To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the breakdown by party political affiliation of members of the Gravesend bench.

The political balance of magistrates on the Gravesham bench, which covers Gravesend, on the latest information available is as follows:

	Number
Conservative	24
Labour	13
Liberal Democrat	6
Independent/Not Known	10

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement concerning the pilot study of recommendation 92 of the inter-agency working group on pre-trial issues.

The pilot study has now been evaluated and the Lord Chancellor, the Home Secretary and the Attorney-General have received a report setting out its results. The inter-agency pre-trial issues steering group, which set up the pilot study, has recommended that the system under which magistrates' courts, when committing defendants to the Crown court for trial, fix a date upon which the case will be listed for a plea and directions hearing in the Crown court should be introduced on a national basis.We, together with the Lord Chief Justice, welcome the report as a significant step towards a reduction in the number of cases which are listed for trial, with witnesses attending to give evidence, but which are not contested on the day. The percentage of such cases fell from 31 per cent. before the pilot to 18 per cent. during the pilot. The Lord Chancellor's Department is establishing an inter-agency implementation group to carry forward the implementation of the recommendation. Copies of the report have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has to introduce computerisation into the county court service; how many county courts these plans will affect; how many will not be so affected; and what account he will take of whether a court has been computerised in deciding whether it should be closed.

The Lord Chancellor and I are committed to improving the efficiency of the court system by providing court staff with computer support where appropriate. To achieve this, all county court offices are already provided with some form of computer support in the areas of warrant production and control and of the handling of suitors' cash. Those systems are currently being upgraded. A project is also under way to extend the range of functions to which computer support can be given. The criteria applied in deciding whether it is appropriate to close a county court do not include the existence of computer support.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what criteria he applies when deciding which of the functions of the courts service are appropriate for contracting out and which are not.

The first and paramount criterion is the preservation of the independence and probity of the judicial process. If that is not at risk, general issues relating to the effective and efficient operation and management of the courts in providing a good-quality service to their users and value for money for the taxpayer would be taken into account.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has to identify a core of activities of the courts service that are not appropriate for contracting out.

The Lord Chancellor is exploring the matter with the senior judiciary. Each activity will be considered on its own merits, bearing in mind the paramount need to maintain the independence and probity of the judicial process.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if funds drawn in the form of either interest or capital from a capital sum held abroad by a political party are subject to United Kingdom taxation; and if he will make a statement.

Political parties are chargeable to corporation tax or income and capital gains tax on their profits or gains depending on their status and organisation. Whether sums drawn in the form of interest or capital from a capital sum held abroad are subject to United Kingdom taxation will depend on whether those sums represent profits or gains, and on the particular circumstances in which the sums are drawn.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps are being taken internationally to reduce Japanese and German surpluses on visible trade.

Trade surpluses reflect, in the main, structural factors, such as Japan's high domestic savings ratio and relative cyclical position. At last year's G7 summit in Tokyo, Japan undertook to implement fiscal and monetary measures to ensure sustained non-inflationary growth contributing to the goal of significantly reducing external imbalances.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his assessment of the benefit to United Kingdom investors and financial institutions if the tax treatment of fonds commun de placement with undertakings for collective investment in transferable securities certificates is changed so it is practical to market them in the United Kingdom.

We have made no such assessment. I understand, however, that fonds commun de placement are mutual funds set up in other member states of the European Union by financial institutions established in those states. It is not clear to what extent changing the tax treatment of those funds to enhance their marketability in the United Kingdom would beneift financial institutions in the United Kingdom as opposed to those of other member states.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the yield from corporation tax in Northern Ireland each year since 1989–90.

It is not possible to provide a reliable geographical analysis of the yield of corporation tax. The tax is charged on total profits of a company, including income received from abroad. A company may surrender tax losses to another company in the same group anywhere in the United Kingdom and thus reduce the latter's tax charge.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was repaid by the inspector of foreign dividends or his equivalent to foreign holders of United Kingdom dividends, warrants etc. in relation to tax credits or to tax withheld in regard to their dividend payments in each fiscal year since 1985.

[holding answer 1 July 1994]: Payments to foreign residents of tax credits on United Kingdom dividends under double taxation agreements made either at source by the company paying the dividend or by the inspector of foreign dividends are as follows:

Year	£ million
1985–86	440
1986–87	490
1987–88	480
1988–89	510
1989–90	550
1990–91	490
1991–92	480
1992–93	550
1993–94	470

To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what action he has taken against the auditing firm and partners criticised in the inspectors' report on Rotaprint plc; and what has been the outcome;

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 4 July 1994, Official Report, column 11.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he intends to make regulations requiring electrical applicances to be supplied with a correctly fused plug; and if he will make a statement.

