To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department (1) how many bills paid by his Department during the last month for which figures are available were paid within (a) up to one month, (b) up to two months, (c) up to three months, (d) up to six months and (e) over six months from receipt of invoice; and how many were over the date for payment by (i) up to one month, (ii) up to two months, (iii) up to three months, (iv) up to six months and (v) over six months;(2) of the bills currently awaiting payment in his Department how many are over the advised payments date

The information is not available in the form requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Departments, however, are required to provide details of their annual payment performance in their departmental reports. The last survey conducted in this Department showed that 89.4 per cent. of bills were paid in accordance with agreed contractual conditions or, where no such contractual conditions existed, within 30 days of receipt of goods and services or the presentation of a valid invoice.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will change the legal aid scheme to provide easier access to alleged victims of domestic violence especially in regard to injunction proceedings.

In urgent cases, an emergency legal aid certificate may be granted over the telephone. Many of those seeking injunctions already benefit from this service. Additionally, solicitors holding franchises are able to grant emergency certificates themselves on the spot.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) of the bills currently awaiting payment in his Department of how many are over the advised payment date by (a) up to one month, (b) up to two months, (c) up to three months, (d) up to six months and (e) over six months, respectively;

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects Railtrack to begin work on enlarging Hampstead tunnel and the electrification of the line between Mitre Bridge junction and Willesden high level junction.

The Secretary of State has instructed Railtrack to make sure that the necessary infrastructure is completed to allow Eurostar rail services from the regions to begin by the start of 1996. The timing of individual works to achieve this is a matter for Railtrack.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects Railtrack to begin and to complete its study into the feasibility of using the North Downs route for channel tunnel rail freight traffic; and if he will be making a statement on the findings of the study.

Railtrack reported to us in August 1994 that the North Downs route was not an option for channel tunnel freight trains. The scheme proposed would bring no environmental or operational benefit which might justify grant and the works required to upgrade the route would be very expensive. The proposal is therefore not being pursued.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what statutory powers presently given to Railtrack and railway operators he intends to pass on to the private companies who purchase these shadow companies.

Our general policy is that all statutory powers transferred to Railtrack and railway operators from British Rail under the provisions of the Railways Act 1993, together with the statutory powers conferred by that Act, should be passed on when Rai1track and other railway operators move into the private sector. This will be reviewed in each case prior to disposal.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the current legal status of Railtrack and the railway operating companies.

Rai1track is a company limited by shares, incorporated under the Companies Act 1985; all the shares are owned by the Government. Six passenger train operating companies have been formed. One of these— Gatwick Express Ltd.—is a wholly owned subsidiary of the board and is operating as a separate entity. The other five have not yet had the relevant parts of the board's undertaking transferred to them.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consideration British Rail gave in 1989 to implementing advice received from Mr. John Childs regarding the introduction for single-section track of two-way radios for train drivers and exit signals at either end of the track; if following the crash at Cowden on 15 October he will take urgent steps to implement it; and if he will make a statement.

The comments Mr. Childs expressed will be considered by the inspector in the course of his inquiry into the accident at Cowden on 15 October. The arrangements relating to single lines will be considered carefully in the light of the inspector's report.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what budgetary provision has been made by London Underground Ltd. to maintain the Epping to Ongar section of the Central line over the next three years.

This is an operational matter for London Underground Ltd.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the dates of all meetings or correspondence he has had with European officials and representatives in respect of his proposal to introduce regulations for minibus seat belts in advance of European action; and if he will place the minutes of meetings and copies of the correspondence in the Library.

The Department has had a number of contacts, both formal and informal, with the European Commission at meetings, in correspondence and by telephone on the proposal to act ahead of the European Union to introduce compulsory fitment of seat belts to all minibuses and coaches used specifically for the transport of children.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the national criteria for the provision of school crossing patrols; and what discretion the police or local authorities have over providing patrols

The Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 specifies that school crossing patrols may be provided at

"places where children cross roads on their way to or from school, or from one part of a school to another, during periods between the hours of 8.00 am in the morning and 5.30 pm in the afternoon when children are so on their way".

Subject to these requirements, the appropriate authority has discretion over providing patrols.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the research projects undertaken by the Transport Research Laboratory into school crossing patrols and the criteria for the provision or crossing patrols.

The only TRL research project on school crossing patrols was report No. 779, published in 1977. This looked at ways in which school crossing patrol officers instruct children about crossing roads.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many miles of railway track have speed restrictions imposed as a result of track defects or insufficient maintenance.

Railtrack does not keep a central record of track mileage bearing temporary speed restrictions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the annual cost of maintaining railway bridges and viaducts in (a) north-west England and (b) England.

The cost of maintaining railway bridges and viaducts in Railtrack's north-west zone, which includes north Wales but excludes the west coast main line, is around £5 million a year. The cost for England and Wales is approximately £50 million. Figures excluding Wales are not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what criteria are used to justify the addition or the removal of towns and cities from motorway direction signs.

