To ask the Attorney General if he will announce the key performance targets for executive agencies in his Department for 1994–95; and if he will make a statement.

I informed the House on 29 March, Official Report, columns 16–17, that I would be establishing the Government Property Lawyers as an executive agency of the Treasury Solicitor's Department on 1 April 1993.The agency has had a successful first year. It has achieved the key performance targets which I set it. I congratulate the chief executive and his staff.I have set the following targets for the agency which are similar to those for 1993–94 but contain significant improvements:

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what amounts were paid in the last 10 years for which figures are available to (a) solicitors, (b) barristers and (c) by way of disbursements in relation to criminal legal aid in the magistrates and higher courts.

Table (a) gives a breakdown for criminal cases tried in the magistrates courts during the period 1983–84 to 1992–93. Detailed information on payments to solicitors and barristers in the higher criminal courts is available only for the last nine years and is set out at table (b). A breakdown of disbursements in the higher criminal courts is only available from 1988–89.

Table (a)
£ million
	Solicitors	Barristers	Disbursements
1983–84	54.991	4.846	2.483
1984–85	60.104	5.307	2.790
1985–86	71.227	6.857	3.347
1986–87	76.313	7.309	3.649

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list all the courts and the tribunals in England and Wales for which legal aid, subject to eligibility, (a) is and (b) is not available.

Under the Legal Aid Act 1988, and subject to the various eligibility tests, legal aid is available as follows:Civil legal aid is available for proceedings before:

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what were the total receipts in the last 10 years for which figures are available in relation to awards of costs, contributions and otherwise in relation to (a) legal aid in criminal cases in the higher courts, (b) legal aid in criminal cases in the magistrates courts, (c) magistrates courts duty solicitor schemes, (d) police station duty solicitor schemes and (e) advice on criminal matters under the legal aid scheme.

Total payments to the legal aid fund in respect of costs, contributions and other receipts in respect of criminal legal aid during the last 10 years are as shown. No costs, contributions or other receipts are received in respect of magistrates courts and police station duty solicitors schemes.

£ million
Year	Higher Courts	Magistrates' Courts	Duty Solicitor magistrates'courts	Duty Solicitor police station	Green Form
1983–84	58.905	60.765	—	—	35.858
1984–85	67.398	66.816	0.537	—	44.139
1985–86	74.663	80.219	3.368	0.568	51.716
1986–87	91.067	85.772	3.915	16.618	49.918
1987–88	99.176	112.266	4.879	23.183	56.885
1988–89	118.586	125.273	5.300	25.534	54.132
1989–90	134.206	148.828	6.522	30.969	62.430
1990–91	156.821	171.646	7.071	37.031	72.016
1991–92	186.470	209.996	7.989	53.615	95.165
1992–93	220.404	197.393	10.156	61.439	118.746

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list the amounts and the proportions of legal aid fund moneys paid to (a) solicitors, (b) barristers and (c) Queen's counsel for each of the last five years in (i) criminal, (ii) family, and (iii) other civil matters.

Gross expenditure on criminal legal aid
	Solicitors (£ million)	Proportion of criminal expenditure (per cent.)	Barristers (£ million)	Proportion of criminal expenditure (per cent.)	Queen's Counsel (£ million)	Proportion of criminal expenditure (per cent.)	Disbursements (£ million)	Proportion of criminal expenditure (per cent.)	Total criminal expenditure (£ million)
1988–89	197.6	68.9	77.2	26.9	10.2	3.5	11.9	4.1	286.7
1989–90	232.2	69.3	88.9	26.6	11.6	3.5	13.8	4.1	334.9
1990–91	269.5	69.3	103.5	26.6	14.7	3.8	16.0	4.1	389.1
1991–92	335.4	70.4	121.4	25.5	16.0	3.4	19.5	4.1	476.2
1992–93	356.9	69.6	133.9	26.1	24.4	4.8	21.7	4.2	512.5

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what was the total net cost in the last 10 years for which figures are available of (a) legal aid in criminal cases in the higher courts, (b) legal aid in criminal cases in the magistrates courts, (c) magistrates courts duty solicitor schemes, (d) police station duty solicitor schemes and (e) advice on criminal matters under the legal advice scheme.

The table shows the total net cost of criminal legal aid expenditure in the last 10 years for which figures are available, broken down in the form requested.

It is not possible to distinguish between the amounts paid specifically to Queen's counsel from the total sum paid to all barristers in family and other civil proceedings. The amounts and proportions of final legal aid bill payments to solicitors and barristers, excluding disbursements, for each of the last five years for which figures are available in (i) criminal, (ii) family and (iii) other civil matters, are as follows:

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many solicitors or solicitors' offices and barristers received payments during 1992–93 in the ranges (a) £1 to £5,000, (b) £5,001 to £10,000, (c) £10,001 to £20,000, (d) £20,001 to £40,000, (e) £40,001 to £60,000, (f) £60,001 to £80,000, (g) £80,001 to £100,000, (h) £100,001 to £120,000 and (i) £120,001 and over in respect of payments made from the legal aid fund.

