To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what arrangements are being made for the future appointment of permanent secretaries following the White Paper, "The Civil Service: Continuity and Change".

The White Paper made clear in paragraph 4.24 that, as vacancies arise at this level, the arrangements for identifying candidates, either through internal procedures or by open competition, will be considered on a case by case basis by addressing a number of "prior questions". Appointments to a number of permanent secretary vacancies which will arise next year have now been addressed in this way. Those in the Department of Employment and the Central Statistical Office will be made following open competition. The appointment of the Permanent Secretary, Office of Public Service and Science will be made following consideration of candidates across the civil service as a whole.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the amount of the French contribution to the large hadron collider project at CERN which is in dispute; and what impact this amount makes on the project.

The United Kingdom and German Governments, with the support of other CERN member states, are seeking an appropriate additional contribution to the large hadron collider—LHC—project from France which properly reflects the considerable.benefits they derive from hosting CERN. A host state.contribution of 10 per cent. of a project's cost is the norm for such large international facilities such as CERN.Accordingly we have asked the host states, France and Switzerland, to consider making an additional contribution of 290 million Swiss francs towards a construction cost of 2.9 billion Swiss francs. At present the sum offered by the host states falls significantly short of this amount. Negotiations are continuing to find a satisfactory settlement.Detailed analysis, endorsed by CERN management, suggests there is a significant funding gap if the LHC is to be completed by 2005. Any shortfall in the contribution from host states would have to be made up by further cuts at CERN or increased contributions from other sources.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will give the reasons why the decision on the large hadron collider project at CERN is being held up; and if he will make a statement.

The Government believe that, in principle, the large hadron collider project is the right next step for particle physics and for CERN. However, before giving formal approval for the project to go ahead, a fair and sustainable financial framework must be established. Such a framework must include the acceptance of tight cost control mechanisms and an appropriate additional contribution from the host states, France and Switzerland, in recognition of the considerable benefits which they have derived, and will continue to derive, from the location of CERN at Geneva.Negotiations with CERN management and other member states have been progressing and in the last few months good progress has been made. We hope to be able to secure the basis for agreement before the next CERN Council meeting in December.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about defence agency status for the Defence Clothing and Textiles Authority.

The Defence Clothing and Textiles Authority became Defence Agency of the Ministry of Defence on 22 November 1994. The DCTA, although an organisation with tri-service responsibilities, is presently part of the Quartermaster General's department within the Army. It comprises a small headquarters at Andover and a number of interlocking business functions across the country; it employs a total of 447 staff comprising 13 military and 434 civilian staff.The primary role of the DCTA is to provide an agreed range of clothing and textile products to meet the operational needs of the MOD and other defined customers within agreed standards, and in the most cost effective manner.As the first chief executive, Brigadier R. H. T. Kirby CBE will be offered new opportunities to build on the current organisation's professional expertise and high performance standards. Through a more commercial approach, the chief executive will actively seek to improve the efficiency and value for money of his organisation and thereby fulfil the agency's aim of.providing its customers with an efficient service which.offers the best value for money.The chief executive has been set the following key targets for financial year 1994–95:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about defence agency status for the Royal Air Force signals engineering establishments.

The Royal Air Force Signals Engineering.Establishment—RAFSEE—became an agency of the Ministry of Defence on 22 November 1994. RAFSEE is based primarily at Royal Air Force, Henlow, with one division currently located at Royal Air Force, Wyton and due to move to Royal Air Force, Waddington in 1995. The establishment belongs to the Signals Units group which is part of Logistics Command, the headquarters of which is at Royal Air Force, Brampton.The role of RAFSEE is to provide a quick reaction signals engineering capability for military operations worldwide. This work includes design, manufacture, installation and recovery for the full range of strategic and tactical communications, radar and information and electronic systems. It also extends to providing special signals equipment for the Royal Air Force's_ electronic reconnaissance squadron, and special avionic equipment for aircraft of the three services.As the first chief executive, Air Commodore P. C. Ayee will be offered new opportunities to build on the current organisation's professional expertise and high performance standards. In maintaining RAFSEE's operational capability, the chief executive will actively seek to improve the efficiency and value for money of his organisation.The chief executive has been set the following key targets for financial year 1994–95:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about defence agency status for the Army's logistic information systems.

The directorate of logistic information.system—Army—was established as a Defence agency on 21 November 1994 and will now be known as the Logistic Information Systems Agency—LISA. LISA will comprise a headquarters at Andover, alongside the quartermaster general's headquarters—QMG—and two main centres of activity at Bicester and Donnington where the base ordnance depots are located. LISA's initial strength will be 46 servicemen and 351 civilians.The role of the agency is to enhance the logistic effectiveness of the Army in peace and war by providing information systems, services and support.As the first chief executive, Brigadier A.W. Pollard will be given the authority, responsibility and opportunities to improve the quality of information systems support to Army logistics in a comprehensive, competitive and efficient manner. Building on the Government's successful competing for quality initiatives, he will be following an innovative approach to the involvement of the private sector in the non-core aspects of the agency's work. If study work confirms preliminary assessments it is envisaged that a partnering contract with a private sector supplier will be awarded by competition towards the end of 1995. Consideration is being given, within the bounds of Government policy and without detriment to military priorities, to including some novel revenue sharing arrangements in this contract with the partner. This will be achieved by exploiting the wider market potential offered by partnering and any under utilised, but unavoidable spare LISA capacity. The scope for offsetting LISA costs will thus have obvious value for money benefits to the taxpayer.The chief executive has been set the following key targets for the first year of operation:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a further statement on the proposed sale of the royal dockyards at Devonport and Rosyth.