Regulations under the Consumer Protection Act 1987 will be laid before Parliament shortly, and from 1 February 1995 most domestic electrical appliances manufactured in, or imported into, the United Kingdom must be supplied with a correctly fused plug.Fatalities and injuries occur each year because of incorrectly fitted electric plugs. These regulations represent an important step forward in consumer safety for the British public.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what conveniently available figures he has for the import of slate into the United Kingdom.

Information on the topic is regularly published in "Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom", copies of which are available in the Library of the House.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what is his assessment of the benefits that the Property Misdescriptions Act 1991 has brought to home buyers;(2) what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Property Misdescriptions Act 1991; and what plans he has to amend it.

The Act was introduced to deter estate agents from making inaccurate statements about property. It has had practical effect only since April 1993, when the Property Misdescriptions (Specified Matters) Order 1992 came into force. It takes time for new legislation to settle and it is too soon to be able to judge how effectively the Act and the order are operating.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) how many convictions there have been under the Property Misdescriptions Act 1991;(2) how many prosecutions have been brought under the Property Misdescriptions Act 1991.

As of 29 June 1994, the Office of Fair Trading had been notified of six prosecutions under the Property Misdescriptions Act 1991, all of which resulted in convictions.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) how many applicants in each region of the United Kingdom have been rejected for regional selective assistance because of a failure to meet new guidelines;

None.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he received the report from the receivers to Teampace Holdings Ltd.; what factors led the Department to decide against further investigations; and if he will make a statement.

The administrative receivers' report was received by the disqualification unit on 5 April 1993 and identified as meriting further investigation on 11 May 1993. Because of the need to prioritise the unit's resources, the matter was not taken forward, as I explained in my speech in the House on 29 June 1994, Official Report, columns 920–22.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what legal advice he has received on the implications of change in ownership of the Patent Office; and if he will make a statement;(2) which options in regard to the United Kingdom Patent Office have been ruled out; and if he will make a statement;(3) what is the option which Price Waterhouse has been requested to provide covering the future of the Patent Office; and if he will make a statement;(4) how many representations he has received on the future of the Patent Ofice in the last 12 months; how many of them were in favour of the status quo; and if he will make a statement;(5) if he will consider making an interim announcement in regard to the Patent Office.

We are still considering the report by Price Waterhouse which was commissioned as part of the review of the Patent Office's performance as an agency and of its options for the future. The review covers a range of possibilities from abolition to maintenance of the status quo. It is also required to address the scope for contractorisation or privatisation. The review has thrown up a number of complex legal and policy issues, which we are considering. I should emphasise that no decision on the future of the office has yet been taken. An announcement will be made as soon as the review is complete.

Company	Inspectors	Accountant inspectors costs (inc support staff and VAT) £ (000's)	Legal inspectors costs (inc support staff and VAT) £ (000's)	Cost of inspection/inspection to date £ (000's)
Guinness Plc	Mr. D. Donaldson QC	1,794	482	2,276
	Mr. I Watt FCA, formerly of
	KPMG Peat Marwick
Graylaw Holdings Ltd.	Miss E. Appleby QC	431	43	474
Link Service Stations Ltd.	Mr. P. Foss FCA,
British Anzani Plc	Moore Rowland
Bank Street Securities Ltd.	Miss E. Appleby QC	152	20	172
Medway Secondary Metals Ltd.	Mr. P. Foss FCA,	85	15	100
Pennine Comnmercial Holdings Plc	Moore Rowland	352	35	387

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many post office employees received injuries caused by dog attacks while delivering letters and parcels in 1993; how many work days were lost as a result; and if he will make a statement.

The handling of Post Office staff matters is the responsibility of Post Office management. However, I understand that in 1993 the total number of incidents involving animal attacks on Post Office employees was 6,040, of which 694 were sufficiently serious to require sick leave, amounting to a total of 4,527 working days.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps he has taken, or proposes to take, to investigate the activities in the United Kingdom of subsidiaries or companies related to the Inspectorate AG and Omni Group between 1987 and 1992; and if he will make a statement.

It is not my Department's policy to comment on the affairs of individual companies. If the hon. Member has information to suggest that an inquiry would be appropriate, my officials would be pleased to consider any information forwarded in the usual manner.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if, for each of the investigations authorised under the Companies Acts, where inspectors have been appointed and the investigation is in progress or the final report remains unpublished, he will publish a table showing the cost of to date, the business connections of the inspectors, the manner in which costs have been disbursed to each of the inspectors, the total number of hours for which his Department has been charged and the basis of fees.

