests of the British fishing industry and provides a sound basis for the detailed negotiations over the coming months.The Commission tabled a report on the ecological impact of drift netting, together with a proposal. The Council had a first discussion on the issues raised, including a suggestion that a derogation for use of drift nets longer than 2.5 km should be reintroduced. I made clear my firm opposition to this and the importance I attach to taking environmental implications fully into account. The derogation was not renewed. These matters will now be considered by experts taking into account the scientific evidence.The Council discussed the current difficulties in the European fish market. Although no single factor was identified as the underlying cause, there was widespread agreement that an important part of the present difficulties is due to structural factors, notably the continuing imbalance between fishing effort and fish resources. The Commission has undertaken to prepare a full analysis of all the elements affecting the market for consideration by the Council at its next meeting in June.The Council agreed by qualified majority a regulation on direct landings by third country fishing vessels, subjecting them to the same rules as member states' fishing vessels, notably in relation to existing hygiene controls, and to some aspects of the market regime. The market regime provisions will not apply to fish for processing or to landings by European Economic Area vessels. The United Kingdom, Denmark and the Netherlands voted against the regulation because of reservations about its practicality.The Council also agreed autonomous tariff reductions for certain annual quotas of whitefish imports.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on what occasions and in respect of which companies and products the United Kingdom Government have not followed a directive from the European Community concerning fruit or fruit products.

[holding answer 21 March 1994]: The United Kingdom has not yet amended its national legislation implementing EC Council directive 93/77 to take account of EC Commission directive 93/45 concerning the manufacturer of fruit nectars without the addition of sugar.However, enforcement authorities are aware of the requirements of directive 93/45 and will take this into account in their enforcement action. The United Kingdom implementing legislation will be amended to take account of directive 93/45 at the earliest opportunity.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his Department's policy on the second Tamar road crossing project; and if he will make a statement.

The consultants who undertook a study of a feasibility of the new Tamar crossing advised that a new crossing is likely to be needed by the turn of the century if unacceptable congestion is to be avoided. Their report was published in June 1993 and comments were invited on the four possible routes which had been identified.I am considering the responses to the consultation before deciding if, when and how the proposal for a new Tamar crossing should be taken forward.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what regulations apply to the parking of tax-exempt private vehicles on off-street local authority parking sites.

It is entirely for individual local authorities to decide which classes of vehicle may use any off-street car parks they provide, and to determine the terms and conditions under which they may do so.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will make a statement about London taxi fares and fees.

The Secretary of State has made an order increasing London taxi fares by about 2·88 per cent. on average with effect from Saturday 23 April 1994. The new tariff will incorporate a minimum fare of £1—including an unchanged hire charge of 60p—for the first 564 yds or 114 seconds. The rate will then be 20p for every 282 yds or 57 seconds up to six miles and 20p for each 188 yds or 38 seconds thereafter.The Secretary of State has decided that there will be no increase this year in the fees for London taxi driver and vehicle licences, currently £87 and £78 respectively.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will now announce the line of his Department's preferred route for the A38 trunk road improvement between Saltash and Trerulefoot.

I expect to announce our preferred route for this scheme shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will provide details of the basic salary of the permanent secretary within his Department and the performance pay arrangements under which he operates.

The permanent secretary is paid £95,051 per annum with effect from 1 April 1994. There is no performance pay scheme for permanent secretaries.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people are currently employed as station staff by British Rail; and how many were so employed in (a) 1990, (b) 1985 and (c) 1980.

The information is not readily available in the form requested, but the number of staff employed in stations, yards and depots is as follows:

	Number
31 December 1980	25,148
31 March 1985	19,941
31 March 1990	17,039
26 February 1994	12,765

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the likely consequences for aircraft movements from Cardiff, Wales airport of the negotiations regarding access for American passenger aircraft to Heathrow.

