To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, representing the Church Commissioners, if he will list the names of the loss-making companies owned by the Church Commissioners, giving in each case the amount of money lost by these companies in the last financial year.

The Commissioners own shares in 44 subsidiary undertakings, of which the 12 most significant are listed in their annual report and accounts. In 1993, the Commissioners' total recognised capital and revenue gains and losses amounted to a net gain of £294.1 million. Within this total, five subsidiary companies incurred losses amounting to £472,000 as follows.

	£
Deansbank Atlanta Inc	398,000
Cricklewood Estates (Investments) Ltd.	21,000
Cedarvale Ltd.	20,000
Cricklewood Trading Estates Ltd.	17,000
CEDIC Ltd.	16,000

To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, representing the Church Commissioners, if he will make it his policy to release the full accounts of the Church Commissioners; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member to the answers that I gave the hon. Member for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn) on 5 December.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department further to his answer of 30 November to the hon. Member for Wallsend (Mr. Byers), Official Report, column 695, concerning secret files held by his Department, how many of (a) the three top secret files and (b) the 124 secret files contain information about past or potential applicants for judicial posts from the ranks of (i) the Bar and (ii) the Law Society; how many contain information about serving judges; and how many contain information about retired judges.

None.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will take measures to ensure that legal aid is not provided for the wealthy.

The Lord Chancellor is anxious to ensure that legal aid is directed to those whose need is greatest. He is considering what changes, if any, might need to be made to the financial conditions for legal aid, and expects to issue a consultation paper shortly seeking views on some specific proposals.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage, what response he has received to the White Paper, "The Future of the BBC", Cm 2621.

Comments on the White Paper were invited by 31 October. Ninety-four organisations and 109 individuals have sent in their views. I am placing a list of the organisations in the Libraries of the House. I will carefully consider all the comments received before reaching final conclusions.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage, what will be the rate per loan payable to authors under the public lending right scheme in February 1995 in respect of loans of their books by public libraries from July 1993 to June 1994.

The Registrar of Public Lending Right has proposed to me, on the basis of the size of the fund this year and of information about loans of books by local library authorities, that the rate per loan for the payments which will be made under the public lending right scheme next February should remain 2p. In the light of consultation with interested organisations, I have agreed to the registrar's proposal.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the annual salary of the Director-General of the research councils; and if he will make a statement on the work of the Director-General since his appointment.

The annual salary of the Director-General of research councils is £75,000 with the possibility of an annual lump-sum non-pensionable performance bonus of up to 20 per cent. of salary. Since taking up appointment in January 1994, the Director-General has carried out the functions set out in paragraphs 3.26–3.28 of the White Paper, "Realising Our Potential".

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the cost of producing the National Council for Vocational Qualifications annual report of September 1994.

The cost of producing the annual report for 1993–94 published by the National Council for Vocational Qualifications in September 1994 was £32,218.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many full national vocational qualifications have been awarded in the current year and in each year from 1992; at which levels these awards were made; and how many, at each level, were awarded in construction, engineering, manufacturing, health and

national vocational qualifications awarded 1992–19941
	1992					1993					19941
Occupational areas/NVQ level	L1	L2	L3	L4	L5	L1	L2	L3	L4	L5	L1	L2	L3	L4	L5	Totals
Tendng animals plants and land	1,490	1,221	0	0	0	2,437	1,895	5	0	0	2,333	2,504	125	2	0	12,012
Extracting and providing natural resources	0	781	0	0	0	1	1,715	0	0	0	58	2,602	1	0	0	5,158
Construction	0	3,057	4,609	0	0	2,954	12,557	4,467	3	0	4,175	9,014	4,475	0	0	45,311
Engineering	630	5,965	1,551	448	0	999	10,691	1,819	435	0	2,506	15,004	3,532	596	0	44,176
Manufacturing	186	2,218	1,970	0	0	543	2,225	3,184	0	0	1,322	3,334	3,917	0	0	18,899
Transporing	23	79	114	0	0	0	445	51	0	0	1	911	73	0	0	1,697
Providing goods and services	8,655	25,820	1,108	1	0	12,405	31,095	1,138	3	0	9,177	23,962	750	6	0	114,120
Providing health, social care and protective services	13,351	3,594	50	0	0	3,568	7,529	284	0	0	3,244	9,577	921	0	0	42,298
Providing business services	23,413	45,271	2,350	6,190	118	25,032	48,802	5,218	7,082	241	21,209	37,903	6,755	9,863	653	240,100
Communicating	0	0	3	4	0	0	0	2	16	0	0	0	2	49	0	76
Developing and extending knowledge and skill	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	74	18	0	0	0	174	100	2	369
Totals	47,928	88,006	11,756	6,643	118	47,939	116,954	16,242	7,557	241	44,025	104,811	20,725	10,616	655	524,216
All figures represent the numbers of NVQ awards that have been made by Awarding Bodies and notified to NCVQ, there is a variable delay between the award of the certificate to an individual and the notification of that award to NCVQ.
1 The figures for 1994 represent only those awards notified until the end of the third quarter.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what percentage of Government funding has been allocated (a) bilaterally, (b) multilaterally and (c) through non-governmental