The main criteria are traffic importance, the requirement to maintain continuity of signing for long-distance traffic, and the number of destinations that can be read by drivers in the time available. The principles of directional signing are explained in "The Design and Use of Directional Informatory Signs"—Local Transport Note 1/94—published by HMSO.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the black box revealed in respect of the cause of the train crash on the 2 November on the Thames line service at Slough, Berkshire; and if he will make a statement.

The Health and Safety Executive's railway inspectorate is still investigating this accident.The results of the investigation and any recommendations made will be discussed with British Rail and/or Railtrack.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the special advisers employed by his Department in each of the last five years indicating when they (a) joined and (b) left his Department and the annual salary they received.

The information sought is as follows:

(a) Political advisers to the Secretary of State for Transport:

• Miss E. Buchanan; from September 1987 to November 1990.
• Mr. P. J. E. Miller; from January 1991 to March 1992.
• Mrs. E. F. Laing; from April 1992 to July 1994.
• Mr. M. G. E. Simmonds; from October 1994 to date.

(b) Special advisers with expert knowledge in particular fields:

• Professor B. J. Hoskins, special adviser on the global environmental aspects of transport policies, from February 1990 to November 1990.
• Sir Christopher Foster, special adviser on British rail privatisation, from June 1992 to November 1993.
• Sir Idris Pearce, special adviser on British Rail privatisation property issues, from June 1992 to July 1994.
• Mr. R. B. Salmon, special adviser on British Rail privatisation, from January 1993 to November 1993.
• Mr. J. Swift, special adviser on British Rail privatisation, from January 1993 to November 1993.

Salaries for special advisers are negotiated individually in relation to their previous earnings, and are confidential. They are however, normally paid on a special advisers' salary spine of 34 points, ranging from £19,503 to £67,609. Appointments are non-pensionable and the salary spine reflects this.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what occasions since 1979 civil servants in his Department have been asked to draft speeches of a constituency nature for use in a Minister's own constituency.

None. Civil servants may provide briefing of a factual nature for Ministers on matters relating to their own departments. In addition, Ministers in preparing for a constituency speech can draw on material produced by their Department during the normal course of business.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library a copy of the Coba 9 framework in respect of the M11 Link Road.

This is an operational matter for the Highways Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the effect on (a) the number of passengers using the various airports and (b) the revenue raised of increasing the air passenger duty by £5 at Heathrow and Gatwick, and reducing it by £5 at the regional airports and at Stansted; and how much additional revenue would be raised.

There are no detailed estimates available, and air passengers duty is not an airport charge. However, work done for the RUCATSE working group suggests that if applied to the whole of 1995 the effect increasing airport charges by £5 at Heathrow and Gatwick, and reducing it by £5 at the regional airports and Stansted, would be to leave passenger numbers al Heathrow unaltered, slightly reduced at Gatwick and al Stansted, and the regional airports for traffic to increase by some 2.5 per cent. It is not possible easily to assess the revenue effects.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will make a statement on the contents of his press statement of 29 April 1994, concerning a constituent of the hon. Member for Woolwich oii abiding by the statute strictly and his subsequent statement on the options open to his Department;(2) if he will make a statement on the case of Mr. David Hernandez-Purnell.

[holding answer 28 November 1994]: These are operational matters for the Highways Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the parliamentary constituency or constituencies in which each scheme in the national road programme lies.

[holding answer 29 November 1994]: This is an operational matter for the Highways Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the special advisers employed by his Department in each of the last five years indicating when they (a) joined and (b) left his Department and the annual salary they received.

The following have been employed as special advisers in the Treasury during the last five years:

Name	Joined	Left
A. Ross Goobey	1 April 1986	10 April 1991
W. M. Lightfoot	1 September 1989	10 April 1992
P. W. Robinson	11 April 1992	27 May 1993
D. W. D. Cameron	11 May 1992	21 June 1993
R. Darwell	8 February 1993	27 May 1993
Mrs. A. T. Keswick	28 May 1993 to date
D. L. Ruffley	28 May 1993 to date

Salaries for special advisers are negotiated individually in relation to their previous earnings, and are confidential. They are, however, normally paid on a special advisers' salary spine, ranging from £19,503 to £67,609. Appointments are non-pensionable, and the salary spine reflects this.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the amount of VAT illegally charged by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise on sports clubs subscriptions since 1 January 1990 which has been (a) claimed back to date by sports clubs, (b) paid back to date by sports clubs and (c) estimated in total as due back to sports clubs; and if he will provide details for (i) England, (ii) Wales and (iii) Scotland.

Customs and Excise estimated that repayment of VAT on sporting services in respect of the period 1 January 1990 to 31 March 1994 would amount to some £42.5 million. Between 1 April 1994 and 30 September 1994, £42 million VAT plus £5 million interest was repaid to non-profit-making organisations supplying sporting services.To apportion this information between England, Wales and Scotland would involve disproportionate time and expense. The extent to which clubs have passed any of the repayment to their members is not a matter for the Government.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consideration he has given to the proposed merger between the Halifax building society and the Leeds building society; if he proposes to refer the merger to the Director General of the Office of Fair Trading for inquiry; and if he will make a statement.

