To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what was the total expenditure on energy for offices and buildings by (a) his Department and (b) his agencies in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

The total expenditure on energy for offices and buildings in each of the last three years was:

	1991–92 £000	1992–93 £000	1993–94 £000
(a) Lord Chancellor's Department	6,047	6,286	6,325
(b) Public Record Office	546	654	465
Public Trust Office	105	100	90
HM Land Registry	1,583	1,693	1,437

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary Lord Chancellor's Department how many legal aid applications were made in 1992–93 and 1993–94.

The number of applications received was as follows:

	1992–93	1993–94
Civil legal aid	472,903	413,738
ABWOR	60,356	32,056
Criminal legal aid1	699,576	635,839
Duty solicitor scheme	838,321	895,691
Applications in respect of legal advice and assistance2—green form—are dealt with by solicitors. It is therefore not known how many applications were actually received, but in 1992–93 and 1993–94 the number of people who received help under the scheme was 1,434,661 and 1,640,593 respectively.
1 Information is only available on a calendar year basis, i.e. for 1992 and 1993.
2 The provision of legal advice and assistance is subject to an assessment of financial means by the solicitor.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many parliamentary questions tabled in the last Session of Parliament were not answered on the grounds that the information sought was not held centrally by the Department.

During the last Session of Parliament only two questions received the answer that the information requested was not held centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what contribution his Department has made in 1994 to follow up the European Year of Older People and Solidarity between Generations in 1993.

My Department did not itself launch any special initiatives for the European Year of Older People and Solidarity Between Generations in 1993, or in the following year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is the estimated number of remand prisoners who have been awaiting trial (a) for more than three months, (b) for more than six months (c) for more than 12 months and (d) for more than 18 months at the latest available date.

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 how many asylum applications have been awaiting decision for more than (a) six years, (b) five years, (c) four years, (d) three years and (e) two years.

As at 30 November 1994—the latest date for which this information is available—the estimated number of asylum applications outstanding was 54,025. Information on the number of these cases waiting longer than two, three, four, five or six years is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps have been taken to examine the length of detention periods of asylum seekers in relation to the EU human rights convention, article 5.4.

Powers of detention under the Immigration Act 1971 are used only where there is no alternative and where there are good grounds for believing that a person will not comply with the conditions of temporary admission.Anyone refused asylum may appeal under the Asylum and Immigration Appeals Act 1993 and may apply for bail to the independent appellate authorities at any time while an appeal is pending. Bail may also be sought from the appellate authorities by any passenger who has been detained for longer than seven days pending further examination. These statutory provisions are supplemented by the general power of the courts to grant a writ of habeas corpus and to grant bail in any case before them.Decisions to detain under the Immigration Act 1971 are authorised at Chief Immigration Officer level at least and are reviewed by an Immigration Service inspector within 24 hours. The need for detention is then reviewed locally at least every seven days and after one month at increasingly senior levels.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to be able to reply to the request, made on 16 September 1994, by Gloucestershire police authority for a special grant in respect of the Cromwell street murder investigation.

A reply will be sent within the next two weeks.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what contribution his Department has made in 1994 to follow up the European Year of Older People and Solidarity between Generations in 1993.

My Department has continued its funding of the retired and senior volunteer programme and the retired executives action clearing house. It also funds other organisations which encourage volunteering by people of all ages, including older people.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to consider new guidelines for immigration officers to avoid a couple remaining separated for an alleged marriage of convenience.

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what training immigration officers receive to enable them to decide if a marriage is one of convenience.

Immigration and Nationality Department staff responsible for considering applications for leave to remain in the United Kingdom on the basis of marriage receive full training on all aspects of the immigration rules and their application before taking up their duties.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy that the enforcement of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 will be kept under review.

In accordance with standard practice, the application of the main provisions of the Act will be monitored and evaluated.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary with a statement of the duties which he expects of the inspector of constabulary.

As promised in the Government's White Paper on police reform, Cm 2281, I have provided the Chief Inspector of Constabulary with a clear statement of the duties and responsibilities which I expect the inspectorate should fulfil.The statement emphasises the key role of the inspectorate as an independent watchdog monitoring police performance and ensuring that standards are maintained. I have made it clear that I will also be looking to the inspectorate to report to me on the progress being made by police authorities and forces in establishing local strategies for building effective partnerships between the police and the local community.I have placed copies of the statement in the Library. I am also arranging for it to be circulated to all chief officers of police and to clerks of police authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what sum was spent by his Department on research in each of the last 10 years; what percentage this was of the total annual budget; what is the research budget for the forthcoming year; what percentage this is of his total budget; and what additional new research is to be undertaken.