The table below covers all current Companies Acts inspections where the inspection has been announced or, if completed, the report has not yet been published or a decision whether to publish has not been taken. Further information on costs is commercially confidential and I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 20 July 1993, Official Report, column 132.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will appoint inspectors to investigate the liquidation of Euroscan.

I cannot comment on the affairs of individual companies. I am prepared to consider any information the hon. Member may provide in the usual way.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will appoint inspectors to investigate the liquidation of Corporate Communications.

Company	Date of publication	Accountant inspectors costs (inc support staff) £ (000's)	Legal inspectors costs (inc support staff) £ (000's)	Total £ (000's)
Cornhill Consolidated Group Ltd	31 December 1980	—	—	(i)
Burnholme and Forder Ltd	17 July 1979	—	—	(i)
Dowgate & General Investments Ltd	14 May1979	—	—	(i)
CST Investments Ltd
Words in Action Ltd	22 February 1979	—	—	(ii)
Ashbourne Investments Ltd	31 July 1979	245	82	327
Darjeeling Holdings Ltd	30 April 1980	155	28	183
The Central Provinces Manganese Ore Co. Ltd
Data Investments Ltd
Vivella Ltd
Bandara Investments Ltd
Bandarapola Ceylon Company

On the basis of the information currently before me, I am not persuaded that this is an appropriate case for the appointment of inspectors.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish a table showing the amount paid to each of his Department's inspectors for the reports published between 1979 and 1985.

The information requested by the hon. Member is set out in the table. The figures for costs include expenses incurred by the inspectors.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he will launch an independent inquiry into the affairs of Coopers and Lybrand following the DTI report on the company;(2) if he will initiate an independent inquiry into the regulation of the major accounting firms by the Institute of Chartered Accountants;

No.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish a table showing by standard industrial trade classification two-digit division the industries whose share of exports by the main manufacturing countries has declined since 1979 as a result of lack of investment in new plant and machinery.

The information requested is not available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what proposal he has for updating legislation in relation to multi-level marketing; and if he will make a statement.

The Government are preparing proposals for changes to the present legislation, and hope to publish a consultation paper shortly.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 16 June, Official Report, column 630, what is the position in relation to VAT exemption for parcels sent via a privatised company by franked or account postage rather than by the purchase of a stamp.

This issue is discussed in the Government's Green Paper "The Future of Postal Services" (Cm. 2614) published on 30 June. If the Government decide to proceed with privatisation or part-privatisation of the Royal Mail and Parcelforce, they will consider, in the light of EC law, the appropriate VAT treatment for non-obligatory parcels services provided by the new company. Such services would include those offered on account to commercial companies and other organisations, in competition with services from other parcels carriers.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will now make it his policy to receive a delegation led by the hon. Member for Macclesfield to discuss the provisions of the European directive on unfair consumer contracts and its implications for British industry.

[holding answer 1 July 1994]: If my hon. Friend contacts the Minister for Consumer Affairs and Small Firms, I am sure that my noble Friend will be pleased to meet with him.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 23 June, Official Report, column 254, when he expects to complete the compliance cost assessment in relation to the European directive on unfair consumer contracts; which trade associations and individual companies have been consulted specifically in connection with that assessment; and if he will list all those provisions likely to prove onerous to industry which his Department succeeded in having deleted from the European directive on unfair consumer contracts.

[holding answer 1 July 1994]: A compliance cost assessment is being prepared on the proposals to implement the EC directive on unfair terms in consumer contracts and will be published shortly. All trade associations and companies that received the Department's consultation document were invited to make an estimate of the compliance costs. Provisions in earlier drafts of the directive which were considered likely to be onerous to industry included extension of the scope of the directive to all contract terms, whether negotiated or not; inclusion of a blacklist of terms which would be unfair in all circumstances; and an attempt to harmonise sale of goods legislation.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade who will make the definition of the exclusive services which will be offered to the operators of the universal postal service, under the proposed reserved services directive of the European Union.

[holding answer 4 July 1994]: The maximum scope of the reserved area is likely to be defined at Community level, and member states will be free to establish smaller reserved areas if they wish.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are the current training targets for the Barnsley/Doncaster TEC; and if he will make a statement.