ODA expenditure on HIV/AIDS: 1986–87 to 1993–94
Expenditure shown as a percentage of total spending on HIV/AIDS	1986–87	1987–88	1988–89	1989–90	1990–91	1991–92	1992–93	1993–94	Total
Bilateral1	—	19.6	12.5	28.0	22.8	20.9	25.3	20.2	22.0
Multilateral1 (WHO/GPA)	70.0	74.2	65.9	60.5	62.4	62.0	53.7	55.6	61.0
Non-governmental organizations1	30.0	6.2	21.6	11.5	14.8	17.1	21.0	24.2	17.0
Total expenditure on HIV/AIDS (£'000)	357	7,074	3,893	7,690	7,652	8,033	9,252	10,881	54,832
Notes:
1 Percentage of total annual expenditure is shown for bilateral, multilateral and non-governmental support.
The bilateral figures relate to expenditure on projects which are exclusively HIV/AIDS related, and includes contributions to National AIDS Control Programmes via WHO trust fund mechanisms.
No separate bilateral expenditure figures for HIV/AIDS are available before 1987–88.
Advance payments to WHO/GPA were made in 1987–88 of £2.25 million and in 1993–94 of £1.9 million

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the projects on social care, business administration, accounting and financial services and management respectively.

[holding answer 28 November 1994]: Figures for the number of national vocational qualifications awarded in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are collected by the National Council for Vocational Qualifications. Figures are not readily available in the format requested. The statistical data laid out in the 11 occupational areas under which NCVQ collects information is shown in the following tables:organisations to support HIV and AIDS programmes outside the United Kingdom for each year since 1976.

Expenditure figures on HIV/AIDS are available for the 1986–87 financial year onwards reflecting the fact that most developing countries started HIV/AIDS programmes in or after 1987, the same year that the World Health Organisation's global programme on AIDS was established.Which British aid to Indonesia has been spent in the last two years; and what was the value in each case.

The projects supported under the British aid programme to Indonesia on which there has been expenditure in the last two years are listed in the table. This shows the aid programme allocation for each project and the expenditure on each in the last two financial years.

	Expenditure (£ thousands)
Sector and Project	Allocation	1992–93	1993–94
(A) Renewable National Resources
Rice Development Project	1,659	110	64
Cloves Disease Research	706	11	6
Coastal Fisheries—University of Diponegoro	384	159	30
Animal Health Phase 4	1,687	742	381
Coastal Prawn Culture	1,298	313	298
Regional Physical Planning, Map Improvement and Training Project	655	46	0
Forestry Senior Management Team	1,793	434	574
Forestry Conservation	1,984	425	565
Forestry Training	2,454	368	785
Forestry Research	2,644	418	654
Provincial Forest Management	1,800	0	366
(B) Energy—Gas
Gas Distribution—Phase 1	4,193	40	0
Gas Distribution—Phase 2	5,509	1,177	1,587
Support to LEMIGAS (Petroleum Authority)	4,762	1,373	431
(C) Education
Active Learning and Professional Support at Primary level	1,708	470	477
Libraries, Books and Information Development Project	747	223	29
English Language Teaching at the National level	1,325	514	192
English Language Teaching in Government Institutions	1,789	613	408
Biotechnology	428	98	73
(D) Mining and Geological Exploration
South Sumatera Geological Survey Project	2,261	516	331
Ombilin Coal Mine Training School	377	36	0
(E) Public Administration and Finance
Assistance to Regional and Local Government Finance	905	370	310
Police Management Training	713	268	126
Indonesian Civil Service Training Institute (LAN) Assistance to Public Admin	120	51	21
(F) Public Works
Survey and Mapping Advisers Project	400	4	0
Local Consultants/Professional Engineers Training Project	1,735	232	370
(G) Energy—Electric Power
Bali Power Study	305	44	0
Electricity Authority (PLN) Training Project Phase 2	1,162	117	0
Electricity Authority (PLN) Training Project Phase 3	1,202	330	373
Mini Hydros	5,610	596	302
(H) Projects financed from the Aid and Trade Provision
Steel Bridging (Phase I)	6,642	366	397
Navigational Aids	6,386	370	416