[holding answer 13 December 1994]: The sums spent on research and development by the Department for the last 10 years were reported in the statistical supplement to the "1994 Forward Look of Government-funded Science Engineering and Technology". The expenditure on research and development and the total percentage that this expenditure was of total departmental expenditure is as follows:

Year	R and D expenditure£ millions	Percentage total expenditure
1985–86	23.7	0.6
1986–87	13.3	0.3
1987–88	14.2	0.3
1988–89	14.1	0.3
1989–90	15.2	0.3
1990–91	25.0	0.4
1991–92	17.3	0.3
1992–93	20.1	0.4
1993–94	119.8	0.3
1994–95	119.1	0.3
1995–96	120.4	0.3
1 Estimated
2 Planned

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which of the special advisers serving in his Department during the last five years were subject to positive security vetting.

[holding answer 13 December 1994]: All of them.

To ask the Prime Minister what steps have been taken to appoint an intelligence and security committee, commissioner and tribunal, under the terms of the Intelligence Services Act 1994.

Following consultation with the Leader of the Opposition, and in accordance with section 10 of the Intelligence Services Act, I have appointed the intelligence and security committee as follows:

• The right hon. Tom King CH MP (Chairman)
• The right hon. Alan Beith MP
• The right hon. Dr John Gilbert MP
• The right hon. Sir Archie Hamilton MP
• The right hon. Lord Howe of Aberavon QC
• Mr Barry Jones MP
• Mr Michael Mates MP
• Mr Allan Rogers MP
• Sir Giles Shaw MP

In accordance with section 8 of the Intelligence Services Act 1994, I have appointed Lord Justice Stuart-Smith as the Intelligence Services Commissioner for a period of three years. Sir Simon Dennis Brown has been appointed president of the intelligence services tribunal, John Colin McInnes vice-president of the tribunal and Sir Richard Kennedy Harvey Gaskell a member of the tribunal, by royal warrant, each for a period of five years. All appointments take effect from 15 December 1994.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much public money will be spent on entertaining, Christmas decorations and other festive activities this Christmas season by his Department and Government agencies answerable to his Department; and of this sum how much will be spent in Ministers' private offices and official residences, including No. 11 Downing street and Dorney Wood.

About £400 will be spent by the Treasury this year on purchasing and decorating four Christmas trees, the tree at the entrance to No. 11 Downing street accounting for approximately £100 of this sum. The only other Christmas-related expenditure borne by the Treasury is a party for representatives of the press to be hosted by the Chancellor at No. 11. This is estimated to cost in the region of £1,150.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has anything to add to his statement of 28 November concerning treaty obligations of Her Majesty's Government on the European Communities (Finance) Bill, Official Report, column 953.

The agreement reached at Edinburgh was a political commitment in which the United Kingdom Government gave our word to our EU partners. We expect our partners to keep their word; and they expect us to keep ours. If we were to break our word, the international reputation of the United Kingdom would be severely damaged. The own resources decision will constitute a treaty obligation when the Government notify adoption of it.

To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the most recent Council meeting of the Economic and Finance Ministers of the European Union.