The number of solicitors' offices receiving payments within these ranges in 1992–93 was as follows:

	Number
£1–£5,000	3,001
£5,001–£10,000	873
£10,001–£20,000	1,180
£20,001–£40,000	1,623
£40,001–£60,000	1,134
£60,001–£80,000	718
£80,001–£100,000	549
£100,001–£120,000	412
£120,001 and over	1,827

The Legal Aid Board does not keep records in the form requested of payments to barristers, and it could be produced only at disproportionate cost. However, the following information is held on the numbers of barristers receiving payments within given ranges in 1992–93:

	Number
£1–£1,000	1,553
£1,001–£2,000	681
£2,001–£4,000	893
£4,001–£6,000	728
£6,001–£8,000	617
£8,001–£10,000	499
£10,001–£12,000	385
£12,001–£14,000	349
£14,001 and over	2,115

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many advertisements and in which publications, and at what cost, the Lord Chancellor has placed for new judges since his speech at the Lord Mayor's dinner for judges on 7 July 1993; and how many responses he has received to these advertisements.

No advertisements have so far been placed for judges. However, eight advertisements have been placed for other judicial appointments since 7 July 1993, details of which are shown in the table. The total cost was £663.54.Work in currently in progress on the development of detailed proposals for the introduction of the measures announced in the Lord Chancellor's speech to Her Majesty's judges, and an announcement will be made soon.

Advertisements placed for judicial appointments since 7th July 1993
Office	Publication	Number of applications received
Deputy Social Security Commissioners/Deputy Child Support Commissioners (Scotland)	Journal of the Law Society of Scotland	38
	Scots Law Times
Deputy Taxing Masters	The Law Society Gazette	25
	Bar News
Mental Health Review Tribunals (Legal Members—part-time)	The Law Society Gazette	49
	Bar News
Part-time Immigration Adjudicators (Scotland)	Journal of The Law Society of Scotland	49
	Scots Law Times

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list the total amount spent on judges' lodgings in England and Wales for each of the last 10 years.

The table sets out expenditure on judges' lodgings since 1987–88.

	£ million
1987–88	2.3
1988–89	2.9
1989–90	2.7
1990–91	3.3
1991–92	3.7
1992–93	15.5
1993–94	2
1 £5.0 million excluding building purchase.
2 Not yet available.

The Department took over responsibility for collating information on expenditure from the Property Services Agency in 1988 and in 1990 took over full responsibility for the maintenance and administration of the lodgings. For this transitionary period the costs are based on estimates. Figures for the years prior to 1987–88 could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what estimate he has made of how much crime would be reduced by the introduction of national photo-identity cards for those aged 12 years and above;(2) what estimate he has made of how much car-related crimes would be reduced by the introduction of

No such estimates have been made.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans the Home Department has and what studies it has undertaken in respect of the introduction of a photo-identity card for all United Kingdom subjects aged 12 years and above.

The Government currently have no plans to introduce a photo-identity card for all United Kingdom subjects aged 12 years and above. The last formal study undertaken of this question was completed in 1989. This is, however, an issue which we consider important and keep constantly under review.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to employ workers abroad to programme and load the police national computer; and if he will make a statement.

I assume that the hon. Member has in mind the conversion of the national collection of criminal records into digital form for entry on the police national computer. My right hon. and learned Friend expects to make an announcement on this matter shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 21 April, Official Report, columns 643–44, on what date the settlement was reached between United Kingdom Detention Services Ltd. and the Prison Service regarding the amount of money to be withheld under the terms of the contract to manage Blakenhurst prison, in the light of the incident on 24 February; what sum of money has been withheld from United Kingdom Detention Services Ltd. as an appropriate financial remedy; and how this amount was arrived at.

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 responsibilities agencies accountable to his Department are required to assume in the event of an accident or incident involving United States nuclear weapons in the United Kingdom.

No agencies involved in an incident involving United States nuclear weapons are accountable to my Department. The response of the emergency services is a local one and is determined by the local circumstances.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether local police forces are required to assume primary responsibility in responding to an accident or incident involving United States nuclear weapons in the United Kingdom.

The role of the police in the response to an incident, including one involving United States' nuclear weapons in the United Kingdom, is one of co-ordinating the local level response of the emergency services and other agencies.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what changes in the restrictions on the movement of vehicular traffic in Whitehall were made on 25 April ANZAC day, in 1994, as against those made in previous years; what consultations took place about the changes, and by and with whom; what was his involvement; and if he will make a statement.