I have discussed the proposed merger with representatives of the Halifax building society and the Building Societies Commission, in my capacity as Minister responsible for the building society sector. The decision on whether to refer the proposal to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission under the provisions of the Fair Trading Act 1973 is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, in the light of advice from the Director General of Fair Trading, who is currently considering the matter.

To ask the Chairman of the Catering Committee what was the operating surplus or deficit of the banqueting rooms for the last full 12 months for which figures are available.

A net profit of some £230,000 was made from the use of private dining facilities in 1993–94.

To ask the Chairman of the Catering Committee (1) if he will publish the names of organisations that used the banqueting rooms in the most recent 12 months for which figures are available indicating the numbers who are perceived to be (a) political, (b) commercial, (c) charitable and (d) others;(2) if he will list the political affiliations of all hon. Members who booked the banqueting rooms in the months of October and November.

It has not hitherto been the practice to publish information of this nature. The matter is currently being reviewed by the Catering Committee.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what progress has been made by the task force on listed hospitals formed by his Department and the Department of Health.

The working group on historic hospitals was established by the Department of Health and by English Heritage in Autumn 1992 to provide a forum to identify and assist in resolving problems concerning historic buildings and conservation matters in the NHS. It has commissioned the preparation of good practice guidance for NHS managers in respect of both listed hospitals that will continue in use, and those that will close; this guidance is due for publication at the end of 1994. A study to review the listing of NHS institutions has been commissioned from English Heritage.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans he has to provide information via Internet; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Lady to the answer given to the hon. Member for Nottingham, North (Mr. Allen) on 22 November 1994,Official Report, column 110.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will announce the television licence fees which will take effect from 1 April 1995.

Following a study by Touche Ross, my predecessor, my right hon. Friend the Member for City of London and Westminster, South (Mr. Brooke) announced on 4 November 1993, Official Report, column 309–10, that the Government had decided to link increases in the television licence fee with the retail prices index for the remaining three years of the BBC's current royal charter.Licence fee increases are based on the annual RPI figure as at the previous September, in the same way as pensions and other state benefits. Application of this year's RPI figure of 2.2 per cent. for the year to September 1994 to the current unrounded figures produces new rounded totals of £86.50 for a colour licence and £28.50 for a black and white licence. The necessary regulations to bring these fees into force will be laid before the House in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when officials from English Heritage last inspected the riverside building in the County hall complex; and what were their findings on the condition of the building.

[holding answer 29 November 1994]: The riverside building at County hall was last visited by English Heritage staff on 15 November 1994. They found the building to be in good condition.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) how many of the bills paid by his Department during the last month for which figures are available were paid within (a) up to one month, (b) up to two months, (c) up to three months, (d) up to six months and (e) over six months from receipt of invoice; and how many were over the date for payment by (i) up to one month, (ii) up to two months, (iii) up to three months, (iv) up to six months and (v) over six months;(2) of the bills currently awaiting payment in his Department how many are over the advised payment date

The information is not available in the form requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Departments, however, are required to provide details of their annual payment performance in their departmental reports. For 1993–94, the Department of National Heritage paid over 85 per cent. of its bills in accordance with agreed contractual conditions or, where no such contractual conditions existed, within 30 days of receipt of goods and services or the presentation of a valid invoice.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what proposals he has for amendments to the Cinema Act 1910 in relation to access to cinemas for people with disabilities.

I have been asked to reply.The Cinematograph (Safety) Regulations 1955 make detailed provisions for securing safety in cinemas. My hon. Friend the Minister for Social Security and Disabled People announced on 24 November a package of measures to tackle discrimination against disabled people, including a right of access to goods and services.

To ask the Prime Minister what steps he is taking, other than exhortation, to make it easier for shareholders to influence the size of the salaries and perks of those at the top of British industry.

Shareholders already have the ability to exercise influence—for example, by raising questions at the annual general meeting or, in the case of institutional holdings, by exerting pressure behind the scenes.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 1 December.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 1 December.

This morning I presided at a meeting of the Cabinet and had meetings with Ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House, I shall be having further meetings later today.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will now publish the remuneration of the board members and chairman of the Standing Committee into Standards of Public Life.

The chairman will receive no remuneration from public funds for his work on the committee. Three members are already in receipt of a salary from public funds and will therefore not receive any further remuneration for their work on the committee. The other six members of the committee will receive an honorarium of £1,000 per month until the first report has been published, and a per diem attendance rate of £155 after that. Their travel and subsistence expenses will be met.The administrative and support resources for the Nolan committee will be drawn from the Office of Public Service and Science Vote (19 Vote 1).

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what further amendments to the Electricity (Class Exemptions from the Requirement for a Licence) Order 1990 are presently proposed.

Under this order, a number of companies which generated or supplied electricity before the electricity industry was vested are exempt from the requirement for a licence to generate or supply electricity for a transitional period, which ends on 31 March 1995.Following consultation with the electricity industry and others, I have now decided that these transitional exemptions should be extended until 31 March 1998. These exemptions would continue, as now, to be limited to the generating capacity or customer base supplied before vesting. This should not, however, be read as meaning that these companies will necessarily continue to be exempt after 1998. That will be considered in the period leading up to 1998, when the market in electricity supply will become fully competitive.I will lay an order bringing this amendment into effect early next year. My officials are presently considering a number of other possible amendments to the order. I shall announce our decision on these in due course.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has for the future of electricity supply from foreign sources.