	Expenditure (£ thousands)
Sector and Project	Allocation	1992–93	1993–94
Bandung Television Studio	9,734	562	632
Scattered Diesels	5,891	377	409
Cigading Port Extension	13,266	774	829
Radio Studios Rehabilitation	5,040	304	304
Cigading/Serpong Railway	24,690	553	12,257
Citayam/Cibinong Railway	20,105	850	505
Radio Communication System for the Ministry of Forestry	34,111	1,421	1,384
Western Universities Equipment	13,671	654	814
Flight Simulator	4,659	139	211
Bali and Medan Airport Security	10,455	501	628
Jambi Power Station	5,345	139	280
Steel Bridging (Phase II)	3,669	197	218
Shortwave Radio Transmitters	26,911	815	1,373
(I) Training
Training in the United Kingdom	(Annual)	1,498	1,125
1 Under-collection by ECGD in 1992–93

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many loans requested by Rwanda from the World bank and the IMF since 1989 are being withheld until repayments on existing loans are resumed.

All 13 active loans, of which eight have been approved since 1989, from the World bank and one IMF structural adjustment facility programme are currently under suspension. The bank has an emergency reconstruction loan under preparation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when and under what conditions loans were disbursed to Rwanda by the IMF and the World bank after 1989.

The information requested is as follows:

International Development Association (IDA) credits approved1990–93
date
March 1990	Public enterprise reform
May 1990	Transport sector
December 1990	Communications
April 1991	Education sector
June 1991	Structural adjustment
June 1991	Population
June 1992	Food security and social action
February 1993	Energy sector rehabilitation

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are Rwanda's outstanding debts to (a) the World bank (b) the IMF and (c) the United Kingdom.

As at the end of June 1994, Rwanda had a total of $474 million in loans disbursed and outstanding to the World bank, SDR8.76 million to the IMF and no debt currently owed to the United Kingdom. Arrears to the World bank totalled $9.5 million. The bank has received firm indications of support from a number of bilateral donors to assist in clearing these arrears.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the levels of debt relief for low-income countries for each year since 1991–92; and if he will make a statement.

The amount of official bilateral debt relief that the United Kingdom has given low-income countries each year since 1991–92 is as follows:

	Debt Rescheduled(£m)	Debt Reduction(£m)
1991–92	558.41	347.29
1992–93	113.43	61.57
1993–94	11.49	115.27
Total	683.33	524.13

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to expand the provision of information via the Internet; and if he will make a statement.

The Treasury's Internet service was launched on 15 November 1994. The information currently provided includes news releases, speeches, minutes of the Chancellor's monthly monetary meetings with the Governor of the Bank of England, reports of the panel of independent forecasters and details of the fundamental expenditure review of Treasury running costs.The Budget speech and related material were made available on the Internet for the first time this year. More information will be added in due course.The Treasury Internet service can be accessed via the following addresses:

	Adderss
Email mailing lists	maillist @hm-treasury.gov.uk
Email for help	ftpmail @hm-treasury.gov.uk
File transfer (FTP)	ftp.hm-treasury.gov.uk
World Wide Web	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk
Email for help	info @ hm-treasury.gov.uk

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when his Department last conducted a review of the taxation arrangements for the building and civil engineering benefit scheme.

Information about the tax affairs of particular taxpayers, including individual pension schemes, is confidential.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received about the current operation of the building and civil engineering benefit scheme.

A number of representations have been received asking that members of this scheme be permitted to contribute to personal pensions and retirement annuities.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will itemise the refurbishment works undertaken on buildings housing departmental staff in the last three years, indicating the costs involved and the nature of the refurbishments.

The Treasury has not financed any refurbishment work in the buildings it occupies in Parliament street or Allington Towers. Responsibility for any such work would fall to Property Holdings.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many persons in the United Kingdom had annual pre-tax incomes of (a) more than £400,000 and (b) between £200,000 and £400,000 at the latest date for which figures are available; and how many such people there were in 1973 and 1983, taking account of changes in prices.

