To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department (1) what was the total amount and number of compensation orders made by (a) Teesside Crown court, (b) Teesside magistrates court and (c) Gainsborough magistrates court in (i) 1990, (ii) 1991, (iii)1992 and (iv) 1993;(2) what is the total number and amount of unpaid compensation orders awarded by

My Department does not hold this information. Information about the numbers of offenders ordered to pay compensation is contained in "Home Office Criminal Statistics England and Wales," copies of which are in the Library of the House.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will support pilot programmes for alternative dispute resolution.

The Lord Chancellor has publicly welcomed the development of private and voluntary dispute resolution services, and their availability to parties who do not need the compulsion, certainty and finality that only the courts provide. The Lord Chancellor is currently evaluating the potential of alternative dispute resolution and the various research options which may assist him.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department whether he intends to make a provision for costs in the small claims court.

Although often referred to as a "no-costs" regime, the small claims procedure does provide for the recovery of some costs, as detailed An order 19, rule 4 of the county court rules. Under this rule, the costs stated on the summons and the costs of enforcing the award may be recovered. In addition, the court may award allowances relating to the party's and witness's expenses and to experts' fees.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many personal injury cases were pursued through the small claims courts in each of the last three years; and if he will place in the Library the number of cases pursued through each such court in the last three years.

The term "small claims court" refers to the arbitration procedure in the county courts. Until March 1994 only the total number of arbitrations heard in each county court was recorded. Statistics on arbitrations are now collected by nature of claim—for instance, personal injury—and the figures for the last nine months of 1994 will be published in "Judicial Statistics Annual Report 1994".

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what assessment he has made of the factors causing the rate of unemployment in Bolton to change at a different rate from the rate for the country as a whole in the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

The Department has made no such explicit assessment. However, I believe that the Department has created the right framework for employers to create jobs and reduce unemployment in Bolton, as in the rest of the United Kingdom. Indeed, I am pleased to see that over the past 12 months unemployment in my hon. Friend's constituency has been falling faster than the national average.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if it is his policy to provide financial support towards the costs that will be incurred by people from the United Kingdom invited to participate in the intergovernmental panel on climate change workshop on equity and social considerations to be held in Nairobi in July.

My Department is providing financial support towards the costs incurred by United Kingdom experts who have been invited to act as lead or contributing authors for the IPCC's current work programme, including costs associated with attendance at relevant IPCC workshops. On that basis we are supporting the costs of attendance of one United Kingdom expert at the workshop on equity and social considerations. The Department is not, however, providing support for the attendance of other possible United Kingdom participants at IPCC workshops.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what statistics he collects on days lost through staff sickness in local authorities.

The information requested is not collected by this Department.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what level of funding is provided by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee to the British Trust for Ornithology; and what this figure is as a proportion of the British Trust for Ornithology's total expenditure for each of the last four years.

The Joint Nature Conservation Committee's contract with BTO will be worth £414,000 this year. Figures comparing the value of the contract and the trust's expenditure over the last four financial years are as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the annual cost of administering the statutory bird-ringing scheme and licensing activities which are contracted out to the British Trust for Ornithology in 1993–94 and 1994–95.

The British Trust for Ornithology operates a national bird-ringing scheme under contract from the Joint Nature Conservation Committee. This scheme is not statutory. In 1993–94, funding from the JNCC amounted to approximately £112,000. In 1994–95, funding will be about £138,000. The BTO is licensed by English Nature, the Countryside Council for Wales and Scottish Natural Heritage to issue permits for ringing or marking birds or examining any ring or mark.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received concerning the funding of the British Trust for Ornithology.

My Department has received three written representations about the Joint Nature Conservation Committee's contract with the British Trust for Ornithology for the provision of bird-ringing data, including one from the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps are now being taken to monitor and evaluate biodiversity in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

The monitoring and evaluation of biodiversity in the United Kingdom are described in "Biodiversity: The UK Action Plan", Cm. 2428. A steering group, chaired by my Department, has a remit which includes reviewing and reporting on existing and future monitoring programmes. The steering group is assisted by a specialist sub-group on data, chaired by the chief officer, Joint Nature Conservation Committee, which is seeking to improve the accessibility and co-ordination of existing biological datasets and the integration of monitoring studies and programmes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many health commissions are in operation; what are their functions; what is the estimated cost of each one; which health authorities have such commissions; and if she will make a statement.