The position in relation to the French interconnector—the only present source of foreign electricity supplies—was set out in the White Paper "The Prospects for Coal" (Cm 2235). Proposals for further interconnectors are a commercial matter for the electricity companies, subject to their obtaining any necessary consents.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will give a breakdown of projected annual expenditure under Interreg 2 (a) Northern Ireland, (b) Gwynedd, (c) Dyfed and (d) Kent for each year in which the programme is to run.

Allocations for the period from 1994 to 1999 are as follows, in mecu at 1994 prices:

	Mecu
Northern Ireland	66.9
Gwynedd and Dyfed	13.5
Kent and East Sussex	28.3

Qualifying expenditure may extend until 2001. Annual allocations have not yet been settled.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many occasions in the last year he has received a report from the Monopolies and Mergers Commission and (a) agreed its recommendations and (b) deferred a decision.

Since 1 November 1993, my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade has received 14 reports, including one not yet published, from the Monopolies and Mergers Commission. Where adverse reports have been published, he has accepted the MMC's findings. In one case during this period—The Daily Mail and General Trust plc/T. Bailey Forman Ltd.—the MMC report has been published and the final decision deferred pending further consideration of possible remedies. Before that period, there have been other examples of consultation on possible remedies after publication, notably on the MMC reports on the supply of gas, and on the distribution of newspapers.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he expects to announce the result of his review into the future of nuclear power generation.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Sherwood (Mr. Tipping) on 19 October, Official Report, column 239.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what share of the fossil fuel levy is received by (a) renewable sources of energy, (b) Nuclear Electric and (c) Scottish Nuclear.

For details of payments from the fossil fuel levy to renewable generators and Nuclear Electric, I refer the hon. Member to the answer my hon. Friend the Minister for Industry and Energy gave to the hon. Member for Pembroke (Mr. Ainger) on 12 July 1994, Official Report, column 518. Scottish Nuclear does not receive payments from the levy.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the purpose of the fossil fuel levy as paid to Nuclear Electric.

The fossil fuel levy finances the premium element of the price paid by the regional electricity companies for the electricity that they are required to purchase under the non-fossil fuel obligation. In Nuclear Electric's case, the levy payments cover the above-market costs of generating nuclear power. Together with revenues from sales of electricity at market prices, levy payments enable Nuclear Electric to cover the full costs of generating electricity from its stations, including operating costs, depreciation and provisions for the so-called "back end" liabilities.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the appropriateness of Nuclear Electric using the fossil fuel levy to help with its cash flow.

The existing arrangements to enable the full cost of nuclear power in the United Kingdom to be met, including the fossil fuel levy, are being assessed as part of the Government's review of the future prospects for nuclear power.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the purpose of the electricity interconnector with France.

The interconnector was built for mutual system support, and to trade electricity when one country could supply it more cheaply than the other.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list (a) the date and (b) the countries involved in the instances during the last 10 years when export licences have been granted for (i) riot shields, (ii) CS gas, (iii) batons and (iv) other riot control equipment.

This question could be answered in respect of controlled goods only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to refer the proposed merger between the Halifax and the Leeds Permanent building societies to the Office of Fair Trading; and if he will make a statement.

The Director General of Fair Trading at the Office of Fair Trading is currently investigating this proposed merger and he will advise my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade in due course. A decision on whether it should be referred to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission will be taken once that advice is received.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 23 November, Official Report, column, 208, if he will list those development and intermediate areas in the North-West where applications for regional selective assistance have been refused.

The information is listed in the following table:

Travel to work area	Number rejected (1 April 1993 to 31 March 1994
Accrington and Rossendale	4
Barrow-in-Furness	4
Blackburn	2
Bolton and Bury	5
Liverpool	23
Manchester	28
Oldham	3
Rochdale	3
Widnes and Runcorn	5
Wigan and St. Helens	19
Wirral and Chester	12
Workington	5
Project location undecided	10
Total	123

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what support or advice was given to the manufacturers of the Robin Reliant prior to the company going into receivership.

My Department was advised, in confidence, of the decision to place Reliant in the hands of the receiver. My officials are in close contact with the receiver about the prospects for the business.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list those United Kingdom-owned car manufacturers in 1987 and at the current date.

At the beginning of 1987, there were 12 United Kingdom-owned manufacturers producing cars. These were: Aston Martin Lagonda, Bristol, Caterham, Ginetta, Jaguar, Marcos, Morgan, Reliant, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, Rover Group, TVR Engineering and Westfield.Since then, Aston Martin Lagonda and Jaguar have been acquired by Ford and Rover by BMW. The others remain in the United Kingdom ownership.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many tonnes of coal were imported by the nationalised electricity power generators in each year between 1980 and denationalisation.

The amount of coal imported by the Central Electricity Generating Board and South of Scotland Electricity Board is shown below. The Department has no records of coal imported by the power producers before 1983 or of any imports by the North of Scotland Hydro Electric Board and the Northern Ireland Electricity Service.