I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that consultations took place between his officers and representatives of the New Zealand and Australian high commissioners on the arrangements to be made for ANZAC day. As this year it fell on a weekday during the parliamentary session, the commissioner was required by the sessional order to keep the streets leading to Parliament free and open. It was possible to close Whitehall for the whole of the ceremony in 1993 and 1992 only because Parliament was not sitting on either of the days in question.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the latest available annual figure for the number of people cremated in England.

Annual cremation figures are collected by the Federation of British Cremation Authorities and were most recently published in volume 37 of the federation's journal "Resurgam". This indicates that 386,673 cremations took place in England in 1993.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what law or guideline governs the payment of money to doctors for the signing of authorisation for the cremation of a deceased person; how many doctors are required to authorise each cremation; and if he will publish the guidance issued by his Department in relation to this matter.

The main requirements governing cremation procedures in England and Wales are contained in the Cremation Regulations 1930, as amended by the Cremation Regulations 1952, 1965, 1979 and the Cremation (Amendment) Regulations 1985. All applications for cremation have to be authorised by the medical referee for the crematorium, who must be a registered medical practitioner of not less than five years' standing with suitable experience and qualifications. There is no statutory basis for the payment of money to medical referees for the authorising of cremation; in the case of municipal crematoriums, the fees are set by the local government management board following negotiation with the British Medical Association. For privately run crematoriums, there is a BMA-recommended fee.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to ask the Law Commission to review the law on hearsay evidence and evidence of previous misconduct, as recommended by the Royal Commission on criminal justice.

I have today asked the Law Commission to undertake a major review of the law of evidence. I have suggested that the terms of reference should be to consider the law of England and Wales relating to hearsay evidence and evidence of previous misconduct in criminal proceedings; and to make appropriate recommendations, including, if they appear to be necessary in consequence of changes proposed to the law of evidence, changes to the trial process.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been achieved with respect to publishing an annual report to assist those in the criminal justice system in avoiding racial discrimination within that system, as laid down in section 95 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991; and if he will make a statement.

A publication on race and the criminal justice system was issued in October 1992 along with a similar publication on gender. In 1993 the Home Secretary's statutory responsibilities under section 95, which deals with information on race, gender and costs, were discharged by distributing information on the costs of the criminal justice system. Additionally, an information sheet on race specifically for the Judicial Studies Board was published.A further general publication on race will be distributed shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is now his proposed time scale for the introduction of an offence of male rape; and if he will make a statement.

The Government have no plans to create such an offence.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to strengthen the Prison Service chaplaincy with an increase in prison numbers; and if he will make a statement.

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 how many deportation orders have been served in (a) the first quarter of 1993, (b) the third quarter of 1993 and (c) the first quarter of 1994.

The available information relates to deportation orders made rather than those served. There were 359 and 297 such orders made in the first and third quarters of 1993 respectively. Corresponding information for the first quarter of 1994 is not yet available. Deportation orders are not made in respect of persons removed under the supervised departure procedures; there were 363 and 300 such removals in the first and third quarters of 1993 respectively.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the procedures that must be followed for a newspaper to be allowed to interview a prisoner being held in a prison establishment in England and Wales.

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, pursuant to his answer of 2 December, Official Report, column 665–66, regarding the cost of the Sheehy inquiry (a) how many days Miss Jenny Rumble spent in actual discussions in Australia, New Zealand and the United States of America; at what cost; and what were her qualifications to be sent on such duties and (b) how many days Mr. E. Caines spent in discussions in Australia; and at what cost.

The dates of all the visits which were undertaken by the members and the secretary of the inquiry were published in the appendices of volume 2 of the inquiry's report. The visits included discussions with the New South Wales police, the Australian federal police in Canberra and the New Zealand police service. Details of the overall expenditure of the inquiry were given in my reply to the hon. Member on 2 December 1993, at column 665–66. The management of expenditure within these sums was the responsibility of the inquiry.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to prevent criminals from participating in, and benefiting from, his plans to privatise police posts; and if he will make a statement.

In any case where work previously done by police officers is contracted out, the Government take steps in order to ensure that the appropriate security procedures are in place.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement regarding the confidentiality of citizens who allow the police to use their houses for surveillance.

I can assure the hon. Member that the police go to great lengths to safeguard the identities of those who allow them to use their houses for surveillance.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many individuals from Somalia have been granted leave to enter Britain since January 1991; and how many dependent relatives have been allowed to accompany them;(2) how many individuals from the former Yugoslavia have been granted leave to enter Britain since January 1991; and how many dependent relatives have been allowed to accompany them.

[holding answer 27 April 1994]: Information on the total numbers, including dependent relatives, given leave to enter the United Kingdom is given in the table. The figures include persons who have applied for asylum at ports—and their dependants—and who have been granted asylum or exceptional leave. They exclude persons granted temporary admission. The total numbers of dependent relatives are not available separately.