I represented the United Kingdom at the Economic and Finance Council of the European Union in Brussels on 5 December.The Council broadly endorsed the Netherlands' convergence programme for 1995 to 1998 and the Commission's assessment of it.The Council adopted a slightly amended version of the ECOFIN report to the Essen European Council on the employment aspects of the White Paper follow-up, subject to a Belgian reserve. I thoroughly welcomed the report with its analysis of the causes of structural unemployment and in particular the problems caused by high levels of social protection in some areas.The Council endorsed the "Main Recommendations" of the Christophersen Group report on the trans-European networks aspects of the White Paper follow-up, omitting any reference to possible new Community financial instruments in the future.The Council adopted the ECOFIN report to the Essen European Council on implementation of the broad economic guidelines requested by the Brussels European Council in December 1993, and carried out the multilateral surveillance required by article 103(3) of the treaty.The Council agreed in principle to an 85 million ECU loan to the Ukraine subject to the signature of an IMF stand-by arrangement and to the rapid implementation of the EU/G7 action plan for the closure of Chernobyl. The Council noted the exceptional nature of the loan and agreed to a review of EU lending priorities. The Council reached political agreement on Commission proposals to provide macro-financial assistance to Algeria and Slovakia.The Council agreed with the recommendations of the European Monetary Institute in its opinion that decisions on the transition to the third stage of economic and monetary union will be taken in full accordance with the relevant articles of the treaty and the protocol on the convergence criteria.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many bottles of (a) whisky, (b) other spirits and (c) wine were bought from public funds for use at No. 11 Downing street and his other official residences in 1993–94; how much they cost; how many bottles were consumed in December 1993; and how many he estimates will be consumed at No. 11 Downing street and the other residences in December 1994.

I pay for all drinks consumed on private occasions. Information of this sort about drinks provided for official occasions could be provided only at disproportionate cost to public funds. The hon. Member is wasting an absurd amount of official time and public money by asking a series of parliamentary questions on topics of this kind.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a regional breakdown of the projected revenue received from VAT on domestic fuel in (a) the 1994–95 financial year and (b) the 1995–96 financial year.

The latest assessment of regional expenditure is contained in the 1993 family expenditure survey. Any projections to 1994–95 or 1995–96 would be purely speculative.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the amount per week a married couple on average male earnings with two children is estimated to have paid in VAT, at today's prices, in the year 1978–79; and what he estimates a similar family will pay in 1994–95.

[holding answer 13 December 1994]: A couple with two children on average earnings paid VAT of £7.05 per week in 1978–79, in 1994–95 prices, and an estimated £21.43 in 1994–95. Since 197879, the real take-home pay of such a family has risen by over £80 a week.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many credit unions were operating in England and in the United Kingdom for (a) 1980, (b) 1990 and (c) in each year since 1990.

Credit unions in Northern Ireland are registered separately from those in Great Britain, and are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. For credit unions in England and Great Britain, the information requested is as follows:

	Number of credit unions at end of year
	England	Great Britain
1980	43	57
1990	217	275
1991	255	327
1992	299	383
1993	330	427

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to provide continuing counter facilities for the Inland Revenue stamp office in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

No. The Cardiff stamp office public counter is little used and no stamp office facilities will be available in Cardiff after that office closes on 30 December 1994. Former Cardiff customers should be able to get their documents stamped and returned by post from another stamp office within the stamp office guide time of five working days.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the increase in interest rates on 7 December was at his request or on the recommendation of the Governor of the Bank of England.

As is clear from the published minutes, the Chancellor of the Exchequer is responsible for all interest rate decisions. The Governor's advice at the 7 December meeting will be published on 11 January 1995.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated borrowing requirement to the end of the current financial year; what is the forecast distribution in terms of interest-bearing assets by length to maturity; and what is the additional cost to the Exchequer of securing the additional debt each year to the last maturity date in (a) nominal terms and (b) real terms, assuming nil inflation.

The public sector borrowing requirement for 1994–95 is forecast to be £34.3 billion. The outturn for the first seven months of the financial year was £19.2 billion, implying borrowing of £15.1 billion between November and March.The distribution of debt in terms of interest-bearing assets by length to maturity will depend on market conditions. The cost of securing the additional debt will depend on the form of the debt and on market interest rates.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he has taken to resolve the issue of the hidden VAT which is incurred by airlines as a consequence of the Civil Aviation Authority's VAT status as a public body.

I am pleased to announce that, from 1 April 1995, the Civil Aviation Authority will be granted taxable status in respect of its supply of en route air navigation services.This change will enable the CAA to recover the VAT paid in its en-route operating costs and capital expenditure, which is estimated as being in the order of around £30 million per annum. Over £20 million of this, representing VAT on en-route operating costs, will be passed directly to the airlines in the form of lower charges. The remainder, formerly incurred on the CAA's capital spending, can be used to fund the CAA's investment programme.This change removes a source of potential discrimination against United Kingdom airlines, and will be widely welcomed by the airline industry.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequerhow many people were removed from the income tax net in (a) 1990–91, (6) 1991–92 and (c) 1992–93.