We do not foresee any material effect on aircraft movements at Cardiff, Wales airport arising directly from any changes which might be agreed in access for American passenger aircraft to Heathrow. However, it is possible that, as part of wider negotiations with the United States over liberalisation of air services, existing opportunities for United Kingdom and United States airlines to mount charter services between Cardiff and the United States and for United Kingdom airlines to mount a scheduled service could be supplemented by additional opportunities for United States carriers to offer scheduled services. It would be for the commercial judgment of the airlines whether to operate such services.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 30 March, Official Report, columns 761-62, if he will list the firms of consultants employed by his Department in each of the last five years and the number of contracts each has undertaken.

[holding answer 12 April 1994]: I am placing the information in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 29 March, Official Report, concerning daily flows of rail passengers on the London, Tilbury and Southend line to Fenchurch Street what is (a) the approximate number of passengers carried in trains departing from Barking for Fenchurch Street on a normal weekday between the hours 0700 and 10.00, irrespective of their boarding stations, (b) the best estimate available of the number of passengers departing westbound on the District line from Barking, between those hours and (c) the numbers of passengers joining westbound District line trains between Barking and Bow Road between those hours; and what assessment he has made of the total effect of withdrawing all main line trains between Barking and Fenchurch Street between 22 July and 5 September next.

[holding answer 12 April 1994]: The information requested is as follows:

(a) The London, Tilbury and Southend—LT and S —line currently carries 22,000 passengers on all its services into London during the peak hours of 07·00 to 10·00.

(b) London Underground Ltd.—LUL—says that in 1990, 4,300 passengers boarded westbound District and Hammersmith and City lines trains at Barking between 07·00 and 10·00 am each weekday.

(c) The same survey showed that the number of passengers on westbound district line trains between Barking and Bow Road during the morning peak were as follows:

	Number
Barking—East Ham	14,900
East Ham—Upton Park	21,600
Upton Park—Plaistow	26,200
Plaistow—West Ham	30,400
West Ham—Bromley-by-Bow	30,600
Bromley-by-Bow—Bow Road	31,300

LT and S management have made the following assessments and arrangements.The temporary timetable, which will be in operation during the closure of Fenchurch Street will provide 16,300 seats into Liverpool Street. Although, due to limited track and platform capacity, it will not be possible to run extra Great Eastern trains into Liverpool Street, additional capacity will also be provided on Great Eastern services form Southend Victoria and Colchester, and it is expected that some LT and S passengers will travel from Upminster to Romford in order to connect with these services. Passengers at the eastern end of the route will be encouraged to use Great Eastern services.Passenger numbers are traditionally reduced by 13 per cent. during the summer period and LT and S management estimate that this will rise to 20 per cent. during the closure of Fenchurch Street.LT and S management estimate that the maximum number of passengers needing to transfer to LUL services for onward travel by tube is in the range of 1,300 to 2,800, and LUL has been advised accordingly. In addition to its normal services, starting in May, LUL will provide an extra four trains an hour during the peak period on the Hammersmith and City line from Barking.By diverting many LT and S trains into Liverpool Street, it is hoped that the effect of withdrawing mainline trains into Fenchurch Street will be minimised and every effort is being made to advise passengers of their alternatives before 22 July. Additional staff will be on hand at Barking to assist with passenger transfers, and LT and S management are continuing to work with local rail user groups to offer the best possible service during the closure.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what information technology consultants his Department has employed and for what purpose and at what total cost for each of the last five years.

The Department of National Heritage, which was established on 13 April 1992, has contracted out operational support for the Department computer users and systems to Sema Group through open competition. The Department has employed consultants from Sema Group to support the development of Departmental information systems—IS—and assist in the procurement of a number of system solutions. Consultancy support from CCTA, the Government Centre for Information Systems, has also been used to assist in procurement and the development of the Departmental IS strategy. The cost of consultancy support was £140,000 in 1992–93 and £38,000 in 1993–94.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage, pursuant to his answer of 25 March, Official Report, column 460, if he will list the firms of consultants employed by his Department in each of the last five years and the number of contracts they have undertaken.

