To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the Dewsbury tax office has achieved the targets set by the taxpayers charter.

Dewsbury tax office operates efficiently and is committed to achieving the targets set by the taxpayers charter.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the role of Treasury Ministers in the approval for new hospital developments.

The role of the Treasury is to advise its Ministers on the level of resources appropriate for individual departmental programmes and to satisfy itself that public funds—including funds for capital developments—are used efficiently and effectively.In this context, Treasury Ministers reserve the right to examine any proposed capital development to ensure that it is affordable and represents value for money. I also formally approve new hospital developments, or schemes which are part of a planned programme of development, which have a total capital cost over £50 million.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the reason for closing the tax office in Dewsbury.

Revenue management is considering a proposal to move the work of Dewsbury tax office to a new office in Leeds. No decision is likely to be made on this proposal for some months. The proposal arises from the Revenue's change programme which is designed to improve the quality and efficiency of the service provided to taxpayers by the Department. The Dewsbury proposal will be assessed against those objectives.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the annual cost of keeping the Dewsbury tax office open.

The estimated cost for 1994–95 of keeping the Dewsbury tax office open is £1,991,000.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people have visited or telephoned the Dewsbury tax office, for information or advice, in each of the last three years.

The number of people who have visited or telephoned the Dewsbury tax office, for information or advice, in each of the last three years is as follows:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total value of providing mortgage tax relief in Scotland; and how many households received it in the latest year for which he has information.

It is estimated that the cost of mortgage interest relief for Scotland in 1993–94 was £280 million. It was received by about 710,000 married couples and single people. The estimates are based on the regional distribution of mortgages shown by the 1992 Family Expenditure Survey applied to the United Kingdom total estimates for 1993–94.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the current legislation for reinvestment rollover relief which allows individuals and most trustees to defer capital gains tax on any chargeable gains which they reinvest in an unquoted trading company.

A loophole has been identified in the capital gains tax reinvestment rollover relief rules. This enables taxpayers in certain circumstances to convert what is meant to be a tax deferral into an outright exemption. The main circumstances are where someone reinvests in shares bought from a spouse or where someone realises gains on two or more disposals and reinvests in shares whose market value is less than the total gains realised.The Government intend to correct this defect in the next Finance Bill. The new rules will apply to disposals, acquisitions and other chargeable events occurring on or after today. Further details are given in a press release which the Inland Revenue is issuing.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will cause a case-stated to be delivered to Mr. Marriott of Barnstormers, West Lane, Higher Blagdon, Paignton, as requested, following the hearing at the beginning of February before the Commissioners with regard to capital gains tax liability arising from a defunct business; if he will make a statement as to the reasons for the delays in delivering a case-stated; and if he will cause bankruptcy proceedings to be halted until the case-stated has been delivered so as to provide the information needed for an appeal.

I wrote to my hon. Friend on 15 June.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what allowance for price rises will be made to the electricity supply industry to recover costs incurred through the reduction in electricity voltage.

Matters relating to pricing in respect of the electricity supply industry are for the Director General of Electricity Supply. Any costs are not likely to be incurred for several years and would also depend on the final stages of harmonisation which will not take place until some time after the year 2003.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will raise at the next meeting of the European Council the desirability of publishing the overall profit or loss of the airbus project and the amount of public or state industry financial commitment so far contributed.

No. It is for the Airbus Industrie and its partners to decide what financial information it will publish.The United Kingdom Government have contributed £746.4 million towards British Aerospace's involvement in the consortium and has recouped £178.3 million to date.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade when the British Coal pension schemes will be guaranteed by Government; when the new industry-wide schemes for the privatised industry will be set up; what protected person status will mean; and what scheme contribution rates will be payable in future.

It is currently envisaged that, subject to the Coal Industry Bill having secured parliamentary approval and Royal Assent, Government guarantees for the mineworkers' pension scheme—MPS—and the British Coal staff superannuation scheme—SSS—would come into effect in mid-September this year. At that time the schemes would be modified as necessary by regulations as proposed in the Bill. It is envisaged that the two new industry-wide schemes proposed for the industry after privatisation would then be established in December.On the day when the industry-wide schemes are established employers of contributing members of the MPS and SSS who cease to be or are not British Coal employees—that is, any employees of British Coal or its subsidiaries transferred on that day to successor companies and all other persons who are scheme members on that day but are no longer or were never employed by the corporation or its subsidiaries—will be obliged to give such employees the option to join the industry-wide schemes in which the employees will gain statutory protected-person status. Successor employers of members of the MPS or SSS who remain as British Coal employees for some period after the establishment of the industry-wide schemes and who are subsequently transferred to the successor employers will be obliged at the time of the transfer to give such employees the option to join the industry-wide schemes in which the employees will gain protected-person status. Protected person status will operate to safeguard the pension benefit structures of the MPS and SSS which will be reproduced within the industry-wide schemes.Contribution rates for employees and indicative estimates of initial employer contribution rates are set out for each industry-wide scheme as percentages of pensionable earnings:

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the total amount of money made available for training and reskilling under the Konver programme in Essex; and if he will make a statement.