Nationals of Somalia and the former Yugoslavia given leave to enter the United Kingdom
Number of journeys
Nationality	1991	1992	11993
Somalia	3,650	5,500	4,160
Former Yugoslavia	59,800	49,900	46,200
1 Figures are provisional.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list each of the international and European codes, conventions and treaties to defend human rights to which Her Majesty's Government are a party, indicating in each case whether Her Majesty's Government have signed or ratified it, and the derogations involved; and in which court the provisions are justiciable.

The main international human rights instruments to which the United Kingdom is party—that is, which it has ratified—are as follows:

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

Covenant against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.

International Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination.

Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women.

Convention on the Rights of the Child.

The main European human rights treaties to which the United Kingdom are party are:

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what further consultations he proposes with interested industry groups on the revised draft of the interaction agreement, the coal access agreement and the model licensing regulations.

The Department of Trade and Industry has consulted interested parties on the draft model Coal Authority licensing documents. We intend to publish in the coming weeks revised versions of those documents, which take account of the representations made.We have no plans to carry out a further round of consultations.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will place the consultants' report on the Companies House agency in the Library; whether he is reviewing the need for other directorships of the board member to be disclosed; and when he expects to announce the future shape of Companies House organisation.

The future of Companies House remains under consideration. It would not be appropriate to publish the consultants' advice in advance of the Government's decision.Information about other directorships held by company directors will continue to be available to searchers at Companies House. Technical developments however make it possible to drop the requirement for companies to supply such information on the annual return. This reform is one of the measures for which, subject to consultation, the Government intend to use the deregulation order-making power in the Deregulation and Contracting Out Bill once it is enacted.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Cunninghame, South (Mr. Donohoe) of 10 March, Official Report, columns 335–36, how many callers there were to each of the helplines listed in each of those years.

The numbers of calls each year were as follows:

	Numbers
Enterprise Initiative Helpline
1987–88	44,971
1988–89	43,413
1989–90	38,496
1990–91	37,606
1991–92	26,833
1992–93	31,009
1993–94	26,608
Environmental Enquiry Point
1990–91	5,052
1991–92	6,735
1992–93	6,441
1993–94	2,962
Innovation Enquiry Line
1991–92	7,980
1992–93	7,430
1993–94	9,584

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much (a) a barrel of crude oil and (b) a gallon of petrol cost in (i) 1970 and (ii) 1994 in (1) cash terms and (2) 1994 prices; and if he will make a statement.

A barrel of crude oil cost the equivalent of some 75p—$1.80 per barrel—in 1970 which is equivalent to about £6 in 1994 prices. In January 1994, a barrel of crude oil was £9.38—$14.01 per barrel. A United Kingdom gallon of 4 star petrol, including taxes and duties, was on average some 33p in 1970 and £2.60 in 1994 prices. In January 1994, 4 star petrol cost on average about £2.52.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to review the law on insolvency.

The Insolvency Service has recently consulted on proposed changes to the company voluntary arrangement and administration order procedures in the Insolvency Act 1986 and the responses are being carefully considered. I have no plans at present for further reviews.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to review the status of the National Measurement Accreditation Service and the National Accreditation Council for Certification Bodies.

On 14 April, in announcing the Government's conclusions on the future of the DTI laboratories, I said that separate consideration would be given to the future of the National Measurement Accreditation Service—the NAMAS—which is currently part of the National Physical Laboratory—the NPL. The report by consultants KPMG Peat Marwick recommended that NAMAS should be separated from the NPL and consideration given to its merger with the National Accreditation Council for Certification Bodies—the NACCB. NAMAS accredits testing and calibration laboratories; the NACCB advises the DTI on the accreditation of bodies which perform certification of quality systems, products and personnel.The NACCB is currently a council of the British Standards Institution, a royal charter body, having been established under a memorandum of understanding between the DTI and BSI. The NACCB's status has itself been under review and the Government, the BSI and the NACCB agree that the link with the BSI should now be severed and the NACCB given a new independent status. In this context also there have been calls for a merger of the NACCB with the NAMAS.The Government see a number of benefits in creating a merged body, including better policy co-ordination, a higher profile for accreditation, the pooling of expertise, and advantages internationally. Before proceeding further, however, I have decided to seek the views of all interested parties on a merger, and my Department is issuing a consultation document on the subject today.The Government remain committed to a strong and effective national accreditation system. A new merged body would need to maintain impartiality, integrity, and national authority, in order to assure the continuing status of accreditation both at home and abroad. I am not convinced, however, that the new body would need to be within Government in order to do this. My objective is for the new body to be given the greatest degree of freedom from Government control which would be consistent with the attainment of our policy objectives, and with the need for integrity and impartiality.The consultation document seeks comments on the appropriate relationship between a merged body and Government. It also seeks views on a number of related matters, including whether accreditation should be open to organisations not based in the United Kingdom.I have today placed copies of the consultation document in the Libraries of both Houses. Responses to the document are requested by 15 June. I will report the outcome of the consultation exercise, and the Government's conclusions, to the House in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will give an estimate for the cost of work carried out by Government Departments, between 9 July 1991 and 30 April 1994, on formulating plans for the reorganisation of sporting bodies in the United Kingdom; and what is his estimate for the likely cost of that re-organisation.