[holding answer 13 December 1994]: Information on numbers of taxpayers is published in table 2.1 of Inland Revenue Statistics 1994, a copy of which is in the Library.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will list those ports and airports which do not have permanently staffed Customs checks and operate a system whereby entrants telephone Customs if they have anything to declare; and how many calls were received by Customs on its telephone in each month of 1993 and 1994;(2) if he will list those ports and airports in which Customs checks are not permanently staffed.

[holding answer 8 December 1994]: There are no Custom-free ports or airports. Over recent years customs enforcement strategy has progressively moved away from a static presence at all ports and airports towards more flexible checks operated by fast response teams targeted at both areas and time of highest risk. At major ports and airports these anti-smuggling teams are based on site; the smaller places being covered by mobile anti-smuggling teams based elsewhere. It would not be in the public interest to identify all these smaller ports and airports.As a part of the overall Customs strategy, which encompasses both anti-smuggling and fiscal controls, there are some locations where entrants can telephone Customs if they have anything to declare for fiscal purposes. A list of such locations is shown in the table and where the information is available, the number of calls received by customs for each of 1993 and 1994 is also shown.

To ask the Attorney-General in what ways the Law Society professional code of conduct applies to Treasury solicitors.

The Treasury Solicitor's Department employs solicitors and banisters. As individuals they are all answerable to the profession to which they belong. When acting in the name of the department, the relevant professional standards apply to them.

To ask the Attorney-General (1) what advice was given to Government Departments about the: effect of Marshall v. Southampton and South West area health authority (No. 1);(2) if advice was given to all Government Departments about the effect of Marshall v. Southampton and South West area health authority (No. 1).

By convention, the Law Officers do not normally disclose whether advice has been given on a particular issue or the substance of any advice that they may have given.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the functions and objectives of (a) the Coal Task Force, (b) the Engineering Technology Advisory Committee, (c) the Industrial Development Advisory Board, (d) the Information Technology Advisory Board and (e) the Innovation Advisory Board.

The information requested is as follows:

To ask the President of the Board of Trade on what date the Cymbeline artillery locating system was given an export licence for export to Iraq.

It has been the policy of successive Administrations not to disclose details about export licences that have been issued. However, the Government reserve the right to release the information, in exceptional circumstances, where it is in the public interest. This is one of those exceptional cases.Since 1985, export licences have been issued for the export of Cymbeline radars and spares to Iraq on: 28 June 1985, 18 and 20 June 1986, 1 September 1986, 8 January 1987, 11 August 1987, 16 May 1988, 22 November 1988, 19 January 1989 and 7 July 1989. Two of the export licences were revalidated on 2 March 1990. Existing licences were withdrawn by, and returned to, the DTI following the imposition of sanctions on Iraq in August 1990.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will indicate the amount of public subsidy to the export of armaments in the last five years for which figures are available and the projected figure for the next twelve months.

Sales of defence equipment sold on credit terms of two years or more and insured by ECGD are eligible for support under the Department's fixed rate export finance scheme.In the four years up to 1992–93 a net public expenditure cost was incurred under the scheme as a whole but in the last financial year there were net receipts. The breakdown of these figures between defence and civil business is not collected and is not readily obtainable.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make it his policy that the increase in export credits will not be used to facilitate arms deals with countries with poor human rights records.

The export licensing system, which is the responsibility of the DTI's export licensing unit takes account of issues such as the human rights record of overseas Governments. The insurance cover provided by the Export Credits Guarantee Department is conditional on export licences being obtained where required.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps he has taken to prevent the sending of junk mail.

Persons who do not wish to receive unsolicited mail can register with the mailing preference service. This will normally filter out 90 per cent. of such mail. I have no plans to impose any further restrictions.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will set out the ways in which the Government's policy of ensuring that energy services are provided to customers in a commercial environment in which consumers pay the full cost of the energy sources they consume, as outlined in the White Paper on the prospects for coal, apply in regard to nuclear energy.

The White Paper "The Prospect for Coal" Cm 2235, explained that transitional arrangements in the form of the nuclear non-fossil fuel option and the fossil fuel levy were put in place at the time of electricity privatisation to enable the full costs of nuclear generation in England and Wales to be met. These arrangements are being assessed by the nuclear review.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what are the statutory powers and duties of (a) the Government Chemist and (b) the Laboratory of the Government Chemist.

