To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many charges were originally brought against Mr. Asil Nadir; and how many have been dismissed by the courts or withdrawn by the relevant authority.

Mr. Nadir was indicted on 58 counts of theft and eight counts of false accounting. None have been dismissed or withdrawn. He has yet to be tried.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many joint charges were originally brought against Mr. John Turner and Mr. Asil Nadir; how many have been dismissed by the courts or withdrawn by the relevant authority; and to whom and what amount of costs have been awarded.

Mr. Turner and Mr. Nadir were not jointly charged with any of the offences. Mr. Turner pleaded not guilty to the offences with which he was charged, verdicts of not guilty were entered by the court as the prosecution offered no evidence, and he was subsequently discharged. He obtained a defendant's costs order and I understand that his legal representatives have yet to submit their bill of costs for determination.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when the Lord Chancellor met the President of the Republic of Northern Cyprus; and what subjects were discussed.

The Lord Chancellor met the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community on 6 May 1993. Mr. Denktash set out his views in relation to the political situation in Northern Cyprus. In addition, the position of Asil Nadir was discussed. The Lord Chancellor also met Mr. Denktash, together with the President of Cyprus, on 7 May 1993 at a function organised on the occasion of the Commonwealth law conference.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what measures are being taken by courts in Cleveland to protect child witnesses with particular reference to the use of screens, television link equipment, and pre-recorded interviews; and if he will make a statement.

Television links and video playback equipment are in place in the Crown court sitting at Teesside combined court centre. Screens are also available if required by both criminal and civil cases heard there. All magistrates courts in Cleveland have video playback equipment, and can arrange the provision of screens if necessary. Arrangements can be made for screens to be available for child witnesses at the family hearing centres at Hartlepool and Stockton county courts.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what guidance has been issued to judges relating to wigs and gowns in court during proceedings of cases of alleged child abuse.

There is no specific guidance issued to the judiciary relating to the wearing of wigs and gowns in cases of alleged child abuse. However judges have the discretion to remove wigs and gowns when they consider it appropriate.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department which courts in Cleveland have child liaison officers to protect child witnesses; and if he will make a statement.

There is a designated child liaison officer for every Crown court centre, including the one at Teesside combined court centre, in Cleveland.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, further to his answer of 17 March, Official Report, column 759, if he will make it his policy to collate information in the future on the number of cases in which judges have been asked to consider a public interest immunity certificate.

I have no plans to collate information about applications to courts arising out of public interest immunity certificates.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list the Acts of Parliament and consolidation Acts that affect local government that have been introduced by his Department since 1990.

The Lord Chancellor's Department has introduced 33 Acts of Parliament, including consolidation Acts, which have received Royal Assent since 1990. Of those, the following Acts contain specific references to local authorities:

• Capital Allowances Act 1990 (c.1)
• Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (c.8)
• Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 (c.9)
• Planning (Hazardous Substances) Act 1990 (c.10)
• Planning (Consequential Provisions) Act 1990 (c.11)
• Water Industry Act 1991 (c.56)
• Water Resources Act 1991 (c.57)
• Land Drainage Act 1991 (c.59)
• Water Consolidation (Consequential Provisions) Act 1991 (c.60)
• Social Security Administration Act 1992 (c.5)
• Social Security (Consequential Provisions) Act 1992 (c.6)
• Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 (c.8)
• Social Security (Consequential Provisions) (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 (c.9)
• Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992 (c.12)
• Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 (c.52)

• Judicial Pensions and Retirement Act 1993 (c.8)
• Charities Act 1993 (c.10)
• Clean Air Act 1993 (c.11)
• Radioactive Substances Act 1993 (c.12)
• Health Service Commissioners Act 1993 (c.46)
• Probation Service Act 1993 (c.47)
• Pension Schemes Act 1993 (c.48)
• Pension Schemes (Northern Ireland) Act 1993 (c.49)
• Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1993 (c.50)

Other Acts of Parliament introduced by the Lord Chancellor's Department may affect local government in the same way as other bodies and individuals may be affected.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many council properties were sold in the Breckland district council area under the right to buy legislation in each year of its operation.

Tables showing the available information on total right-to-buy sales for each English local authority and every financial year since 1980, with a cumulative total to December 1993, are in the Library.In addition to some 2,500 dwellings sold under the right-to-buy legislation in Breckland district council since 1980, about 6,700 properties in full ownership were transferred from the authority to the Peddars Way housing association in March 1993, by way of large-scale voluntary transfer. Over the last 15 years, approximately 1,200 other voluntary sales were completed in Breckland; these are also shown in the tables.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the Government's plans to support emerging environmental industries and clean processes in British business and industry.

The Government already provide considerable support and encouragement to the development of the United Kingdom's emerging environmental industries. For example, my Department and the Department of Trade and Industry established the joint environmental markets unit in December 1992 to assist and encourage United Kingdom firms to exploit the expanding opportunities in the world market for environmental goods and services. A growing number of firms are now taking advantage of the unit's services.The President of the Board of Trade announced on 7 December that the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of the Environment would jointly run a new environmental technology best practice programme. This will find and present to industry examples of how firms can reduce costs and pollution at one and the same time. The programme's main objective will be to encourage user companies to adopt environmentally favourable technology and best practice in environmental management. It will also encourage suppliers to develop such technology and techniques.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment for what reasons funding for the environmental technology innovation scheme and the environmental management options scheme has been reduced.

Both the environmental technology innovation scheme and the DTI's environmental management options scheme were three-year programmes which were open to grant applications between October 1990 and September 1993. Funding continues to be paid to on-going projects under the schemes and for disseminating their results.The 1993 White Paper "Realising our potential: a Strategy for Science, Engineering and Technology" highlighted the importance of the spread of best practice and the transfer and diffusion of technology. The new £16 million environmental technology best practice programme, which was announced by the President of the Board of Trade on 7 December, has been set up to take this forward and will build on the earlier two schemes.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment to what extent he considers that more stringent environmental regulations are necessary if British exports are to pass the environmental standards of other countries.