The training and enterprise council's corporate plan for 1994–1997 sets out local targets which it has agreed with key players in education and training, to contribute towards the achievement of the national education and training targets. The TEC's corporate plan is available in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what internationally recognised qualifications are obtainable through the Barnsley/Doncaster TEC; and if he will make a statement.

The qualifications which are obtainable through the Barnsley and Doncaster training and enterprise council are nationally recognised qualifications. A second EC directive on mutual recognition of qualifications has been adopted which will give national vocational qualifications and Scottish vocational qualifications currency throughout the Community.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what the amount of Government expenditure on training the existing work force has been in each year since 1979 at 1993 prices;(2) how much Government expenditure has been spent on overall training in each year since 1979 at 1993 prices.

Expenditure by the Department on training, education, enterprise, employment measures and labour market services in Great Britain is detailed in the table. Information relating to other Government expenditure on training is not available to this Department. The Employment Department group is offering a total of 1.5 million opportunities for unemployed people in 1994–95, the same as 1993–94's record level.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is his most recent estimate of the amount spent on training by (a) private employers, (b) public employers, (c) Government and (d) individuals.

Estimates from the "Training in Britain" study of 1986–87 of the amount spent on training in Great Britain by private sector firms with 10 or more employees, public sector employers, Government and individuals are shown in the table:

	£'000 million
Private sector firms with 10 more employees	9
Public sector employers (excludes armed services)	5
Government	7
Individuals	8

It is estimated that British employers currently spend over £20,000 million a year on training and developing their employees.The estimate of Government expenditure includes expenditure by the then Manpower Services Commission on training programmes and the costs of post-compulsory education outside schools. Expenditure in 1992–93 by the Department on training, education, enterprise, employment measures and labour market services in Great Britain was £2,692 million. The estimate of expenditure by individuals consists mainly of earnings forgone by those in post-compulsory education.

	1992–93 (£ million)	Percentage of aid allocable by sector	Percentage of total United Kingdom bilateral aid to developing countries
Health and Population	48·9	8·6	3·8
Basic Education1	15·8	2·8	1·2
Water and Sanitation	25·8	4·5	2·0
1Basic education, including primary education, some teacher training and adult literacy, is estimated to be 15 per cent. of the total ODA spending in the education sector.

In addition, in 1992–93, £150 million of emergency aid was provided. Most of this goes to meet basic human needs in time of crisis.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what assessment he has made of relative wage levels in the financial services industry in (a) London, (b) Dublin and (c) Luxembourg; and what implications this has for employment opportunities.

Reliable information is not available at this level.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will set out the total cost of external consultancy fees in relation to market testing.

[holding answer 29 June 1994]: As reflected in information already provided to the Treasury and Civil Service Select Committee as part of its inquiry into the civil service, during the period 1 April 1992 to 31 December 1993, the total cost of external consultancy fees incurred by the Department in relation to market testing was £845,319. The Employment Department group's market-testing programme is being developed within existing resources.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what amount of the United Kingdom's bilateral aid spending is focused on basic needs provision; and if he will set out separately figures for spending on health, primary education and clean water provision (a) in cash prices and (b) as a percentage of the United Kingdom's total bilateral aid spending.

It is estimated that a minimum of £111 million of the United Kingdom's bilateral aid was focused on basic needs provision in 1992–93. Some £13 million of this was provided as block grants to non-governmental organisations and £8 million was provided as a grant to the International Planned Parenthood Federation.The sectoral figures shown in the table are included within the £111 millon:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 28 June, Official Report, column 525–26, if he will list those practical initiatives in Nigeria which his Department is funding in support of a democratic transition in that country; if he will indicate the amount of funding for each project; and if he will make a statement indicating specifically what steps his Department intends to take to assist the work of the National Constitutional Conference in Nigeria.

Since April 1993, we have provided office equipment and literature to organisations concerned with democracy and human rights—£40,000—help towards the running of and participation in human rights conferences—£12,000—and support for monitoring of the June 1993 election—£10,000. Further initiatives totalling up to £75,000 in 1994–95 are being considered. In addition, we have helped the work of the National Constitutional Conference by providing its library with books and journals on legal, political and constitutional issues, including copies of the democratic constitutions of several Commonwealth countries—£5,500.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will issue guidelines to prevent the use of photographic or other material gained in the course of forensic pathology for public entertainment.

I will write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Northern Ireland prisoners have received transfers from England and Wales to Northern Ireland since 1 January 1993; and how many were (a) permanent, (b) temporary, (c) male, (d) female, (e) loyalists and (f) republican transfers.