Following invitations to tender issued by the Ministry of Defence on 14 July 1994, initial bids have been received from Devonport Management Limited, for Devonport dockyard, and from Babcock International Group, for Rosyth dockyard. No other bids have been received to date. We are currently evaluating these bids and negotiations will take place with each of the companies, but outcomes other than sale cannot be ruled out.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the report of his Department's internal investigation into the activities of Gordon Foxley and others.

It will, in due course, be necessary to report to the House on my Department's investigations into recent corruption cases. At present, however, the investigations are still in train and, in the case of Gordon Foxley, are closely integrated with a civil action which has been launched against Foxley, members of his family circle and the companies involved.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if all facilities which comprise the Trident works programme at CSB Faslane and RNAD Coulport will have received a full complete safety case before HMS Vanguard goes out on operational patrol; and if he will make a statement;(2) if all new construction at CSB Faslane and RNAD Coulport has now been completed; whether all facilities have now received a full and complete nuclear safety case; and if he will make a statement.

All major new construction at CSB Faslane and RNAD Coulport in support of the Trident programme is complete. Clearance of all facilities necessary to support HMS Vanguard's first operational patrol has been given or is in hand. Work to achieve the full safety clearance of all facilities is progressing as planned and is due to complete next year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will make a statement on the first two lifts of a Trident submarine in the shiplift at CSB Faslane;(2) if the shiplift at CSB Faslane will have achieved unlimited safety clearance before HMS Vanguard goes out on operational patrol;(3) what progress has been made in obtaining a full and complete nuclear safety case for the shiplift at CSB Faslane; and if he will make a statement.

HMS Vanguard was lifted fully on the Faslane shiplift during the week commending 24 October, following a partial lift to establish the fit between the submarine and its supporting cradle. Work towards achieving full through-life safety clearance of the shiplift is progressing as planned and is due to complete next year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his Department's progress towards achieving HMS Vanguard's first patrol.by the end of December.

HMS Vanguard remains on course to start her first operational patrol around the turn of the year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement of reported problems with HMS Vanguard's reactor.

It is not our practice to comment on the material state of individual submarines.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his current estimate of the date of commencement of legal action against the Bricom group in relation to damage caused in the course of the Airwork contract for modifications to F3 Tornados at RAF St. Athan.

We hope to be able to complete the preparation of the claim against Bricom by the end of financial year 1994–95 when it will be raised against the company. Whether or not specific legal action has to be taken will depend on the company's response to the claim.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the decision on FLA C130J can be delayed until the feasibility studies on the future large aircraft are completed in the first quarter of 1995.

Our objective is to meet the operational air transport requirements of the armed forces. FLA is already being taken into account in our assessment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much has already been spent on the proposed market testing of RAF hospital Wegberg in Germany; what is the estimated final cost; and if he will make a statement.

It would not be possible to identify separately the cost of market testing the RAF hospital at Wegberg from the overall study of health provision for British forces Germany. The additional cost of the market test was some £100,000 in financial year 1993–94 and is estimated to be £600,000 this financial year and £160,000 next year. As a result of this project, we expect to make substantial savings against the current cost of this activity which is currently in excess of £30,000,000 per annum.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the distance flown by helicopters from RAF Chivenor to the rendezvous with West Glamorgan firefighters during Operation Seafire on 17 October off the west Wales coast; what was the distance flown from that rendezvous to the Stena Sea Lynx; and what was the average speed (i) over each leg of the journey from Chivenor to the Sea Lynx separately and (ii) over the whole journey, excluding the stop in west Glamorgan.

The distances flown by, and average speed of, the RAF search and rescue helicopter involved in Exercise Seafire on 10 October 1994 are shown in the table:

	Distance nm	Average speed kts
RAF Chivenor to rendezvous point	86	110
Rendezvous point to Stena Sea Lynx	51	125

The average speed over the whole journey, excluding the stop in west Glamorgan, was 118 kts.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when Mr. David Hart was last employed by his Office and for what reason he left; what role Mr. Hart played in providing written or oral advice in the defence costs study initiative; and what access he had to official information concerning the replacement programme for the Hercules transport aircraft or information supplied by British Aerospace concerning its participation in the future large aircraft.

Mr. David Hart is one of a number of unpaid, independent advisers who provide my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Defence with informal advice from time to time. At my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State's request, he was involved in the defence costs study, "Front Line First", but he has not been involved in deliberations on the replacement programme for Hercules transport aircraft.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what action he proposes to take to meet World health authority health-based air quality guidelines for transport-related pollutants by the year 2005;(2) if he will make it his policy to explore with the Institution of Environmental Health Officers, other professional bodies and local authorities how forms of collaboration similar to the London air quality network and unit can be built on and encouraged in other conurbations;(3) what action he proposes to take to establish in appropriate areas by 2005 local air quality standards based on the critical levels required to protect sensitive eco-systems.