All district health authorities and family health services authorities are developing close links in response to Government policy on integrated working.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what documents her Department has produced in the last year; what is the process of production in the disciplinary procedures against doctors; and when she will publish them.

Documents from the Department are issued on a wide range of issues.We are consulting representatives of national health service management and the medical and dental professions on guidance relating to suspensions and disciplinary action involving hospital medical and dental and community medical staff. Guidance will be issued to NHS employing bodies in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what criteria she uses to decide whether those who have transferred from national health service to private pensions are better or worse off as a result.

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nurses, doctors and other national health service employees by category have transferred their pensions from national health service to private schemes in each year since 1986.

The table shows the total number of national health service employees who have transferred accrued pension rights from the national health service pension scheme to private schemes in each year since August 1989. Data are not available before that date and are not held by occupational groups. The majority of these transfers relate to former members of the scheme who have left national health service employment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total amount of money given as inducement to transfer from a national health service to a private pension in each year since 1986.

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many health authorities are using patient-held child records.

Information from the British Paediatric Association, which has produced a model personal child health record, shows that currently 101 health authorities or national health service trusts are contracting for copies of the record. On the basis of the information from the BPA we estimate that the proportion of children issued with personal child health records has increased by about 25 per cent. in the last year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what specific policies or mechanisms were implemented as part of the programme of action for ethnic minority staff in the national health service launched on 10 December 1993.

The programme of action is for national health service trusts and health authorities to implement locally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what is the provision for (a) infertility investigation and (b) infertility treatment in the North West regional health authority ;(2) what discussions have been held between the North West regional health authority and her Department as to the most cost-effective means of providing for infertility investigation and treatment in its area.

For the information requested about infertility investigation and treatment in the North West region the hon. Member may wish to contact Sir Donald Wilson, chairman of the North West regional health authority.There have been no discussions on this matter between the North West regional health authority and the Department. The national health service provides a wide range of treatments for subfertility. I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave the hon. Member for Birmingham, Northfield (Mr. Burden) on 18 May,

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to visit Queen Mary's hospital, Sidcup and Erith and district hospital, Erith.

Ministers have no current plans to visit Queen Mary's Sidcup Hospital national health service trust.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer to the hon. Member for Wentworth (Mr. Hardy) of 2 March, Official Report, column 763, how many press releases were issued by NHS trusts in each of the last three years; and if she will list those trusts with a named press officer or contact on those releases.

This information is not available centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many private psychiatric hospital beds there were for each year since 1979; and how many of those beds were for children.

The number of psychiatric beds in private hospitals, homes and clinics registered under section 23 of the Registered Homes Act 1984 is shown in the table for the years 1982 to 1992–93. On average, fewer than 100 beds per year are allocated specifically to children.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the cost of redundancy payments for local authority social services departments, by authority, for the last financial year.

Returns from social services departments do not separately identify such payments.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the amount spent on consultants' fees by social services departments during the last financial year, by authority.

Returns from social services departments do not separately identify consultants' fees.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what annual rate of reduction in hospital beds she has assumed for the next eight years; and what assessment she has made of the likely impact of such reductions on patient care.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave him and the hon. Member for Bristol, South (Ms Primarolo) on 28 June, Official Report, column 536. We have made no such assumptions. The disposition and number of hospital beds is a matter for local determination. However, we confidently expect that future developments in medical science and technology and in clinical practice will enable an increasing number of patients to be treated as day cases or in their own homes, leading to reductions in the number of hospital beds required, continuing the trend in evidence since 1960.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the future of the United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting.

The council's role is determined by the Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors Acts of 1979 and 1992. It was reconstituted on 1 April 1993 so as to be directly accountable to the professions that it represents. We have no plans at present to change these arrangements.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what meetings and communications she has had with officials of the United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting in the last three months.

My noble Friend Baroness Cumberlege, the Under-Secretary of State for Health, met the president of the council on 19 April to discuss its proposals for post-registration education and practice, and officials maintain regular contact with the council on a range of issues.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will indicate her responsibilities in relation to the United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is responsible for appointing one third of the council's members and for making orders relating to its constitution and statutory functions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to set up an inquiry into the running and function of the United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting.