A recent report commissioned by my Department and the Department of Trade and Industry concluded that United Kingdom firms are in a good position to exploit the rapidly expanding world market for environmental goods and services. The United Kingdom environmental industry is very competitive internationally and a highly successful exporter for the United Kingdom.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to encourage environmental technology in British industries that would produce less waste and use fewer natural resources.

A new environmental technology best practice programme, run jointly by my Department and the Department of Trade and Industry, was announced by the President of the Board of Trade on 7 December. It will make the best environmental technology and techniques more widely known to potential users and suppliers. The programme will have a strong emphasis on reducing waste at source, thereby making better use of natural resources.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to favour contractors with good environmental practices in its own purchases.

The Department's procurement officers have already been provided with clear guidelines to integrate environmental factors into their buying requirements. This is in accordance with the Department's green housekeeping policy statement which was updated in March 1993 and the recently published green guide for suppliers of goods and services to the Department entitled: "Selling to DOE".

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to ensure that products purchased by the Government should be tested for energy and non-renewable resource implications.

Decisions on purchasing are a matter for individual Departments. However, recent Treasury guidance states that specifications for goods and services should reflect the Department's environmental strategies while using competition and seeking best value for money.My own Department has recently published a guide entitled "Selling to DOE" which, among, other things, informs suppliers of goods and services of our requirement for products which are energy efficient and made from recycled or renewable materials. The Department has also instructed its procurement officers to give preference to such products in accordance with our green housekeeping policy statement which was first published in 1992 and updated last spring.My Department's energy efficiency office encourages Departments to improve all aspects of their energy efficiency, including purchasing, to assist them in achieving their target of improving their energy efficiency by 15 per cent. over five years.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek to impose mandatory minimum standards on matters such as energy efficiency.

Standards for the energy efficiency of new buildings already exist in the building regulations. The Government are in the process of revising the regulations which should lead to an improvement in energy efficiency of between 25 and 35 per cent. compared with the current provisions.The Government also support the EC proposals for energy labelling and minimum standards of appliances, provided that they can be achieved without excessive costs to consumers and manufacturers. Regulations to implement a directive setting minimum standards for the efficiency of new boilers came into force on 1 January 1994. Minimum standards requirements for the efficiency of other heating appliances await the formulation of appropriate European standards under the construction products directive.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the extent to which environmental regulations on industry could improve their competitiveness while protecting natural resources.

We keep under constant review both the effectiveness and the effects of existing and possible new environmental regulations, as well as alternatives to regulations.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the total amount of unallocated funds available under the single regeneration budget and the areas for which these funds are being considered.

In the current financial year—1994–95 —the funds available under the single regeneration budget will be taken up in meeting existing commitments from the programmes which have been brought together in the Budget.In 1995–96, on current estimates, it is expected that about £100 million will be available to support new bids from local partnerships. The budget will be available throughout England. Guidance on bidding for these funds has been published by my Department today, 14 April. Copies of the guidance have been placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will announce his decision on the Dartmoor national park boundary variation order submitted to him by the Countryside Commission.

My right hon. Friend has today confirmed, with modifications, the order to vary the boundary of the Dartmoor national park. The Commission proposed 16 additions and 11 deletions, aimed at aligning the boundary with new trunk roads—the A30(T)—and the A38(T)—and adding small areas of common land which are subject to the Dartmoor Commons Act 1985. The modifications made to the order by my right hon. Friend retain two small areas proposed for deletion at Whistley Cottage and Cheriton Bishop. In the china clay area, land at Lee Moor will be deleted and at Shaugh Moor added, thereby retaining within the park those areas subject to the order which are presently unworked and whose landscape remains of national importance.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to issue guidance to English Partnerships, following his consultation last August; and if he will make a statement.

I am pleased to announce that, following careful consideration of over 200 responses to the consultation draft, my right hon. Friend has today issued guidance to English Partnerships. Copies are available in the Library of the House. English Partnerships is required to have regard to this guidance in deciding which land is suitable for regeneration or development; which function it is to exercise for securing the regeneration or development of any particular land; and how it is to exercise those functions. The guidance will be kept under review and can be amended later if necessary.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment which local authorities are considering the large-scale voluntary transfer of housing stock.

[holding answer 12 April 1994]: The following 12 authorities are included in the 1994–95 programme for large-scale voluntary transfers—LSVTs: Basingstoke and Deane borough council Castle Point borough council Cherwell district council Maldon district council Malvern Hills district council Mid Bedfordshire district council North Dorset district council Penwith district council Thanet district council Vale of White Horse district council Walsall metropolitan borough council and Wychavon district council.We encourage all authorities to consider the possibility of transfer, but it is for individual councils together with their tenants to decide whether to pursue this option. I understand that a number of authorities are considering applying for places on the 1995–96 programme. We are likely to invite applications in the autumn and I hope to announce the names of successful applicants by the end of the year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidelines he has issued as to the minimum sleep requirements within 24-hour and seven-day periods for (a) airline pilots, (b) train drivers, (c) lorry drivers and (d) coach drivers.

The Air Navigation Order 1989 requires that no member of an aircraft crew shall fly, nor shall an operator require him to fly, if either has reason to believe that he is suffering, or likely to suffer while flying, from fatigue which may endanger the safety of the aircraft or its occupants. Aircraft operators are also required to establish a scheme for the regulation of flight times for aircrews. Such schemes need to be approved by the Civil Aviation Authority.The CAA's civil aviation publication 317 "The Avoidance of Fatigue in Aircrews" gives guidance on requirements for operator's flight time limitation schemes. Flight time limitation schemes do not set out minimum sleep requirements but specify maximum duty periods and minimum rests periods. The actual working of the schemes are complex but, in general, the maximum duty hours for aircrew should not exceed 55 hours in one week.The Railways (Safety Critical Work) Regulation 1994 places a duty on all railway employers to prevent employees with key safety responsibilities from working excessive hours. The Health and Safety Executive's non-statutory guidance recommends that train drivers should under normal circumstances have a minimum rest period of at least 11 consecutive hours per 24-hour period. Further guidance will be given in a statutory approved code of practice to be produced by the Health and Safety Executive by March 1995.For most heavy goods vehicle drivers and about half bus and coach drivers Council Regulation (EEC) No. 3820/85 on drivers' hours limits driving hours—nine hours a day which may be increased to 10 hours twice a week—breaks —a break or breaks totalling 45 minutes must be taken during or after 4.5 hours of driving—and rest periods—11 consecutive hours daily rest, reducible to nine hours three times a week, and 45 consecutive hours weekly rest, reducible to 36 hours or 24 hours away from base.The remainder, which include drivers of vehicles used for the carriage of passengers on a regular service of not more than 50 km are exempt from EC regulations and are subject to domestic drivers' hours rules.The domestic rules for heavy goods vehicles limit the daily driving period of 10 hours and a maximum working day/duty time to 11 hours. The domestic rules for public service vehicles differ from those for HGVs. The daily driving period of 10 hours per day is the same, but the maximum working day/duty time is 16 hours. There is also a 5·5 hour limit on continuous driving and a 10 hour daily rest requirement.Booklets providing guidance on the regulations for both lorry and coach drivers are available from local traffic area offices.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 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, Binder Hamlyn, Robson Rhodes, Levy Gee, Hacker Young, Pannell Kerr Forster and Stoy Hayward.