A total of £201,000 was made available in Essex for training projects as part of £501,000 of grants to projects in the county from the United Kingdom's 1993 Konver programme. I shall seek to ensure that the United Kingdom receives its fair share from the £380 million available under Konver II for the period 1994–1997.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the total value by region of (a) regional selective assistance and (b) regional enterprise grants for the period 1 August 1993 to 19 May 1994.

The value of offers that have been made by region in England of (i) regional selective assistance and (ii) regional enterprise grants for the period 1 August 1993 to 19 May 1994 are as follows:

	Regional selective assistance £ million	Regional enterprise grants £ million
East	0·4	0·3
East Midlands	4·9	1·7
London	0·5	—
Merseyside	13·3	1·5
North East	26·6	1·5
North West	11·6	—
South East	1·6	0·6
South West	12·3	1·0
West Midlands	13·9	0·8
Yorkshire and Humberside	11·6	4·4
TOTAL	96·7	11·8

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will discuss with the chairman of governors of the BBC their proposal for ethnic quotas in trainee schemes; and if he will make a statement.

No. The BBC is responsible for decisions about recruitment to its training schemes and other employment matters. The Race Relations Act 1976 permits discrimination on the basis of racial group in the selection of trainees when statutory criteria are satisfied.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what plans he has to contract out or privatise any function of the United Kingdom Passport Agency;(2) what was the result of stage II, dealing with the scope for privatisation and abolition, of the framework document review of the United Kingdom Passport Agency;(3) what plans there are to market test the United Kingdom Passport Agency during the next two years;(4) what was the result of stage I, dealing with the evaluation of performance, of the framework document review of the United Kingdom Passport Agency.

In accordance with the normal practice of reviewing executive agencies after they have been in existence for three years the activities of the United Kingdom Passport Agency are currently under review. The review includes an evaluation of the agency's performance and an examination of the options for delivering its services. An announcement on the future of the agency, and on any plans for changing the arrangements for delivering its services, will be made in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which private companies have been invited to tender for the post and data entry function at the United Kingdom Passport Agency.

None. No tender has been issued.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what research into the origins of firearms and shotguns used in the pursuit of crime his Department has commissioned or undertaken;(2) what research his Department has commissioned or undertaken to identify how many legally held and licensed shotguns have been used in the pursuit of crime.

Research which was commissioned by the Home Office into the use of firearms in offences of robbery has been conducted by the Oxford centre for criminological research. One of the aims of the research was to establish how the guns used in robbery were obtained. The report of the research has recently been completed.In addition, a study has been conducted by the Home Office research and planning unit into the theft of firearms from an analysis of police crime reports.It is expected that both reports will be published shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to permit firearms certificates to be issued to members of the public on condition that such arms will be used only on private land specified on the certificate and where land is located away from public highways and public rights of way.

No. Chief officers of police already have extensive powers to refuse the issue of firearms certificates to anyone without a good reason to possess one, or to anyone who could not possess one without danger to public safety or the peace. In addition, chief officers may impose territorial conditions on firearm certificates, restricting the area where the firearm may be used.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library a copy of the guidelines he issues to (a) chief police officers and (b) chief fire officers on the timing and release of information to the press following a 999 call to a serious road accident.

No specific guidelines are issued to chief officers of police or to chief officers on the timing and release of information to the press following a 999 call to a serious road accident. This is matter for chief officers to decide. General guidance to all emergency services about dealing with the media is contained in the Home Office publication "Dealing with Disaster".

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many citizens of each country of the European Union have been remanded in custody in the United Kingdom for more than (a) two years and (b) one year.

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 plans he has to meet the European Commission's target of a 50 per cent. reduction in animals used in experiments by the year 2000.

The Government fund research into alternatives to the use of animals in scientific work, and welcome the contribution which the European centre for validation of alternative methods—ECVAM—will make at a European level to the identification and validation of alternatives. The number of procedures carried out in the United Kingdom has been declining, and this process, combined with the search for alternatives, should make a significant contribution to meeting the European Commission target.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what circumstances it is his Department's practice, when issuing a public consultation document, to inform those consulted that their responses will be made public unless they explicity ask for them to be kept confidential; and if he will arrange for his Department to do so in all cases in future.

The code of practice on Government information commits the Department to publishing relevant facts and analysis underlying major policy proposals. This would include details of any public consultation exercise. Comments on public consultation documents are sought on the basis that the Department would not wish to publish individual responses without the agreement of those providing them.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many job offers were reported by staff in his Department under the requirements of the rules on the acceptance of outside appointments in each of the last 10 years by (a) staff of grade 3 and above, (b) staff below grade 3, (c) staff in sections concerned with procurement or contract work, under section 15 of the rules of 1 February 1993 and (d) staff in other sections, under section 14; and how many of these reports were followed by an application to join the company concerned.