Since 1 January 1993, three male prisoners have been permanently transferred from England and Wales to Northern Ireland and eight male prisoners have been temporarily transferred. In addition, four male prisoners previously temporarily transferred have been granted further periods of temporary transfer in Northern Ireland. No female prisoners have been either permanently or temporarily transferred during this period, and one of the prisoners transferred was convicted of a terrorist offence. It is our policy not to comment on the past or present political affiliations of prisoners.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the greatest, the shortest and the average length of time between application for transfer and notification of the decision to accept or reject the application for temporary or permanent transfer from England and Wales to Northern Ireland.

Transfers of prisoners between United Kingdom jurisdictions have been effected since the introduction of the Criminal Justice Act 1961. The information requested could not be obtained without disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how long a prisoner whose application for transfer from England and Wales to Northern Ireland is rejected must wait before reapplying.

A prisoner may apply for transfer to another United Kingdom jurisdiction at any time. Each application will be considered individually and on its own merits under the criteria announced to Parliament on 23 November 1992.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 18 May, Official Report, column 456, if he has now considered the representations submitted in February 1994, on behalf of Colin Ivor Dunning, together with earlier representations; and if he will make a statement.

I regret that our consideration of those representations is not yet complete and it is possible that some outside inquiries may have to be made before a decision is made on whether to refer Mr. Dunning's conviction to the Court of Appeal or to take any other action. I will ensure that the hon. Member is informed as soon as there are any further developments.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many cases staff shortages at Aldington prison have been the reason for the non-production of prisoners in court in the past 12 months.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 28 June, Official Report, column 458, (1) if he will provide the evidence available to him on the extent to which benefits may accrue (a) to the organisation and (b) to the individual; and what assessment he has made of the benefit to the public of introducing performance-related pay;(2) if he will list the specific benefits that will accrue to the police service as a result of performance-related pay and the defects resulting from the present system which he aims to correct;(3) if he will list his targets for the improvement in the performance of police officers

We have made it clear on a number of occasions that police pay should be related to overall performance. This does not mean judging performance against crude indicators such as numbers of arrests or crimes cleared up. The introduction of an element in police pay related to overall performance will enable the police service, in a tangible way, to distinguish the especially good performance from the average performance, which is not possible under the current pay system. Together with the other police management reforms being introduced by the Government, performance-related pay will assist in the process of improving quality and increasing efficiency by providing a sensible incentive to police officers and a better basis for managing police pay, which constitutes some 80 per cent. of all money spent on policing.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 29 June, Official Report, column 627, on how many occasions United Kingdom Detention Services Ltd. has received warnings in relation to its management of Blakenhurst prison; what was the nature of the warning on each occasion; and what was the outcome.

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 is the current reinstatement value of Blakenhurst prison; how it is calculated; and how often it is reassessed.

[holding answer 4 July 1994]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the (a) prisons, (b) detention centres and (c) police stations used to detain persons under the powers of the Immigration Act 1971, as amended; and what is the number of persons currently detained at each individual establishment.

[holding answer 27 June 1994]: On 29 June 1994, people were detained under Immigration Act powers at the following locations:

Immigration Service	Number
Campsfield House	165
Harmondsworth	95
Gatwick Beehive	16
Queens Building	15
Stansted	7
Port Detention	7
Newhaven	6
Prison Service
Aberdeen	2
Belfast	1
Belmarsh	8
Blakenhurst	10
Brinsford R C	6
Bristol	4
Bullingdon	1
Brixton	4
Canterbury	33
Cardiff	1
Chelmsford	4
Dover	23
Durham	2
Edinburgh	1
Elmley	1
Erlestoke	3
Exeter	6
Feltham	4
Glen Parva	1
Gloucester	1
Greenock	9
Haslar1	128
High Down	13
Holloway	11
Hull	4
Leeds	4
Lewes	3
Liverpool	3
Norwich	5
Pentonville	21
Reading	1
Risley	1
Rochester	1
Shrewsbury	2
Strangeways	9
Swaleside	1
Swansea	1
Wandsworth	7
Winchester	8
Winson Green	40
The Wolds	1
Wormwood Scrubs	6
Police Stations2	43
Total	749
1Haslar Holding Centre is primarily an Immigration Detention Centre, although managed by the Prison Service.
2The numbers held in individual police stations are not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) when it is proposed that probation boards will begin to exercise executive functions and powers;(2) what appointment procedures will be set in place for constituting the membership of probation boards; and when such procedures will be published.