The following of the firms referred to are carrying out contracts for the Department.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish the rules governing the independent evaluation of the environmental assessment of the channel tunnel rail link, giving the criteria against which any such evaluation is to be judged.

The environmental assessment rules for Bills authorising works are contained in Standing Order No. 27A. Where, as in the case of the new channel tunnel rail link, an environmental statement is required, it must be deposited by the promoter soon after the Bill. It must contain all the information set out in the Town and Country Planning (Assessment of Environmental Effects) Regulations 1988, which are based on the requirements of EC Directive 85/337.The environmental statement for the new channel tunnel rail link is being prepared for Union Railways by Environmental Resources Management and other specialist consultants. As part of a review for the Government of Union Railway's route development methodology in 1992–93, W. S. Atkins examined and endorsed the approach to environmental assessment. Further reviews in relation to the route have not been considered necessary. It will be for Parliament, and the Bill Select Committee in particular, to scrutinise the environmental statement, with the benefit of submissions by petitioners and the promoter.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the total cost to public funds of the riverbus service on the River Thames during the period of its operation.

In 1989, a grant payment of £500,000 was made to the River Bus partnership by the Departments of Transport and of the Environment towards promotion and improvement of the service, conditional upon private sector investment of up to £2 million from five private sector developers, headed by Olympia and York. No other public funds were awarded and the service continued to operate at a loss, despite heavy subsidy from the private sector, until its demise in August 1993. Further contributions from public funds could not have been justified, as in transport terms the service represented poor value for money.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy at the next European Transport Council to press for the admission to the standing working group on the transport of radioactive materials of non-governmental organisations as observers.

No. The standing working group, set up at the request of the European Parliament in 1982 and administered by the Directorate-General for Energy—DG XVII—already has the power to invite non-governmental representatives to its meetings.

To ask the Attorney-General when the Director of Public Prosecutions met the President of the Republic of Northern Cyprus either in her present capacity or when head of the Serious Fraud Office; and what subjects were discussed.

The Director of Public Prosecutions has never met the President of the Republic of Northern Cyprus.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion of the existing assessments were reduced as a result of the child support formula changes on 7 February; how many absent parents were entitled to type A transitional protection before 7 February; how many absent parents have applied for type B transitional protection since 7 February; how many of these applications have been processed to date; and how many of these qualified for the new transitional protection.

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 lone parents in receipt of income support and maintenance are subject to the diversion procedure; and what proportion of maintenance orders in favour of lone parents on income support are subject to this procedure.

The total number of income support cases subject to diversion procedure is 60,927. Of these, 46,370 are lone parents with children whose cases are awaiting the completion of a maintenance assessment by the Child Support Agency. Statistics on the proportion of lone parents on income support whose maintenance orders are subject to the diversion procedure are not kept.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the money saved from (a) reduced housing benefit payments and (b) reduced council tax payments arising out of the family credit payments in respect of child care for working mothers.

Payments to all those already in work who begin to use the new earnings disregard in respect of child care costs will increase by an estimated £30 million in housing benefit and £5 million in council tax benefit in a full year at 1994–95 prices. Payments to the estimated 50,000 who commence work because of the introduction of the disregard will be reduced by an estimated £45 million in housing benefit and £10 million in council tax benefit.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the average cost to the Exchequer of income support to each successful applicant.

The information is in table 2.1 of the May 1993 "Income Support Statistics Quarterly Enquiry", a copy of which is in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what were the terms of reference of the research into the Benefits Agency service delivery to 16 and 17-year-olds carried out by the child abuse studies unit of London university; what were its main findings; if he will place a copy of the final report in the Library; and if he will make a statement.

The report by the child abuse studies unit of London university into service delivery to 16 to 17-year-olds is an operational 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 how many severe weather payments have been made in (a) Greenock and Port Glasgow, (b) Strathclyde and (c) Scotland as a whole since November 1993.

The administration of the cold weather payment scheme 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 the Home Department what representations he has received regarding the incidence of criminal activity involving the drug Temazepam.

We have received two letters this year from Members of Parliament concerning criminal activity committed by people under the influence of the drug Temazepam. Both letters were from hon. Members representing constituencies in the north-east, and were prompted by the tragic murder of Sgt. Bill Forth on Tyneside.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to be able to reply to the hon. Member for Liverpool, Riverside, concerning the case of Anthony O'Kere; and if he will make a statement.

I wrote to the hon. Member on 31 March 1994.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the hon. Members who have written to him concerning the case of John Kamara; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Kamara maintains that he was wrongfully convicted in 1981 of murder and robbery. One hundred and four hon. Members and others have since written on his behalf. All of the matters raised in representations received have been carefully considered, but no grounds have come to light which would justify any action by my right hon. and learned Friend in respect of Mr. Kamara's conviction.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many racially motivated attacks have occurred in (a) Liverpool and (b) Merseyside in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement.

The information available centrally relates to reported racial incidents, rather than racial attacks, as defined by the Association of Chief Police Officers. Figures for Merseyside are given in the table. Information for Liverpool is not collected centrally.