These matters will be covered fully in the response to our consultation paper, "Improving Air Quality" which we expect to publish shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to work with vehicle manufacturers and dismantlers to develop a cradle-to-grave strategy for recycling.

Currently 1.5 million vehicles are scrapped in the United Kingdom each year and in the process 75 per cent. by weight is recycled, with the remainder going to landfill. In December 1993, the Automotive Consortium on Recycling and Disposal—ACORD—which represents all sectors of the industry, presented to Government a preliminary plan which would increase the recovery of scrap from vehicles to 95 per cent. by body weight by the year 2015. This will require a cradle-to-grave approach to the manufacture of new vehicles and components in which design for recovery will play an important part. ACORD has now produced a detailed implementation plan which we will be discussing with it shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what advice he has taken prior to issuing licences for geese to be shot in London parks.

The Government seek the advice of their statutory scientific adviser, English Nature, before issuing any licence to kill geese in London parks.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has to alter the regulations regarding the licensing of landfill sites registered for the disposal of toxic or nuclear waste.

The Government have no plans to deregulate the disposal of toxic or radioactive waste at landfill sites. One of the proposals in the consultation document, "Review of Radioactive Waste Management Policy: Preliminary Conclusions". published in August, was that waste producers should be encouraged to make more use of the controlled burial of radioactive waste in landfill sites. However, this would remain subject to the same strict regulatory control as at present. The proposals in the document are being considered in the light of the responses received. The disposal of controlled wastes, including special wastes, is subject to the enhanced waste management licensing arrangements introduced under the Environmental Protection Act in May this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the landfill sites in the country at present registered for nuclear waste disposal and those where applications are under consideration.

A small number if users of radioactive material are currently authorised under the Radioactive Substances Act 1993 to dispose of low level radioactive waste by controlled burial at specified sites. The sites where such burial is specified in the relevant user's authorisations and which may receive waste are:

• Milton Landfill, Cambridge
• ICI Limited, Cowpen Bewley Tip, Cleveland
• Vickers Waste Ponds, Walney Island, Cumbria
• Rolls-Royce, Hilts Quarry, Derbyshire
• Magnesium Elektron, Swinton, Greater Manchester
• Cilgwyn Quarry, Caernarfon, Gwynedd
• Braziers Landfill, Hertfordshire
• SCM Chemicals, Site tip, Humberside
• Clifton Marsh, Preston, Lancashire
• Sefton Meadows Tip, Merseyside
• Beighton Tip, Sheffield, South Yorkshire
• Beddingham Quarry, Sussex
• Ryton Tip, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear
• BNFL, Drigg, Cumbria
• BNFL, Sellafield, Cumbria

Some of the users of radioactive material are licensed under the Nuclear Installations Act 1965. The sites where waste arising from such users can be buried are: Cowpen Bewley, Vickers, Hilts Quarry, Ulnes Walton, Clifton Marsh, Drigg and Sellafield. With the exception of Drigg, the wastes arise locally to the burial site.There are no outstanding applications for authorisation under RSA 1993 which involve burial of low, medium or high level radioactive waste.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what study he has made of the consequences for the infrastructure of neighbouring areas of the initial enterprise zones.

The Department's preliminary report, "An Evaluation of the Enterprise Zone Experiment", HMSO 1987, examined a number of linkages between zones and their local areas. A further report, based on the performance of the first round zones, is due for publication early next year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek to amend the council tax valuation orders to allow a reduction in valuations to reflect the current market value of houses affected by blight caused by the announcement of major infrastructure projects where the time from the announcement to the payment of compensation, if a decision were taken to proceed, would be more than five years.

No.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) for what reasons his Department referred back to the National Rivers Authority its list of areas of high natural dispersion under the urban waste water treatment directive when the Humber estuary was not included upon it; and how many other areas not originally in the National Rivers Authority list were subsequently added after the original list had been submitted to him;(2) what discussions he or any members of his Department had with Yorkshire Water before the designation of the Humber estuary as a area of high natural dispersion for the purpose of the urban waste water treatment directive;(3) upon what scientific basis the Humber bridge was chosen as the western end of the high natural dispersion area for the purpose of the urban waste water treatment directive;(4) upon what environmental impact assessment he made his decision that the Humber estuary was an area of high natural dispersion;(5) what direct consultation his Department and the National Rivers Authority had with the port health authority, the city of Hull, Associated British Ports and the public on both banks of the Humber before designating the estuary as an area of high natural dispersion;(6) on what date his decision was taken under article 6 of the urban waste water treatment directive that the Humber estuary was an area of high natural dispersion.

In March 1992 the Department published a consultation paper on, among other issues, the criteria and procedures for identifying less sensitive areas, high natural dispersion area—HNDAs, under the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive. The scientific criteria for identifying HNDAs were published in a second consultation paper in March 1993. These consultation papers were the subject of parliamentary answers and news releases and were placed in the Library of the House. They were sent to the Association of County Councils and the Association of District Councils, among others.Discussions then took place between the National Rivers Authority, the water industry and the Department on the identification of locations meeting the agreed criteria. In July 1993, my hon. Friend, the Member for Suffolk, South (Mr. Yeo) announced the NRA's working list of HNDAs, which included parts of the Humber. Subsequently, in light of advice from the NRA, Ministers concluded, and I announced on 18 May 1994, that the Humber met the criteria for HNDAs.Discharges into HNDAs must have at least primary treatment—which entails the provision or improvement of treatment at most locations. Comprehensive studies are now being carried out in respect of each HNDA to satisfy the NRA, before it issues any discharge consents, that the discharge will not adversely affect the environment. If the NRA is not satisfied in any particular case, additional treatment will be required. The NRA has a statutory duty to publish consent applications and to serve notice of its intention to issue a consent, which allows representations or objections to be made. This duty is not affected by the decision to identify a HNDA.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if the will list those development projects since 1964 which have involved demolishing or rendering uninhabitable more than 55 listed buildings.