Primary legislation is required to enact the probation board proposals and the timing of this depends on an appropriate legislative opportunity. Details of the procedures proposed for appointments to boards will be confirmed at that time.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether representatives of voluntary bodies who are either tendering for or involved in partnerships will be eligible to be members of probation boards.

A number of probation committee members have active links with voluntary sector organisations which are, or may be, involved in partnerships with the probation service. Although those links should not be a bar to probation committee membership, it is important that committees have in place procedures to avoid any conflicts of interest which may arise. Similar considerations are likely to apply to probation boards in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which probation services in England and Wales will be reducing staffing levels in the financial year 1994–95; and what will be the consequent effect on probation work loads.

It is for each probation committee to decide how the resources available to it should be used to best effect; and the Home Office does not have information about committees' plans for the remainder of the present financial year with regard to numbers of staff in post.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is Her Majesty's Government's policy on the free movement of legally resident third-country nationals.

The Government do not support the extension of European Community rights of free movement to third-country nationals and consider that the admission of third-country nationals should remain a matter for individual member states. We are discussing with our European partners a proposal in the draft external frontiers convention which would exempt third-country nationals who are legally resident in another member state from any visa requirement for a short visit. This proposal would make travel within the Community easier but would give no automatic right of free movement to resident third-country nationals.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many drivers and passengers were summoned for travelling without a seat belt in (a) 1990, (b) 1991, (c) 1992 and (d) 1993; and if he will make a statement.

There were 10,145 prosecutions for not wearing a seat belt in England and Wales in 1990, 12,156 in 1991 and 11,258 in 1992. Statistics for 1993 are not yet available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for a firearms licence have been refused in England and Wales in each of the last five years.

The information requested is published in Home Office statistical bulletin "Firearm Certificate Statistics, England and Wales 1992", issue 23/93, a copy of which can be found in the Library. Figures for 1993 are not yet available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what contingency plans he has formulated for co-ordination between police forces in the United Kingdom and Interpol in respect of computer pornography and other obscene material if the obscene publications branch at Scotland Yard is closed down.

No proposals about the future of the obsecne publications branch have yet been made, but the Metropolitan police have given assurances that its work will continue whatever the recommendations of the current headquarters and specialist units' review.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff are currently on court escort and custody service in the Metropolitan police district; and how many staff will be on this service when Securicor is operating all of this service in July 1995.

[holding answer 29 June 1994]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what decisions his Department has taken in respect of TECs over the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement on his Department's involvement with TECs over the same period.

[holding answer 30 June 1994]: Officials from the Home Office and United Kingdom Passport Agency have had a number of meetings with representatives of the Central London TEC and Investors In People (UK) Ltd. Passport agency officials have also met the TECs for the areas in which the agency's regional offices are located. There have also been meetings between officials of the Immigration and Nationality Department and the South London TEC; the Fire Service college and Gloucestershire TEC; and the Forensic Science Service with Birmingham TEC. All those meetings have been in connection with the Home Office commitment to the Investors in People—IIP—initiative; none of them has involved particular decisions. In addition, there have been meetings between representatives of a number of Prison Service establishments and their local TECs concerning the development of both staff and prisoner non-vocational qualifications, and steps towards IIP accreditation. In the context of developing local policies to help offenders and ex-offenders to find employment, the Home Office has advised chief probation officers to seek agreements with TECs.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) if he will define the role of the private sector forum on market testing, its terms of reference and the criteria used for issuing invitations to attend;(2) if he will list the names of the individuals and companies of those invited to attend, and those who actually attended, the January meeting of the private sector forum on market testing;(3) what safeguards exist to prevent those individuals and companies invited to take part as members of the private sector forum from financial gain from contracting out of Government services as a result of their membership of the forum;(4) if he will list the names of the individuals and companies of those invited to attend the July meeting of the private sector forum on market testing.

The role of the private sector forum is to provide a channel of communication on "Competing for Quality" issues between the private sector, central Departments, and other Departments and agencies.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many copies of the parents charter were distributed in Nottinghamshire; and what was the cost of publication and delivery.

Every household in England is receiving a copy of the updated parents charter. Figures provided by the Royal Mail show that some 459,200 copies of the charter are being distributed in Nottinghamshire. The total cost of publication and delivery in that area is approximately £46,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what were the outcomes of the Council of EC Youth Ministers and the Council of EC Education Ministers held on 6 and 21 June, respectively.