Those involved within Government in formulating plans for the future structure of British sport will have been involved in a wide range of other activities between 9 July 1993 and 30 April 1994. It is not possible to estimate the time and cost attaching to any particular activity. As to the estimated costs of any fresh proposals, I cannot anticipate the announcement which we propose to make shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what submissions to his Department have been made by the Royal British Legion concerning arrangements for the commemoration of the D-day anniversary.

The secretary-general of the Royal British Legion wrote to me on 19 April following our meeting earlier that day to discuss my Department's programme of civilian events to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the D-day landings.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will make a statement on his approach to environmental matters, in the light of the Government's national sustainability strategy, published in January.

My Department contributed significantly to the formulation of the United Kingdom sustainable development strategy, which reflects our commitment to preserving the heritage for the enjoyment of present and future generations, and for the encouragement of sustainable leisure policies and practices.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will publish an estimate of the value at current prices of the records and artifacts claimed by the national railway museum in each year since it opened in York under the provisions of section 144 of the Transport Act 1968.

This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) whether he intends (a) to keep the national railway museum in York, (b) to continue to treat it as the most important national collection of railway-related records and artifacts and (c) to continue to fund it accordingly;(2) what plans he has to remove the national railway museum, in York, from its place in the national museum of science and industry and establish it as a national museum in its own right.

There are no plans to move the national railway museum from York or to change its status. It will remain a part of the national museum of science and industry.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage by how much he plans to increase the Government grant-in-aid to the national railway museum in the current financial year and in future years to compensate for the museum's loss of the right to claim redundant railway equipment at no cost from certain railway undertakings.

The grant in aid to the national museum of science and industry for the current financial year and over the next two years was announced in November last year. It included an addition of over £2 million to the previously announced figures in order to allow for the replacement of the motive power depot at the national railway museum in York. There are no present plans to increase the funding further.The Railway Heritage committee was set up under the 1993 Railways Act to oversee disposal of artefacts and records as they pass from British Rail ownership. I am sure that the museum's representation on the committee will continue to enhance the reputation it has earned as the outstanding museum in this area of our heritage.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many people visited (a) the science museum in Kensington, (b) the national railway museum in York and (c) the national museum of the moving image in Bradford in the last financial year; and if he will show in a table (i) the total amount and (ii) the cash amount per visitor (x) received in Government grant in aid and (y) generated from visitors by each of these museums in the same financial year.

The number of visitors to these museums was as follows:

	Financial year
	1993–94	1992–93
Science Museum (South Kensington)	1,269,345	1,223,702
National Railway Museum	479,414	535,575
National Museum of Photography, Film and Television	832,286	764,166
Wroughton	90,120	55,280
Totals	2,671,165	2,578,723

The national museum for science and industry receives a single grant in aid from the Government. In 1992–93—the latest year for which accounts are available—this grant-in-aid was £21,878,000. It is not earmarked between the four component museums—science museum, national railway museum, national museum of photography, film and television and Wroughton. The NMSI aggregates both the grant in aid and its other income for these four component museums in order to provide a total income pool. From that total the board of trustees of NMSI allocates expenditure to the four museums according to priorities determined by the board.The income generated by visitors to three component museums in 1992–93 was as follows. Figures exclude income from Wroughton which is received from hire of the site to outside organisations:

	Gross income generated by visitors (£thousands)	Income per visitor (£)
Science Museum (South Kensington)	2,469	2.07
National Railway Museum	1,669	3.12
National Museum of Photography, Film and Television	928	1.22

To ask the Prime Minister on what dates, and where, in the last five years he has held discussions with officers of community health councils.

I frequently meet a wide range of people involved in the national health service.My right hon. Friend the Minister for Health, and my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Health, spoke at the Association of Community Health Councils for England and for Wales at their annual conferences in 1992 and 1993 respectively. Ministers in both Scotland and Northern Ireland have also made keynote speeches at equivalent conferences.

To ask the Prime Minister what representations Her Majesty's Government have received concerning the extradition of the persons alleged to have committed the murders of the passengers and crew of Pan Am 103 and residents of Lockerbie in December 1988; and if he will make a statement.