The rules do not require staff below grade 3 level to report approaches to the centre of their departments. Five offers of jobs have been reported by staff at grade 3 level and above since 1989, all of which have been followed by a formal application. The rest of the information requested is either not available or is not maintained centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make available in the Library details of contracts for the Blakenhurst and Doncaster prisons; what representations he has received concerning these contracts; and what has been the nature of such representations.

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 if he will make a statement with regard to absconding by illegal immigrants from Jamaica who arrived at Gatwick in December 1993.

Efforts are being made to trace, with a view to removal, 11 passengers who arrived on two charter flights at Gatwick last December and who are known to be here illegally because they have not complied with the terms of their temporary admission. If any other passengers who were allowed to enter for six months are found to have overstayed their visit, we will pursue them with a view to deportation in the normal way.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether the application for political asylum made by Tamara Norashkaryan, a Russian visitor to the United Kingdom, was considered under the normal procedures; who reviewed the recommendation on the application within the Immigration and Nationality Department at senior official level; and what conditions have been imposed on Ms Norashkaryan's leave to remain in the United Kingdom;(2) when Tamara Norashkaryan, a visitor to the United Kingdom from Russia, applied for political asylum in the United Kingdom; when her application was approved; whether a recommendation on her application was referred to Ministers for decision; when he was informed Ms Norashkaryan had married Sir Antony Buck; and if he will make a statement;(3) on what date Sir Antony Buck was interviewed concerning Tamara Norashkaryan's application for political asylum in the United Kingdom; what representations Sir Antony has made to Ministers concerning the immigration status of Ms Norashkaryan; and in what form and on what date or dates such representations were made;(4) how many meetings his officials have had with Ms Tamara Norashkaryan, a Russian visitor to the United Kingdom, in connection with her application for political asylum in the United Kingdom; when she completed the necessary application forms; when she told his officials she intended to marry or had married Sir Antony Buck; and for how long in total Ms Norashkaryan was interviewed.

It has been the long-standing normal policy not to confirm or deny whether any individual has applied for political asylum or to provide details of the consideration of individual claims.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what decisions he has reached on the recommendations made by the Police Negotiating Board for the United Kingdom for changes to pay structures, pay levels and pay-related conditions of service for police officers in the ranks of inspector and above.

The Police Negotiating Board's recommendations for police officers of all ranks were sent to the Secretaries of State for the Home Departments at the beginning of April. The board subsequently put forward further proposals which took account of the decision which I announced on 26 April that the rank of chief inspector should be retained.We have now studied these proposals carefully. We accept the board's proposals for superintendents and their revised proposals for inspectors and chief inspectors. The proposals will be implemented with effect from 1 September 1994.New pay arrangements for chief constables and assistant chief constables are linked to the introduction from 1 April 1995 of fixed-term appointments for officers in these ranks. Once certain outstanding issues relating to these appointments have been settled I shall be in a position to announce the Government's decision on pay for this group of officers.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if discretionary life prisoners who have been transferred to hospital under the Mental Health Act 1983, and whom it is not appropriate to remit to prison even though they no longer require, or can effectively be given, hospital treatment, are able to have the question of their release considered by the Parole Board under section 34 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991.

The cases of discretionary life prisoners in this category are referred to the Parole Board under section 34 of the 1991 Act, while they remain in hospital, in the same way as if they had been remitted to prison.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received from discussions recently held by the Intergovernmental Authority on Drought and Development about the killings and dispossession of the people of the Nuba mountains.

We are not aware that the subject of the Nuba mountains has been discussed at the IGADD talks. A draft declaration of principles, now under consideration by the parties, makes general references to human rights and human suffering in war-affected areas.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the current situation in Korea in regard to military and nuclear developments.

North Korea's continued non-compliance with its safeguards agreement remains a cause for great concern. In the United Nations Security Council we are consulting other member states and regional countries on the timing, tactics and substance of Security Council action. Another cause of concern is the large concentration of North Korean forces along its border with the Republic of Korea. We urge North Korea to recognise that peaceful means offer the best chance of resolving the current problems on the Korean peninsula.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the use of the Turks and Caicos islands as a processing camp for Haitian refugees will be limited to a certain period of time.

The agreement among the three Governments on the processing centre to be established in the Turks and Caicos islands is limited in duration to a period not exceeding six months.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to make the proposed United States of America processing camp for Haitian refugees on the Turks and Caicos islands subject to a formal leasehold agreement betwen the United Kingdom and the United States of America; and if he will make a statement.