Number of racial incidents in Merseyside
Year	Number of incidents
1988	136
1989	123
1990	144
1991	162
1992	134

ACPO definition: Any incident in which it appears to the reporting or investigating officer that the complaint involves an element of racial motive, or any incidents which include allegations of racial motivation made by any person.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to combat racially motivated crimes; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to his question on 3 March 1994 at column 821-22 for details of the practical steps being taken by the Government to combat racial violence. Since then, the Secretary of State has tabled an amendment to the Criminal Justice and Public Order Bill to make section 19 of the Public Order Act 1986—publication or distribution of written material intended or likely to stir up racial hatred —an arrestable offence. The Government are also studying ways to deal with persistent harassment. Any further steps will be taken in the light of the report of the Home Affairs Committee inquiry into racial attacks and harassment when it is published.

To ask the Secretary of Stale for the Home Department when the Prison Service will publish its next corporate plan.

The Prison Service has published its corporate plan for 1994–97. A copy has been placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which species of octopus are being used for scientific procedures in Great Britain which might cause pain or lasting harm.

I refer to my reply to the previous question from the hon. Member for Dundee, East on 11 March at column 415. Octopus vulgaris were included within the provisions of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 from 1 October 1993. Information on any scientific use of this species during the remainder of 1993 will be included in the "Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals 1993" to be published later this year.Project licence authority is not required for the use of other octopus species in scientific procedures, and information about such use is not collected.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what was the total annual budget for special constables in England and Wales in each year since 1979;(2) what was the total annual budget for special constables for each constabulary in England and Wales in each of the last five years.

This information is not centrally available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Each police force has its own special constabulary which is funded centrally through the police grant. There is no separate financial provision for special constables, and such budgetary information is not centrally collected.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many special constables were on establishment in England and Wales in each year since 1979;(2) how many special constables were on establishment in England and Wales in each constabulary in each of the last five years.

Special constables are not included in the assessment of police establishments. They are usually recruited on a divisional basis to supplement the numbers of regular officers, although there is currently a national campaign to encourage members of the public to volunteer.Available statistics for the number of volunteers serving in special constabularies in England and Wales in 1980–1993 are given in table A. Figures for 1979 are not available.The figures provided by individual constabularies for the years 1989–1993 are given in table B.

Table A
Year	Number
1980	15,108
1981	14,978
1982	15,160
1983	15,331
1984	16,012
1985	16,161
1986	16,070
1987	16,209
1988	15,788
1989	15,589
1990	15,881
1991	18,073
1992	19,243
1993	20,566

Table B
Forces	1989	1990	1991	1992	1993
Avon and Somerset	503	536	568	712	770
Bedfordshire	137	122	167	199	192
Cambridge	169	173	198	182	245
Cheshire	219	244	299	274	387
City of London	60	56	68	85	89
Cleveland	139	143	177	195	232
Cumbria	210	193	246	230	248
Derbyshire	251	275	347	335	423
Devon and Cornwall	852	913	984	946	1,067
Dorset	218	214	254	263	239
Durham	149	152	165	203	258
Dyfed-Powys	189	210	315	260	271
Essex	445	482	642	759	751

Forces	1989	1990	1991	1992	1993
Gloucestershire	209	206	224	274	315
Greater Manchester	473	517	530	570	617
Gwent	95	76	80	101	109
Hampshire	362	369	529	587	611
Hertfordshire	203	206	202	247	294
Humberside	249	273	316	422	446
Kent	500	501	484	554	587
Lancashire	432	377	474	539	565
Leicestershire	327	357	371	379	392
Lincolnshire	365	356	397	416	383
Merseyside	296	295	340	367	389
Norfolk	269	268	312	346	366
North Wales	175	199	256	295	298
North Yorkshire	334	383	387	388	497
Northamptonshire	240	218	271	302	330
Northumbria	538	534	571	512	517
Nottinghamshire	485	470	556	593	551
South Wales	261	257	352	432	534
South Yorkshire	316	317	371	412	473
Staffordshire	566	592	702	733	770
Suffolk	329	354	373	386	414
Surrey	174	215	214	251	232
Sussex	530	495	571	548	512
Thames Valley	568	532	564	606	623
Warwickshire	347	361	384	350	350
West Mercia	542	509	526	611	629
West Midlands	673	743	843	955	918
West Yorkshire	568	562	735	613	708
Wiltshire	269	261	273	322	349
Provincial Total	14,236	14,516	16,638	17,754	18,951
Metropolitan Police	1,353	1,365	1,435	1,489	1,615
England and Wales Total	15,589	15,881	18,073	19,243	20,566

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what changes he proposes to (a) the duties and (b) the powers of special constables;(2) how the duties and powers of special constables have altered over the past 10 years.

The deployment of special constables and the duties to which they may be assigned always has been, and continues to be, an operational decision for which chief officers are responsible and which varies according to local circumstances and the training, experience and preferences of the special constables concerned. No changes have been made to the powers of special constables over the past 10 years: nor are any changes currently being contemplated.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many hours were worked by special constables (a) per week and (b) per month in (i) 1992, (ii) 1993 and (iii) 1985.

This information is not centrally available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will evaluate for use in England and Wales the system for allowing children to give evidence on commission, asd in Scotland.

We intend to consider the adequacy of current legislative provisions relating to the evidence of children in criminal proceedings when the findings of Professor Graham Davies' research become available at the end of this year. As part of that consideration we shall certainly take into account the early experience of the Scottish courts in taking evidence from children on commission.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans the Prison Service Chaplaincy has for publishing a section on pagans in its Directory and Guide on Religious Practice; and what are the reasons for this decision.

[holding answer 12 April 1994]: 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 President of the Board of Trade how many working days have passed since the start of the Parcelforce and Post Office reviews; what the total expenditure up to the present date has been; and what the average expenditure on consultancy for each day of the review process has been.

The Government announced their intention to privatise Parcelforce on 15 July 1992, Official Report, column 1137 and announced the review of the structure and organisation of the Post Office on 29 July 1992. From these dates to 31 March 1994 there were 435 and 425 working days respectively. Expenditure on consultancy advice stands at £1,366,204.97 to date, representing an average of approximately £3,150 per working day.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is his policy in respect of projects al, a2, cl, d10, el, fl and f2, listed in the annex containing projects of common interest, to the European Commission paper on guidelines for trans-European energy networks.