Year	Thousand tones
19831	1,020
19841	52
19851	2,656
19861	1,186
19871	1,358
19882	1,973
19892,3	1,963
1 Central Electricity Generating Board only.
2 Central Electricity Generating Board and South of Scotland Electricity Board.
3 1989 was the last full year before denationalisation.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement about the future of British Coal Enterprise following the privatisation of British Coal.

[holding answer 28 November 1994]:The Government and British Coal are currently exploring options for the services provided by British Coal Enterprise. No final decisions have yet been taken about its future.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will ask the Office of Fair Trading to institute an inquiry into the practices of insurance companies in respect of life assurance premiums for (a) heterosexuals and (b) people who have had a negative test for HIV.

The Association of British Insurers has recommended to its members that they do not ask questions about negative HIV tests on life and health insurance proposal forms. I have placed a copy of the association's press release in the Library of the House.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what quantities of Japanese-owned plutonium exists in (a) unreprocessed nuclear fuel awaiting reprocessing and (b) in store after reprocessing, under safeguards at Sellafield.

The stocks of civil plutonium held by British Nuclear Fuels plc at its Sellafield site were published in the annual plutonium figures for 1993–94, copies of which were placed in the Library of the House. Further details of the ownership of the stocks are an operational matter for BNFL.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he intends to give more commercial freedom to the publicly owned Post Office.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Lewisham, West (Mr. Dowd) on 23 November, Official Report, column 579.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement in connection with his proposals of July 1994 to establish a working group on floating production systems for use in oil fields in the North sea and the Atlantic; if he will list the names and positions of those appointed to the working group of floating production systems; what estimate he has made of the development costs of the Foinaven and Schiehallion oil fields to the west of Shetland; and what percentage of this work he assesses will be allocated to domestically based support services.

[holding answer 29 November 1994]: The working group on floating production systems has been set up and will report to Ministers by the end of the year. The industry members are listed below.The operator responsible—BP—for the development of the Foinaven and Schiehallion oil fields to the west of Shetland has estimated development costs for Foinaven to be £550 million and has estimated that around 70 per cent. of this expenditure will be allocated to the United Kingdom. Schiehallion is not yet far enough advanced to estimate development costs.

Floating production systems working group industry membership
Name
Mr. Mike Baugh	Hamilton
Mr. Martin Fielding	Amerada Hess
Mr. Chris Grey	Conoco
Mr. Alan Hunt	Shell
Mr. John Hutton	Texaco
Dr. Rob Kenison	BP
Dr. Reg Potter	Marathon

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many contracts have so far been allocated to United Kingdom-based companies in connection with research into, and development of, floating production systems.

[holding answer 29 November 1994]: A large number of R and D projects have been sponsored by oil companies and the Government, associated with floating production systems. However, many of these projects are not unique to floating production systems. They also apply to other aspects of offshore technology so it is not possible to assign numbers in the way that hon. Lady requested.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list those local authorities and private and voluntary organisations currently in receipt of grant aid from the Konver programme.

[holding answer 30 November 1994]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the then Minister for Industry, my right hon. Friend the Member for Hove (Mr. Sainsbury) on 10 December 1993, Official Report, column 426. The lists of grant awards under the Knover I programme available in the Library of the House show the main sponsor for each project only. I shall write to the hon. Member with a full list of project sponsors.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is his policy on support for exports to countries which have rescheduled their debts and have re-established their creditworthiness.

Following a review of its risk assessment systems for those markets, the Export Credits Guarantee Department will now be adopting normal underwriting criteria to assess applications for support from United Kingdom exporters, the principal criterion being the ability of the overseas buyer or borrower to meet it debts on time. The main consequence of applying normal criteria will be to broaden the range of exports eligible for support, and significant reductions in premium rates on a number of markets. The Government will also be pursuing an initiative in international forums to ensure that the prime focus of export credit and other financial support in such markets will be upon goods and services which will foster and sustain their economic rehabilitation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he plans to publish the district auditor's report on the Welsh Health Promotion Authority.

This report was published by the Health Promotion Authority for Wales on 8 August 1994. Copies can be obtained from the authority.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many of the bills paid by his Department during the last month for which figures are available were paid within (a) up to one month, (b) up to two months, (c) up to three months, (d) up to six months and (e) over six months from receipt of invoice; and how many were over the date for payment by (i) up to one month, (ii) up to two months, (iii) up to three months, (iv) up to six months and (v) over six months;(2) of the bills currently awaiting payment in his Department how many are over the advised payment date by

The information is not available in the form requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Departments, however, are required to provide details of their annual payment performance in their departmental reports. For 1993–94, the Welsh Office paid 87 per cent. of its bills in accordance with agreed contractual conditions or, where no such contractual conditions existed, within 30 days of receipt of goods and services or the presentation of a valid invoice.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the Staff Commission for Wales and the local authority associations in relation to the carrying over of existing staff to the new authorities on 1 April 1996.