The arrangement to establish a processing centre for Haitian boat people in the Turks and Caicos islands is contained in a memorandum of understanding signed by the British, United States and Turks and Caicos islands Governments. The UNHCR will be closely involved in the arrangement. Under the MOU, the TCI Government will make a site available in Grand Turk for the processing centre, which the United States authorities will occupy on a lease arrangement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans exist to resettle those Haitians who are judged to be genuine political refugees; and whether they will have a right of abode in the Turks and Caicos islands.

Under the arrangement agreed with the United States for the establishment of a processing centre for Haitian boat people in the Turks and Caicos islands, those Haitians considered by United States immigration officers running the processing centre to have a genuine claim to refugee status will be removed from the Turks and Caicos islands and resettled in third countries or in the United States. These Haitians will not have the right of abode in the Turks and Caicos islands.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will consult the authorities in Lebanon to secure more information on the reported confession of Yusef Shaban that he had responsibility for the Lockerbie disaster; and if he will make a statement.

We are in contact with the Lebanese authorities on this matter.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many initial assessments prior to formal application for a visitor visa have in the last year resulted in the potential applicant being advised not to proceed with formal application on the grounds that they are unlikely to succeed.

At the 27 posts worldwide where a formal preliminary examination of applicants is carried out, 33,890 applicants were advised in 1993 that their applications would be unlikely to succeed without further information being supplied. Such advice would no doubt also have been offered at other posts when appropriate, but precise figures are not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his letter of 27 May to the hon. Member for Linlithgow, what were the results of discussions with the Government of the Ukraine about maintaining and seeking to improve electricity supplies, and technical assistance and loan finance for safety upgrading and investment in completing of Ukraine nuclear power stations.

So far, the talks have been at an exploratory level. Substantive discussions are not expected to take place before next month, when the Ukrainian presidential election process is completed, and the G7 summit in Naples has had the opportunity to consider the question of nuclear safety in eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union, including Ukraine.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs at which British overseas post Tamara Norashkaryan, a language lecturer at Moscow university, applied to visit the United Kingdom; when her application was made; for how long a visit she applied and what were her reasons for visiting the United Kingdom; when the visa was granted; who sponsored her visit; whether Ms Norashkaryan had previously applied to enter the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

I will look into this matter and write to the hon. Member in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what work has been contracted out by the Natural Resources Institute as a direct result of the redundancies announced in January 1994 in (a) oilseeds, (b) mycotoxins and (c) other areas.

Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Natural Resources Institute under its chief executive, Mr. Anthony Beattie. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what steps he will take to protect and guarantee the integrity of aid expenditure decisions relating to work undertaken by the Natural Resources Institute following a change in ownership of the institute;(2) if he will rule out a change of ownership for the Natural Resources Institute.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Eastbourne (Mr. Waterson) on 26 January, at column 272. Options for the future ownership of the Natural Resources Institute are still being considered. Whatever the future ownership of NRI, contracts placed with it by the ODA will continue to be subject to all normal ODA procedures which are designed to ensure effective development and value for money.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his counterparts in Brazil respecting the provision of aid for health and environmental purposes; and if he will make a statement.

During his visit to Brazil in April, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and his Brazilian counterpart discussed issues relating to sustainable development agreeing, particularly, the importance of effectively following up the environmental objectives agreed at the Rio Earth summit. The Minister for Overseas Development also met the Brazilian Minister for the Environment and Amazonia earlier this month, when environmental issues in Amazonia and the urban areas were discussed.It is our intention to maintain an effective bilateral programme of technical co-operation with Brazil in areas of mutual priority, including the environment, both natural and urban, and health sector management reform. We also support health and environment projects managed by United Kingdom non-governmental organisations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give his reasons for the annual reduction in the United Kingdom's contribution to the core funding of the United Nations children's fund.

Growing pressures on the aid programme mean that we are unable to insulate UN voluntary funds from some reduction in our annual core funding. However, this is only part of our support. We also contribute generously to UNICEF's emergency and other extra budgetary programmes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what economic rate of return was projected by the Overseas Development Administration for the Pergau dam project in Malaysia (a) at the time of the contract proposal in January 1989 when the price was £316 million, (b) at the time of the revised contract proposal in April 1989 when the price was £397 million and (c) at the time approval was given in 1991 when the price was £417 million.

The appropriate method of economic appraisal for projects like Pergau which are part of a financially viable interconnected grid system involves calculation of the least cost expansion path. This method utilises a computer model to analyse and minimise total systems costs as new generating units are added to meet the forecast levels of demand.In January 1989 ODA did not have sufficient information to judge whether Pergau appeared on the least cost path although this seemed likely at the then price of £316 million; at subsequent higher cost estimates the project was judged to be outside the least cost expansion path.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many hereditaments were included in the 1990 non-domestic rating list; and how many appeals against valuation were lodged.