We have received no recent representations concerning the extradition of the two accused, who are Libyan nationals. It is now well over two years since warrants were issued for their arrest.We have given comprehensive assurances as to the fairness of a trial in Scotland and the pre-trial conditions for the accused. We and our Security Council partners have made it clear that the Libyan Government should comply with the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions and hand the two accused over for trial without further delay.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 28 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 what consultations he has had or proposes to have regarding proposals to commemorate the 50th anniversary of VJ-day.

The Ministry of Defence will consult the principal veterans' associations about the nature of commemorative events to mark the end of the second world war. Consultation will also be appropriate with other nations and other voluntary or charitable organisations who may wish to be involved.

To ask the Prime Minister what advice Sir Robin Butler has furnished to Government Departments when issuing decisions relating to local or European dimensions.

Sir Robin Butler's office recently reminded departments of the standing guidance to civil servants relating to the period preceding local and European elections. The guidance emphasises the political neutrality of the civil service and is as follows:

"Local and European election campaigns differ from general elections in that there is no prospect of a change of government consequent upon the elections, and the business of government continues as usual. However, there is an increasing tendency by all political parties to approach local and European elections from a national point of view, with nationally produced material, and departments will wish to follow consistent principles when responding to requests for information in connection with election compaigns. They should also exercise particular care in issuing decisions with a local or European dimension, and in undertaking new paid publicity campaigns during the period of a local or European election.

The following general principles should be observed during the period of a local or European election:

To ask the Prime Minister when he is next intending to pay an official visit to Blaby.

I have no immediate plans to do so.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will now reconsider the question of the award of campaign medals for those involved in the invasion of Europe in 1944 and for those involved in the bombing campaign over mainland Europe in the period from 1940.

[holding answer 27 April 1994]: His Majesty King George VI approved the following awards. All personnel who took part in the invasion and subsequent operations in north-west Europe, between 6 June 1944 and 8 May 1945, are eligible for the France and Germany Star. British aircrew who undertook operations over the continent of Europe between 3 September 1939 and 5 June 1944 are eligible for the Air Crew Europe Star, provided they have qualified for the 1939–45 star.

To ask the Prime Minister which organisations have recently been contacted by the public appointments unit asking it to consider nominations for public appointments.

[holding answer 27 April 1994]: To increase the supply of names of people who might be willing to serve on public bodies, and to supplement those already on its database, the public appointments unit within the Cabinet Office began, in September 1993, a three-year programme of actively seeking more names. Letters from the director of the unit are being sent to universities, professional and voluntary bodies, companies, trade unions, women's groups and organisations representing the ethnic minority communities and disabled people.As has been made clear on previous occasions, nominations are welcome from hon. Members and from any other appropriate quarter at any time.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he expects the CCTA Government centre for information systems study into the development of information super-highways to be completed; and what plans he has to publish the results of the study.

The CCTA report on the possible development of a national network infrastructure—digital super-highway—for the United Kingdom was received on 22 April 1994. The report will be published by the end of May and copies will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to exempt from value added tax on domestic electricity charges that part of the bill levied with respect to nuclear generation of power.

No. Such a policy would be impractical, confusing for consumers and contrary to EC VAT agreements.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what decision was made on the combined nomenclature code for orimulsion at the latest meeting of the harmonised system committee of the Customs Co-operation Council.

The harmonised system committee of the Customs Co-operation Council decided during its meeting earlier this month that in future orimulsion should be classified under harmonised system heading 27.14.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish figures showing national insurance contributions and income tax liabilities, less child benefit where appropriate, as a percentage of gross earnings in each year since 1979–80 including estimates for 1994–95 for single people, single-wage married couples without children and with two children, and two-wage married couples without children and with two children assuming earnings/joint earnings equal to average male earnings, one-and-a-half times average male earnings and twice average male earnings in each year, and that the ratio of earnings between husband and wife is 60:40.