None. It is for the council to determine its methods of working.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list, for each NHS trust in the former Northern region, those chairmen and non-executive directors who live outside the boundaries of the district health authority in which that trust is situated.

[holding answer 28 June 1994]: Some 151 or 77 per cent. of the 197 chairmen and non-executive directors appointed to national health service trusts within the former Northern region live within the boundaries of the district health authority in which that trust is situated. The names of the appointees who live outside the relevant district health authority boundaries are:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list, for each national health service trust in the former East Anglian region, those chairmen and non-executive directors who live outside the boundaries of the district health authority in which that trust is situated.

[holding answer 28 June 1994]: Softie 99, or 84 per cent., of the 118 chairmen and non-executive directors appointed to national health service trusts within the former East Anglian region live within the boundaries of the district health authority in which that trust is situated. The names of the appointees who live outside the relevant district health authority boundaries are given as follows:

To ask the Secretary of state for Health if she will list, for each NHS trust in the former Wessex region, those chairmen and non-executive directors who live outside the boundaries of the district health authority in which that trust is situated.

[holding answer 29 June 1994]: Some 135, or 89 per cent., of the 151 chairmen and non-executive directors appointed to National Health Service trusts within the former Wessex region live within the boundaries of the district health authorities in which that trust is situated. The names of the appointees who live outside the relevant district health authority boundaries are listed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list for each NHS trust, in the former South Western region, those chairmen and non-executive directors who live outside the boundaries of the district health authority in which that trust is situated.

[holding answer 30 June 1994]: Some 127, or 94 per cent., of the 135 chairmen and non-executive directors appointed to national health service trusts within the former South Western region live within the boundaries of the district health authorities in which that trust is situated. The names of the appointees who live outside the relevant district health authority boundaries are listed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list research projects into (a) vaccination and (b) other preventive measures against necrotising fasciitis in British hospitals and universities in the past 10 years; and what consultations she has had with the chief medical officer of health and the Medical Research Council concerning their assessment and funding.

[holding answer 30 June 1994]: Necrotising fasciitis is a very rare condition which may be caused by a large number of different infections. For this reason, it is not feasible to develop a single vaccine against necrotising fasciitis. It is difficult to envisage the circumstances in which a vaccine might be useful against such a rare condition, which is associated with varying aetiological organisms.There is a large body of research on the prevention of hospital-acquired infection of all types, which would include prevention of infections that might cause post-operative necrotising fasciitis.There is considerable general research into infection with group A streptococci, the organism which was the cause of the recent cases of necrotising fasciitis in Gloucestershire.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he takes to ensure that all disabled people are able to exercise their right to vote in elections for which he is responsible; and if he will make a statement.

Section 14 (4) (d) of the Electoral Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1962 as substituted by article 6(1) of the Electoral Law (Northern Ireland) Order 1972 requires the Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland to prepare polling station schemes. Such a scheme can require the provision of facilities to be made available for the disabled. The Government also provide financial assistance towards the cost of providing temporary ramps for access at polling stations and, in addition, disabled people may take advantage of the arrangements for postal and proxy voting should they find this more convenient.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many tourist visitors there are in each council area, by such categories as are convenient; and what is his estimate of the number of day trippers to each council area for each of the last three years.

The table indicates estimated total visitor numbers to each council area for 1991, 1992 and 1993. Figures are not available for day trippers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on which dates the Minister of State met representatives of each of the major constitutional parties since 1 September 1993 to discuss political developments in Northern Ireland.

Since 1 September 1993, I have had meetings with the main Northern Ireland parties on the following dates:

To ask the President of the Board of Trade by how many the number of jobs in the British iron and steel industry changed in each successive year since 1979; and what was the output in million tonnes of the British iron and steel industry in each year since 1979.

The figures are as follows:

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is his estimate of the public moneys which have been devoted to sustaining the engineering steel industries of each of the other EC states in each of the last three years and of the sums which will be so expended during 1994–95.

There is insufficient information available on which to base a reliable estimate.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what consideration he has given to preventing accountants who have acted as advisers to banks from acting as receivers of client companies.