The information is not held centrally in this form.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the sites of prospective opencast mining which as yet do not have planning permission but have been included in the reserves listed in the portfolios of the proposed regional coal companies; and if he will make a statement.

I have been asked to reply.On privatisation, regional coal companies will acquire exploration licences, conditional operating licences and options for leases in relation to the coal at portfolios of prospective opencast sites.Prospective opencast sites are at different stages in the process of assembling the interests and rights in and over land and of obtaining planning and other consents, all of which are necessary for the extraction of coal. The grant of planning consents will remain a matter for the planning authorities.A list of those prospective sites which have, as yet, obtained no planning permission, by Regional Coal Company, has been placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether any of the reserves of prospective opencast sites which have previously been the subject of unsuccessful planning applications for opencast mining have been included in the portfolios of the proposed regional local companies; and if he will make a statement.

I have been asked to reply.A number of the prospective opencast sites included in the portfolios of the regional coal companies have, in the past, been the subject of unsuccessful planning applications. It has, however, been made abundantly clear throughout the sales process that the grant of any planning consents in the future will remain a matter for the planning authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what calculation his Department has made of the effect on the purchase price of regional coal companies of the inclusion of possible but unapproved sites for opencast coal mining; and what is the difference between the purchase price of possible, but unapproved, sites and that of approved or working sites on a cost per tonnage basis.

I have been asked to reply.In submitting bids for regional coal companies, prequalifiers for the sale of British Coal's mining activities were assessing the overall value of a portfolio of assets, including prospective opencast mining sites. Bidders were not asked to provide details of their bids on a site-by-site basis, and no such assessment has been made by my Department.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many retired civil servants, retired officers of the armed services and other retired public servants, are receiving pensions of more than 50 per cent. of the current salaries for the jobs from which they retired; and what is the annual cost to the Exchequer.

This information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Most public service pension schemes provide a half-pay pension only after a full career, and a one-off lump sum payment of three times the annual pension. However, most public servants do not serve long enough to retire with a half-pay pension.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what was the total raised from income tax revenue in Wales, (a) in 1990, (b) in 1991, (c) in 1992, (d) in 1993 and (e) in the first six months of 1994;(2) what was the total raised from income tax revenue in Scotland,

Estimates of income tax liabilities for residents of Scotland and Wales are given in the table for 1990–91, 1991–92 and the latest available year for regional estimates, 1992–93. Information on income tax receipts has not been provided for Scotland and Wales as they merely reflect administrative arrangements for the collection of tax.

Estimates of income tax liabilities for residents of Scotland and Wales
	£ million
	1990–91	1991–92	1992–93
Scotland	5,070	5,170	5,130
Wales	2,370	2,500	2,330

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the United Kingdom's annual contribution to the International Monetary Fund.

The United Kingdom makes no direct annual contribution to the International Monetary Fund. As a member of the IMF, the United Kingdom maintains a reserves position with the IMF. Of this SDR 700 million—equivalent to £653 million—is unremunerated. The balance is remunerated at the fund's rate of remuneration. At end September 1994, the United Kingdom's reserve position in the IMF stood at SDR 1,354.3 million—equivalent to £1264 million.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the United Kingdom's annual contribution to the IMF's (a) structural adjustment facility, (b) enhanced structural facility and (c) other relevant facilities.

The only specific IMF facility to which members contribute directly is the enhanced structural adjustment facility—ESAF. Over the life of the facility, the United Kingdom will contribute up to £377 million to the subsidy required for ESAF loans. This amount includes a contribution of the £50 million made earlier this year when the facility was expanded and enlarged. Over time, the United Kingdom will contribute about one-ninth of the subsidy required by ESAF. In 1993–94, a payment of £20 million was made under these arrangements.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much of the non-concessional debt owed to the international multilateral financial institutions by severely indebted low income countries has been cancelled or converted to International Development Association terms.

Debt owed to the international financial institutions is not cancelled. Under the International Development Association fifth dimension facility, complementary IDA credits, provided in proportion to interest payments due on outstanding IBRD debt, have helped ease the debt service burden of eligible IDA-only countries undertaking internationally supported economic reform programmes. I refer the hon. member to the answer which the Chancellor gave on 19 October to the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent (Mr. Smith) for details of proposals that he made in Malta this year to help further reduce the burden of debt owed to the IFIs by the poorest, most indebted countries, Official Report, 19 October column 272.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what amount in pound sterling the facilities of the European Investment bank were increased under terms agreed at the Edinburgh Council.