The Under-Secretary, my hon. Friend the Member for Cardiff, North (Mr. Jones) held an annual review meeting with the staff commission on 14 November: staff transfer arrangements were among the matters discussed. My officials maintain close contact with the Staff Commission and local authority associations, and are discussing with them how best to give effect to the guidance which I issued to the commission in August.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has for funding the new residuary body for Wales by (a) precept and (b) other means.

I have decided that the residuary body should be funded by means of borrowing under a supplementary credit approval in 1994–95 and 1995–96. It would be funded by levies on local authorities in 1996–97 and any subsequent years. It would not have any power to issue a precept. I wrote to the hon. Member for Caerphilly (Mr. Davies) on 2 November informing him of my decision. This letter was copied to the hon. Member for Caernarfon (Mr. Wigley) and the hon. and learned Member for Montgomery (Mr. Carlile).

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received from (a) local authorities and (b) other organisations in relation to the responsibilities for examining health and safety standards in houses in multiple occupation with respect to (i) self-regulation and independent regulation and (ii) duties of environmental health officers and fire officers; and if he will make a statement.

I have received representations from the all-Wales chief environmental health officers panel, the Wales house in multiple occupation network, the Institution of Environmental Health Officers, South Wales, Cardiff city council and Llanelli borough council about these issues as part of the interdepartmental review on fire safety legislation and enforcement. The responses are currently being considered.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list those general practices approved to take part in an incentive prescribing scheme, which have (a) commenced and (b) not commenced their participation.

Prescribing incentive schemes have now been approved in seven family health services authorities. Participation in schemes is a matter for local agreement and details of the numbers of participating practices are not held centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has for the application of value-added school league tables to grant-maintained schools.

I am committed to the principle that a readily understood measure of added value should be included in secondary school performance tables covering LEA-maintained, grant-maintained and independent schools. Work is in hand to develop such measures.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the head teachers and chairs of governors of grant-maintained schools concerning the supply of information to local authorities for the purpose of drawing up value added school league tables.

None. I look to all concerned to collaborate on the important issue of how to show the extent to which schools add value to pupil performance.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the chairman of the Cardiff Bay development corporation and the chairman of the court of governors at the National Museum of Wales, concerning (a) the expansion and relocation of the Wales Industrial and Maritime Museum, inclusive of an Imax cinema and (b) the funding of a private sector free-standing Imax cinema; and if he will make a statement.

I have had no discussions with the chairman of the Cardiff Bay development corporation regarding proposals to develop the Welsh Industrial and Maritime Museum; in May the chairman did briefly explain to me the aims of the Imax venture arid how it might be associated with educational or museum institutions in the Cardiff bay area.In June, my right hon. Friend the Member for Conwy (Sir W. Roberts) received a presentation from the National Museum of Wales on its corporate plan, including proposals to develop the Welsh Industrial and Maritime Museum and an Imax theatre.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the special advisers employed by his Department in each of the last five years indicating when they (a) joined and (b) left his Department and the annual salary they received.

Details of special advisers employed by my Department in the last five years are as follows:

Name	Date joined	Date left
Mr. R. Richards	5 November 1990	14 December 1990
Mr. M. McManus	11 November 1992	27 May 1993
Mr. H. Williams	18 October 1993	(still in post)

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are his proposals for police authority revenue spending in 1995–96.

I propose to make £300.7 million available from total standard spending in Wales to fund police services in 1995–96. This sum comprises £153.7 million in cash-limited police grant to be paid by the Home Secretary and £147.0 million in standard spending assessments. It represents an overall increase of 6 per cent. on police revenue budgets for 1994–95. The sums for each police authority are set out in the following table:

	Police grant £ millions	SSA £ millions	Total £ millions
Dyfed-Powys	22.5	21.7	44.2
Gwent	24.1	23.3	47.4
North Wales	32.2	30.6	62.8
South Wales	74.8	71.4	146.2

The Welsh Office is today writing to each of the police authorities in Wales to consult them on their provisional standard spending assessment for 1995–96.It is essential that police authorities budget wisely and do not impose an unreasonable burden on council taxpayers. I therefore propose provisional capping principles to inform their budget decisions.I will make my final decisions on capping principles in the light of budgets set by police authorities.I am still considering my capping proposals for county and district councils in Wales and propose to announce provisional capping principles for these authorities in mid-December, when provisional county and district SSAs are announced.Copies of the consultation letter will be place in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how members of quangos to which he is responsible for appointing members currently serve as councillors representing (a) the Conservative party, (b) the Labour party and (c) the Liberal Democrat party.

[holding answer Friday 25 November]: The information requested is as follows:At 1 September 1994, 31 members of public bodies appointed by me were serving district or county councillors. These represented:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list all the construction projects funded by Overseas Development Administration aid and awarded in whole or in part to United Kingdom construction companies in 1992–93 and 1993–94, and in each case stating the name of the United Kingdom construction company, the value of the contracts awarded to that company and the location, by country, of the project.

There is no central historical record of aid-funded construction projects. Contracts for such projects are normally negotiated and let by the recipient Governments. A new reporting mechanism is now being established, but at present the information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what plans he has to provide information via Internet; and if he will make a statement.