A total of 1.584 million hereditaments were included in English 1990 non-domestic rating lists in April 1990. By the end of March 1994, 1.1 million proposals to alter the list had been made to the Valuation Office Agency, of which 633,000 were against the values originally shown in the list and 467,000 were made following changes in circumstances since the 1990 list came into force.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many places were made available for those sleeping rough in central London in 1985, 1990, 1993, and what is his estimate for 1995; and what was the average take-up rate, expressed as a percentage.

Accommodation for people sleeping rough in central London is provided by a variety of agencies, including the Resettlement Agency, housing associations, local authorities and the voluntary sector. My Department does not have detailed information on the total number of places available, nor average occupancy rates for any particular year, and I cannot estimate how many places might be available in a future year.As part of the rough sleepers initiative 1990–91 to 1995–96 in central London, the Government are funding emergency and temporary bedspaces in winter shelters, nightshelters and hostels; temporary accommodation in properties leased from private sector landlords; and permanent accommodation in flats and houses for people to move on to. This provision, which includes at least 3,300 places in permanent move-on accommodation, has enabled many thousands of people to start a new life away from the streets, and will continue to do so.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the present number of housing units provided by housing associations in the Harrogate borough council area.

The information requested can be found in appendix 1, page 58 of "Housing Associations in 1993" published by the Housing Corporation and held in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many letters he has received in support of retaining the county council in a two-tier structure for the present county of Somerset.

My right hon. Friend has received 1,754 written representations opposing the Local Government Commission's recommendation to replace Somerset county council and the five Somerset district councils with three unitary authorities. A large number of these did not state a preferred alternative. It is therefore not possible to give an accurate figure for those supporting a two-tier structure.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the total cost, including the cost of (a) staff time, (b) legal advice and representation and (c) litigation relating to this case to (i) the Inner London education authority, (ii) the London residuary body and (iii) the London Pension Fund Authority, of responding to the complaints lodged by Miss Patricia Eaton of Kidbrooke Park road, London SE3, relating to her treatment by the ILEA when she was in its employment, over the period from 1980 to the present date.

This is a matter for the London Pensions Fund Authority and I suggest that the hon. Gentleman should contact the chief executive for the information he requires.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if his Department has been consulted by the Ministry of Defence over the proposal to site a naval firing range off Dodman point in Cornwall; and if he will make a statement.

Yes, in January 1994. The Department raised no objections to the proposal.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement clarifying the manner in which ERDF grants are taken into account in assessing the standard spending assessments of local authorities; and what steps have been taken to harmonise the principles of such policies with other parts of the United Kingdom.

When a local authority in England receives an ERDF grant for a capital project, a supplementary credit approval—SCA—is issued to it. Nether the grant, nor the related SCA, is taken into account in the calculation of its standard spending assessment.The systems of support for local authority expenditure in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland differ in a number of respects. Decisions on the operation of each system are the responsibility of the relevant Secretary of State.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many households his Department estimates to live in park homes; and what plans his Department has to introduce a council tax band below band A to cover park homes.

British Holiday and Home Parks Association Limited has estimated that there are about 96,000 residential mobile homes at mobile home parks in Britain. We have no plans to introduce a council tax band below the present band A.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list both the statutory obligations that apply at present and guidance given to local authorities for the provision of sites for gipsies and travellers; and if he will outline the changes that will take place at the time of enactment of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Bill.

Part II of the Caravan Sites Act 1968 requires local authorities to provide adequate accommodation on caravan sites for gipsies defined as

"persons of nomadic habit of life, whatever their race or origin",

residing in or resorting to their areas. In non-metropolitan counties in England and Wales the functions of site development and management are shared between county councils and district councils. County councils are required to consult district councils and other persons before adopting site proposals.Guidance on these and other relevant provisions is given in the Department's circulars 28/77, 57/78, 8/81 and 1/94.If enacted, clause 75 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Bill would repeal both part II of the 1968 Act and also the Secretary of State's power to pay grant in respect of the capital costs of site provision in England and Wales. Local authorities would continue to have discretionary powers, under the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960, to manage existing sites and to provide further sites.Clauses 72 and 73 of the Bill would give all local authorities in England and Wales new powers to control unauthorised camping in their areas.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the conclusions reached as a result of the recent evaluation of the effectiveness of the Government's urban programme spending; and if he will place a copy in the Library.

The report "Assessing the Impact of Urban Policy" which is part of the inner cities research programme of the Department of the Environment, will be published shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has agreed measures with British Coal to overcome potential pollution disasters resulting from its termination of pumping operations at abandoned mineworkings.

[holding answer 17 June 1994]: Discharges from coal mines in England and Wales are subject to regulation by the National Rivers Authority. It is for British Coal, in consultation with the NRA, to determine what measures are necessary to avoid pollution.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what instructions are given to security staff in his departmental offices in London for dealing with (a) those sleeping rough in departmental doorways and (b) beggars in the vicinity; and how many problems have been experienced with each category in the last three months.