The proposals are one aspect of continuing discussions between member states on trans-European networks. We consider that the criteria for identifying potential projects should be established before considering any list of specific projects. In our view, the criteria should recognise the principle of not supporting projects which are economically unviable, or which are capable of being financed by the private sector.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement about the future of the DTI research establishments.

I announced on 4 May last year that I had commenced a review of the options for the future of my Department's laboratories. This review, carried out with the aid of KPMG Peat Marwick management consultants, is now complete, and I am announcing my intentions for the future of the three major establishments: the National Engineering Laboratory—NEL—the Laboratory of the Government Chemist—LGC—arid the National Physical Laboratory—NPL. During the process of finalising these proposals, my Department has kept in close touch with the team undertaking the current multi-departmental efficiency scrutiny of public sector research establishments.I have today placed in the Libraries of both Houses the summary report I have received from the consultants KPMG Peat Marwick. This summary necessarily excludes information the publication of which might be prejudicial to the taxpayer's interest in the negotiations surrounding these privatisations.The DTI's laboratories are an important national resource and each of them plays a significant role in ensuring the competitiveness of British industry, and in meeting the needs of Government Departments. In the past few years they have been established as executive agencies within my Department under the "next steps" initiative. This has involved financing themselves principally from fee income, earned on contracts placed by arm's length customers. Their customers are in the private sector, in other Government Departments and in my own Department. Under this management regime the laboratories have become more focused in their work, more sensitive to their customers' requirements, and more cost-efficient. They have a good record of meeting the targets Ministers have set them, and of improving their performance from year to year.In the light of reductions in their prospective work load, these laboratories face the need to reduce and restructure their operations and to seek new business and new customers. At the same time, the progress they have made as executive agencies, although it has been impressive, has also revealed more sharply the limitations inherent in operating on a commercial basis within a Government Department. In their ability both to raise and use capital and to develop and exploit the widest possible markets for their services they do not have the flexibilities they would possess in the private sector. All of the laboratories are now facing competition, and are experiencing declining work loads reflecting both that competition and the Government's changing research priorities. In response, the laboratories have improved their efficiency, but now need more flexibility to continue doing so.My review has convinced me that each of these laboratories will respond best to these challenges within the private sector, and that once they are set free from the constraints of operating within Government, they will be better able both to serve their existing customers and to market their services to new customers, above all in industry. These laboratories all have a unique asset In the expertise of their staff, which is respected internationally. In the private sector there will be more scope for that expertise to be applied to the advantage of British industry. The laboratories will remain first class institutions.The NEL's role is that of a technology services enterprise serving customers in the private and public sectors. A decision has already been announced that it will be prepared for privatisation once it has established its commercial viability. For some years now the NEL's aim has been to reach this point in 1994–95, so that the process of privatisation can be set in hand during 1995. It has made major progress towards these targets, and my review has now confirmed them in spite of major changes in its programme of activities, reflecting changing priorities within my Department's research and technology spending. These changes will make substantial restructuring necessary, following which I intend to seek a trade purchaser of the NEL during the summer of 1995.The LGC's role is to provide chemical analysis and measurement services to several Government Departments and other bodies. A key asset is its independence and its reputation for impartiality. I have decided to pursue the recommendation of my consultants that it should be established as an independent non-profit-distributing company in the private sector. Preparations for this will be put in hand immediately, including a major restructuring programme, and I hope to complete the process by the end of 1995–96. However my mind is not closed to the possibility of a trade sale of the LGC, if a suitable buyer comes forward who can demonstrate the requisite independence.The NPL's main task is to develop and disseminate national measurement standards. Its dominant customer is my Department's national measurement system policy unit. Although this position will remain, the laboratory needs to continue restructuring to adapt itself to a reduced budget for work of this kind. Although the efficiency of the NPL has continued to increase steadily as an executive agency, it now needs to achieve further significant restructuring. I have come to the conclusion that this will be more effectively achieved if its management is contracted to the private sector. I thus intend to invite proposals for a management contractor during 1995. Commercial progress under the management contractors will be carefully reviewed, and might in due course result in the NPL becoming ready to move into private sector ownership.I shall separately be considering the future of the National Measurement Accreditation Service, part of the NPL, which the consultants felt should be viable on its own and could more appropriately operate independently of the NPL.Although all these laboratories are finding an increasing proportion of their business from the private sector, my review has made it clear that their success under private sector ownership or management will depend on their ability to bid on fair and equal terms for business from customers in my own and other Government Departments. Those taking on the responsibility of their ownership and management will naturally need to be assured that these opportunities will be available. It is the clear intention of the Government that they will be. The White Paper "Realising our Potential" (CM2250) sets out our commitment that competitive tendering procedures must become the normal method of placing work.These decisions represent major changes for all three establishments and their staff. The changes will enable the NEL, the NPL and the LGC to take better advantage of new opportunities and to forge new and successful futures for themselves. The planning of this process is a complex task requiring thorough co-ordination. To assist in pushing it through with all vigour I have appointed the PA Consulting Group to act as project managers.The consultants also considered future options for the National Weights and Measures Laboratory—NWML. They recommended no major change but I am looking at possibilities which the Deregulation and Contracting Out Bill will offer for contracting out some of the NWML's services. I will be making a further announcement in due course.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he expects amendments to the Electricity (Class Exemptions from the Requirement for a Licence) Order 1990 to be made; and if he will make a statement.

In December of last year, I announced a number of forthcoming amendments to the Electricity (Class Exemptions from the Requirement for a Licence) Order 1990.I have today laid before Parliament an order which will bring four of the five amendments that I announced into effect. These are:

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what developments have been made, since his announcement on 14 December 1992, in exploring how the small firms loan guarantee scheme can be improved through linking loans with appropriate help, advice and training in business skills.

I am pleased to announce, subject to contract negotiations, the funding of 10 pilot projects which will offer advice and counselling to borrowers under the loan guarantee scheme. The pilot projects will start as soon as possible and will run for three years. The pilots will operate in the areas covered by the following:

• Avon TEC
• Birmingham Business Link
• Doncaster Business Link
• Hertfordshire TEC
• Tyneside TEC
• Metro TEC (Wigan)
• Kent TEC
• South Thames TEC
• Fife Enterprise
• Tayside Enterprise

To ask the President of the Board of Trade which aspects of the European Union's fifth directive he has opposed.