I have considered the arguments for and against preventing accountants who act as advisers to banks from acting as receivers of client companies and I am not convinced that the practice should be proscribed.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made as to the possibility of a conflict of interest arising from the business relationship between the Post Office and Lex Service Group for the chief executive of the Post Office.

My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade is satisfied that there is no conflict of interest.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he was consulted over the appointment of the chief executive of the Post Office as a non-executive director of the Lex Service Group.

Yes.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if the advice of his Department has been sought over commercial relations between Lex Service Group and the Post Office in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

No, nor would my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade expect to be consulted. Such matters are within the operational responsibilities of the Post Office.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the maximum level of dust measured at each colliery operated by British Coal during each of the last three years.

This information is held by British Coal. I have asked the chairman to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what recommendations the inter-departmental scrutiny team has made to Ministers regarding the provisions of the Children Act 1989 and the Registered Homes Act 1984.

My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade announced the publication of the report of the inter-departmental review of fire safety legislation and enforcement on 22 June, Official Report, columns 228–29.The report makes a number of recommendations for change, including some proposals which may affect the operation of the Children Act 1989 and the Registered Homes Act 1984 or premises covered by them. As my right hon. Friend made clear on 22 June, the Government are committed to full consultation with all interested parties before any changes are made to existing arrangements.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what recent discussions he has had with the industry's regulator about the profits of regional electricity companies.

Ministers meet the Director General of Electricity Supply regularly to discuss a wide range of issues. I understand that the director general will take the financial circumstances of the companies into account as part of his review of the regional electricity companies' distribution price controls.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) if he will list those of his Department's advisory non-departmental public bodies which the Government are required to consult prior to legislation proposals; and in respect of which bodies the Government must publish their response to advice supplied by them;(2) if he will list the advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department which have a statutory base;(3) if he will list the advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department which are required to lay their annual reports before Parliament;(4) if he will list his Department's advisory non-departmental public bodies which are required to produce annual reports;(5) if he will list his Department's advisory non-departmental public bodies which are required to publish their advice to Government.

On the assumption that the hon. Member is using the definition of an advisory non-departmental public body adopted for the document "Public Bodies 1993", there are no such bodies which fall to be listed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will list any advisory bodies which he has set up in his Department since the publication of "Public Bodies 1993."

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is the effect of his Department's funding of the Special Educational Needs Tribunal on other education budgets.

None. The running costs of the tribunal will be met by this Department, which will itself benefit from some consequent savings in its own running costs. The Welsh Office will contribute in respect of the tribunal's activities in Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what action his Department is taking on bullying in primary schools; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend is concerned to ensure that all schools treat the issue of bullying seriously and take steps to combat it promptly and firmly wherever and whenever it occurs. We have taken a number of measures to help schools to tackle bullying.In 1992, the Department issued the "Action Against Bullying" pack to all schools in England. We have stressed the importance of effective action on bullying in the guidance on pupil behaviour and discipline, published on 27 May as part of the "Pupils With Problems" series of circulars. We have recently published leaflets of guidance for pupils and parents on the theme of "Don't Suffer in Silence", and will be making available soon to all television channels a public information film on the same theme. In addition, we intend to publish in the autumn further practical guidance for schools in England based on DFE-funded research at Sheffield university into strategies against bullying.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proportion of three and four-year-old children attend a state-run nursery school or nursery class in each local education authority area in Yorkshire and Humberside.

Information on pupils under five being taught in maintained nursery schools and nursery classes in primary schools in each local education authority in Yorkshire and Humberside in January 1993 is shown in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many primary schools there are of fewer than 20 pupils in each of the English county authorities.

The number of maintained primary schools with fewer than 20 pupils in each of the non-metropolitan counties in England in January 1993 is shown in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many primary schools of fewer than 20 pupils were judged to have failed to meet educational standards in inspections during 1993.

This is a matter for Her Majesty's chief inspector of schools, who heads the indpendent Office for Standards in Education. I have asked Professor Sutherland to write the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will publish a table outlining the costs of implementing the national curriculum; what are the costs so far of the current review procedure; and what is the forecast cost of the national curriculum subjects to be implemented in September 1995.