If there is a need to deal with beggars or anyone sleeping rough in doorways, security staff in London buildings occupied by the Cabinet Office, its agencies, HMSO and COI would contact the Metropolitan police.No problems have been experienced during the past three months.

To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to abolish the Department of Transport or merge it with another Government Department.

None.

To ask the Prime Minister which Ministers have been given a specific responsibility for disabled people within their respective departmental portfolios.

My right hon. Friend the Minister for Disabled People has a cross-Government remit for all issues affecting disabled people. The Cabinet Office produces a list of ministerial responsibilities which identifies the responsibilities of all Ministers, including those with specific, designated responsibility for matters affecting disabled people within their departments. The list was updated in May and copies placed in both Libraries. Copies can also be obtained from the Vote Office on request.

To ask the Prime Minister when he expects ministerial consultation on legislation providing civil rights to the disabled will be complete; and if he will introduce a Government Bill before the summer recess.

In reply to the hon. Member for Leeds, East (Mr. Mudie) on 10 May 1994, Official Report, column 153, I stated that consultation would take place within six months. Preparations are now well advanced on proposals to help disabled people. Consultation will start as soon as possible and is expected to last for three months. No legislation will be introduced in advance of consultation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what instructions are given to security staff in his departmental offices in London for dealing with (a) those sleeping rough in departmental doorways and (b) beggars in the vicinity; and how many problems have been experienced with each category in the last three months.

No specific central guidance is given to security guards on these matters. It would be an issue for the managers of the individual offices concerned. No records are kept on the extent to which problems may be encountered.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many applications there have been in the last six months in each of the English health authority regions for a disability living allowance;(2) how much money has been granted in disability living allowance in the last six months, nationally and by health authority region; and how much was granted during the same period a year earlier;(3) what proportion of those people applying for the disability living allowance between 1 January and 31 May in each health authority region and nationally had their application rejected; and what was the rejection rate for similar applicants between 1 January 1993 and 31 May 1993;(4) what are the rejection rates, by condition giving rise to an application for a disability living allowance, for applications in the last 12 months, set out by health authority region.

Information about disability living allowance is not available in the form requested. Nationally, between 1 December 1993 and 31 May 1994 there were 216,000 applications. In the same period 97,000 awards were made on initial claims, and between 1 December 1992 and 31 May 1993 132,000 awards were made. The proportion of applications made between 1 January 1994 and 31 May 1994 that were rejected was 50 per cent. and for the same period in 1993 the proportion rejected was 46 per cent. Where a claim is rejected no information covering a claimant's disabling condition is recorded.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether a fire certificate has been issued for Quarry House, Leeds, and if he will make a statement.

An application to the Home Office for the issue of a fire certificate was made in July 1992. Such certificates are not normally issued until all defects within a new building, however small, have been rectified. The Home Office has confirmed that there is an extremely good fire prevention system in Quarry house, and there are no doubts about its effectiveness. The Home Office has begun the final scheduled inspection of the building prior to the issue of a fire certificate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the date of the inspection for fire safety at Quarry house, Leeds (a) before the opening of the building, (b) between the opening of the building and 9 June 1994 and (c) since 10 June 1994; and if he will list those carrying out the inspection.

The construction of Quarry house commenced in November 1990 and the building was completed and occupied in three separate phases, the first phase being ready on 6 July 1992. The following site inspections were carried out

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many applications there have been in the last six months in each of the English health authority regions for a disability working allowance.

Information about disability working allowance is not available in the form requested. Nationally, between 1 December 1993 and 31 May 1994 there were 6,045 applications.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claims for assistance from the social fund at the east Nottinghamshire, north Nottinghamshire and west Nottinghamshire benefits offices were made in the last year for which figures are available; how many were accepted and how many were refused.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when Tamara Norashkaryan, a visitor to the United Kingdom applied to his Department for assistance; what assistance she was given; from what date such financial assistance was provided; if Ms Norashkaryan submitted a standard acknowledgement letter with her application or after submitting any application; what was the total amount of financial assistance given by his Department to Ms Norashkaryan; what advice was given to her to apply to any local authority or other public agency for assistance; and if he will make a statement.

The administration of income support is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member with such information as is available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people over the next 10 years are expected to develop (a) HIV, (b) AIDS and (c) AIDS dementia.

Projections of the incidence and prevalence of AIDS cases and other severe HIV disease in England and Wales have been made by a working group chaired by Professor N. E. Day. "Communicable Disease Report" 1993; 3 (Supplement 1): S1–17, copies of which are available in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information is held by her Department on the number of NHS patients who have been sent abroad for surgical treatment from (a) GP fundholding practices and (b) GP non-fundholding practices.