The CCTA Government information service was launched at the consultative meeting on information super-highways on 21 November. The service is designed to help Departments to make United Kingdom Government public information available electronically via the Internet, using the world wide web—WWW—hypertext information servers.The aims of the service are to support the objectives of the citizens charter and open government; publish Government information; and provide a means by which Government Departments can gain experience of publishing information on Internet.The Office of Public Service and Science has been at the forefront in exploiting the service. The hon. Member can access, via Internet, information on the citizens charter unit, the open government code of practice, a directory of Government Ministers and Whips, and HMSO's information technology catalogue. CCTA, the Government Centre for Information Systems, is talking to other parts of the Cabinet Office, and further information will become available in due course.CCTA's booklet for Internet users, "CCTA Government Information Service: How to access information", is available in the House of Commons Library.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will invite Departments and agencies to advise Ministers if they intend to use buildings inaccessible to disabled staff or members of the public.

As I informed the House on 21 November, I have already asked my officials to conduct a review of my Department's buildings, so that we know which buildings are accessible and which are not.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) how many of the bills paid by his Department during the last month for which figures are available were paid within (a) up to one month, (b) up to two months, (c) up to three months, (d) up to six months and (e) over six months from receipt of invoice; and how many were over the date for payment by (i) up to one month, (ii) up to two months, (iii) up to three months, (iv) up to six months and (v) over six months;(2) of the bills currently awaiting payment in his Department, how many are over the advised payment date by

The information is not generally available in the form requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Departments, however, are required to provide details of their annual payment performance in their departmental reports. Based on a sample survey carried out during 1993–94, the Cabinet Office paid 78 per cent. of its bills in accordance with agreed contractual conditions or, where no such contractual conditions existed, within 30 days. HMSO achieved 80 per cent., and COI 83 per cent.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many (a) top secret and (b) secret files his Department holds.

Information on the Cabinet Office can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what legal basis the United Nations protects the civilian population in the safe areas in cases where their inhabitants have attacked other territory.

The mandate of the United Nations Protection Force—UNPROFOR—under Security Council resolution 836 enables it to deter attacks against the safe areas referred to in Security Council resolution 824. In doing so, UNPROFOR is authorised by resolution 836, acting in self-defence, to take the necessary measures, including the use of force, in reply to bombardments against the safe areas or to armed incursion into them.These provisions apply, even, where offensive action has been undertaken from within the safe areas.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further measures he proposes to show her Majesty's Government's disapproval of the human rights record of the Sudanese regime; and if he will further reduce the British diplomatic presence in Sudan.

Monitoring human right abuses and raising concerns about these with the Sudanese authorities will remain one of the principal tasks of Her Majesty's embassy in Khartoum. We have no plans to reduce the number of staff there.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Sudanese regime about the continued restrictions on the liberty of the former Prime Minister, Sadiq A1 Mandi.

Her Majesty's embassy in Khartoum made representations to the Sudanese authorities during Sadiq Al Mandi's detention for three weeks earlier this year. Sadiq Al Mandi was released on 3 July. The embassy will continue to monitor his treatment by the authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which countries in Central and Latin America have been the subject of arms exports licence refusals in 1993 on the grounds of internal oppression or regional security.

The only country in central and Latin America to which applications for arms export licences were refused in 1993 on the grounds of internal oppression or regional security is Argentina, to which we maintain an embargo on military sales in the light of the events of 1982 and the Argentine claim to the Falkland Islands.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) how many of the bills paid by his Department during the last month for which figures are available were paid within (a) up to one month, (b) up to two months, (c) up to three months, (d) up to six months and (e) over six months from receipt of invoice; and how many were over the date for payment by (i) up to one month, (ii) up to two months, (iii) up to three months, (iv) up to six months and (v) over six months;(2) of the bills currently awaiting payment in his Department, how many are over the advised payment date by

The information is not available in the form requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, Departments are required to provide details of their annual payment performance in their departmental reports. For 1993–94, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, diplomatic wing paid 95 per cent. and the Overseas Development Administration 88 per cent. of its bills in accordance with agreed contractual conditions or, where no such contractual conditions existed, within 30 days of receipt of goods and services or the presentation of a valid invoice.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has had regarding the torture and execution of human right; activists in Kashmir; and if he will make a statement.

We have had no reports of the torture or execution of human rights activists in Kashmir.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has had of Kashmiris suffering human rights abuses at the hands of Indian troops; and if he will make a statement.

We are concerned by reports from international human rights groups of human rights abuses committed by the Indian security forces in Kashmir. We have regularly raised these concerns with the Indian Government.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government will call for (a) international investigations of human rights violations in Kashmir, (b) international humanitarian agencies to be allowed direct and independent access to the region, (c) the prosecution and punishment of those responsible for murdering and torturing Kashmiri people and (d) the right to self-determination for Kashmiris as promised by the United Nations; and if he will make a statement.

We have consistently urged the Indian Government to allow independent human rights groups access to Kashmir. We are encouraged that they have allowed a number of such groups to visit Kashmir this year. We have also urged them to ensure that security force members are subject to the rule of law. We shall continue to support efforts to bring about a peaceful settlement in Kashmir.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the special advisers employed by his Department in each of the last five years indicating when they (a) joined and (b) left his Department and the annual salary they received.