The Government Chemist is named as referee analyst under the following pieces of legislation:

• Food Safety Act 1990 and Food Safety (Sampling and Qualifications) Regulations 1990
• Agriculture Act 1970
• Medicines Act 1968 and Medicines (Animal Feeding Stuffs) (Enforcement) Regulations 1985
• Farm and Garden Chemicals Act 1967
• Agriculture (Poisonous Substances) Act 1952
• Rag Flock and Other Filling Materials Act 1951
• Poultry Meat (Water Content) (Scotland) Regulations 1983
• Poultry Meat (Water Content) Regulations 1984
• Natural Mineral Waters Regulations 1985
• Materials and Articles in Contact with Food Regulations 1987
• The Plastic Materials and Articles in Contact 'with Food Regulations 1992.

In addition, the Government Chemist is named as authorised analyst under the Hydrocarbon Oil Duties Act 1979. Under the Poisons Act 1972 there is provision for the appointment of the Government Chemist to carry out a function personal to him.Where required the work to carry out analyses under these pieces of legislation is generally undertaken by the Laboratory of the Government Chemist.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what conditions will be placed on the sale or transfer of the Laboratory of the Government Chemist to ensure its continuing independence and impartiality.

The Secretary of State will impose appropriate conditions; these are under consideration.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what powers he has to enforce the carrying out of the statutory role of (a) the Government Chemist and (b) the Laboratory of the Government Chemist; and how these powers will be affected by sale or transfer of the laboratory.

Responsibility for making and terminating the appointment of the Government Chemist, who is currently also the chief executive of the Laboratory of the Government Chemist, falls to my Department. It is not intended that this will change on privatisation.At present the Department has powers over the carrying out of the statutory role of the Government Chemist and of the staff under his direction through their terms and conditions of employment as civil servants. Upon privatisation, it is expected that the Government Chemist will continue to be appointed by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry within the privatised laboratory and that the terms of the appointment will require that appointee to carry out the statutory functions.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the value of contracts placed with the Laboratory of the Government Chemist in the financial year 1993–94 by (a) his Department, (b) other individual Government Departments and (c) individual executive agencies.

In 1993–94 the Laboratory of the Government Chemist received income from the following:

		£ million
(a)	Department of Trade and Industry	7.4
(b)	Her majesty's Customs and Excise	1.7
	Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food	1.3
	Ministry of Defence	1.1
	Department of Health	0.65
	Department of Environment1	0.45
	Department of Transport	0.15
(c)	Intervention Board	0.6
	Social Security Benefits Agency	0.2
1 This includes income from organisations that were part of DoE at us the outset of the financial year but changed their status during it.

In addition, a further £0.6 million approximately was received from other central Government customers, including departments and individual executive agencies, consisting predominantly of amounts below £0.1 million.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much the Laboratory of the Government Chemist will spend on non-contract strategic research in the financial year 1993–94.

In 1993–94 the Laboratory of the Government Chemist spent approximately £250,000 on its own strategic research relating to selected areas of analytical science to enhance its technical capabilities. A similar outturn for 1994–95 is expected.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what arrangements will be made for the pensions of current and former staff of the Laboratory of the Government Chemist following sale or transfer of the laboratory.

On privatisation, the new company will be required to provide broadly comparable pension arrangements. The Government Actuary will provide an independent analysis of comparability between existing pension arrangements and those proposed after privatisation. The pension arrangements of former LGC staff will not be affected.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the current members of the energy advisory panel; if he will give details of their background and expertise; and on what dates the panel has met since March 1993.

The current members of the energy advisory panel, with their relevant background, are as follows:

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the Director General of Electricity Supply's report, "Trading Outside the Pool".

I welcome the director general's report and accept his conclusions. I note that further reforms in pool trading are anticipated. I look forward to further reforms in the way the uplift element of the pool price is handled and share the director general's wish to see progress in permitting local trades between generators and second tier suppliers - that is, trades on the customer side of a grid supply point rather than trades across the grid itself.The director general has stated that he would be prepared to reconsider the issue of "Trading Outside the Pool" at some future date if circumstances warranted. I consider this a sensible and pragmatic conclusion.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade, if he will make a statement on the outcome of the review of the Patent Office Agency.