General practitioners cannot authorise such treatment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what risk assessment she has commissioned on the link between benzene exhaust emissions from motor vehicles and human health.

The Committees on Carcinogenicity—COC—and on Medical Effects of Air Pollutants—COMEAP—have considered hazards to health from inhalation of benzene, which is a component of exhaust emissions from motor vehicles and of vapour fumes from petrol.Benzine is toxic at high doses and is classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as a human carcinogen. Long-term occupational exposure to benzene at concentrations a thousand times greater than those typically found in urban air in the United Kingdom has been shown to increase the risk of certain types of leukaemia in adults; its use in industry is therefore strictly controlled. Although it is not possible to define an absolute safe level of exposure to benzene, levels in outdoor air encountered in the United Kingdom are considered by the COC and the COMEAP to present very low risk to health.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much the NHS Executive, the Department of Health, NHS Trusts, NHS regions, district health authorities and family health services authorities expend each year in employing (a) outside employment agencies and (b) employment agencies which conduct psychological testing.

During 1993–94 the Department of Health, including its agencies and the National Health Service Executive spent the following amounts on recruitment exercises conducted by outside recruitment agencies, including Recruitment and Assessment Services, an executive agency of the Cabinet Office.

	Recruitment without psychological test £	Recruitment with psychological test £
DH (excluding agencies and the NHS Executive)	173,708	16,244
NHS Executive	54,902	14,805
Agencies
NHS Pensions Agency	20,566	—
NHS Estates	—	36,191
Medicines Control Agency	43,041	—
TOTAL	292,217	67,240

Figures for NHS trusts, NHS regions, district health authorities and family health services authorities are not available centrally. NHS employers are autonomous and make their own arrangements.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much money has been paid by her Department as merit awards to medical consultants in each of the last 10 years.

This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will place in the Library a list of the names of the medical consultants who currently hold merit awards; and if she will indicate the grade that each has been awarded.

Information about the awards status of individual consultants is confidential.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many consultants in oral health have been awarded merit awards in the last 10 years.

A total of 296 distinction awards were granted to dental consultants in England in the years 1984 to 1993 inclusive.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will place in the Library a copy of the first annual report of the advisory committee on the distribution of awards.

This was done following publication in April 1994.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is her policy towards the application of the principle of equitable access to NHS services on the basis of need and its implementation in relation to the provision of hospital services to patients of fundholding and non-fundholding general practices.

Hospitals may not offer contracts to one purchaser which could disadvantage the patients of another. However, local waiting times for non-urgent treatment may vary according to clinical need and the priorities of different purchasers.Emergency patients are always treated immediately, and urgent cases treated within locally agreed time scales.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will set out the budgets and projected budgets for her Department's information department from 1986 to 1996.

Expenditure and budget figures for the Department's Information Division which now includes the recently established public inquiry office and the rationalisation of the Department's printing services are shown in the table.

Year	Publicity £ million	Manpower and running costs £ million
1986–87	12·627	—
1987–88	12·381	—
1988–89	10·799	—
1989–90	17·248	0·890
1990–91	21·008	1·250
1991–92	24·471	1·491
1992–93	20·710	1·749
1993–94	119·405	1·897
1994–95 (budgets)	23·067	2·247
1Estimated.

Information on manpower and running costs for the years 1986–87 to 1988–89 are not available in the form requested.Budgets for 1995–96 have yet to be decided.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list all circulars issued by her Department since 1985 on the investigation of serious untoward incidents affecting patients; and if she will place a copy of each of those circulars in the Library.

Hospitals were reminded of their responsibility to report adverse incidents involving medical devices in health circular HC(88)51 published in June 1988. This was updated by HSG(93)13 published in June 1993. Copies of these documents will be placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will place in the Library a list of the members of the regional merit awards committee for each region in England.

A list of the members of the Regional C Awards Committee and Higher Awards Committee for each region in England will be placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what provisions apply to the charging by NHS hospitals for treatment for sports injuries.

None. National health service treatment is free of charge unless there is a specific statutory power to charge.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the latest available per capita spending figures on the health services for each member state of the European Union.

The national health service will be spending an estimated £674 for every man, woman and child in the United Kingdom in 1994–95. Figures for other member states of the European Union are not available on a comparable basis.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the publications of her Department on discrimination in the NHS since 1979.

The information requested from 1983 onwards is available in the Library. A comprehensive list of publications before 1983 is not available centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research the Department of Health has commissioned on the links between lack of central heating and long-term limiting illness and disability.

We are not aware of the existence of any such research.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will review the regulations governing the provision of help with national health service charges so that students are assessed solely on the basis of the student grant they actually receive and not on the assumption that they take up a student loan.

No.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if she will list, by each district health authority in England and Wales, the average value of negligence cases brought by patients successfully concluded in each year since 1985;(2) if she will list, by each district health authority in England and Wales, the total number of successful negligence cases brought by patients against the district health authorities for each year since 1985, indicating the number resolved incorporating secrecy clauses.