The table provides estimates of numbers of individuals for 1992–93, the latest year for which information is available at such high levels of income, and for 1983–84 and 1973–74.

	Pre-tax income range (adjusted for changes in prices) £200,000–£400,000 Thousands	Above £400, 000 Thousands
1992–93	16	4
1983–84	3	1
1973–74	4	1

The income ranges used for 1983–84 and 1973–74 have been adjusted to take account of changes in retail prices up to 1992–93.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what would be the total aggregate cost in a full year of raising the upper limit of the lower rate income tax band from £3,200 to £10,000 and the upper limit of the basic rate band to £30,000 assuming no change in personal allowances from those announced in the Budget;(2) what would be the total cost in a full year of raising the upper limit of the lower rate income tax band from £3,200 to £10,000 assuming no change in personal allowances from those announced in the Budget.

Based on assumptions in the "Financial Statement and Budget Report" 1995–96, the full-year cost, at 1995–96 income levels, of extending the width of the lower-rate band to £10,000 is estimated to be £5.3 billion. If the basic rate limit were also increased to £30,000, the total cost would be £6.9 billion. These costs do not take into account any behavioural changes which might result for the introduction of the new regime.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assumptions for interest rules underlie the Red Book projections for general Government gross debt interest of £26.6 billion for 1996–97.

It is not conventional to publish market-sensitive projections such as interest rates.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total amount paid in contributions (a) net and (b) gross to the EEC since 1972.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Dover (Mr. Shaw) on Tuesday 29 November, Official Report, columns 608–10.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans Her Majesty's Customs and Excise has to increase the technical assistance it provides to overseas administrations.

Customs intends, on a full cost recovery basis, to increase the amount of technical assistance which it provides on the existing Government-to-Government basis and in association with business. This would include the secondment of skilled staff to firms providing services in the areas of customs and indirect taxation.This expansion will help to improve the opportunities for consultancy and training delivered on overseas development aid programmes. It will also increase the advice that we can give the emerging democracies of central Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States, and to drug-source countries. It will extend the United Kingdom's influence around the world, thereby adding to the indirect benefits which can be produced for our economy.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to increase public service pensions from April 1995.

Under the legislation governing them, public service pensions are increased annually by the

Registered disabled staff
	HMT		PAYMASTER		CSO1		ROYAL MINT		VALUATION OFFICE*
	Number	Per cent.	Number	Per cent	Number	Per cent.	Number	Per cent.	Number	Per cent.
1990	30	1.0	35	3.9	—	—	21	2.1	—	—
1991	29	1.0	34	3.7	16	1.5	20	2.0	59	1.1
1992	26	0.9	31	3.2	16	1.4	14	1.3	48	0.9
1993	12	0.6	29	3.2	24	1.8	14	1.4	63	1.2
1994	12	0.9	27	3.2	24	1.7	15	1.5	65	1.3
1 Information is not available prior to 1991 when the CSO and valuation Office become Executive Agencies.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what was the total raised in Wales from forms of taxation, other than income tax and VAT, (a) in 1990, (b) same percentage as state earnings-related pensions, additional pension. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security announced on 29 November, Official Report column 629x2013;30, that additional pension will be increased by 2.2 per cent., in line with the annual increase in the retail prices index up to September. Public service pensions will therefore be increased by 2.2 per cent. from 10 April 1995. Pensions which have been in payment for less than a year will receive a pro-rata increase.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the budget allocated by his Department and associated agencies for each of the next five years for, and how many staff or staff hours equivalent have been allocated to achieve the objectives of, the programme for action to achieve equality of opportunity in the civil service for disabled people.

[holding answer 5 December 1994]: Expenditure by the Treasury and its associated agencies in support of the programme for action to achieve equality of opportunity in the civil service for disabled people comprises a number of cost elements in respect of staff numbers, training, recruitment advertising, special equipment,modification of buildings and accommodation. This expenditure cannot be disaggregated from that allocated to other items in the Department's and agencies' equal opportunities budgets. The number of staff or staff-hours equivalent allocated specifically to achieve the objectives of the programme for action cannot be estimated, since successful implementation will require the commitment not only of equal opportunities officers and disabled persons officers but of a variety of staff in the personnel function together with individual line managers.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the number and percentage of disabled people employed by his Department and associated agencies over the past five years; and what are the projected figures for the next five years.