I am pleased to announce that the review is now complete. A summary of the consultants' report, edited to omit commercially sensitive information, has been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. It is customary to review the status and performance of all agencies, as a matter of course, three years after their establishment. I am satisfied that the Patent Office has performed well during this period. It is meeting the legitimate expectations of users and improvements in quality of service were recognised by the award of a charter mark in 1993. Since relocation to Newport, Gwent, in 1991, the office has also reduced its cost base by about £7 million per annum, it has become a trading fund, and it has introduced a range of commercial disciplines. These will all contribute to securing its long-term future.I have considered whether the Patent Office should be privatised and believe that this should remain an option for the longer term. I have also looked at the scope for large-scale contractorisation. But the nature and extent of the Patent Office's statutory functions would require special arrangements in this case to safeguard their proper exercise, and so render this option less attractive. I have therefore decided to confirm the status of the Patent Office as an executive agency. I will be setting new targets to take effect from 1 April 1995 which will require the Patent Office to continue its drive to improve efficiency and quality of service and these will encourage the Patent Office to contract out activities wherever this is compatible with its statutory role and good value for money. The aim is for the Patent Office to continue to provide a first rate service to its users. The office is a valuable asset in terms of its information resource and analytical expertise, and I will also support its endeavours to work with private sector partners to seek out new business opportunities both in the United Kingdom and overseas. Experience of the development of such partnerships as well as all options for ownership and delivery of service will be re-examined in any future review.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will give details of responses to the Government Green Paper, "The Future of Postal Services".

By the end of the consultation period on 30 September, there had been some 13,400 responses to the Green Paper. A further 2,000 responses were received after 30 September.Responses fell into two categories. The first category came from individual members of the public and local organisations and tended to be short responses on the principle of privatisation. The second category—some 50 responses in all—came from organisations with more specific interests in the future of postal services, including representatives of users, competitors and postal employees.Of the first category, over half of responses were pre-printed postcards or short standard form letters issued by organisations opposed to the Government's proposals. Among the significant majority of letters there was confusion as to the detail of what the Government were proposing and little acknowledgement of the safeguards proposed in the Green Paper.The second category of more detailed responses was more difficult to summarise. Many of them took the form of lengthy documents analysing the options and other points of detail, with a wide variety of views being expressed. There was, however, an overall majority in this category in favour of privatisation of the Royal Mail and Parcelforce.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade which of the special advisers serving in his Department during the last five years were subject to positive security vetting.

[holding answer 13 December 1994]: All special advisers are currently required to have positive vetting.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the companies in the north-west which benefited from the marketing initiative under the consultancy assistance scheme of the now defunct enterprise initiative.

[holding answer 12 December 1994]: The take-up of the consultancy initiative by north- west companies, and their satisfaction with the scheme, were amongst the highest in the country. Since it started in January 1988, over 19,000 north-west companies have benefitted from the consultancy initiative. More than 3,500 companies chose the marketing option, although their names cannot be revealed for reasons of commercial confidentiality.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade on how many occasions departmental officials met representatives of Ian Greer Associates in the last month to discuss matters relating to their client's interests.

[holding answer 12 December 1994]: This information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the Government will sign the European charter of self-government; and if he will make a statement.

The Government have no plans to sign the European charter of local self-government. Local government is not suitable for regulation by international convention.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has made of the population of hares in the United Kingdom in the period from 1979 to date.

The Government-funded national hare survey, carried out during the winters of 1991–92 and 1992–93 estimated the British population to be somewhere between 680,000 and 954,000. There are no figures available for Northern Ireland.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many home buyers who took out a mortgage in (a) 1988, (b) 1989, (c) 1990 and (d) 1991 are now experiencing negative equity in each region.

An estimate of the number of home buyers who took out a mortgage in each of the years 1988 to 1991, still affected by negative equity, by region, based on Department of the Environment house price data is as follows:

(thousands)
Region	1988	1989	1990	1991
South East	73.5	105.0	94.9	65.8
Greater London	18.2	24.8	24.4	11.3
South West	20.7	36.6	33.5	18.3
East Anglia	10.1	18.7	11.7	6.6
East Midlands	—	3.6	3.1	3.5
West Midlands	—	0.8	3.8	1.5
Wales	—	—	—	2.9
Yorks and Humberside	—	—	—	6.3
North West	—	—	—	—
North	—	—	—	—
Scotland	—	—	—	—
Northern Ireland	—	—	—	—
United Kingdom	122.5	189.5	171.4	116.3

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the effect of levying value added tax on standing charges for fuel on the United Kingdom's emissions of greenhouse gases.