The Edinburgh European Council established a special temporary lending facility, within the European Investment bank, to support capital investment in infrastructure projects. This facility amounted initially to 5 billion ecu or £3,925 million, but was subsequently increased to 7 billion ecu, or £5,495 million by the Copenhagen European Council.All figures converted at 18/11/94 £/ecu conversion rate (£1 =1.2738 ecu).

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the expenditure implications for the European Union's budget arising out of the activities of the European investment bank and European investment fund.

The activities of both the European Investment bank and the European investment fund are financed in each case largely from the resources of the institution concerned and, to this extent, impose no direct costs on the budget of the European union. However:

(i) the European union has subscribed for 600 million ecu, £471 million, worth of shares in the European investment fund, for which 20 per cent. is to be paid in. This sum of 120 million ecu, £94 million will be charged to the EU budget.

(ii) the European union has provided guarantees to the European Investment bank in respect of lending programmes which it undertakes in eastern Europe, Asia and Latin America, and in the Mediterranean countries. These guarantees stand on the budget as a contingent liability.

All figures converted at 18/11/94 £/ecu conversion rate (£1 =1.278 ecu).

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what amount in pound sterling the establishment of the European investment fund following the Edinburgh Council is predicted to cost the budget of the European Union.

The European Union has subscribed for 600 million ecu, or £471 million, worth of shares in the new European investment fund, of which only 20 per cent is to be paid in to the fund. This sum will be paid from the EU budget, in four equal annual tranches of 30 million ecu, or £23.5 million, over the years 1994 to 1998.

All figures converted at 18 November 1994 £/ecu conversion rate (£1 = 1.2738 ecu).

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent the £24 billion expenditure package referred to in the Prime Minister's statement of 14 December 1992, Official Report, column 36, is affected by European Union budgets.

The package referred to by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister is not affected by European Union budgets.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish any variation or extension of the text of the presidential communique of the December 1992 European Council in Edinburgh in respect of the revised arrangements for financing the European Community as now contained in the draft Council decision 9298/93.

Draft Council decision 9298/93 was superseded by Council decision 94/728/EC, Euratom of 31 October 1994—the "own resources decision".The arrangements for Community own resources established by the new own resources decision do not differ in any material respect from those agreed by the Edinburgh European Council.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will update the figures in table 11.1 of

United Kingdom Contributions to and Receipts from the European Community Budget
Cash Plans									£ millions
	1989–90 outturn	1990–91 outturn	1991–92 outturn	1992–93 outturn	1993–94 estimated outturn	1994–95 plans	1995–96 plans	1996–97 plans	1997–98 plans
Gross payments	5,804	6,411	6,129	6,970	8,407	8,308	9,943	9,910	10,552
Public sector receipts	-2,035	-2,388	-2,757	-2,810	-3,864	-3,963	-4,293	-4,441	-4,526
United Kingdom abatement	-1,317	-1,838	-2,428	-1,993	-2,350	-1,899	-2,256	-2,108	-2,744

The information in the accompanying table reflects the latest forecast and is consistent with the information which I will publish in next week's Financial Statement and Budget Report.The pattern of our net contributions to the EC budget is obscured by considerable fluctuations from one year to the next. These are caused by adjustments to our payments in previous years as later information become available, differences in the level and timing of receipts, and movements in the size of our abatement. These effects, are increased because we use a different financial year from the Community. Our estimate of the underlying level of the net contribution—that is, what we think the net contribution is when the various irregularities are stripped out—is as follows:

Estimate of underlying public sector net contribution to the EC Budget
	£million
1988	1,500
1989	1,700
1990	1,900
1991	2,100
1992	2,200
1993	2,400
1994	2,500
1995	2,700
1996	3,100
1997	3,300
1998	3,500
1999	3,550

Of the increase of £850 million between 1995 and 1999, some £600 million results from the effects of Community gross national product and inflation within the present own resources ceiling which is set at 1.20 per cent. of Community GNP. The remaining £250 million is a consequence of the agreement at the Edinburgh European Council to increase the own resources ceiling from 1.20 per cent. to 1.27 per cent. by 1999.These figures look large because they are presented in cash terms, for consistency with the rest of our public expenditure arithmetic. But the real scale of the Edinburgh settlement can be seen in the fact that it increased the own resources ceiling over seven years by 7/10,000ths of Community gross national product.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will raise with the EC Commission its statement on page 13 of the draft budget for 1995 on the intention of the EC to exceed the legal limits of agricultural spending by accountancy devices.

[holding answer 21 November 1994]: The agricultural guideline can be increased or exceeded only with unanimity in the Council. The Government have made it clear that they see no case for agreeing to a breach of or increase in the guideline for 1995, and that this option is therefore not available to the Council.It is too early to tell whether spending in 1995 would, in the absence of further measures to control it, exceed the guideline. An approach to the Commission would therefore be premature.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consultations he has had in relation to the decision to close the Cardiff stamp duty office, located at Companies house, Crown way, Maindy, Cardiff; what representations he has received in relation to the closure prior to and since the announcement; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 22 November 1994]: The decision to close the Cardiff stamp office was taken by the Inland Revenue on operational grounds. The closure is one of several changes taking place in the interests of making the stamp office as a whole more efficient. The stamp office is consulting the trade unions about redeployment of the Cardiff stamp office staff as the aim is to offer all staff alternative positions with the Inland Revenue. To date, I have received no representations about the closure.