I am opposed to a number of provisions in the fifth company law directive including the requirements for employee participation in public companies with 1,000 or more employees and for executive directors to be in a minority on company boards. I am also opposed to the inclusion in the directive of articles on the adoption and auditing of accounts.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the trade figures between the United Kingdom and Israel over the past five years for which figures are available.

The trade figures between the United Kingdom and Israel for the past five years are shown in the table:

United Kingdom trade with Israel—1989 to 1993
(£ millions)
	1989	1990	1991	1992	1993
Imports	480	506	456	485	550
Exports	502	568	531	586	876

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is his policy with regard to the novelty fund; if he will make a statement as to how much is in it; and what it does.

[holding answer 12 April 1994]: I am unaware of this fund.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will set out the total enterprise budget for small firms for training and enterprise councils, for the last three financial years.

[holding answer 13 April 1994]: The total enterprise budget for small firms for training and enterprise councils for the last three financial years is:

	£million
1991–92	156·98
1992–93	153·90
1993–94	162·19

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 29 March, Official Report, column 634, if he will list the consultation documents and indicate where the information about them is held.

The information requested has been placed in the Library of the House and will be updated regularly. Copies of the consultative documents are available from my Department.

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

The Welsh Office currently has contracts with four of the firms mentioned. These are as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the position of the ambulance service in Wales in relation to the citizens charter; what is the response time expected for an emergency call; what arrangements have been made for monitoring the speed of response to emergency calls; and if he will make a statement.

The patients charter requires that an emergency ambulance should arrive within 14 minutes in an urban area, 18 minutes within a rural area or 21 minutes within a sparsely populated area. In Wales these response times are expected to be met in 95 per cent. of calls. Performance is monitored quarterly and the target is being met for Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what information he has on the amount spent on repair and maintenance of school buildings by local education authorities in Wales for each financial year since 1989–90; and if he will make a statement.

This information is given in the following table. Figures for 1992–93 onwards are not yet available.

Gross current expenditure on repair and maintenance of school buildings, fixed plant and grounds1
	£000
1989–90	33,807
1990–91	36,984
1991–92	40,867

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will issue guidance to both directly managed units and hospital trusts regarding the segregation of clinical waste.

Guidance to both directly managed units and NHS trusts on the management of clinical waste, including segregation, was issued on 30 November 1993 and 21 February 1994.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what measures he will take to continue the training courses of members of CTF consequent upon the closure on 31 March.

North East Wales TEC is working with CTF and the Employment Service to arrange counselling and assessment interviews and to identify suitable alternative opportunities. All participants affected will be given the opportunity to continue their programmes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement concerning the closure of the CTF training centre, Shotton, Clwyd.

The North East Wales training and enterprise council and CTF did not reach agreement on renewal of a contract for 1994–95. The TEC is working with CTF and the local employment service to ensure suitable alternative training provision for the participants on Government training programmes who are affected.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people have been trained at the CTF training centre; and how many were undergoing training up to 31 March.

In the year up to 31 March 1994, 80 people were trained at the centre with 51 still in training at 31 March.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy to make grant funding available to the Wales Pre-School Playgroups Association.

Wales Pre-School Playgroups Association has been awarded a grant of £164,400 to help meet its central administrative and service delivery targets in 1994–95.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what changes in the United Kingdom overseas aid programme he expects will result from the negotiation of a global convention to combat desertification.

This will depend on the provisions of the final text although we do not expect the United Kingdom aid programme, which already gives attention to the issues involved, to require major changes. The negotiations are giving high priority to the problems facing many African countries; this region already benefits from a substantial share of our aid.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans Her Majesty's Government have to provide (a) emergency aid and (b) development finance during 1994 for the Palestinians; and if he will make a statement.

We are ready to respond to emergencies as they occur. For example, following the Hebron mosque massacre on Friday 25 February, we made an immediate contribution of £34,000 towards the expenses of a surgical team of 10 Jordanian specialists, specialist supplies in support of the team and subsequent nursing, followed by a further £51,000 for hospital equipment. We have also given ·500,000 to the International Committee of the Red Cross, in response to an appeal for its work in Israel and the occupied territories.Development finance in support of the peace process will continue to be provided during 1994 through multilateral programmes, including those of the EC and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, and our bilateral technical assistance programme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance the United Kingdom has given to Turkey and Iran in respect of the exodus of 2 million Iraqi Kurds, Assyrians, Chaldaeans, Yezidis and Turcomans after the uprising in March 1991.

Neither the Turkish nor the Iranian Governments sought assistance from the United Kingdom Government. However, since the 1991 crisis we have contributed over £2 million to helping Iraqi refugees in Iran. Details were given to the right hon. Member for Strangford (Mr. Taylor) on 25 January at columns 133-34. We have given substantial assistance to all the groups mentioned through the UN agencies and non-governmental organisations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list all payments made by the Overseas Development Administration in relation to the Pergau dam project, with the dates they were made and the amount of the payment made in each case.

The Overseas Development Administration has made over 200 payments in respect of this project since signature of the financial intergovernmental arrangement in July 1991. These fall into two categories: (a) interest rate support payments made to the Export Credits Guarantee Department to reduce the interest rate charged by the lending banks and (b) payments to consultants for technical, financial and environmental monitoring of the project. The cost of (a) has been: 1991–92, £1·882 million; 1992–93, £7·835 million; 1993–94, £14·650 million. The cost of (b) has been 1991–92, £0·039 million; 1992–93, £0·210 million; 1993–94, £0·170 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) on what date the contract was signed between Her Majesty's Government and the Malaysian Electricity Company for funding of the Pergau project;(2) on what date the formal agreement to finance the Pergau project was signed by Her Majesty's Government and the Government of Malaysia.

The Government are not party to the contract between the contractor and Tenaga Nasional Berhad for this project. Her Majesty's Government signed a financial arrangement with the Malaysian Government in respect of the project on 8 July 1991.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list all British institutions and companies receiving funds from the British aid programme in each of the last five years, listing the amount of funds received by each of the institutions and companies for each of those years.