[holding answer 5 December 1994]: Figures are available only for those staff who are registered as disabled, but the Treasury and its associated agencies employ a number of people with disabilities who have chosen not to register. The information in respect of the number of registered disabled people for the years 1990 to 1994 is shown in the table. Projected figures are not available.in 1991,

The information requested is not available.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to provide information via the Internet; and if he will make a statement.

The broadband communications Command Paper, published on 22 November, was the first Command Paper to be made available on Internet. DTI press notices are already available on Internet. The DTI Internet cable is:

http://www.open.gov.uk/dtibroadband_comms.htm.

The Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency recently announced an initiative on the wider use of Internet in government. Department officials are considering how effective Internet would be for the distribution of departmental information.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many civil servants since 4 May 1979 have left the Export Credits Guarantee Department and have within two years joined companies engaged in contracts with his Department.

Since 4 May 1979, 82 civil servants have, following their retirement or resignation from ECGD, obtained prior approval under the civil service rules governing outside business appointments to join companies that have business contacts with the Department.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what consideration is given to human rights in the allocation of cover by the Export Credits Guarantee Department.

The ECGD's function is to underwrite payment risks associated with capital goods and project exports. A separate export licensing process takes account of broader issues such as the human rights record of overseas Governments. The issue of export licences is the responsibility of the DTI's export licensing unit. ECGD's cover is conditional on export licences being obtained where required.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make available a complete list of all payments made under the auspices of the Export Credits Guarantee Department in relation to defence contracts signed from 1979 onwards with (a) Jordan, (b) Saudi Arabia, (c) Oman, (d) Kuwait, (e) Brunei, (f) Malaysia and (g) Indonesia.

[holding answer 5 December 1994]: The ECGD's information systems, which reflect the Department's business needs, do not provide such a sectoral analysis. Extracting the data with reasonable accuracy would involve disproportionate expense.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish a table showing the number of meetings held, the secretarial and advisory arrangements, the budgeted and actual expenditure and the subjects of any reports and submissions produced by the Overseas Projects Board in each of the last three years.

The Overseas Projects Board met five times in 1992, four times in 1993 and three times in 1994, including one scheduled for 7 December. The DTI provides a small secretariat. The only costs are those associated with arrangements for meetings, which are marginal. The board provides advice to Ministers and to Government officials in plenary meetings and, occasionally, in smaller ad-hoc groups. It does not currently produce submissions and reports.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish a table showing the number of meetings held, the secretarial and advisory arrangements, the budgeted and actual expenditure and the subjects of any reports and submissions produced by the engineering technology advisory committee in each of the last three years.

The engineering technology advisory committee—ETAC—was established in 1990 to advise the DTI on its support policy for engineering technology. Its only report was produced in 1993 and contained the committee's views on future strategy in this area.The committee met on six occasions from 6 September 1991 until its dissolution in October 1993. Secretarial support for it was provided by the Department. The actual expenditure incurred by the 14 members of the Committee related to travel expenses only and amounted to a total of £4,918.70 over its two-year life.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish a table showing the number of meetings held, the secretarial and advisory arrangements, the budgeted and actual expenditure and the subjects of any reports and submissions produced by the monitoring committee on misleading price indications in each of the last three years.

The monitoring committee on misleading price indications was disbanded in May 1993. The committee reported to Ministers in December 1991 and subsequently convened once in February 1992 to discuss its report with the then Minister for Consumer Affairs. A working group formed from the committee to examine service charges in hotels and restaurants met once, in February 1992, and reported to Ministers in August 1992. Both the committee and the working group were chaired and serviced by officials from the Department of Trade and Industry. No other costs were incurred.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will itemise the refurbishment works undertaken on buildings housing departmental staff in the last three years, indicating the costs involved and the nature of the refurbishments.

Over the past three years we have carried out only three refurbishment projects. These are listed by year of completion:

Year	Project	£ Thousands
1991–92	No projects completed in this year
1992–93	No projects completed in this year
1993–94	Partial refurbishment of Ashdown House to enable additional staff to be accommodated following the closure of 1–19 Victoria Street	4,532
	Full refurbishment of Kingsgate House to convert to open plan accommodation	4,211
	Refurbishment of sub-standard parts of Eastcote site	720

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what new proposals for the deregulation of car sales dealing the European Commission has made; and what is the United Kingdom Government's policy on those proposals.