To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to further modify the tax rules in relation to company cars, to remove the incentives for environmentally damaging behaviour.

[holding answer 22 November 1994]: As with all tax issues, the Chancellor makes his decisions in the Budget. I cannot therefore comment further at this stage.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the British Government's policy on providing direct contributions to debtor countries to assist in the settlement of arrears or debt-service to the IFIs.

I have been asked to reply.The United Kingdom provides programme aid in support of economic reform programmes agreed with the IMF and World bank as part of a collective donor effort to help finance the country's overall external financing requirements including debt service commitments. Exceptionally, at the request of the Zambian Government, we have agreed that our programme aid for 1994–95 may be used to reimburse the government for some of its debt service commitments to the international financial institutions. This is in the context of an agreed overall government budget which provides for increased social services provision.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many nationals of EEA countries have been required to leave the United Kingdom on the basis of direct referrals from the Benefits Agency since the Income Support (General) Regulations were amended in April 1993; and, how many of these EEA nationals are lone parents.

Between April 1993 and December 1993, 183 European Community nationals, whose cases were referred by the Benefits Agency, were advised that because they were not economically active and had become a burden on public funds the Secretary of State was not satisfied that they were exercising a right of residence under European Community law and they should accordingly make arrangements to leave the United Kingdom. Since January 1994, when EC rights of residence were extended to all European economic area nationals, 393 EEA nationals have been advised in similar terms up to the end of October 1994. Information is not available as to whether any of these cases involved lone parents.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of alternatives to the traditional truncheon for use by the police.

Home Office research published today, into assaults on police officers and police trials of the expandable side-handled baton, confirms that there is a need for better ways of restraining violent suspects, that the expandable side-handled baton is very good for this purpose, and that a three-piece expandable baton is acceptable to many officers. I have already given my support to police forces that are using the expandable side-handled baton. In the light of these reports and of further scientific research, I am content for chief officers, if they wish, to introduce the rigid version of that baton. I am ensuring that chief officers have available good, scientifically based information about the different characteristics of different batons as a basis for their choice.I have also, as police authority for the Metropolitan police, agreed that they may have 24 inch and 26 inch batons in addition to the 22 inch ones already being issued. This follows satisfactory scientific evaluation of the new batons.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements are planned to ensure effective co-ordination for emergency planning between any new unitary authorities established within an existing county council boundary in England.

Local authorities in England and Wales, together with the principal associations representing them, have been consulted on the delivery and co-ordination of emergency planning following the outcome of the local government review. We are considering their responses and hope to make an announcement before the end of this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many asylum seekers have been detained under the Immigration Act 1971 since (a) 26 July 1993 and (b) 1 January;(2) if he will provide a breakdown of the number of asylum seekers currently held in detention by

At 18 November 1994, a total of 654 people who had sought asylum were detained. This figure includes people awaiting the setting of directions for removal following refusal of the application, as well as those whose application was under consideration or subject to appeal. Of this figure, 167 had been in detention less than one month, 125 between one and two months, 233 between two and six months and 129 had been in detention longer than six months.Information on the gender, immigration status, nationality and location of detention is given in tables A, B and C. Information on the numbers who have been detained since 26 July 1993 and 1 January is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average cost per week of detaining an asylum seeker under the Immigration Act 1971.

The available information does not identify separately those detention costs which relate to asylum seekers. However, for the year ended 31 March 1994 the average weekly cost of accommodating all categories of detainee in detention accommodation for which the Immigration Service is responsible was estimated at just over £800 per detainee.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many asylum seekers detained under the Immigration Act 1971 have been released from detention as a result of an application to the courts for habeas corpus (a) in the past five years and (b) since 26 July 1993;(2) how many asylum seekers detained under the Immigration Act 1971 have been released from detention as a result of an application to the High Court for bail

Information on the number of asylum seekers released from detention on bail as a result of an application to the High Court or as a result of an application for habeas corpus, is not separately identifiable in the statistics.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers granted temporary admission to the United Kingdom while their asylum claim is examined by the Home Office have subsequently absconded or otherwise failed to comply with the terms of temporary admission (a) in the past five years and (b) since 1 January.

The information requested is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the measures that he proposed to fulfil the United Kingdom's Obligations under article 4 of the Council of Europe anti-doping convention

The proposals which the Government announced on 2 November for imposing controls on anabolic steroids and on which I consulted my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for National Heritage, who has overall responsibility for the Council of Europe anti-doping convention, will help restrict their availability to sportsmen and women, among others, in conformity with the principles of article 4 of the convention.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many young people are currently being held in adult prisons.

Responsibility for this matter have 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 which animals currently come under which schedule of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.

Schedule 1 of the 1986 Act, which lists standard methods of humane killing and the animals for which they are appropriate, has not been amended since 1986.Schedule 2, which lists the animals which may be obtained only from designated breeding or supplying establishments, has been amended to add "any bird of the species Coturnix coturnix (quail)".

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what provisions are made to monitor routinely the CD4 cell counts of identified HIV-infected prisoners in Great Britain.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the future of the United Kingdom Passport Agency.