Income tax and national insurance contributions1 expressed as a percentage of earnings
Multiple average earnings3	Single	Married2 1 earner	Married2 1 earner 2 children	Married2 2 earners	Married2 2 earners 2 children
1978–79
1	31.5	27.8	20.9	19.8	12.9
1½	33.3	30.8	26.2	26.4	21.7
2	33.7	31.4	27.9	29.6	26.2
1979–80
1	29.7	26.3	18.9	19.5	12.1
1½	30.8	28.5	23.6	25.1	20.3
2	30.8	28.9	25.2	28.0	24.3
1980–81
1	30.7	27.3	20.8	21.3	14.8
1½	31.6	29.4	25.0	26.4	22.1
2	32.0	29.7	26.5	29.0	25.8
1981–82
1	32.2	29.3	22.5	23.8	17.1
1½	33.5	31.4	26.9	28.5	24.0
2	34.5	23.2	28.9	31.1	27.7
1982–83
1	33.0	29.8	22.8	24.1	17.1
1½	34.3	32.2	27.5	29.0	24.3
2	34.5	32.3	28.8	31.4	27.9
1983–84
1	33.0	29.6	22.4	23.5	16.4
1½	34.2	32.0	27.2	28.7	24.0
2	34.0	31.7	28.1	31.3	27.7
1984–85
1	32.7	29.2	22.0	22.9	15.7
1½	33.9	31.5	26.8	28.3	23.5
2	33.9	31.5	27.9	31.0	27.4
1985–86
1	32.6	29.0	22.0	22.1	15.2
1½	33.7	31.3	26.7	28.0	23.4
2	33.9	31.5	28.0	30.8	27.3
1986–87
1	31.9	28.5	21.9	21.6	15.0
1½	32.9	30.6	26.2	27.6	23.2
2	33.3	30.9	27.6	30.2	26.9
1987–88
1	30.6	27.6	21.4	21.4	15.2
1½	31.0	29.0	24.8	26.8	22.6
2	32.4	29.9	26.8	29.2	26.1
1988–89
1	29.1	26.3	20.7	20.6	15.0
1½	28.9	27.0	23.2	25.6	21.8
2	30.6	28.3	25.5	28.0	25.2
1989–90
1	28.7	25.9	20.8	20.2	15.0
1½	28.4	26.6	23.1	25.1	21.6
2	30.5	28.3	25.7	27.8	25.2
1990–97
1	28.2	25.5	20.8	19.8	15.0
1½	28.1	26.2	23.1	24.5	21.3
2	31.1	28.9	26.6	26.6	24.3
1991–92
1	28.1	25.6	20.7	19.6	14.7
1½	28.2	26.5	23.2	24.4	21.2
2	30.5	28.5	26.1	26.8	24.3
1992–93

The information is in the table.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the loss of revenue, for each taxable social security benefit, if all benefits were tax free.

Available estimates are in the table which shows the reductions in revenue for each social security benefit at 1994–95 levels. Each benefit has been treated as the top slice of the recipient's income. No one whose annual income is less than £3,445 pays income tax.

Reductions in income tax if benefits made tax free
Benefits	Reduction in revenue £ million
Retirement pension	1,830
Widows' benefits	100
Invalid care allowance	10
Unemployment benefit and income support paid in lieu of unemployment benefit	300
Statutory sick pay1	160
Statutory maternity pay	100
1 Assuming that all payments by employers would be taxable.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the loss to the Exchequer in value added tax as the result of the advance payments of fuel accounts.

The overall level of prepayments is estimated to be close to the working assumptions adopted in the March 1993 Budget estimates. There is therefore no reason to expect that the revenue projected from the VAT change will not be achieved.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much undated war loan is outstanding; what proportion of its original real value remains; and if he will redeem it before the 50th anniversary of the end of the war.

There is approximately £1.9 billion of war loan outstanding which was first issued during the first world war. This stock is marketable and the Government have no plans to redeem it.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what rates of duty are imposed on imported coal and gas from each country of origin.

There are no import duties payable on imports of coal or of natural gas regardless of country of origin.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the link between the inflation rate and the level of employment.

My assessment of the evidence is that the best way to improve employment prospects over the long term is to create the conditions for sustainable economic growth by securing permanently low inflation.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to extend the VAT exemptions, which apply to building work on houses, to residential boats, whether or not they have an engine.

I have no plans to change the existing VAT treatment which applies to houseboats.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the sites under consideration for special protection area status in the United Kingdom; and if he will place a map of those sites in the Library.

A review of potential special protection areas in the United Kingdom is currently being carried out in the light of the most recent scientific knowledge and information. When this review is completed a list of these areas, together with a pinpoint map, will be placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment for how many regular publications he was responsible in 1993–94; what was their circulation; and how many were obtainable by subscription.

My Department published 317 titles which included research and annual reports, technical and statistical reports and consultation papers in 1993–94. Eighty-three of these were produced regularly either annually or as part of a series.Of the regular titles, 63 were published by HMSO which reports total sales of 103,100 copies. Twenty of its publications were available on subscription and the rest on its standing order service which allows customers to register an interest in a particular subject and receive titles on those subjects as published.The balance of 20 were regular departmental publications. A total of 5,310 copies were sold to 401 subscribers, interested organisations and individuals.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the latest estimate provided by the English house condition survey for the potential cost required to repair, renovate and improve unfit dwellings in the private sector; what is the Department's current funding for mandatory grants; what was the Department's funding 10 years ago; how he plans to counterbalance any discrepancy; and if he will make a statement.