The European Commission has put a number of proposals to member states to renew and amend Commission regulation 123/85, which governs the selective and exclusive dealership agreements for motor vehicles. These proposals would prohibit a number of restrictions on competition which are permissible under the current regulation in order to increase the competition in the trade. They would, in particular, provide dealers with the opportunity to sell more than one make of vehicle on sites which were separate and distinct. Restrictions on dealers advertising outside their contract territory would be prohibited. Dealers would also be permitted to purchase spare parts from any source, provided that they were of equivalent quality.The Government welcome these proposals, which are in many respects similar to the recommendations contained in the 1992 Monopolies and Mergers Commission report. Member states have put their views on the draft to the Commission, which will consider whether to amend the text before publishing the draft for public consultation shortly.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what factors Her Majesty's Government took into account when Nestle took over Rowntree; what representations he has received on the performance of this company with particular reference to United Kingdom based employment since that take over; and if he will make a statement.

The Director General of Fair Trading's advice to the then Secretary of State for Trade and Industry remains confidential. All relevant factors were taken into account in reaching the decision not to refer this merger to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission in May 1988. My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade has received no representations specifically concerning employment matters at Nestle since the merger.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many customers have been disconnected by British Gas for non-payment of bills in the most recent year for which he has figures; and what was the figure in the last year before privatisation.

The number of disconnections by British Gas for non-payment of bills for the year to the end of June 1994 was 15,420. This compares with 42,468 disconnections in the year to the end of September 1986.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many customers have been disconnected by regional electricity companies for non-payment of bills in the most recent year for which he has figures; and what were the figures in the last year before privatisation.

Disconnection figures are kept by the Office of Electricity Regulation. However, I can confirm that 3,297 electricity customers were disconnected by regional electricity companies in 1993—the lowest number on record. In comparison, 67,421 customers were disconnected in the 12 months to 31 March 1990.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how prices, including VAT, for domestic consumers of electricity have changed in (a) the past 10 years and (b) the past two years.

Between the third quarter of 1984 and the third quarter of 1994, prices of electricity, including VAT, for the domestic consumer have increased by 54.7 per cent. in cash terms and fallen by 4.7 per cent. in real terms. Between the third quarter of 1992 and the third quarter of 1994, prices have increased by 4.2 per cent. in cash terms and fallen by 1.1 per cent. in real terms. These price trends are published regularly in the Department of Trade and Industry's statistical bulletin, "Energy Trends", table 28.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how prices, including VAT, for domestic consumers of gas have changed in (a) the past 10 years and (b) the past two years.

Between the third quarter of 1984 and the third quarter of 1994, prices of gas, including VAT for the domestic consumer, have increased by 30 per cent. in cash terms and fallen by 20 per cent. in real terms. Between the third quarter of 1992 and the third quarter of 1994, prices have increased by 4 per cent. in cash terms and fallen by 1.3 per cent. in real terms. These price trends are published regularly in the Department of Trade and Industry's statistical bulletin, "Energy Trends", table 28.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 1 December Official Report, column 809 what was the number of successful applications for regional selective assistance in each development and intermediate area in the north-west.

The information is given in the table:

Travel to work area	Number of offers made (1 April 1993–1 March 1994)
Accrington and Rossendale	21
Barrow-in-Furness	12
Blackburn	22
Bolton and Bury	40
Liverpool	63
Manchester	73
Oldham	18
Rochdale	19
Sheffield	1
Whitehaven	1
Widnes and Runcorn	15
Wigan and St. Helens	38
Wirral and Chester	26
Workington	14
Total	363

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the number of (a) successful and (b) unsuccessful applications for regional selective assistance in each development and intermediate area in London and the Eastern region for the latest period for which figures are available.

The information is given in the table for London, the south-east and eastern regions.

Travel to work area	Offers made1	Applications rejected1
Clacton	3	1
Great Yarmouth	3	2
Harwich	1	0
Wisbech	4	0
Heathrow	3	0
London	3	0
Dover and Deal	1	0
Folkestone	3	1
Hastings	2	0
Isle of Wight	7	0
Sittingbourne and Sheerness	7	0
Thanet	3	0
Total	40	4
1 April 1993 to 31 March 1994

To ask the President of the Board of Trade 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.