A review of the work of the United Kingdom Passport Agency has now been completed. Like other reviews of executive agencies, this included an evaluation of the agency's performance, and a review of options for its future organisation.The evaluation found that since its establishment, the agency has clearly improved the service it provides and is operating in a more efficient and businesslike way. Applications have increased from 3.3 million in 1991–92 to 3.6 million in 1993–94, but targets for turnaround times have been achieved whilst unit costs have been reduced.As to the future of the agency, I have concluded that neither privatisation nor full contracting out of the agency's activities is feasible and that passports should continue to be issued by the United Kingdom Passport Agency. But there is scope for further improvements in efficiency and quality of service, and for further reducing unit costs. As part of this process, the private sector needs to become progressively involved in the passport issuing process.As a first step, the agency is developing plans for partnership with travel agents and other retail outlets so that they, as well as the agency's own offices, will issue and receive completed application forms and fees from the public. The intention is that these arrangements will be in place next year.The agency is also undertaking a review of the size and location of its offices, which will be completed early next year and will involve private sector consultants. The agency will also look at ways of involving the private sector in the issuing operation after the decision to grant a passport is taken, and in the provision of support services. It is intended to move the agency to trading fund status from April 1996.The framework document for the agency will be revised to take account of these developments. The agency's key targets for 1994–95 are:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which quangos his Department has abolished since 1979.

Since 1986 the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, including the Overseas Development Administration, has abolished or de-classified 10 quangos:

• 1986
• United Kingdom National Commission for UNESCO (Advisory)
• 1987
• Overseas Superannuation Scheme Advisory Board Anglo-Irish Encounter
• 1988
• None
• 1989
• Advisory Panel on Disarmament and Non-Proliferation
• 1990
• None
• 1991
• Developing Countries Trade Agency
• Irish Pensions Appeal Tribunal
• 1992
• Institute of Development Studies
• 1993
• Bureau of Hygiene and Tropical Diseases
• (Managing Committee)
• Commonwealth Development Corporation
• Crown Agents for Overseas Governments and Administrations

To answer this question in full, that is, which quangos the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has abolished since 1979, would incur disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many quangos his Department was responsible for (a) in 1979 and (b) in the latest year for which a number is available.

In 1979 the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, including the Overseas Development Administration, was responsible for 36 quangos. In 1993 the latest year for which a number is available, it was responsible for 18.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many staff are employed

United Kingdom based staffing levels at overseas posts in European countries
British Embassies		British Consulates General		British Consulates
Post	United Kingdom based staff 1994	Post	United Kingdom based staff 1994	Post	United Kingdom based staff 1994
Ankara	26	Amsterdam	3	Florence	1
Athens	32	Barcelona	2	Malaga	1
Belgrade	21	Bilbao	1	Oporto	1
Berlin	22	Bordeaux	1	Palma	1
Berne	15	Dusseldorf	11
Bonn	68	Frankfurt	5
Bratislava	3	Geneva CG	7
Brussels	30	Hamburg	3
Brussels JMO	4	Istanbul	22
Bucharest	25	Lille	1
Budapest	30	Lyons	1
Copenhagen	20	Marseilles	1
Dublin	24	Milan	6
Helsinki	22	Munich	7
Kiev	19	Naples	2
Lisbon	22	St. Petersburg	7
Ljubljana	2	Stuttgart	1
Luxembourg	7	Zurich	3
Madrid	37
Minsk	2
Moscow	89
Oslo	23
Paris	89
Prague	25
Reykjavik	3
Riga	3
Rome	46
Sarajevo	2
Skopje	2
Sofia	23
Stockholm	22
Tallinn	2
The Hague	30
Tirana	2
Vatican City	2
Vienna	29
Vilnius	2
Warsaw	38
Zagreb	9

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to (a) reduce and (b) eliminate the flow of arms to states where they are likely to be used in the repression of civilians; and if he will make a statement.

All applications for licences to export defence equipment are subject to strict controls. They are considered case by case in the light of established criteria. These criteria include the guidelines

The table gives details of United Kingdom-based staff slots in embassies and consulates in European countries, including service attaches and staff from other Government Departments and agencies. All are full time.Staffing levels are assessed against the objectives and activities of posts; they are reviewed regularly by FCO inspectors.agreed with European Union partners and in the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe. In particular, we do not export defence equipment which is likely to be used for internal repression.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what has been the number of children who have been DNA tested for immigration purposes in (a) Pakistan, (b) Sri Lanka, (c) India and (d) Bangladesh in each of the last three years.

I have been asked to reply.The available information is given in the table. Information on the number of DNA tests on children in Sri Lanka is not collected centrally.

Number of DNA tests on children in the Indian sub-continent carried out under the Government scheme, 1991–1993
	Number of children
Country where application made	1991	1992	1993
Bangladesh (Dhaka)	760	1,040	790
Pakistan (Islamabad, Karachi)	440	580	410
India (Bombay, New Delhi,Calcutta, Madras)	30	20	110
Total Indian sub-continent	1,230	1,640	1,320

All figures rounded to the nearest 10.Columns may not sum due to rounding.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will arrange for publication in the Official Report of a copy of the letter on plutonium smuggling sent to the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent to which he refers in his answer of 3 November Official Report, column 1385.

Yes, the text of the letter was:

The British Government was represented by officials from the DTI and the FCO at the meeting called by the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna on 2 and 3 November.