The main elements of direct Government expenditure since 1988 on developing and implementing the national curriculum in England are as follows (in £ million):

To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many complaints were received by his Department about (a) the Government's advertisements for grant-maintained status which appeared in January and February and (b) the information published by governing bodies about grant-maintained status in the run-up to a ballot taking place.

The Department has received 61 letters concerning the advertising campaign, of which 54 have been letters of complaint. These figures include letters from correspondents who have written on more than one occasion.Over the past 18 months, the Department has received 13 complaints about the accuracy of information disseminated by governing bodies prior to school ballots for grant-maintained status.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what his plans are for the assessment and testing of seven, 11 and 14-year-olds in 1995; and if he will make a statement.

High educational standards are of crucial importance for our children and to improve our international competitiveness. The chairman of the School Curriculum and Assessment Authority, Sir Ron Dearing, has confirmed that the tests are educationally sound and the independent school inspectorate, Ofsted, has found that they are raising standards. The Government are determined that these benefits should be extended to all state schools in 1995. To that end, I propose to introduce next year a system of external marking and, where appropriate, additional supply cover. These arrangements will ensure that the tests are marked to tough and objective standards by outside agencies and that the results are made available quickly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what international action is being taken to protect and care for civilian casualties of the Yemeni war in Aden.

The Security Council of the United Nations adopted on 29 June a second resolution, No. 931, expressing its deep concern at the humanitarian situation and requesting the Secretary-General to urgently address the needs of those affected by the conflict, in particular the inhabitants of Aden. The International Committee of the Red Cross is active in Yemen, including Aden, and we have responded to its appeal for donations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Israeli Government about the effect of new Israeli settlements in the Golan Heights on the peace process.

We regularly raise the issue of settlements with our Israeli interlocutors. We welcome recent signs of progress on the Syrian track and Prime Minister Rabin's statements that his Government are prepared to dismantle settlements for peace. We consider all settlements in the occupied territories to be illegal and an obstacle to peace.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many individuals over retirement age are in receipt of an invalidity addition to their pension.

At 4 April 1992, the latest date for which information is available, there were 47,000 invalidity benefit recipients over pension age also receiving an invalidity allowance¹. At 30 September 1993, the latest date for which information is available, there were 128,000 retirement pensioners receiving an increase of retirement pension for invalidity under section 47 of the Social Security (Contributions and Benefits) Act 1992².

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to publish details of the performance and targets of the Child Support Agency; and if he will make a statement.

The Child Support Agency's annual report for 1993–94 and business plan for 1994–95 will be published on Monday 4 July. Copies will be available in the Vote Office from 10.30 am.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much additional funding will be made available by the United Kingdom to assist in the implementation of the international convention to combat desertification.

We are currently providing substantial funding to assist developing countries to combat desertification. The provision of any additional funding will depend on the extent to which those of our developing country partners that ratify the convention implement the approaches it promotes. Funding decisions will also depend on the degree of priority that they give to such activities in relation to other projects and programmes proposed by them for our support.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many applications have been considered under the scheme to provide compensation for former mine workers who suffer from serious bronchitis and emphysema; how many of those have been accepted; and how many were secured and accepted in each region.

The information is not available in the form requested. The following table gives the information by Benefits Agency area directorate as at 19 June 1994, not all the claims received would have been decided by that date:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress in the implementation of the international convention to combat desertification.

The text of the convention was adopted on 18 June. It is likely to come into force next year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans the United Kingdom has to ratify the international convention to combat desertification.

We are studying the provisions of the convention. No decision has been taken on signature or ratification.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to resist the imposition by the European Community and other international bodies of further economic and political sanctions against Nigeria; and if he will make a statement.

I refer my hon. Friend to the replies that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Surrey, North-West (Sir M. Grylls) and to her on 29 June, Official Report, columns 684–85.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has concerning the extent to which repressive press decrees imposed following the annulment of the June 1993 presidential election in Nigeria have now been repealed; and what response he has made to such repeals.