The special advisers to this Department are Mr. Maurice Fraser and Mr. Michael Maclay.On 1 March 1989, Mr. Maurice Fraser joined the Department and is still employed here. On 1 November 1989, the hon. Member for Aylesbury (Mr. Lidington) joined the Department; he left on 15 December 1990. On 7 January 1991, Mr. Edward Bickham joined the Department; he left on 9 July 1993. On 19 July 1993, Mr Michael Maclay joined the Department and is still employed here.With regard to salary, I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Leicester, East (Mr. Vaz) on 25 November,

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many overseas students are now studying in the United Kingdom in the higher and further education sectors; what the numbers were before the introduction of full cost fees in 1980; how many students are currently receiving Government scholarships; and how the United Kingdom's record on receiving overseas students compares to that of its competitors.

The numbers of overseas students studying in the United Kingdom in both the higher and further education sectors in 1979–80 was some 83,000. The number in 1992–93 was 99,700, an all-time high. In 1993–94 21,000 students from overseas studying in the United Kingdom were benefiting from official support under a variety of British Government scholarship and award programmes. These included 3,043 students holding British Chevening scholarships funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.According to available figures, the United Kingdom is fourth in the global league table of countries receiving overseas students with 92,000, against the United States, 420,000, France, 136,000 and Germany, 100,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made in dismantling the barriers to free movement across the border.

All closure orders have been rescinded. More than 40 previously closed crossing points are presently open to traffic. The great majority should be reopened within a matter of months.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the potential for tourism in Northern Ireland.

Tourism in Northern Ireland clearly has the potential to contribute significantly to the local economy. The Northern Ireland tourist board is working closely with the tourism industry to ensure that this potential is turned into reality.The announcement last week of a £6.8 million joint marketing initiative by the tourism authorities in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, together with the private sector, will do much to capitalise on new opportunities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps are being taken to improve cross-border co-operation in tourism.

The Northern Ireland tourist board works closely with its counterpart in the Republic of Ireland, Bord Failte, jointly to market the island of Ireland as a quality tourist destination. Both Governments announced last week that this co-operation will be further developed and expanded.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on his Department's social policy strategy.

The Government remain committed to addressing the social needs of the people of Northern Ireland, in particular through targeting social need initiative, which is aimed at directing resources to the most disadvantaged areas and people.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on recent developments concerning the Downing street declaration.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent discussions he has had about furthering the peace process; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the latest position over the ceasefire.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the peace process in Ulster.

I refer the hon. Members to the oral answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Sunderland, North (Mr. Etherington) earlier today.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement as to what initiatives the Government took to effect the extradition of Brendan Smyth following the serving on the Gardai of extradition warrants by the RUC in April 1993.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my right hon. and learned Friend the Attorney-General on 21 November, Official Report, columns 37–38.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the current position and future of the Hualon project in Northern Ireland.

All necessary approvals for the project are in place and further progress and the release of the first tranche of IDB money depends on Hualon fulfilling certain obligations contained in the agreement with the Industrial Development Board.The British Apparel and Textile Confederation lodged an appeal on 30 November with the European Court of Justice.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will now review his decision to proceed with grant payments to the Hualon Corporation.

My right hon. and learned Friend has recently reviewed and confirmed his decision, the implementation of which will depend upon the fulfilment by Hualon of certain preconditions.We have no plans for a further review.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he last met representatives of the Hualon Corporation.

On 9 June 1994.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement regarding aid to the Hualon Corporation.

The Hualon project, which will make a major reduction in unemployment, was the subject of a lengthy and detailed appraisal before the decision to offer assistance was taken.The advice of independent consultants was obtained and the project has received all the necessary approvals from HMG and the EC. To date no assistance has been paid, and none will be until certain pre-conditions are satisfied.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what further consideration he has given to the formation of an environmental protection agency for Northern Ireland.

All the functions of the Department of Environment environment service are currently the subject of a prior options study. The Government will decide whether or not any proposals for change in the implementation of environmental policy in Northern Ireland should be made when the results of the study are known. The outcome of the study is likely to be announced early in 1995.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the change in numbers of unemployed since December 1992.

The latest available seasonally adjusted figures, for October 1994, show that the number of unemployed claimants has fallen by 11,500 since December 1992.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the moves that have been made by the IRA and loyalist paramilitaries to withdraw the threat of military action against people whom they have forced into exile and who are still unable to return to their homes.

Such actions are incompatible with the disavowal of the use of violence for political purposes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to meet members of the former loyalist paramilitary groups in Northern Ireland.

I have no plans to do so.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the reasons for the relative success of children living in Northern Ireland in GCSE and A-level exams in comparison with other parts of the Untied Kingdom.

In Northern Ireland pupils entered for GCSE and A-levels have a good record of success. I believe that the motivation of pupils, parental support and the fact that we have highly professional and dedicated teaching staff are the key elements which have contributed to those high standards.I have made no assessment of the reasons for differences with other parts of the United Kingdom.