[holding answer 1 December 1994]: 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.I also seek advice from time to time on an unpaid and informal basis from Sir Peter Levene.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government to European Union proposals affecting the hallmarking of silver; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 2 December 1994]: In negotiations on the proposed European Union directive, the Government continue to argue for the preservation of traditional third-party hallmarking arrangements for precious metals, including silver. The Government are opposed to the principle of manufacturers' marking, which would also be allowed under the directive as drafted.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what steps he took to verify that toxic fire retardant chemicals used in nursery furniture were not harmful to babies before the regulations came into force;(2) what tests Government laboratories undertook on the toxicity of fire resistant chemicals in nursery furniture, and their likely effect on babies prior to the introduction of the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988.

[holding answer 25 November 1994]: The Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988, as amended, do not require the use of specific fire retardants. The regulations are made in terms of a series of ignition resistance tests for different furniture components. Under section 10—the general safety requirements—of the Consumer Protection Act 1987, it is the responsibility of the manufacturer to use materials which are reasonably safe having regard to the circumstances of their use. However, before introducing the regulations the Department ascertained both from industrial research and advice from the Department of Health that there was a number of safe ways in which manufacturers could comply with the regulations.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what tests DTI laboratories are currently carrying out on the toxicity of cot mattresses.

[holding answer 25 November 1994]: The theory that flame retardants in cot mattresses and covers released noxious gases, and that this caused sudden infant death syndrome, was thoroughly investigated by an expert working group set up by the chief medical officer of health in 1990. The working group concluded that this theory was not supported by the evidence and a copy of its report—the Turner report—has been placed in the Library of the House.The chief medical officer of health has recently set up another working group of experts to study the questions which were raised by research contained in the Rubens Institute study. The Department will closely follow their deliberations.

To ask the Chairman of the Information Committee if he will make it his policy to enable hon. Members who use the parliamentary data and video network to have access via the Internet to the United Kingdom Government world wide web server known as "open.gov.uk."

The Information Committee is shortly to consider the possibility of enabling Members who use the parliamentary data and video network to have access via the Internet to the United Kingdom Government world wide web server known as "open.gov.uk". The Committee will need to satisfy itself that there can be adequate safeguards of the parliamentary data and video network and hence of hon. Members' computer systems. Any proposals for additional expenditure will also need to be considered by the Finance and Services Committee as appropriate.

To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee what is his latest estimate of he total cost of the works taking place at 7 Old Palace Yard; and what is its future planned use.

In return for allocating its planned accommodation in 7 Millbank to this House, the other place has assumed control of 6 and 7 Old Palace Yard. The cost of works and the future use of the building are matters for that House.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has as to how many local authority properties in each local authority have been sold under the rent-to-mortgage scheme.

So far, local authorities in England have reported two completed rent-to-mortgage sales. One sale took place in east Devon and the other in the City of London. About 40 applications are still being processed.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many import permits were issued for (a) wolves and (b) hybrid wolves entering the United Kingdom for each of the last four years; and what was the total number of (i) wolves and (ii) hybrid wolves involved.

In 1991, my Department issued one permit under the provisions of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora—CITES—allowing the import, by a zoo, of two grey wolves, canis lupis occidentalis, from Canada for breeding purposes.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he last met the Federation of Zoological Gardens of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to discuss the effectiveness of the Zoo Licensing Act 1984.

On 4 October 1994, officials from my Department chaired a meeting of the Department's standing advisory group, which includes senior representatives of the Federation of Zoological Gardens of Great Britain and Ireland. The meeting considered a number of issues relating to the operation and management of zoos in the United Kingdom.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will publish a White Paper before introducing legislation based on proposals contained in the consultation paper, "Review of Radioactive Waste Management Policy: Preliminary Conclusions".

The only specific proposals for legislative change were those in paragraph 194 of the consultation document, relating to the regulatory powers of the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. The necessary amendments to the Radioactive Substance Act 1993 have been included in the Environment Bill, which received its First Reading on Thursday 1 December in another place.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his timetable for acting upon recommendations contained in the consultation document, "Review of Radioactive Waste Management Policy: Preliminary Conclusions".

A statement of future policy will be made in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether local authorities, the Local Authorities Waste Disposal Contractors Association or private owners of refuse tips will have the right to refuse radioactive waste from authorised disposers under proposals contained in the consultation document, "Review of Radioactive Waste Management Policy: Preliminary Conclusions".

Under section 18 of the Radioactive Substances Act 1993, local authorities have a duty to accept radioactive waste for controlled burial if the regulatory bodies authorise disposal to sites provided by them. The consultation document contained no proposals to alter or extend this duty.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the differences between proposals contained in the consultation document, "Review of Radioactive Waste Management Policy: Preliminary Conclusions", with regard to the disposal of radioactive waste from the nuclear industry, and the proposals considered in 1987 for the disposal of such waste at four sites; and what considerations underlay the decision to withdraw the 1987 proposals.