The consultants used and numbers of contracts awarded by my Department since it was established in April 1992 and its two executive agencies are listed in the table, together with the start date for each contract. My answer on 25 March did not include the number of consultancies awarded by the two agencies, although the costs given did include the agencies' expenditure. The total number of contracts awarded is 110.

Consultant's name	Number of contracts awarded	Start date
Accord Group—TYZACK	1	March 1993
ADAS	1	December 1992
AIBS	1	October 1992
Ajax Health and Safety	1	April 1992
Alan Rhodes Associates	1	October 1992
Alter Ego	1	April 1993
Baker, Wilkins and Smith	1	April 1992
John Barnes	1	May 1993
BDM Limited	2	December 1992
		April 1993
Bedford Timber Preservation	1	January 1993
BMRB International	1	June 1993
Brenda White Associates	1	February 1993
Capita Management Consultancy Ltd.	1	February 1993
CCTA	2	June 1993
		August 1993
Cluttons	3	January 1993
		March 1993
Communication by Design Limited	1	September 1992
Coopers and Lybrand	1	July 1993
Crane Davies Limited	1	July 1993
Cumbria Tourist Board	3	February 1993
		February 1993
		February 1993
Drivas Jones	1	July 1993
Engineering Surveys Limited	2	July 1992
		September 1993
Ernst and Young	4	July 1992
		January 1993
		October 1993
		January 1994
Derek Etherington	1	July 1991
Feilden and Mawson	1	April 1992
Fitch	1	June 1992
P. Flaxman	1	January 1993
Food Services Associates (Henley) Limited	1	December 1992
GAH Limited	1	August 1992
Lawrence Graham	1	1993
David Greaves	1	June 1992
Halcrow Fox	2	November 1992
		July 1993
Heart of England Tourist Board	1	December 1992
HH&S Limited	1	May 1992
Humberts Leisure Limited	1	June 1992
Institute of Manpower Studies	1	March 1993
J. M. Consulting Limited	1	May 1993
David Jacques	1	April 1993
John Herbert Partnership	1	September 1992
		September
Kennedy and Donkin	1	1993
Korn Ferry International	1	March 1993
KPMG	6	1992–93
		1992–93
		1992–93
		February 1993
		September 1993
		February 1994
Land Use Consultants	1	April 1992
Library and Information Co-operation Council	1	March 1993
Light Projects	1	March 1993
Lowe Bell Communications	1	January 1994
Mason	1	August 1993
MEW Research	1	June 1993
Moon Communications	1	April 1993
National Economic Research	1	April 1993
Associators/Mercer Management
Consultants/PA Consultants
Naylor Conservation	1	December 1993
North West Tourist Board	2	December 1992

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what computer systems his Department has brought in, for what function and at what cost for each of the last five years; and in each case whether the computer system is still in use.

The Department of National Heritage, which was established on 13 April 1992, has introduced a personal computer-based office automation system, mainly for word processing, and a Library management system. The Department also uses computer services provided by the Accounts Service Agency and has introduced systems to support correspondence tracking, the handling of registered files, and responses to parliamentary questions. An on-line telephone directory has also been developed. The cost of all computer systems was£730,000in 1992–93 and £950,000in 1993–94. All the computer systems brought in by the Department are still in use.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he has been notified by the Commission of the European Union of the action it intends to initiate in the European Court against the United Kingdom on the broadcasting directive; and if he will make a statement.

We have been notified that the Commission has decided to open proceedings against the United Kingdom in the European Court of Justice over the way in which we have implemented article 2 of the "television without frontiers" directive. Under section 43 of the Broadcasting Act 1990, the criterion for deciding whether satellite television services fall within United Kingdom jurisdiction is the place where the broadcasting signals are uplinked. The Commission argues that the appropriate criterion is the place where the broadcaster is established. This difference of approach does not, however, appear to have been of any practical significance in terms of our ability to take action against unacceptable services.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) what proportion of the annual revenue of the Central Council for Physical Recreation is spent on salaries and running costs; and if he will make a statement;(2) how much revenue the Central Council for Physical Recreation obtained in subscriptions from its member organisations in the most recent year for which figures are available.