The introduction of VAT on domestic fuel and power at the standard rate was expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 1.5 millions tonnes of carbon per annum. The effect on emissions of levying VAT on standing charges has not been separately assessed.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to promote competition in the water industry.

We are keen to encourage competition wherever it is appropriate and the Competition and Service (Utilities) Act 1992 introduced a number of measures to facilitate it in the case of water.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the present amount of accumulated debt of each of the district authorities in England.

I have placed the information requested about the amount of accumulated debt of each of the district councils in England in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list 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 "Going for Green" committee since its inception.

The Government panel on sustainable development has met four times since it was established in January 1994. It intends to produce its first report early in 1995. Administrative support for the panel is provided by staff seconded to the Cabinet Office. Panel members receive expenses only.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proportion of the budget of the home energy efficiency scheme is spent promoting the scheme to those eligible for funding under the scheme.

Some £500,000—about 0.7 per cent. of the total budget of the home energy efficiency scheme—is being spent in the current financial year on promotion. Current demand for the scheme indicates that knowledge of its existence is widespread, and that this level of promotion is both appropriate and consistent with the need to ensure that the available funds are used, as far as possible, to pay grants.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the impact of the proposed reduction in housing association investment on the number of homes available for rent.

Housing associations can provide homes for rent through the Housing Corporation's approved development programme in two ways: new homes for rent funded by the rental programme; and lettings freed up by the corporation's home ownership initiatives which are targeted at existing public sector tenants. The Housing Corporation estimates that through these programmes it will be able to provide over 46,000 new rented lettings in 1995–96. This compares with the estimate of 43,500 new rented lettings in 1995–96 published in December 1993.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) when he expects the radioactive waste management advisory committee to publish its 20 year review;(2) when he expects the radioactive waste management advisory committee and advisory committee on the safety of muclear installations to publish their joint report on site selection and safety criteria for the deep disposal of radioactive waste.

The reports, which I have not yet received, will be published in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the forthcoming finance, management and policy review of the Housing Corporation.

As part of the Government's programme of regular five-yearly finance, management and policy reviews of non-departmental public bodies my Department will conduct a thorough review of the Housing Corporation beginning on 3 January 1995. The first stage of the review will take the form of a prior options study. This will assess the extent to which the corporation's functions are necessary for the achievement of the Government's policies, and whether there is scope for privatising, contracting out, or transferring all or part of its functions to another body. The study will take into account Government's continuing support for a programme of new lettings at subsidised rents delivered through housing associations.The progress made by the corporation since the previous review in 1990 will be examined and the results of that examination and of the prior options study will inform a detailed review of the corporation's policy and financial management systems.To minimise the uncertainty the prior options study will cause, I expect that study to be completed within four months. The time required for the more detailed review cannot be foreseen, but I would expect it to last no longer than eight months.In carrying out the study my Department will consult widely with housing organisations and others with an interest in the corporation's work.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what sum was spent by his Department on research in each of the last 10 years; what percentage this was of the total annual budget; what is the research budget for the forthcoming year; what percentage this is of his total budget; and what additional new research is to be undertaken.

[holding answer 13 December 1994]: Expenditure by the Department of the Environment on research and development in each of the last 10 years in £ millions and as a percentage of the total annual budget, is presented below:

Years	Research spend	Percentage of total annual budget
1985–86	39.6	0.198
1986–87	52.4	0.248
1987–88	54.2	0.244
1988–89	54.3	0.240
1989–90	61.9	0.260
1990–91	69.9	0.243
1991–92	89.0	0.239
1992–93	91.6	0.222
1993–94	90.5	0.230
1994–95	93.9	0.239

The expenditure on research and development in the coming year has still to be finalised and will be reported in the statistical supplement to the "1995 Forward Look of Government-Funded Science, Engineering and Technology". The changes in the content of my departmental research in the coming years will be described in the main part of the forward look

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will introduce national poop scoop legislation for dog fouling;(2) what estimate he has made of the level of dog fouling in the United Kingdom; and what information he has about it as a major source of filth and disease in urban areas;(3) what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the existing system of byelaws in improving the environment concerning dog fouling.