Most of the repressive press decrees have been repealed; we welcomed those moves. However, two publishing houses were shut down by the military Government in the run-up to the anniversary of the 12 June 1993 election. We are concerned by this, and urge the military to reverse this repressive action.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will publish a table showing for (a) each year since 1987, (b) each quarter since 1991 and (c) each month since October 1992 the value, volume and unit value for United Kingdom imports and exports of manufactures with EEC, non-EEC countries and world trade in semi-manufactures, finished manufactures and manufactures on a balance of payments basis to take account of the latest statistical revisions;(2) if he will publish a table showing for each year since 1987, each quarter since 1991 and each month since October 1992 the levels of United Kingdom overseas trade in consumer goods, intermediate goods and capital goods with EC, non-EC countries and total trade on a balance of payments basis to take account of the latest statistical revisions;(3) if he will publish a table showing for

[holding answer 30 June 1994]: The information requested is available on the Central Statistical Office database, which can be accessed through the Library of the House.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing for 1968, 1973, 1979 and 1988 the ratio of exports to sales of manufactures of consumer goods, intermediate goods and capital goods as described in table B6 of the "Monthly Review of External Trade Statistics" on the same statistical basis as in ratio 3 of table 15.10 of the April 1991 "Monthly Digest of Statistics" together with his best estimate of the corresponding figures for the years 1989 to 1993 and this year to date.

The information requested is not available.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will publish a table showing for countries other than the EC 12 for 1968, 1973, 1979 and 1988 the ratio of imports to home demand for manufactures on the same basis as in ratio 1 of table 15.10 of the April 1991 "Monthly Digest of Statistics" together with his best estimate of the corresponding figures for the years 1989 to 1993 and this year to date;(2) if he will publish a table showing for countries other than the EC 12 for 1968, 1973, 1979 and 1988 the ratio of exports to sales of manufactures on the same basis as in ratio 3 of table 15.10 of the April 1991 "Monthly Digest of Statistics" together with his best estimate of the corresponding figures for the years 1989 to 1993 and this year to date;(3) if he will publish a table showing for the EC Twelve for

[holding answer 30 June 1994]: The information requested is not available.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing for 1968, 1973, 1979 and 1988 the ratio of imports to home demand for manufactures on the same basis as in ratio 1 of table 15.10 of the April 1991 "Monthly Digest of Statistics" together with his best estimate of the corresponding figures for the years 1989 to 1993 and this year to date.

This ratio was first published by the Central Statistical Office in an article published in the August 1977 edition of Economic Trends, presenting data on this and other ratios for the period 1968 and 1976. Comparable estimates for later periods have already been published in CSO "Business Monitor MQ12—Import Penetration and Export Sales Ratios for Manufacturing Industry," as well as in the "Monthly Digest of Statistics." Copies of both are available in the House of Commons Library. However, calculation of the ratio involves the use of quarterly sales information from manufacturing industry. The collection of such information was stopped in line with recommendations made in the 1989 review of Department of Trade and Industry statistics. As such, the most recent estimates for the ratio cover the 12-month period to end-June 1989, and are as published in the April 1991 edition of the "Monthly Digest of Statistics" Estimates for more recent periods are not available.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing for (a) each year since 1987, (b) each quarter since 1991 and (c) each month since October 1992 the volume of United Kingdom imports and exports of consumer goods, intermediate goods and capital goods with EEC, non-EEC countries and total trade on a balance-of-payments basis to take account of the latest statistical revisions.

[holding answer 30 June 1994]: The information requested is being placed in the House of Commons Library in a table entitled "Volume Indices of Exports of Consumer, Intermediate and Capital Goods—Balance of Payments Consistent."

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if Departments which achieve savings through market testing and contracting out will be able to apply those savings for the benefit of their programmes.

Yes.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which international rules and conventions require United Kingdom local authority self-financing expenditure to be categorised as public expenditure; and which states adhere to these rules and conventions.

[holding answer 30 June 1994]: Local authorities are part of the public sector and their expenditure is public expenditure. All local authority expenditure, including self-financed expenditure, in the United Kingdom has, for many years, been included in general Government spending under international conventions. These conventions were restated most recently in the "System of National Accounts", published jointly by the Commission of the European Communities, International Monetary Fund, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, United Nations and World Bank at the end of last year. It is expected that all European Union and European Free Trade Association countries will produce accounts on this basis.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many notifications were made of drug addiction for London and for England in each of the last five years.