I refer the hon. Member to the replies I gave the hon. Member for Darlington (Mr. Milburn) on 14 March at columns 537–38 and on 10 May at columns 84–85. Information relating to Wales is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish the Government's response to the Bloomfield report on dentistry before the end of June.

The Government's response to Sir Kenneth Bloomfield's report will be published in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list those national health service trusts that did not reach their target of 6 per cent. return on capital for (a) 1991–92, (b) 1992–93 and (c) 1993–94.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Darlington (Mr. Milburn) on 20 April at column 541.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she is taking to ensure that adequate supplies of adrenalin injections suitable for the immediate treatment of anaphylactic reaction are generally available; and what discussions her Department has had with the Medicines Control Agency on this subject.

Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Medicines Control Agency under its chief executive, Dr. K. H. Jones. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what changes she intends to make to existing legislation or practice on access to social work records following the proposals issued for consultation by her Department on 26 February 1992 entitled, "Response to the Judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in the case of Graham Gaskin (Access to Records)".

The 1993 White Paper on open government sets out the Government's proposals for a new statutory right of access to personal records, adding to existing rights of access.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information she has as to why the London borough of Redbridge was not formally sent a copy of the Barking and Havering health authority consultation document on changes to accident and emergency services.

None. The hon. Member may wish to contact Mr. Bryan Littlewood, chairman of Barking and Havering health authority, for this information.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what provision is made for (a) infertility treatment and (b) infertility investigation in each of the Birmingham health districts;(2) what advice each of the Birmingham health districts has sought in the last three years from her Department as to the most cost-effective and cost-efficient means of providing infertility investigation and treatment;(3) what has been the

For information about infertility investigation and treatment in Birmingham the hon. Member may wish to contact Mr. B. Stoten, chairman of South Birmingham health authority and Dr. D. M. Skillicorn, chairman of North Birmingham health authority for further information.The national health service provides a wide range of treatments for subfertility. Individual health authorities determine priorities in the light of local needs and circumstances. Advice is available to health authorities and clinicians in two publications drawn to the attention of the national health service in 1992:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what is the provision for infertility treatment in South Manchester district health authority;(2) whether South Manchester district health authority has sought from her Department advice as to the most cost-effective and cost-efficient means of providing for infertility investigation and treatment in its area;(3) what provision is made for infertility investigation in South Manchester district health authority.

For the information requested about infertility investigation and treatment in Manchester the hon. Member may wish to contact Professor Robert Boyd, chairman of Manchester health authority. We are not aware of requests for advice on this matter from the former South Manchester health authority.The national health service provides a wide range of treatments for subfertility. I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Birmingham, Northfield (Mr. Burden) on 18 May at column

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the average budget for (a) GP fundholders and (b) non-fundholders in 1991–92, 1992–93 and 1993–94 for England and by region.

Average budgets for general practitioner fundholders by region in 1991–92, 1992–93 and 1993–94 are shown in the table. It is not possible to produce comparable information for non-fundholding general practitioners.

Average budgets for general practitioner fundholders by region: 1991–92 to 1993–94
£ million
Region	1991–92	1992–93	1993–94
Northern	1·7	1·7	1·8
Yorkshire	1·5	1·7	1·8
Trent	1·3	1·4	1·5
East Anglian	1·5	1·7	1·7
North West Thames	1·3	1·4	1·6
North East Thames	1·4	1·2	1·4
South East Thames	1·3	1·4	1·6
South West Thames	1·3	1·3	1·6
Wessex	1·3	1·5	1·8
Oxford	1·2	1·4	1·6
South Western	1·2	1·4	1·6
West Midlands	1·3	1·4	1·6
Mersey	1·3	1·3	1·6
North Western	1·3	1·4	1·5
England	1·4	1·5	1·6

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to investigate the extent to which general practitioner fundholders' savings have been used to fund the element of general practitioner staff costs normally paid by the general practitioner.

None. The National Health Service (Fund-holding Practices) Regulations 1993 specifically preclude this.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have applied for recognised general practitioner training courses in each year from 1989–90 to 1993–94; and what were the figures for individual courses for 1992–93 and 1993–94.

This information is not available centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients have been de-registered by general practitioners in each English health region in each year since 1989.

This information is not available centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will set out the total expenditure for each financial year since 1989–90 on the headquarters of the Yorkshire regional health authority at Harrogate.

This is a matter for the Northern and Yorkshire regional health authority. The hon. Member may wish to contact Mr. John Greetham, CBE, chairman of the authority, for details.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the location of the new headquarters for the Yorkshire and North region of the NHS.

The Northern and Yorkshire regional health authority is preparing a business case, to determine the best location of the new regional headquarters.