From data in the English house condition survey the potential cost of remedying unfitness in the private sector is estimated to be £4 billion. Responsibility rests primarily with the owner, but grant assistance is available from local authorities subject to a means test. The Government provide Exchequer grant for 60 per cent. of local authorities' expenditure on private sector renewal. A total of £260 million is allocated for this purpose in 1994–95. The amount spent on mandatory renovation grants will reflect the applications actually received. Total expenditure by local authorities on intermediate grants—the only mandatory grants for house renovation for which financial information was recorded separately—totalled £79.9 million in 1984–85.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to endorse the regulations laid down in the Association of Retirement Housing Managers code of practice as the criteria by which the housing association tenants ombudsman should judge owner-occupied sheltered accommodation which is managed by a registered housing association.

The Secretary of State has powers to approve codes of practice designed to promote good management for residential property. As yet no code has been formally submitted to him. Registered housing associations are required to satisfy the standards set by the Housing Corporation in the tenants guarantee or the leaseholders guarantee. The Housing Association tenants obmudsman will have regard to these standards and to other recognised guidance on good practice when considering any complaint submitted to him from a tenant or leaseholder of a property owned or managed by a registered housing association. It is, however, for the ombudsman to determine the handling of any individual case.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to approve new byelaws designed to hold owners more accountable for their pets in respect of dog faeces on streets and public footways; and if he will make a statement.

Local authorities in England and Wales already have powers to adopt "poop-scoop" byelaws which make it an offence for owners not to clear up after their dogs in designated areas. The issue of whether dog fouling should be dealt with in the same way as litter in national law is being looked at by my Department's advisory group on litter as part of its review of litter legislation. Its report is expected shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many personnel from his Department were involved in Exercise Diver Mist; in what capacities they served; and what was the cost to his Department of this involvement.

Eight staff from the Department of the Environment, including Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution, were involved in Exercise Diver Mist at a cost of approximately £17,500. Their roles covered planning, representation of the Department's activities and assessment.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to change the guidance to planning authorities in the establishment of new residential moorings.

Planning policy guidance note 3 "Housing" contains our current policy. It advises planning authorities to bear in mind the special needs of houseboat dwellers. We have no plans to change this guidance.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment why Her Majesty's Government did not accept the PARCOM recommendation 93/5 concerning increases in radioactive discharges from nuclear reprocessing plants at the meeting of the Paris Commission in June 1993; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member to my answer to the hon. Member for Glanford and Scunthorpe (Mr. Morley) on 7 March, Official Report, column 44.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what deadlines he has set for completion of the national review of capacity and capacity-building requirements, needed for the United Kingdom national sustainable development strategy;(2) what discussions he has had with relevant interest groups to establish national capacity and capacity-building requirements for national sustainable development strategies in accordance with the Government's commitments under chapter 37 of Agenda 21.

Chapter 37 of Agenda 21 is about capacity building in developing countries. Its recommendations are therefore not directly relevant in the domestic policies of a developed country like the United Kingdom. Pages 34 to 36 of our 1994 "Report to the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development" give a summary account of the work we are doing to support capacity building in developing countries.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has made to the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the consideration of ecological sustainability of economic activity at the meeting of the Group of Seven Finance Ministers in Washington on 24 April.

The Government have made it clear in "Sustainable Development, the UK Strategy," published in January, that they intend to take account of sustainable development in the formulation of their policies.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many responses he has had following consultations on the proposed amendment to schedule 4 to the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981; and how many responses were in favour of amendment.

I refer to the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Newham, North-West (Mr. Banks) on 25 April, Official Report, column 40–41. Of the 192 responses received, 45 were fully or partly in favour and 27 neither supported nor objected to the proposals.We consulted our scientific advisors, the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, in preparing our proposals. They accepted that the conservation status of the sparrowhawk, kestrel and common buzzard will not be significantly adversely affected at present by the proposals.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local authorities from (a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales, (d) Northern Ireland and (e) the United Kingdom have participated in the exchange of experience programme sponsored by the Council of European Municipalities and Regions; what are the corresponding amounts of (i) financial support received from the European Commission and (ii) total spending under the programme; and if he will make a statement.

This information is not collected by central Government. The exchange of experience programme is managed in the United Kingdom independently of central Government and participation in it is a matter for individual authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the recent visit of the Minister for Housing, Inner Cities and Construction to Liverpool.

[holding answer 27 April 1994]: I visited Merseyside on 22 April. I went to Kirkby where I was impressed by the continuing strides being made in regenerating the housing stock; I met some of the partners involved in an exciting project at Westvale to provide new homes in Kirkby. I visited Stockbridge village to see the refurbished estate and discuss with Stockbridge village trust its ideas for the wider economic regeneration of the area. I also had a useful discussion with the Merseyside local authorities' co-ordinating committee about European structural funds matters and agreed the importance of a strong local partnership to take the objective 1 programme forward for the maximum benefit of the people of Merseyside. I also met representatives of the housing corporation to discuss its role in improving housing on Merseyside.