The main item of business for the Council of Youth Ministers was the Commission proposal to extend the "Youth for Europe" programme for a third phase. The programme will continue to support a wide range of exchange-based activities for young people and youth workers in the Community, with an emphasis in the third phase on activities for the disadvantaged. The Council of 6 June reached a common position which the United Kingdom could accept. A budget of 105 million ecu, approximately £82 million, over five years—1995–99—was agreed.The Council of Education Ministers considered the Commission proposal for an EC education action programme, SOCRATES. Ministers reached a common position on the proposal. A budget of 760 million ecu, approximately £580 million, over five years—1995–99—for the programme was agreed. The programme will amalgamate and expand the existing ERASMUS—European Community action scheme for the mobility of university students—and Lingua programmes and will introduce Community activity at school level for the first time, through support for joint projects undertaken by schools in at least three member states. In addition, the programme will support the education of migrant workers', gipsies' and travellers' children and the dissemination of information about the education systems of member states, as well as trans-national co-operation on the in-service training of teachers, open and distance learning and adult education.Ministers also agreed conclusions on the cultural and artistic aspects of education and discussed a presidency note on the education of the children of migrant workers.

To ask the Prime Minister for what reason Stephan Adolph Kock has special branch protection; and what other names he uses or has been known by.

It is not in the public interest to disclose whether any person has received official protection or not. There is no ministerial responsibility for names by which Mr. Kock is known or has been known.

To ask the Prime Minister what representations Her Majesty's Government have received from relatives of those killed in Pan Am 103 over Lockerbie on the need to make inquiries about the statements attributed to Youssef Chaabane, accused of murdering a Jordanian diplomat in a Beirut court; and what response Her Majesty's Government have made.

The Lord Advocate has received one letter from a relative of a Lockerbie victim, inquiring about the Crown Office response to the statement attributed to Chaabane. She has been told that, although it appears that what Chaabane said was very far from being a claim of responsibility for the bombing of Pan Am 103, the Crown Office will pursue any further investigation which may be necessary.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list all the landfill sites licensed by local authorities in the United Kingdom that are situated closer than 200 m to human habitations.

The Department of the Environment does not keep records of individual landfill sites. That information can be obtained from the waste regulation authorities. The Department gives guidance, in waste management paper No. 27, on the safeguards required for developments near landfill sites. In addition, planning law requires a local planning authority to consult the relevant waste disposal authority about certain planning applications within 250 m of a waste disposal site.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has had with the P and O Property Group in relation to its participation in Brixton city challenge projects.

There have been no such discussions with the P and O Property Group. Brixton city challenge has kept the Department informed of developments.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to produce a definition of hazardous waste for use in the United Kingdom which is consistent with the definitions in the Basle convention; and if he will make a statement on progress towards such a definition.

The hazardous waste directive, 91/689/EEC, defines hazardous waste, inter alia, as waste featuring on a list to be drawn up by reference to the annexes to the directive. The annexes are similar to annexes included in the Basle convention. The Council is likely to consider the list in the autumn. The probable revised implementation date for the directive is July 1995.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to publish his proposals for taking action on the replacement of water byelaws by regulations; and if he will make a statement.

It is intended to issue a consultation paper which considers the scope, format and enforcement of provisions to replace the water byelaws during the summer.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has had from the British Bathroom Council in respect of the retention of byelaws relating to siphons and overflows in lavatory cisterns.

My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State with responsibility for the construction industry was briefed on that matter on 16 June at one of his regular fortnightly meetings with the construction industry.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what criteria he applies in deciding whether to hold a non-statutory public inquiry when notified by the Church Commissioners that they propose to demolish a listed church where reasoned objections to the proposal are given by English Heritage, the Advisory Board for Redundant Churches, the local planning authority or a national amenity society.

Each case is considered on its merits in the light of the information supplied by the Church Commissioners, the views of the Advisory Board for Redundant Churches and English Heritage, and any representations made by local authorities or other interested parties.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the latest information known to his Department as to the likely date for completion of the European standardisation programme as it affects the construction industry; and if he will make a statement.

Some 2,700 European standards for construction material are currently in preparation by the European Committee for Standardisation. I expect the first harmonised standards to be available early next year and the major part of the current programme to be completed by the end of 1997.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information his Department has in relation to likely increased activity in the construction industry in 1994 as it affects slate products; and if he will make a statement.

Deliveries of slate in the first quarter of 1994 were 11 per cent. higher than in the previous three months and 21 per cent. more than during the same period a year ago. This reflects the recent improvements in the volume of new construction orders. My Department's consultations with the construction industry indicate that a period of modest but sustained growth is expected. The slate industry is well placed to take advantage of that recovery.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list, by council tax collection authority area, the number of outstanding banding appeal cases and the proportion that they represent of all liable properties in that area, as at 1 April.