This information can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the ATP projects of over £5,000,000 in value in the past 10 years where the escalation factor has been over 10 per cent. after the firm contract proposal has been made by the Government; and if he will name the contractors involved.

This information is not held centrally and could be collected only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on the extent to which British and other non-governmental organisations are seeking to work in Burma and on what projects.

The Overseas Development Administration does not hold detailed information on the plans of individual non-governmental organisations seeking to work in Burma. However, our contacts with the NGO umbrella group, BOND—British Overseas NGOs for Development—indicate that there are around 13 British NGOs with differing degrees of interest in working in Burma across a variety of sectors. We are currently supporting one British NGO which is involved in English language teaching and teacher training activities.We have no information on NGOs from other countries seeking to work in Burma.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has for the expenditure of his contribution to the Liberian trust fund.

The details of expenditure are for the UN to decide, on the understanding that our contribution of $1 million is restricted to the fund's humanitarian purposes. We understand that $251,000 is committed to a public information campaign to encourage national reconciliation and to facilitate disarmament, and a further $16,000 will help ex-combatants to resume their studies at the university of Liberia. The balance will be used for humanitarian needs connected to the demobilisation programme.

To ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, as representing the House of Commons Commission how many cases of dismissal of Refreshment Department staff have resulted in industrial tribunals in each of the past five years; how many have resulted in decisions against management; what was the total cost to Parliament of (a) being represented at tribunals and (b) awards against the Department over the same period; and what was the total cost of out-of-court settlements, pre-tribunal agreements and compensation awards over the same period.

In the past five years there has been one case of dismissal from the Refreshment Department which resulted in the member of staff concerned appealing to an industrial tribunal claiming unfair dismissal. The member of staff was dismissed on disciplinary grounds on 22 June 1989. The case was heard on 4 December 1989. The industrial tribunal found in favour of the complainant but in doing so acknowledged his contribution to the dismissal, which was placed at 60 per cent.The complainant sought reinstatement but the tribunal found neither reinstatement nor re-engagement appropriate. An award of £1,500 was made, paid from House funds. The House of Commons Commission was represented by the Treasury Solicitor who, at that time, did not charge for its services. No costs were therefore incurred by the House for legal representation.Other than the above there have been no out-of-court settlements, pre-tribunal agreements or compensation awards in the past five years.

To ask the Chairman of the Public Accounts Commission, if he will list (a) the location, damage category, extent and scale of damage, and whether such damage is new or recurrent, for each site of special scientific interest contained in reports to the National Audit Office since 1982 and (b) the cases and locations where such damage has been caused by new road schemes or road repairs or reinstatement works.

I understand that the National Audit Office does not receive routine reports on sites of special scientific interest and does not maintain lists of damage or encroachment to such sites. This is a matter for English Nature.The Comptroller and Auditor General is, however, undertaking an examination into "English Nature: Protecting and Managing Sites Of Special Scientific Interest" and expects to report his findings to Parliament later this month. This report will be available to hon. Members in the usual way.

To ask the Lord President of the Council how many hon. Members have taken advantage of the visit to a European Community institution that they are entitled to under the resolution of 6 December 1991, for the financial year 1992–93 and 1993–94.

May I refer the hon. Member to my reply of 4 November 1993 (Official Report, Vol. 231, col. 362) concerning visits undertaken in 1992-93.I will write to the hon. Member when final details for 1993–94 become available. So far 69 Members have submitted claims for journeys undertaken during the year.

To ask the Lord President of the Council (1) how many parliamentary questions were answered in the year to 28 February 1994, by Government Department;(2) who were the 10 members who asked the most parliamentary questions in the year to 28 February 1994; how many questions were asked by each; and at what estimated cost to the departments concerned.

The POLIS database holds records for the following 41,126 written answers given in the year to 28 February 1994:

Department	Number of answers
Agriculture, Fisheries and Food	1,643
Attorney General	261
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster	457
Defence	3,003
Education	1,595
Employment	1,686

Department	Number of answers
Environment	3,427
Foreign and Commonwealth Office	2,749
Health	4,405
Home Office	3,233
Lord Chancellor	552
Lord President of the Council	128
National Heritage	751
Northern Ireland Office	1,397
Prime Minister	844
Scottish Office	2,746
Social Security	2,138
Trade and Industry	2,995
Transport	2,589
Treasury	1,937
Welsh Office	2,343
Accommodation and Works Committee	51
Administration Committee	66
Catering Committee	22
Church Commissioners	42
Committee of Selection	1
Finance and Services Committee	10
House of Commons Commission	37
Information Committee	11
Public Accounts Commission	7

The 10 Members who received the highest number of these answers, together with the number of answers and the estimated cost, were as follows:

The hon. Member for:	Answer	Cost £
Blaenau Gwent (Mr. L. Smith)	1,323	128,000
Don Valley (Mr. Redmond)	983	95,000
Bristol, South (Ms Primarolo)	736	71,000
Meirionnydd Nant Conwy (Mr. Llwyd)	517	50,000
Liverpool, Walton (Mr. Kilfoyle)	488	47,000
Sheffield, Brightside (Mr. Blunkett)	474	46,000
Newcastle Upon Tyne, Central (Mr. Cousins)	419	41,000
Stoke-on-Trent, North (Ms Walley)	414	40,000
Cardiff, West (Mr. Morgan)	411	40,000
Leyton (Mr. Cohen)	403	39,000

The cost is calculated from the most recent estimate of the average cost of giving a written answer to a parliamentary question, namely £97, rounded to the nearest £1,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what checks are made between his Department and the Department of the Environment to establish how much a local education authority's gross expenditure is validly recorded as spent on its schools.

It is the responsibility of the district auditor, appointed by the local education authority, to check that the authority validly records its expenditure on schools and on other areas.The Department for Education and, I understand, the Department of the Environment, carry out validity checks on authorities' revenue outturn returns. Any figure on the return which varies significantly from the previous year's return is queried with the authority concerned.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what were the factors and figures taken into account in the student income and expenditure survey for 1992–93;(2) how the figures for commercial borrowing for student loans in the year 1992–93 were calculated for students under the age of 26 years;(3) what information he has on whether borrowing by mature students is higher than by younger students; and what assessment he has made of the reasons for the difference in levels of borrowing between those groups.