The Central Council of Physical Recreation is not a Government body and I am not, therefore, able to provide this information.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement as to how the clothing of a German visitor to the nuclear power station in Dounreay in March became radioactive; what was the cause of this incident; what was the cost of supplying alternative clothing; and on how many other occasions this has occurred.

There was no such incident in March 1994. An incident was reported on 25 September 1985; a radiation monitor detected contamination on the clothing of a German visitor; this had resulted from spillage of radio-iodine in the visitor's workplace in Germany. This incident was fully reported at the time.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest employment figures for those manufacturing small armaments systems in the United Kingdom.

The latest available information is from the 1991 Great Britain and Northern Ireland censuses of employment. Employment figures have been taken from the 1980 standard industrial classification activity heading 3290 which covers ordnance, small arms, ammunition and tracked armoured fighting vehicles. The estimated number of employees in employment in the activity in the United Kingdom at September 1991 was 13,500.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what action the Government are intending to take to implement the House of Lords ruling that the Employment Protection (Consolidation) Act 1978 is in breach of European Union laws in discriminating against women because of its treatment of part-time workers.

The Government are carefully considering this judgment to ascertain its full implications and will make an announcement as soon as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish the 1992 training providers cost survey commissioned by his Department from Coopers and Lybrand; and if he will state the reason for not publishing it at the time he received it.

The 1992 survey of training provider costs was undertaken to assess the costs to training providers of delivering youth training and employment training and to give the Government information about value for money achieved with taxpayers' money. The training and enterprise councils —TECs—and training providers which participated in the survey were given an assurance that all the information collected would be treated as confidential. As the information is commercially sensitive and could inappropriately influence negotiations between TECs and training providers it remains confidential to TECs and Employment Department management.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the expenditure on youth training in Great Britain, in cash terms and in 1993–94 prices in each year since 1989–90; and what is the expected outturn for 1993–94.

The information requested is given in the table:

Youth training Actual expenditure 1989–90 to 1992–93 expected outturn for 1993–94, Great Britain
	£ million
1989–90
Cash	976·0
Real terms	1,202·4
1990–91
Cash	823·4
Real terms	938·7
1991–92
Cash	846·8
Real terms	907·9

	£ million
1992–93
Cash	760·4
Real terms	785·1
1993–94
Cash	772·1

Note:1989–90 relates to youth training scheme, 1990–91 onwards relates to youth training and credits. Excludes administration/running costs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the expenditure on training for work employment training and its predecessors and employment action in Great Britain in cash terms and in 1993–94 prices in each year since 1989–90; and what is the expected outturn for 1993–94.

The information requested is given in the table:

Training for work, employment training and its predecessors and employment action
Actual expenditure 1989–90 to 1992–93 and expected outturn for 1993–94, Great Britain
		£ million
	Employment training	Employment action	Training for work	Total
1989–90
Cash	1,096·6	—	—	1,096·6
Real terms	1,350·9	—	—	1,350·9
1990–91
Cash	1,072·4	—	—	1,072·4
Real terms	1,222·6	—	—	1,222·6
1991–92
Cash	830·8	16·3	—	847·1
Real terms	890·7	17·5	—	908·2
1992–93
Cash	777·4	148·9	—	926·3
Real terms	802·7	153·7	—	956·4
1993–94
Cash	—	—	907·8	907·8

Note:Excludes administration-running costs.Training for work is one of a wide range of options open to unemployed people. The Employment Department group offered a record total of 1·5 million opportunities in 1993–94 to help unemployed people back into work.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many people have participated in work trials in 1993 in each region and for Great Britain as a whole; and how many participants have secured full-time or part-time employment with their sponsoring employer;(2) how many unemployed people have taken part in the job interview guarantee scheme in each region in each quarter of 1993; and how many secured full-time or part-time employment with their sponsoring employer.

Responsibility for the subject of the questions has been delegated to the Employment Service agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.