I am placing in the Library a list that shows, for each billing authority in England, the number of outstanding council tax banding appeals as at 31 March 1994 and the percentage of dwellings in each area this represents.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consideration has been given to extending the ban on the use of tributyl tin on small craft to include all vessels.

Tributyl tin use on large vessels is an international concern which is being addressed by the marine environment protection Committee of the International Maritime Organisation. Members agreed in 1990 to consider appropriate ways of prohibiting totally, in the future, the use of tributyl tin compounds in anti-fouling paints for ships and the need for this was confirmed at the intermediate ministerial meeting of the North Sea Conference in December 1993. At the March 1994 meeting of the MEPC, however, the Committee recognised that at the present time alternative systems were not available whose cost could be justified by the benefits.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what measures are being taken to protect marine wildlife from the effects of tributyl tin;(2) what plans the Government have to restrict the use of tributyl tin.

Controls introduced in the United Kingdom in 1987 preventing the use of anti-foulants containing tributyl tin compounds on small boats and aquaculture equipment have resulted in significant improvements in water quality. Monitoring suggests that even the most sensitive species, the dogwhelk, is beginning to recover in many areas. Dockyard operations involving removal and application of anti-fouling paints containing tributyl tin compounds will become subject to integrated pollution control and require authorisation by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Pollution from 1995.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what research has been carried out on the effects of tributyl tin on shellfish and marine wildlife.

The Government have undertaken a substantial amount of work since 1982 on the effects of tributyl tin compounds used in anti-foulants, both within their own laboratories and through contracts with the Natural Environment Research Council and other organisations. Initially, the research was aimed mainly at establishing the nature and extent of toxic effects in non-target organisms and the results justified the regulation of anti-foulants containing tributyl tin compounds in 1987. Subsequent research has monitored the effectiveness of the regulations by assessing levels of contamination in, and the recovery of, commercially important shellfish and other components of the marine ecosystem including the dogwhelk, the most sensitive species.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures his Department is planning in 1994 to limit imports of inferior quality slate; and if he will make a statement.

It is not appropriate to limit imports of slate products directly. However, slate used in the United Kingdom should be suitable for our climatic and atmospheric conditions as well as for their specified purpose. The appropriate requirements are set out in a British standard, BS680, satisfaction of which will ensure compliance with building regulations where applicable. My Department is seeking to ensure that the benefits of the British standard are carried over into harmonised European standards.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures of export assistance his Department will undertake in 1994 to help the slate industry; and if he will make a statement.

In conjunction with the DTI, my Department maintains building materials exports task forces for France, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, the Nordic countries and North America. My Ministerial colleagues and I plan to have taken export missions to eight countries this year. All those activities are open to the United Kingdom slate industry. I would be happy for them to discuss any specific needs with my officials.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what considerations underlay the issue of licences for the killing of Canada geese in London parks; which parks these licences are valid for; and what methods are permitted.

Section 16 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 provides that licences to control birds may be issued for reasons which include conserving wild birds, preserving public health or public safety. It was for these reasons that licences have been issued for the control of Canada geese numbers in London parks. Information that would identify the applicant for a licence is normally regarded as confidential. Licences provide that birds may be killed humanely using any method not prohibited by the 1981 Act.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will set out the evidence which led the United Kingdom Ecolabelling Board to arrive at the conclusion that no other EU country considers animal testing should be part of ecolabelling; and if he will list all those EU members who have taken a public position on this issue;(2) what factors led the United Kingdom Ecolabelling Board to conclude that there is no basis for agreement in the United Kingdom about including animal testing in ecolabelling; what percentage of the organisations consulted by the United Kingdom Ecolabelling Board on this issue were not environmental or animal welfare groups; and what percentage of the organisations consulted were opposed to inclusion of animal welfare in ecolabelling.

The United Kingdom Ecolabelling Board was established under the European Communities Act 1972 to administer and promote the EC ecolabelling scheme in the United Kingdom. These questions are matters for the United Kingdom Ecolabelling Board and I have, therefore, asked the board to reply to the hon. Member direct.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will set out the total cost of external consultancy fees incurred by his Department in relation to market testing.

[holding answer 29 June 1994]: As at March 1994, the total cost of external consultancy fees paid by the Department and its agencies in relation to market testing amounted to approximately £1,177,000.