Copies of the "Student Income and Expenditure Survey" for the 1992–93 academic year were placed in the Library when it was published on 16 December 1993. The survey took account of income from grants, student loans, money and gifts from parents, earnings, social security benefits, commercial loans, withdrawals from savings, and of income from other sources such as investments. Account was taken of expenditure on housing costs, food, travel and other course-related expenses, leisure and entertainment, clothes and goods and services.Sampled students were asked what interest-bearing loans they had taken out during the 1992–93 academic year, either from a bank or other financial institution or privately, and how much had been repaid. They were also asked about any overdraft held at the start of the year or expected to be taken out during the year, and how much they expected to be overdrawn at the end of the year.The figures published in the survey for overdrafts for younger students show the amounts at the start and at the end of the year, but it is the change in the overdraft balance which is used as a component of student income. The survey showed significant differences in the patterns and levels of borrowing between different groups of mature students as well as between these groups and younger students. Students were not asked their reasons for borrowing money.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education to what extent he has taken into account the net change in the overdraft balance bill when he assesses student debts, particularly in the final year; and what assessment he has made of what the final figure would be if the net change in the overdraft balance figures were taken into account.

My right hon. Friend collects no information about individual students' debts or overdrafts. The "Student Income and Expenditure Survey" included questions to students in the sample about overdrafts. A copy of the report of the survey, commissioned by the Department, was placed in the Library on 16 December.My right hon. Friend keeps the repayment arrangements for student loans under review. He believes it right that students should contribute towards their own maintenance costs. The repayment terms of the student loan facility are generous. Graduates can defer repayments for a year at a time if their income is below 85 per cent. of average earnings. For those with incomes above that level—currently about £14,000 a year—the level of repayments should be manageable.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will conduct an analysis of mature student borrowing by year of course undertaken.

My right hon. Friend does not propose to undertake such an analysis.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many education institutions he and other Ministers in his Department have visited since the 1992 general election.

The information requested is as follows:

	Number
Schools	237
Further education institutions	44
Higher education institutions	53
Total	334

To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many pupils have been permanently excluded from schools in the north Warwickshire area for drug abuse in each of the last 10 years.

Figures for each of the last 10 years are not available. Information on permanent exclusions from maintained schools in England was collected by the Department over a two-year period, starting with the summer term 1990, under the national exclusions reporting system—NERS. In England, 81 pupils were excluded for drug-related offences and solvent abuse in year one and 179 in year two. It is not possible to provide an area breakdown of the figures because of assurances given as to confidentiality.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans she has to introduce legislation which would require the purchaser of animals for slaughter to be licensed.

I have no such plans.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what targets have been set for the pesticides safety directorate in 1994–95.

I have set the pesticides safety directorate the following targets relating to relocation, financial performance, efficiency, the delivery of pesticides approval services and policy advice in 1994–95:To relocate the agency from its present three sites to a single site in York in the Autumn of 1994.To achieve 100 per cent. recovery of full costs and an overall efficiency gain of 2 per cent.To meet the targets for delivery of services as specified:

Pesticides approval	Applications completed	Maximum processing time (working days)
Technical Stream
Normal	280	335
Administrative Fast	500	20

Pesticides approval	Applications completed	Maximum processing time (working days)
Fast	265	115
Experimental permit	40	190
Off label	100	60
Upgrade	160	—
Departmental Exp. Permit	12	255
Departmental Normal	4	335
Committee Stream
Sift	8	120
Active Ingredient	12	235-275

The processing time targets apply to 80 per cent. of new applications.The scientific quality of the directorate's work on the evaluation of pesticides will be monitored by the chairman of the Advisory Committee on Pesticides.Details of performance in 1993–94 will be set out in the agency's annual report and accounts to be published during July 1994.

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

I have no immediate plans to do so.

To ask the Prime Minister if he has any plans to visit Aberdeen in the near future.

I have no immediate plans to do so.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 14 April.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 14 April.

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

To ask the Prime Minister if he was able to clarify, in his recent discussions with the Indian Prime Minister, whether the Indian National Commission on Human Rights will be able to look at the situation in Indian-administered Kashmir; and if he will make a statement.

I discussed the Indian Human Rights Commission in general terms with the Indian Prime Minister during our meeting on 14 March. We have welcomed the Commission's decision to conduct its first investigation into the incident at Bijbehara in Kashmir in October. Its report is due to be published on 17 April.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what advice he gave to the Football Association in relation to the proposed England v Germany match in Berlin; and when he first became aware of the date of the match.

I have been asked to reply.The Foreign and Commonwealth Office gave no advice to the Football Association about staging the England v Germany football match in Berlin. We first became aware of the fixture in January of this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 24 February, Official Report, column 307, what action has been taken by the United Nations Development Programme and other United Nations agencies to ensure that there is funding to ensure the security of the heavy weapons being handed over by militias in Somaliland and to provide for the civilian rehabilitation of the disarmed militias.

The proposal prepared by the National Demobilization Committee—NDC—in northwest Somalia, with assistance from the UNDP/OPS contracted team of Zimbabweans—ZIMDAT—has now been refined and will be presented to donors at a briefing and discussion session in Nairobi on 22 April 1994. An appeal for funds will follow the briefing.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of progress in Burma on human rights; and what representations he is currently making to the Burmese Government for human rights improvements.

There has been no significant improvement in Burma's human rights record.We and our European partners continue to press the ruling military regime—the State Law and Order Restoration Council—to respect the human rights of all Burmese people, including ethnic minorities, and to release Aung San Suu Kyi and other political leaders. A resolution on these lines was adopted by consensus at the recent session of the United Nations Human Rights Commission in Geneva.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what stance was taken on Burma at the recent meeting of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights.

A consensus resolution was adopted at the recent session of the United Nations Human Rights Commission, calling on Burma to release unconditionally Aung San Suu Kyi and other political leaders, and criticising the human rights violations reported by the special rapporteur, Professor Yokota.