The meeting discussed what role the Agency might play in combating nuclear smuggling. The United Kingdom shared the views expressed at the meeting that the responsibility for preventing illicit trade lay primarily with the governments concerned. But we also feel that the IAEA has two important roles to play. Firstly, in coordinating assistance to member States to help improve national systems of nuclear material accountancy and control and of physical protection. Secondly, in developing a reliable data base of information on illicit trade in nuclear materials.

Based on views expressed at this meeting the IAEA Secretariat now intends to produce recommendations for action to be presented to the Board of Governors at its next regular meeting on 8 December. The Agency issued a, press release at the end of the meeting on 3 November, a copy of which I will place in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress is being made toward meeting the terms of the United Nations convention on the rights of the child; and if he will make a statement.

I have been asked to reply.The United Kingdom's First Report to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child was published in February 1994. Copies were placed in the library. The report sets out the ways in which the United Kingdom's policy, law and practice meet the provisions of the convention.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Government's position on a unilateral ban on the production, sale, export, transfer and use of anti-personnel mines.

We are very much in favour of measures to regulate the production, transfer and use of anti-personnel landmines. But to be effective, such measures need to command wide international support and respect. We are working with like-minded countries to that end.

To ask the Prime Minister what response he proposes to make to the latest report of the EC Court of Auditors; and if he will make a statement.

The United Kingdom welcomes the Court of Auditors' report for 1993; its findings and recommendations will assist in the fight against fraud and financial mismanagement and in favour of better value-for-money. The United Kingdom has been in the lead in pressing the Commission and the European Parliament to attack fraud and improve financial management. We secured important improvements in the treaty on European union, including giving the European Court of Auditors enhanced status as a full Institution of the European Union. The United Kingdom has also pushed for better value for money in Community expenditure.Following on from the Edinburgh European Council conclusions, the 1993 structural funds regulations required, for the first time, prior appraisal of expenditure, effective monitoring and evaluation of results. In March of this year, the United Kingdom proposed a joint action to ensure that member states make legally binding commitments to take tougher action against criminal fraud. The United Kingdom also supports the principles of a proposal from the Commission for a complementary framework of financial penalty rules and wants to see these principles carried through effectively. Both proposals are currently under discussion.The European Court of Auditors' report will be considered by the Council of the Ministers early next year. The United Kingdom will urge that its findings are followed up vigorously by the Commission and member states; that appropriate action is taken; and that the Commission reports back fully on the results.As I said last week, following the Anglo-French summit at Chartres, we shall press for the Council of Ministers to act on the court's special reports on particular areas of the Community budget and we wish to see member states co-operate in taking tougher action against criminal fraud. We also wish to see the Commission step up its spot checks for fraud and fraudsters; the European parliament as a whole, rather than just its budgetary control committee, act on fraud; and we are in touch with the German presidency to see how we can use the Essen European Council to add further momentum to the fight against fraud.

To ask the Prime Minster what provisions exist to ensure that the obligations entered into between European Union member states in matters related to the European Communities (Finance) Bill are honoured.

The purpose of the European Communities (Finance) Bill is to enable the United Kingdom to give effect to a new own resources decision. The British Government, and the Governments of all other member states, committed themselves politically to the financial arrangements which are the basis of the own resources decision by a settlement at the Edinburgh Council, during the British presidency in 1992.The relevant arrangements for giving legal effect to this international agreement are set out in article 201 of the treaty establishing the European Community which states that:

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many victims of asbestos-related diseases have had benefits recouped under the compensation recovery unit powers following successful claims for damages against an employer or other party.

This is a matter for Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member with such information as is available:

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the target time for the Child Support Agency to answer inquiries about cases; in what percentage of inquiries the target is reached; and if he will make a statement.

The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for Miss Ann Chant, the chief executive. She will write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what steps are taken by the Child Support Agency to investigate the financial circumstances where the parent with care is self-employed.

The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for Miss Ann Chant, the chief executive. She will write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what steps are taken by the Child Support Agency to investigate cases where the parent with care is fraudulently claiming benefit; and how many such cases have been discovered since the agency was set up.

As an intermediary between two parties in the arrangement of child maintenance, the Child Support Agency has no direct role in the detection of fraud, although if social security benefits are in payment and a potential fraud against the benefits system is alleged, relevant information is passed to the Benefits Agency or the Employment Service.Although figures are not available for the entire period since the Child Support Agency was get up, in the first six months of 1994–95, the Child Support Agency referred 5,561 cases to the Benefits Agency for investigation. In the same period, the Benefits Agency identified benefit savings on a total of 2,213 cases which had been referred by the Child Support Agency. No referrals have been made to the Employment Service.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how long the Child Support Agency takes to process an assessment from the receipt of the information from all persons involved based on the child support charter.

The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for Miss A Chant, the chief executive. She will write to my hon. Friend.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much will be saved from the social security budget by reducing the entitlement of 18 to 24-year-olds from current levels of unemployment benefit to the under-25s' level of income support at current rates of youth unemployment from April 1996 for each subsequent year.

The estimated savings arising from reducing the entitlement to 18 to 24-year-olds from the current levels of unemployment benefit to the under-25s' level of income support based on current levels of youth unemployment are £25 million in 1996–97 and £30 million in 1997–98.Notes: