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 innovation advisory board in each of the last three years.

The innovation advisory board was wound up in September 1993. No formal successor arrangements have been put in place, but the Department's innovation unit, which contains 15 industrial secondees, is taking forward much of the board's work. The secretariat of the IAB was provided by staff of the Department of Trade and Industry; independent external members were appointed by the Secretary of State on the basis of their pre-eminence in relevant subjects rather than as representatives of particular businesses. The board advised the Department on various aspects of innovation policy, providing advice to the Secretary of State or senior officials as appropriate. The board gained a reputation, externally and internally, as a strong and effective champion of innovation and a valuable source of advice to DTI.In the financial year 1991–92, the board met six times and in 1992–93 four times. It did not meet in 1993–94. The focus of its work during these periods was the interface between industry and financial institutions and between industry and education. The style of working was to prompt action by others. The board did not produce many reports or submissions. Those produced during these periods were:

Reports
1991–92	First United Kingdom Company R and D Scoreboard
	"Innovation Plans Handbook" providing guidance to companies on how to present their innovation plans to investors and guidance to investors on how to examine such plans.
1992–93	Guidance on a modular masters degree in the management of technology Second R and D Scoreboard.
Submissions
1991–92	Submission to the Cadbury Committee on the Financial Aspects of Corporate Governance. Submission to the Accountancy Standards Board of Financial Reporting Exposure Draft.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade which section of is Department is assessing the industrial policy issues involved in RAF procurement of long-range transports.

The Department's aerospace division is working with the Ministry of Defence and other interested Departments on the industrial implications of the Hercules replacement programme.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what has been the total cost to date to public funds of the Office of Fair Trading's inquiry into the complaint made against the Edinburgh solicitors' property centre;(2) who advises the Director General of Fair Trading in relation to Scottish law;(3) from how many Edinburgh solicitors the Office, of Fair Trading sought views on the complaint brought against the Edinburgh solicitors' property centre;(4) on how many occasions officials from the Office of Fair Trading have visited Scotland in the course of their inquiry into the complaint made against the Edinburgh solicitors' property centre;(5) on whose authority a press release was issued by the Office of Fair Trading on 22 November regarding the referral of the Edinburgh solicitors' property centre to the restrictive practices court, Scotland; and what is the usual practice of putting such information into the public domain before the subject of the press release has been informed of the action being taken;(6) what representations have been received by the Director General of Fair Trading concerning the Edinburgh solicitors' property centre; and how many were from members of the public;(7) when the Solicitor's Office informed the Office of Fair Trading that it would be issuing a notice of referral to the restrictive practices court (Scotland) to the Edinburgh solicitors' property centre; when this referral was issued; and whether the issue preceded or succeeded the publication of a press release by the Office of Fair Trading referring to the office's action in this matter.

The Director General of Fair Trading, Sir Bryan Carsberg, is responsible for administering the Restrictive Trade Practices Act 1976. I have today asked Sir Bryan to consider the questions that the hon. Member has put about the Edinburgh solicitors' property centre and he will write to him in due course.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many officials and at what grades in (a) his Department and (b) the Office of Fair Trading have been involved in investigating a complaint against the Edinburgh solicitors' property centre.

Department of Trade and Industry officials have not been involved. I am asking Sir Bryan Carsberg to write to the hon. Member about the involvement of his officials.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received about the competitive position of the estate agents seeking instructions for the sale of properties in the Edinburgh area.

None.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade on how many occasions he or his predecessors have made an order under section 11 or 12 of the Restrictive Trade Practices Act 1976 in relation to services provided by solicitors.

Services provided by solicitors in their capacity as such are excluded by paragraph 1 of schedule 1 of the Restrictive Trade Practices Act 1976. Any other services provided by solicitors are brought under section 11 by the Restrictive Trade Practices (Services) Order 1976—SI 1976 No.98. That order has been amended three times: 1985 No.2044, 1986 NO.2204 and 1989 No.1082. No order has been made under section 12.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what consideration he is giving to a Government contribution to the support costs of the future large aircraft project; and when he expects to complete it.

The development of military aircraft is a matter for the Ministry of Defence, but the Department is closely involved in considering the industrial implications of the proposed project.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what studies his Department is (a) undertaking directly or (b) has commissioned into new long-range civil air transports; and when he expects to make their conclusions available to Parliament.

No such studies have been undertaken or commissioned, but the Department is in regular contact with the United Kingdom aerospace industry on market projections and plans for new projects.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what measures he intends to take to ensure that the sound levels in telephone receivers are at a level which will not disadvantage the deaf and hard of hearing.

My Department is reviewing the technical requirements for United Kingdom approval of telecommunications terminal equipment, including telephones. The identified essential requirements are being consolidated into draft national technical regulations and these are being made available for a statutory consultation with interested parties, including organisations representing people with hearing difficulties. There are no proposals to reduce sound levels in telephone receivers.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what percentage of initial unfit conduct reports received during the past six years from insolvency practitioners, pursuant to the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986 were received within the time limits specified in the Act;(2) if he will make a statement of what measures he has taken to ensure that insolvency practitioners fulfil their statutory requirement in relation to the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986.

The Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986 requires an insolvency practitioner to report forthwith when it appears to him that the conduct of a director makes him unfit to be concerned in the management of a limited company. Where he has not so reported, he is required to submit a return no later than six months after his appointment as officeholder.Statistics are not available for the past six years, but the National Audit Office examined a representative sample of 102 initial reports submitted between April and June 1992, which showed that 22 per cent. were received within six months.In March 1993, the Insolvency Service issued guidelines to insolvency practitioners to assist them in complying with their obligations to report unfit conduct in a timely way but without sacrifice to quality. These guidelines have been re-enforced by newsletters to insolvency practitioners.In addition, insolvency practitioners are subject to monitoring visits either by their authorising bodies or by the joint insolvency monitoring unit, for the purpose of ensuring compliance with insolvency legislation including the requirements of the Company Directors Disqualification Act.In 1995, separate visits will be undertaken by the Insolvency Service to practitioners who have demonstrated poor compliance with the Act. If there is no subsequent improvement in performance, the practitioner will face possible licensing action or in extreme cases prosecution.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will propose legislation to make it lawful for a supplier of telephone services to disconnect lines advertised by unauthorised displays at public telephones.

I have no plans to do so. Although I recognise my hon. Friend's concern about this matter, it would not be appropriate to seek to regulate the placing of advertisements in unauthorised places through telecommunications legislation.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement about the plans of his Department to make information available on the Internet and the documents which he intends to be made available on the Internet over the next year which will be accessible via the world wide web server "open.gov.uk" or any specific departmental server.

In line with a recent Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency initiative, my officials are actively considering how the facilities of the Internet might add value to current arrangements for the distribution of departmental information. This consideration includes the use of the world wide web server, "open.gov.uk."As previously stated, the Command Paper "Developing Broadband Communications in the UK" was placed on the CCTA Government service Internet server a few days after publication and there have been around 1,750 accesses to date.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his oral answer of 23 November, Official Report, column 583, what has been the change in United Kingdom exports of finished manufactures to (a) the EEC and (b) non-EEC countries since 1984; and if he will make a statement.

From 1984 to 1993, the value of United Kingdom exports of finished manufactures increased by 198 per cent. to the EC and by 77 per cent. to non-EC countries.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) when Her Majesty's Government will introduce legislation to ratify the chemical weapons convention;(2) what preparations his Department has made for the implementation of the chemical weapons convention and for the establishment of the national authority.

Primary legislation is required to enable the United Kingdom to ratify the chemical weapons convention. This will be introduced as soon as parliamentary time and other Government legislative priorities permit.My Department has a section dedicated to preparing for the implementation of the CWC, including the establishment of a national authority. These preparations are now at an advanced stage. We have been liaising closely with other Government Departments which have an interest in the CWC and with industry representatives. My Department will be issuing a discussion document early in the New Year, to canvass industry views on the implementation of the CWC in industry in the UK.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what action he is taking to limit the costs of premiums of mortgage insurance policies.

None. The Secretary of State's powers under the Insurance Companies Act 1982 are primarily concerned with the solvency of insurance companies and, except where such matters are concerned, he does not intervene in their day-to-day business.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to make it a requirement for providers of mortgage insurance to make full disclosure of management and similar costs at the point of sale of mortgage insurance.

No. This would not be appropriate. The United Kingdom general insurance market is already highly competitive. In addition, the Association of British Insurer's general business code of practice requires insurance intermediaries not to impose any charge in addition to the premium required by the insurer without disclosing the amount and purpose of such charge and to disclose, on request, the commission.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he will make it his policy to ensure that mortgage insurance policies allow those individuals claiming under their policies to take short-term employment without losing their right to continue to claim under their policies when that period of employment concludes;(2) what action he is planning to take to ensure that providers of mortgage insurance limit increases in premiums for those individuals who have previously suffered a period of unemployment;(3) if he will make it his policy to require insurers to provide mortgage insurance to the self-employed, to those on fixed contracts and to those in part-time work.

No. This is a matter for the underwriting judgment of individual insurance companies.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is his estimate of the total annual cost in premiums if all mortgages taken out after October 1995 were to be covered by mortgage insurance for the financial year 1995–96 and each of the following four financial years.

It is not possible to provide a realistic estimate because mortgage lending in the period in question cannot be predicted.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is his estimate of the total amount paid out on mortgage insurance policies in the last full financial year for which figures are available.

The Association of British Insurers estimates that claims paid in 1993 amounted to £156 million.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is his estimate of the total premiums paid in mortgage insurance for the last full financial year for which figures are available.

The Association of British Insurers estimates that premiums paid for mortgage protection insurance in 1993 amounted to £220 million.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is his estimate of the number of mortgage insurance policies currently in operation which cover (a) 50 per cent. or more and (b) less than 50 per cent. of the full cost of the associated mortgage for (i) one year or less, (ii) two years or less, (iii) three years or less and (iv) more than .three years.

The Association of British Insurers estimates that some 1.1 million policies are in force. Generally, policies cover 100 per cent. of the cost of the associated mortgage. The ABI estimates that 90 per cent. of the policies will pay up to one year and 10 per cent. up to two years. The ABI is not aware of any policies that pay for more than two years.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if any British oil exploration contracts in the East Timor gap have been approved by the Government of Indonesia.

I understand that one United Kingdom company is licensed to explore for oil and gas in this region.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what requests he has received from external bodies to use the collective expertise on his energy advisory panel to assist them in energy assessment; and what reports he has received to date from the energy advisory panel.

[holding answer 2 December 1994]: I have received no such requests. The panel has not produced specific reports.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his oral answer of 23 November, Official Report, column 583, what has been the change in net capital employed in manufacturing in real terms since 1979.

[holding answer 7 December 1994]: Figures on net capital stock by sector are published in table 14.7 in the Central Statistical Office Blue Book—United Kingdom national accounts—which is available in the Library of the House. Net capital stock figures by industry are not available.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what has been the increase in real terms in net capital employed in (a) United Kingdom manufacturing and (b) commercial and industrial firms other than manufacturing since 1979; and to what extent he ascribes the difference to the Government's fiscal, monetary and exchange rate policies.

[holding answer 7 December 1994]: Figures on net capital stock by sector are published in table 14.7 in the Central Statistical Office Blue Book—United Kingdom national accounts—which is available in the Library of the House. Net capital stock figures by industry are not available. The capital employed by a firm is influenced by a number of factors including expected demand and rates of return.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list export credits to Oman since 1979, by year, and state the percentage increases or decreases each year.

[holding answer 7 December 1994]: ECGD support for capital goods and project business in Oman and the percentage increase or decrease each year is given in the table:

	Business (£ million)	Percentage Increase/Decrease
1980–81	305.7	n/a
1981–82	65.94	-78.39
1982–83	415.06	+529.45

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list export credits to India since 1979, by year, and state the percentage increases or decreases each year.

[holding answer 7 December 1994]: ECGD support for capital goods and project business in India and the percentage increase or decrease each year is given in the table:

	Business (£ Million)	Percentage Increase/Decrease
1980–81	51.73	n/a
1981–82	42.44	-17.96
1982–83	626.57	+1,376.37
1983–84	224.15	-64.23
1984–85	74.52	-66.75
1985–86	35.97	-51.73
1986–87	86.37	+140.12
1987–88	83.35	-3.50
1988–89	5.03	-93.97
1989–90	79.65	+1,483.50
1990–91	69.84	-12.32
1991–92	12.81	-81.66
1992–93	101.97	+696.02
1993–94	208.54	+104.51

Reliable comparative data is not available prior to 1980–81.The figures for 1993–94 remain provisional pending publication of ECGD's Trading Accounts for the 1993–94 financial year.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list export credits to Turkey since 1979, by year, and state the percentage increases or decreases each year.

[holding answer 7 December 1994]: ECGD support for capital goods and project business in Turkey and the percentage increase or decrease each year is given in the table:

	Business (£ million)	Percentage Increase/Decrease
1980–81	16.12	n/a
1981–82	3.94	-75.56
1982–83	0.23	-94.16
1983–84	75.24	+3,2613.04
1984–85	7.93	-89.46
1985–86	165.42	+1,986.00
1986–87	38.14	-76.94
1987–88	49.42	+29.58
1988–89	125.09	+153.12
1989–90	54.66	-56.30
1990–91	51.02	-6.66

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list export credits to Indonesia since 1979, by year, stating percentage increases or decreases each year.

[holding answer 7 December 1994]: ECGD support for capital goods and project business in Indonesia and the percentage increase or decrease each year is given in the table:

	Business (£ million)	Percentage Increase/Decrease
1980–81	9.31	n/a
1981–82	149.94	+1,510.53
1982–83	566.35	+277.72
1983–84	301.08	-46.84
1984–85	248.75	-17.38
1985–86	139.75	-43.82
1986–87	72.74	-47.95
1987–88	47.92	-34.12
1988–89	67.36	+40.57
1989–90	52.29	-22.37
1990–91	149.59	+186.08
1991–92	124.11	-17.03
1992–93	450.40	+262.90
1993–94	100.14	-77.77

Reliable comparative data are not available prior to 1980–81.The figures for 1993–94 remain provisional pending publication of ECGD's Trading Accounts for the 1993–94 financial year.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will consider appointing at least one stipendiary magistrate at Teesside.

The Lord Chancellor is pleased to consider the appointment of stipendiary magistrates following requests from the local advisory committees. No request has been received from the South Cleveland advisory committee.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many lay magistrates are currently needed to bring the Teesside bench up to full strength.

The required strength of any bench is determined by the number of magistrates needed to deal with the work without the annual number of half-day sittings for individual magistrates being excessive. The strength of the Teesside bench on 1 December was 274, and a further 23 people are being recommended to the Lord Chancellor for appointment. The current and projected annual average number of sittings per magistrate is 43, which is a little high but is not regarded by the Lord Chancellor as excessive.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department 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 Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department 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.

Maintenance and refurbishment works carried out in 1992–93 totalled £18,444,000 and in 1993–94, £21,094,000. The figures for 1991–92 are not readily available, nor are details of schemes in 1992–93. Details of expenditure on major court refurbishment schemes during 1993–94 was as follows:

	£
Lewes Combined Court	3,118,000
Lincoln Castle Crown Court	482,000
Nottingham Combined Court	642,000
Plymouth Combined Court	364,000
Royal Courts of Justice	3,233,000

The balance was expended by regional budget holders on a variety of works, a proportion of which would be in respect of refurbishment schemes. However, the detailed information could not be obtained without incurring disproportionate cost.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what percentage of people of the United Kingdom were eligible for free legal aid in each year from 1990 to 1993; and if he will make a statement.

The Lord Chancellor's Department estimates the percentage of households qualifying for civil legal aid without a contribution as follows:

• 1990: —29 per cent.
• 1991: —25 per cent.
• 1992: —27 per cent.
• 1993: —21 per cent.

The figures are based on the family expenditure survey reports for the years in question.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the location of the proposed joint service command and staff college.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I have given today to my hon. Friend the Member for Surrey, North-West (Sir M. Grylls).

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future of the staff colleges with particular reference to the staff college, Camberley, Surrey.

In my statement on 14 July 1994, I announced that further work was in hand to examine whether the joint service command and staff college should be located at Camberley or Greenwich and whether junior command and staff training should take place on the same site. This work has now been concluded and I am satisfied that Camberley is by far the most appropriate and cost-effective site for both activities, and that staff training at Bracknell and Greenwich should cease. I have decided that this proposal should be the basis for consultation. A consultative document will be issued in the next few weeks.I recognise the need to ensure that fitting occupants are found for such an important site as the Royal Naval College, Greenwich. We are now considering a number of potential candidates to occupy these buildings, including a restructured defence school of languages, for which Wilton Park, Beaconsfield is unlikely to remain an appropriate home. Work is continuing to determine which would provide the best balance of suitability and compatibility. I hope to be in a position to announce a proposal for the future of Greenwich early next year, on which we will consult separately.Unless there is an alternative defence use for the RAF staff college at Bracknell, my intention would be to dispose of it. Similarly, if work in hand at present determines that there is no longer any need to retain Wilton Park, Beconsfield, that will also be disposed of.Further work is under way to determine the effect on staff numbers of these proposals. Once final proposals for Greenwich can be made, we shall consult separately on the specific staffing impact on Greenwich, Beaconsfield and any other site affected. Every effort will be made to minimise the need for redundancies.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made with the development of plans for transfer of the married quarters estate to the private sector.

It is too early to be confident that such a transfer will be possible on terms which will satisfy our requirements. Nonetheless, the initial work undertaken for us by NatWest Markets, the investment bank, has been productive and encouraging. We therefore now intend to progress to development of comprehensive proposals aimed at achieving the transfer in financial year 1995–96. A decision on whether to proceed will not be taken until worked-out proposals are available in the first part of next year. Meanwhile, however, following completion of the initial study, we are proceeding to competitive selection of financial and other advisers to help us prepare for and effect the transfer.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the future of the defence medical services.

During the "Front Line First" medical study consultation period, my Department received more than 230 responses to our proposals for the future of the defence medical services.All of these responses have received careful and sympathetic scrutiny. Understandable local concerns and support have been expressed for fine military facilities with a proud history of service to their civilian communities. No significant new defence-related arguments have, however, emerged, nor have any new suggestions bee made which have caused us to alter our original proposals.I can therefore confirm that we shall now move to develop our plans, working closely with the relevant NHS authorities, along the lines indicated in "Front Line First". We shall establish a single tri-service core hospital to provide the future secondary care needs for the armed forces in the United Kingdom. I can conform that we have decided that this facility will be established at the current royal naval hospital Haslar in Gosport. This hospital will be supported by a continuing presence at the Duchess of Kent military hospital at Catterick and by Ministry of Defence medical staff working in three Ministry of Defence hospital units. One of these will be located at the Derriford district general hospital in Plymouth; the remaining two sites will be chosen over the next three months. All secondary care will be managed by a tri-service Defence Agency, which will continue to develop increasingly close links with the NHS, and will be headed by a chief executive reporting through the surgeon general to the Deputy Chief of Defence Staff responsible for personal matters.The Princess Mary's RAF hospital Akrotiri in Cyprus will also form part of the tri-service secondary care agency. The future of the two service hospitals in Germany will be considered further following the completion of the current market testing programme. We are also examining the case for market testing the defence services medical rehabilitation unit at RAF Headley Court, and shall be examining the need for the RAF's central medical establishment to be in central London and the scope for alternative uses of the Royal Army medical college at Millbank. We shall be bringing dentists from all three services into a single, tri-service agency and subsequently submitting the business to a market test.Primary care will be provided by the most cost-effective combination of the NHS, the private health care sector, and MOD military and civilian staff, to the greatest extent consistent with providing peacetime employment for those uniformed personnel required to deploy for operations and war.The reorganisation of defence medical services, including the closures of the Cambridge military hospital and the Princess Alexandra's RAF hospital, is intended to be complete by April 1996. Because of this, the closure of the Queen Elizabeth military hospital at Woolwich will be brought forward to the spring of 1995, at which time we expect to transfer the hospital to the NHS although a service presence may remain for some months afterwards. The closure date for the Princess Mary's RAF hospital at Halton has also been brought forward to March 1996.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence further to his statement of 14 July, Official Report, columns 1171–2, if he has reached a decision on the future of minor war vessels based at Rosyth.

Having given full and careful consideration to the representations made on the proposals promulgated on 14 July, we have decided to proceed with the redeployment of minor war vessels from Rosyth to Faslane and Portsmouth by April 1996 and the change in the role of Rosyth from a minor war vessel operating base to a Royal Navy support establishment within a similar time frame. In the same time scale, the non-operational functions of flag officer Scotland, Northern England and Northern Ireland will transfer to Faslane from Pitreavie. We will continue to consult with staff and the trade unions about the detailed implementation of these measures and their implications. My officials will also work closely with the Scottish Office, local authorities and other agencies to enable those areas of the base no longer required by the Department to be redeveloped for alternative economic use. Constructive dialogue between the Ministry of Defence and the Scottish Office is already under way with a view to securing co-ordinated disposal strategy for the site aimed at promoting the continuing economic development and diversification of the area.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what independent research he has commissioned into the possible after effects of inoculations against anthrax, yellow fever, hepatitis, plague, polio and cholera, given singly or together or within a few day of each other to personnel serving in the Gulf war.

None. All known vaccine interactions are published in standard medical textbooks and the British national formulary. Short-term side-effects—sore arm, malaise—are very common after any vaccination procedure but there is no scientific or medical evidence to suggest that vaccines can interact to produce long-term adverse health effects. Furthermore, it is not unusual, in normal medicine practice, for a number of separate vaccines to be administered at the same time or over a short period.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will issue regimental part I orders to all current service personnel requiring those who served in the Gulf war and who believe they may have suffered ill-effects to report to their medical officer.

Personnel from all three services who believe that they are suffering from ill health, for whatever reason, have been encouraged to report to their medical officer. The armed forces medical services have already established a medical assessment programme for those who believe their ill health is a result of their Gulf service. The existence of this assessment programme is well known in the services and the issuing of orders is not therefore considered necessary.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what independent research he has commissioned into possible birth defects in children born to the families of service personnel who served in the Gulf war.

We are aware of no scientific or medical evidence to suggest that the incidence of genetic defects among babies born into the families of British Gulf veterans is any higher than that found among the civilian population. Given the lack of evidence, there are no grounds for commissioning independent research.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what research has been commissioned into leishmania tropica infection in service personnel who served in the Gulf war, with particular reference to viscerotropic leishmaniasis.

Tests for leishmaniasis are routinely performed on United Kingdom armed forces personnel whose service and personal history, symptoms and signs are suggestive of this disease. No case of any species of leishmania has been found in British armed forces personnel who served in the Gulf, and we have not therefore commissioned any additional research into the disease. We are aware, however, that the United States authorities have to date identified 31 cases of leishmaniasis among their personnel who served in the Gulf, including 12 cases of a disseminated disease not previously associated with the species leishmania tropica, which has been labelled viscerotropic leishmaniasis. The armed forces medical services will continue to monitor developments in the United States.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of the troops who served in Operation Granby (a) are still serving in the armed forces and (b) have been invalided out since.

Around 45,0000 service personnel were deployed to the middle east in support of operation Granby. Details of the number still serving are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. According to central medical records, one Royal Navy, 44 Army and three Royal Air Force personnel have, to date, been discharged on medical grounds as a result of injuries or illness sustained as a result of incidents during Operation Granby. All were discharged for recognised medical conditions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what research he has commissioned into possible nerve end damage, whether permanent or temporary, in service men and women as the result of exposure to various agents during the Gulf war.

None. Any service man or woman whose medical history, symptoms and signs are suggestive of neurological—including nerve end damage—is thoroughly investigated in accordance with normal clinical practice. None of the 65 individuals so far assessed under the Gulf medical assessment programme have neurological damage, and we therefore see no reason to commission specific research into this matter.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what checks have been carried out to establish whether service personnel with a history of asthma or hay fever may be particularly susceptible to nerve agent pre-treatment set or other products used for their protection during the Gulf War.

There is no evidence that normal seasonal hay fever sufferers are particularly susceptible to any of the protective measures used during Operation Granby. Individuals with a history of asthma could be susceptible to one of the protective measures, NAPS, the active constituent of which is pyridostigmine bromide. The administration of pyridostigmine bromide is not contra-indicated for known asthmatics, but caution is advised because the drug may exacerbate asthma symptoms. However, asthma is generally not compatible with service in the armed forces and potential recruits with a history of this condition would not be accepted for service. Furthermore, those already serving who develop asthma are required to be referred to a service consultant who assesses their suitability to be retained in the services. Those retained would normally serve in a reduced medical category which would preclude operational service.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make available to ex-service personnel who served in the Gulf war their full medical records, including details of all injections and other protective measures given.

Service medical records are the property of the Department and can be released only to the patient concerned in accordance with the Access to Health Records Act 1990, which came into force on 1 November 1991. Under the provisions of this Act, which is not retrospective, medical records are normally released only to the individual whom they concern if they were compiled after 1 November 1991. For records compiled before this date, however, it has long been my Department's policy to release them on request to a former service person's GP or solicitor where they may be required for the management of a particular case.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what independent research he has commissioned into the possible after-effects of exposure to a combination of two or more of inoculations against infectious diseases, NAPS tablets, organo-phosphorus pesticides and airborne pollution.

None. We are aware of no scientific or medical evidence which suggests that the combination of preventative medical procedures and individually non-harmful levels of other substances presents any increased risk to health which would warrant the commissioning of specific research.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Gulf war veterans have presented themselves with illnesses since their return; and how many have, in the judgment of his Department, been suffering from identifiable complaints, whether or not linked to their service in Operation Granby.

The information is not available in the form requested as no central record is maintained of visits by armed forces personnel to service primary health case facilities, and responsibility for the health of those Gulf veterans who have left the services rests with the national health service. One hundred and eighty-five Gulf war veterans with concerns about their health have, however, come forward at our request for medical assessment by the armed forces medical services. Of these, 65 have so far been examined under the medical assessment programme and all have been found to be suffering from identifiable complaints, none of which are peculiar to service in the Gulf.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the annual budget of the Defence Export Services Organisation in each of the last 15 years.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Leeds, Central (Mr. Fatchett) on 22 November, Official Report, column 139.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions during each of the last four years the proposed closure of a Royal Navy, Army or Royal Air Force base was made the subject of formal consultation; and in how many cases the proposed closure was subsequently reversed.

All proposals by my Department which affect civilian staff are subject to formal consultation with trade unions and other interested parties before final decisions are taken. As consultation is undertaken locally for all proposals affecting fewer than 25 staff, central records are not maintained, and the information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost. For those cases where records are held centrally, one proposal was altered, and two others are subject to fresh study. In other cases, alternative defence uses were found for some sites.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which of his Department's airfields are now surplus to requirements; and what is the timetable for their disposal.

The following airfields are surplus to requirement and are in disposal or earmarked for disposal:

Airfields	Expected disposal timetable
DRA Bedford (Thurleigh Airfield)	Completion of sale anticipated June 1995.
RAF Bentwaters	Disposal projected for FY 95/96.
RAF Binbrook	Disposal projected for FY 95/96.
RAF Greenham Common	Sale of airfield anticipated summer 1995.
Old Sarum Airfield	Freehold of airfield expected to be sold in February/March 1995.
St. David's Airfield, Dyfed	Completion of sale anticipated 31 December 1995.
RAF Sculthorpe	Disposal projected for FY 95/96 subject to confirmation of no further Defence use.
RAF Swinderby	Disposal projected for FY 95/96 subject to confirmation of no further Defence use.
RAF Upper Heyford	No timetable available at present as the method of disposal is still to be decided.
Wroughton Airfield	To be transferred to the National Museum of Science & Industry 31 March 1995

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the total number of approvals given per officer rank in the armed forces since 1984 to take up appointments with companies in the defence industry.

The information is as follows:

	Approvals
Admiral of the Fleet	1
Admiral	30
Vice Admiral	5
Rear Admiral	54
Commodore	8
Captain	88
Commander	258
Lieutenant Commander	287
Lieutenant	89
Field Marshal	2
General	16
Lieutenant General	6
Major General	65
Brigadier	77
Colonel	71
Lieutenant Colonel	125
Major	159
Captain	32
Lieutenant	6
Marshal of the RAF	1
Air Chief Marshal	13

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 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.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Ministry of Defence houses are currently vacant in each county of Northern Ireland.

The information requested is as follows:

	Houses
County Antrim	5
County Armagh	3
County Down	110
County Fermanagh	—
County Londonderry	55
County Tyrone	8

Of these houses, all but 18 are either being refurbished or are being held vacant in preparation for the arrival of replacement units in early 1995.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action his Department is taking to review the requirements for service residential and social accommodation in Northern Ireland.

We keep the requirement for accommodation under continual review in Northern Ireland, as elsewhere.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will review the requirement for additional accommodation at the Royal Engineers camp in Antrim in the event of other suitable alternative accommodation becoming available in the Antrim area.

The option of building on another site rather than rebuilding Massereene barracks was investigated, but no suitable alternative was found.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what reforms his Department has adopted following the Gordon Foxley case.

Our investigations into the Gordon Foxley case continue. It is, however, already apparent that a number of changes in practice, in areas such as competition and contracting procedures, made since the period in which Foxley was active had reduced the risk of a recurrence. We have also taken steps to reduce the time for which individuals serve in commercially sensitive posts. Further changes will be considered in the light of the progress of our investigation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what conclusions his Department has drawn from the Gordon Foxley case.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Rossendale and Darwen (Ms Anderson) of 23 November, Official Report, column 146–47.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration he has given to British membership of the Eurocorps.

There are no plans for the United Kingdom to join the Eurocorps.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with his French and German counterparts concerning the Eurocorps.

There have been no recent substantive discussions with France and Germany on the Eurocorps, although in the course of normal bilateral exchanges French and German Ministers generally inform their UK opposite numbers of significant developments concerning the corps.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Tornado aircraft have been lost in accidents in each of the last five years; and what has been the total cost of these accidents.

The information requested is as follows:

• 1990—5
• 1991—4
• 1992—0
• 1993—1
• 1994—6

No replacement costs arise for these aircraft since there is an attrition reserve from which aircraft are taken to replace those lost. Records are not maintained centrally of other costs that may arise from an accident, such as aircraft salvage or third party claims.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the safety records of Tornado F3s and GR1s.

The safety of aircraft in service is monitored continually by the RAF. The safety record of the Tornado compares favourably with other fast-jet types operated in a similar environment. Overall, the Tornado has had a low loss rate since it entered service.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action his Department has taken to remedy any technical problems which have caused Tornado accidents in the past five years.

One of the completed RAF boards of inquiry into Tornado accidents in the past five years has identified a technical problem as the cause. As a result of the accident on 30 April 1990 in Canada, modifications were made to the Tornado's RB 199 engine to improve fire protection.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the RAF's inspectorate of flight safety report into Tornado crashes will be published; and if he will make a statement.

The RAF inspectorate of flight safety has not been tasked to produce a specific report on Tornado crashes. All RAF aircraft accidents are subject to an RAF board of inquiry, which conducts a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances of each accident. Summaries of boards of inquiry findings are placed in the Library of the House. The safety of all RAF aircraft types are, however, kept under constant review.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the purpose of the LSD experiments called Moneybags carried out at the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, Porton Down; in which years the Moneybags experiments were conducted; how many service volunteers were tested under the Moneybags experiments; what were the lowest and highest doses administered to service volunteers during the Moneybags experiments; what were these volunteers required to do under these Moneybags experiments; how many animals were tested under the Moneybags experiments and what type of animals were used; what was the conclusion of the Moneybags experiments; and with which countries the results of these experiments were shared.

This is a matter for the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, Porton Down to consider under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which companies have put in bids to refurbish the present Hercules fleet; and if he will now instigate a competition for this work.

Competitive bids for refurbishment of the Hercules fleet will be sought formally if the Government decide, on the basis of the current detailed assessment, that there is an operational and value for money case in favour of pursuing refurbishment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the present number of (a) Navy, (b) Royal Air Force and (c) Army military bases within the United Kingdom.

Data held on the defence property list does not differentiate between minor sites and major locations. The total number of facilities attributed to single services are as follows:

(a) NAVY = 223

(b) RAF = 276

(c) ARMY = 447

These figures include facilities such as training areas and ranges, but exclude facilities such as married quarters, career information offices, and facilities for the reserve forces.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans the Government have to propose the complete demilitarisation of the safe areas in Bosnia.

We welcome the United Nations Secretary-General's report of 1 December to the Security Council on safe areas. The report includes proposals on the demilitarisation of the safe areas. It is now being studied by the Security Council.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which of the UN-declared safe areas are occupied by armed Bosnian Muslim troops; and what are the reasons for their presence.

Bosnian Government troops are present in all the safe areas in Bosnia: Sarajevo, Tuzla, Zepa, Gorazde, Srebrenica and Bihac.The Security Council resolutions relating to the designation of safe areas—819, 824 and 836—do not require that Bosnian Government troops be withdrawn from these areas.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will introduce a full management information system encompassing the activities of his staff in London and overseas.

Work is in hand to replace the Foreign Office's present management information system with a new financial and management accounting system from 1 April 1996. It will be compatible with the Department's integrated manpower and personnel system and will provide a comprehensive system covering all its activities at home and overseas.The ODA has an office-wide system providing management information for all staff, including those overseas, responsible for managing expenditure. This system came into operation in April 1987.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 23 November, Official Report, columns 165–66, what are the reasons for the size of his Department's staff establishment in Ankara.

The staffing level of diplomatic service posts overseas is determined by the Foreign Office's political and economic objectives, which are published in the departmental report for 1994. Staffing and resource levels at individual posts reflect the depth of bilateral relations, the requirements of British exporters, the growing number of British citizens travelling abroad; and United Kingdom immigration, aid and domestic policies.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 2 December, Official Report, column 949–52, what factors have led to the non-availability of the agenda of the Council of the European Union in Essen.

There are no formal agendas for European Councils although the President of the Council circulates his suggested themes for discussion a few days in advance. The likely subjects for discussion were set out in the memorandum by my right hon. Friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary to the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, which was sent to the Committee on 24 November.

To ask the Prime Minister how many (a) peerages and (b) knighthoods have been awarded since May 1979 to (i) local authority members, (ii) civil servants, (iii) business men, (iv) business women, (v) Conservative hon. Members, (vi) ex-Conservative hon. Members, (vii) Liberal hon. Members, (viii) ex-Liberal hon. Members, (ix) Social Democrat party hon. Members, (x) ex-Social Democrat party Members, (xi) Labour hon. Members and (xii) ex-Labour hon. Members.

The information requested can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Prime Minister what considerations led to the current ministerial staffing of the Department of Trade and Industry.

Ministerial staffing levels are determined according to the responsibilities of each Department.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the purposes of his engagements today.

To carry out my duties and responsibilities as Prime Minister.

To ask the Prime Minister how many letters he has received from the general public in connection with the Hercules C-130 replacement; how many of these supported Lockheed; and how many have asked for the decision to be delayed until the future large aircraft feasibility study has been completed.

I have received numerous representations on this subject.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what releases of green belt land over 100 hectares in size have been agreed to in structure or unitary plans since 1986.

No releases of green belt land over 100 hectares in size have been agreed to in the north-east in structure or unitary plans since 1986. Information is not available nationally, except at disproportionate cost.Research that the Government published last year showed that boundary alterations in development plans and affected less than 0.3 per cent. of green belts over the last eight years in the areas studied.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the occasions since 1987 when he or his predecessors have called in a development plan or issued a holding direction to prevent the release of areas of green belt land over 100 hectares in size.

Three article 14 directions have been made on green belt sites in excess of 100 hectares in the north-east since 1987. Information on holding directions is not available nationally, except at disproportionate cost. No development plans have ever been called in on green belt grounds.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what provision is made in guidance or draft guidance on green belts for the release of green belt land to halt out migration from local authority areas.

Planning policy guidance note 2 on green belts states:

"Once the general extent of a green belt has been approved it should be altered only in exceptional circumstances. If such an alteration is proposed the Secretary of State will wish to be satisfied that the authority has considered opportunities for development within the urban areas contained by and beyond the green belt. Similarly, detailed green belt boundaries defined in adopted local plans or earlier approved development plans should be altered only exceptionally."

A draft revision of PPG2, which was issued for consultation earlier this year, maintained the point that "exceptional circumstances" were required to justify boundary changes. A final version has not yet been published.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what research his Department has carried out into the health effects of nickel and vanadium emitted from large combustion plants; what conclusions have been reached; and if he will make a statement.

The Department of Environment has not carried out any research into the health effects of nickel and vanadium. The World Health Organisation has published an air quality guideline for vanadium of 1 vg/m³ daily average. The data available for the United Kingdom suggest that this is unlikely to be exceeded in urban areas.The WHO has not produced an air quality guideline for nickel. Advice from the Department of Health is that there is no reason to suppose that ambient levels of nickel pose a significant threat to health in the United Kingdom.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress the United Kingdom is making towards meeting its target of reducing total annual carbon dioxide emissions to 1990 levels by 2000.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave the hon. Member for Islington, North (Mr. Corbyn) on 30 November 1994, Official Report, column 1200.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will identify the amount and source of the extra funds for the single regeneration budget outlined in the latest Budget; and whether those extra funds will be available for all local authorities to compete for.

An extra £25 million has been added, for each of the three years 1995–96 to 1997–98, to the resources for projects successful in the first bidding round of the single regeneration budget. This brings the amount available for the 201 successful bids announced on 6 December to £125 million in 1995–96 and to £225 million in both 1996–97 and 1997–98.A second bidding round will be launched next year and will build up to a full spend of £200 million in 1997–98, with £40 million available in 1996–97 for early funding of successful projects.Resources for these new SRB projects are being released from the programmes which were brought together to form the SRB, as their existing commitments come to an end.Detailed guidance for the second round will be issued next spring. As in round 1, local authorities, training and enterprise councils and private and voluntary sector interests will be encouraged to form partnerships and put forward comprehensive bids that meet local regeneration needs and priorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will supply further figures to those set out at tables A and B of page 60 of the Department of Environment's annual report 1994 so as to bring those figures up to date to expenditure plans for the year 1997–98.

Approved Estate Management Boards in England as at 1 April 1994
Region	Authority	EMB	Units
London	Camden	Maiden Lane	479
London	Islington	Hornsey Lane	173
London	Kensington and Chelsea	Lancaster West	829
London	Tower Hamlets	Samuda	505
North East	Langbaurgh-on-Tees	South Bank	865
North West	Blackburn	Shadsworth	n/a
North West	Burnley	West End Estates	1,200
North West	Manchester	Hollin	1,200
North West	Oldham	Higginshaw Village	339
North West	Oldham	Holts Village	925
North West	Rochdale	Freehold	n/a
North West	Rossendale	Bacup and Stacksteads	1,184
North West	Rossendale	Haslingden	1,461
North West	Wanington	Blackbrook	809
North West	West Lancashire	Digmoor	n/a
North West	West Lancashire	Tanhouse	1,063
North West	West Lancashire	Whitworth	827
North West	Wyre	West View	843
South West	Plymouth	Pembroke Street	153
West Midlands	Birmingham	Bloomsbury	n/a
West Midlands	Stoke-on-Trent	Chell Heath	n/a
Yorkshire/Humberside	Kirklees	Staincliffe	628
Yorkshire/Humberside	Leeds	Belle Isle North	n/a
Yorkshire/Humberside	Leeds	Halton Moor	1,319

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the current financial provision made for estate management boards; and what is that planned for 1995–96 and 1996–97.

There is no separate provision for funding development of estate management boards.

The updated figures for planned urban and regeneration expenditure to 1997–98, including the single regeneration budget, are given in the table:

Urban and regeneration expenditure
	1995–96 plans	1996–97 plans	1997–98 plans
	(£ million)	(£ million)	(£ million)
Housing Action Trusts	90.0	90.0	90.0
Urban Development Corporations/DLR	238.7	214.7	209.7
English Partnerships (URA)	211.6	221.7	221.7
Other SRB	791.2	797.8	802.8
Total SRB	1,331.5	1,324.2	1,324.2
Other Urban	2.3	1.4	1.3
SRB and Urban Total	1,333.8	1,325.6	1,325.5

Updated figures for outturn expenditure in 1993–94 and estimated outturn in 1994–95 will be given in the Department's 1995 Annual Report.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list by region, area and title those estate management boards presently in operation giving their date of commencement and the number of residents and homes within their areas.

The information available to the Department on estate management boards approved by the Secretary of State before 1 April 1994 is as follows:They are funded from the section 16 programme, for which the current provision for 1994–95 is £6.4 million. Planned provision for 1995–96 and 1996–97 is £6 million for each year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the annual cost to public funds of each of the estate management boards by region, area and title since their commencement.

Information on the annual cost of individual estate management boards which have entered into a management agreement with a local authority is not held centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment who owns the freehold of County hall, London SE1.

The London residuary body.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what contracts have been awarded by his Department or organisations responsible to it to Selector Europe since 1 January 1990; and what has been the value of the contracts.

[holding answer 2 December 1994]: No contracts have been awarded to Selector Europe by the Department or its executive agencies during the period in question.

To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, as representing the Church Commissioners if he will publish details of the companies and undertakings owned by the Church Commissioners.

In common with normal practice, and as required by the Companies Act 1985, the commissioners give the names of their significant subsidiary undertakings, and their proportionate interest in each, in the financial statements which form part of their published annual report and accounts. This report is transmitted to the Home Secretary, distributed to other interested persons and is freely available to the public.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will list the salary of higher education lecturers at each salary grade in each year since 1979 at current prices and as a percentage of average earnings.

This information is not readily available in the form requested. I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education which London schools have opted out of national wage negotiations.

The London Oratory school is the only grant-maintained school for which an order has been made exempting the school from sections 2(6) and 2(7) of the School Teachers' Pay and Conditions Act 1991 so that it can put its own pay scales and conditions of service in place.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what comparative assessment she has made of provision of the proportion of children in publicly funded pre-school education in the United Kingdom and in each other EU country.