The four sites referred to were investigated by UK Nirex Ltd. to ascertain their suitability for the development of a shallow repository for radioactive waste. The consultation document's proposals in relation to near-surface disposal concern British Nuclear Fuels' existing facility at Drigg in Cumbria and the controlled burial of low-level waste in landfill sites. The decision by Nirex to end its investigations in 1987 is a matter for the company.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what have been the financial costs of undertaking trials with compulsory water metering organised by his Department and Ofwat; what has been (a) the amount and (b) the proportion of the costs met from public funds and water charges; and what other trials with alternative water sewerage charging systems have been sponsored or supported by his Department.

The national metering trials cost £19 million. The Department of the Environment funded just under half this amount. The water companies involved funded the rest. There are no proposals to undertake trials on other alternative charging methods.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his policy on the Director General of Ofwat's statement that 33 per cent. of domestic households will be metered by 2015.

The Director General's forecast assumes the continuation of metering on a selective or voluntary basis. Metering encourages customers to avoid waste and would therefore contribute to the sustainable use of water in the longer term. It encourages action to reduce leakage and excessive water abstraction. It would reduce the need to build costly and environmentally intrusive reservoirs. The Director General estimates that metering, leakage reduction and reduced demand from industry should limit demand for water in 2015 to the present level.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) on what best estimates the ratio between fixed and variable costs in the water industry were the K factors for water supply determined in the 1994 periodic review, both in general and for each company;(2) on what best estimate of the ratio between fixed and variable costs were the K factors for the delivery of a sewerage service determined in the 1994 periodic review, both in general and for each company.

This is a matter for the Director General of Water Services.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what precautions are being taken to protect local populations from possible emissions from sites being used for experimental work on the use of toxic materials as fuels, following the United States Environmental Protection Agency's recent report on the toxicity of very low level dioxins and in particular their effect on foetal development.

I announced Government policy on the burning of substitute fuels in kilns on 23 June 1994, Official Report, column 261–2. Strict conditions of compliance with agreed trials schedules, progress reports, control procedures and continuous monitoring have been put in place. Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution is responsible for protecting the environment under the terms of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and has been closely supervising these tests.Results obtained so far indicate no cause for concern. The emissions of dioxins and heavy metals are well within the limits that HMIP will impose on incinerators. Milk monitoring by MAFF for dioxins has indicated no ill effects from the burning of Cemfuel.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what EC waste regulation procedures apply to the sites which are currently being used for experimental work on the use of toxic materials as fuels.

To the extent that these materials are judged to constitute waste, the relevant requirements of Council directive 75/442/EEC on waste, as amended by 91/156/EEC, will apply. Plants for the production of cement and rotary kiln lime production are categories of process subject to the Council directive 84/360/EEC on the combating of air pollution from industrial plants.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many sites are currently being used for experimental work on the use of toxic materials including chloro-cresol as fuels; and if he will list existing and proposed sites, their exact locality and the chemicals involved.

The only plant undertaking trials with substitute fuel whose specification contains chloro-cresol is Redland Aggregate's plant at Thrislington, West Cornforth, Ferryhill, County Durham.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment under what regulations and monitoring procedures the sites currently being used for experimental work on the use of toxic materials as fuels are operating.

Environmental protection control in England and Wales is effected by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution under the terms of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Trials of the substitute fuels in kilns are being carried out under this Act.

In carrying out the trials the operators must comply with the following monitoring requirements.

Before trials commence, satisfactory data on baseline operations must be provided to HMIP. This must include not only emission data but also kiln operating characteristics.

Only those substitute fuels that meet a specification agreed in advance with HMIP may be used. All deliveries must meet the specification.

Continuous monitors for particulate matter, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide and oxygen, calibrated to HMIP satisfaction must be installed.

Manual sampling and analysis of other pollutants such as heavy metals and dioxins must be provided.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will carry out the recommendations made by Judge Stephen Tumim in respect of Yvonne Sleightholme; and if he will make a statement.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the annual budget and the number of police officers for each police authority in each year since 1970.

The table gives information from 1978–79 for each police authority's expenditure and the number of officers for each force as at 31 March. Details for 1970 to 1978 could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.