The information requested is published in table A3 of the Home Office statistical bulletin, issue 10/94, "Statistics of Drug Addicts Notified to the Home Office, United Kingdom 1993 (Area Tables)". A copy of this publication is in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what extra resources this Department will provide to finance the costs of special training needed to make available to all officers the side-handled baton.

It is for chief officers of police to decide how to equip and train their officers. The cost must be met out of normal police funds.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the results of the meeting of the interior Ministers of the member states of the European Union treaty in Thessalonika, Greece on 6 and 7 May.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave him on 18 May, Official Report, column 461.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what agenda has been proposed for the next meeting of the Justice and Home Affairs Ministers of the member states of the European Union meeting in accordance with title VI of the European Union treaty on 20 and 21 June in Greece.

The meeting took place on 20 June in Luxembourg. It was the third Justice and Home Affairs Council held under the provisions of the treaty on European Union. The main points dealt with by the Council were as follows:The Council adopted the resolution on limitations on admission of third-country nationals to the member states for employment.The Council expressed its appreciation for the Commission's communication on immigration and asylum policies and undertook to consider the possibility of including in a forthcoming work programme those aspects of the proposals which fall within title VI of the treaty on European Union.The Council agreed the selection of consultants to undertake a study of users' requirements for EURODAC, the proposed automated fingerprinting system for asylum applicants.The Council approved the budget for the European Drugs Unit for 1995. It appointed Mr. Jurgen Storbeck as director of the Europol Drugs Unit and decided to extend the temporary appointment of Mr. Willy Bruggeman, the acting assistant director, for a further six months.The Council noted progress on the Europol convention, and commissioned further work by officials on the outstanding points.The Council invited officials to continue their work on the customs information system convention with a view to its being concluded as quickly as possible. The Council agreed that the incoming German presidency would inform the European Parliament about the main elements of the draft convention. It also discussed progress on the European information system convention.The Council heard presentations from the Commission on its overall strategy to combat drugs, and on its proposals on the legal protection of the Community's financial interests. The Council agreed that work on fraud should proceed on the basis of both the joint action proposed by the United Kingdom in March and the Commission's proposals.The Council considered means of carrying on contracts with certain third countries on title VI matters. Officials were instructed to continue work in this area, with a view to agreement being reached by the end of the German presidency.The Council agreed that work should proceed on the extension of the Brussels convention to matters of family and succession law.The Council heard a report from the presidency which summarised the current status of work on extradition.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide a list of the formal meetings at which representatives of the British Government have attended in accordance with article K3 of the European Union treaty since the coming into force of that treaty together with the subject matter under consideration at the meeting and the title of the official representing the British Government.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave him on 16 May, Official Report, columns 339–40.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many citizens of the European Union to whom notices that their presence in the United Kingdom was no longer lawful were issued in the past 12 months had already been in employment;(2) how many applications were received for residence permits for citizens of the European Union seeking to establish themselves in business in the United Kingdom over the past 12 months.

The information requested is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what action is currently being undertaken as proposed in the Commission's communication on immigration and asylum of February 1994 to approximate the harmonisation admission policies for humanitarian reasons of the European Union member states;(2) what action is being taken to harmonise schemes for temporary protection in the European Union member states as proposed in the Commission's communication on immigration and asylum of February 1994.

No specific proposals for harmonisation in these areas have been put forward.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what actions have been taken under the European Council's 1992 declaration on principles governing the external aspects of migration policy to tackle root causes of various types of migratory movements.

No specific action has been taken, but the declaration has informed subsequent discussions on these issues between the member states.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications were made over the past 12 months for persons to come to the United Kingdom or continue residence in the United Kingdom as persons of independent means on the basis of capital assets of £200,000 or guaranteed income of £20,000 and a close connection with the United Kingdom.

Information on persons of independent means applying for entry clearance, or admitted to the United Kingdom is not available. The available information relates to such persons with capital assets of not less than £200,000 or income of not less than £20,000 a year and a close connection with the United Kingdom, plus if there were no close connection, capital assets of not less than £500,000; 120 such persons were granted an extension of stay, and 140 were granted settlement, in 1993.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications were (a) received and (b) refused in the past 12 months for a person to come to the United Kingdom as a business person under the immigration rules.

The information requested is not available.