The Government accept the conclusion of the advisory group on litter that the present complex system of byelaw control for dog fouling in England and Wales is unsatisfactory We therefore propose to simplify the system so that local authorities can introduce poop scoop measures in designated areas, without reference to central Government. We also propose that there should be a fixed penalty scheme for dog fouling offences to help local authorities enforce the measures. We believe that these measures will go a long way to addressing the group's wish to see a national poop scoop offence created across England and Wales.My Department has made no estimate of dog fouling in the United Kingdom. I understand that the pet advisory committee has estimated that approximately 1,200 tonnes of faeces are produced each day by dogs in the United Kingdom. In 1993 a survey by the Tidy Britain Group found that about one in six public places in the United Kingdom had dog fouling present. Within this sample, one in three off-street areas such as parks, playgrounds and car parks were fouled.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total expenditure on energy for each property owned or leased by his Department for the use of Ministers in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

The only property leased by my Department for use by Ministers is a flat in Admiralty house, Whitehall, which is occupied by my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Defence. Energy costs for this property are not metered separately; they fall to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, which is responsible for the utilities costs of the whole building. The amounts attributable to the flat cannot therefore be separately identified.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total expenditure on energy for offices and buildings by (a) his Department and (b) his agencies in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Statistics on energy expenditure are not maintained centrally for all the offices and buildings occupied by my Department's staff or for the agencies, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. For headquarters office accommodation, however, the costs were as follows:

	1991–92 £	1992–93 £	1993–94 £
Electricity	3,418,910	3,923,836	4,121,307
Gas	314,140	254,627	280,189
Water	590,975	543,146	424,877
Oil	642,733	703,405	530,000

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what controls on future export sales form part of the European fighter aircraft international partnership agreement; and how these controls are to be exercised by the partner nations in the project.

The arrangements for the sale of Eurofighter 2000 to third parties are set out in the general memorandum of understanding signed by the four partner nations and are reflected in the development contracts. In the development phase, industry must inform the partner nations before licence rights or sales to third parties can be granted, and the participating nations can require industry to refrain from granting such rights or impose conditions on the sale.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will provide figures for defence expenditure from 1978–79 to 1997–98 using the basis used for the calculation in the "Financial Statement and Budget Report" 1995–96.

The information requested is as follows:

	£ million
1978–79	21,760
1979–80	23,092
1980–81	23,755
1981–82	24,224
1982–83	25,834
1983–84	26,549
1984–85	28,040
1985–86	27,822
1986–87	27,224
1987–88	26,567
1988–89	25,295
1989–90	25,559
1990–91	25,292
1991–92	26,188
1992–93	23,611
1993–94	22,757
1994–95	22,071
1995–96	20,627
1996–97	20,310
1997–98	20,219

(1) All figures are in £ million and are converted to constant 1993–94 prices using the GDP deflators published in the Financial Statement and Budget Report 1995–96. Outturn information is given from 1978–79 to 1993–94. The 1994–295 total is the estimated outturn and figures for 1995–96 to 1997–98 are the latest plans published in the FSBR 1995–96.(2) Figures are adjusted for technical changes in the treatment of Armed Forces and civilian pensions described in the 1992 Autumn Statement Cm 2096, and other classification changes.(3) Figures before 1992–93 include expenditure relating to the security and intelligence services. Comparisons with later years' figures cannot be made on a fully consistent basis.(4) Totals include expenditure on the Falklands and Gulf conflicts but exclude Gulf burden—sharing contributions received in 1990–91 and 1991–92.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to share military training between Salisbury plain and Otterburn.

Because the Salisbury plain training area cannot accommodate all the training demands placed on it and has to be managed at a level which will not cause unacceptable environmental damage,it is intended that the Otterburn training area will, in future, be used for live firing of both MLRS and AS90. Although a proportion of AS90 live firing and tactical movement and MLRS manoeuvre training will continue at Salisbury plain, no MLRS live firing will be carried out there in the foreseeable future.

To ask the Secretary of State of Defence if he will set out his Department's expenditure on public relations in 1989–90, 1990–91, 1991–92, 1992–93 and 1993–94, and planned expenditure in 1994–95.

The earliest year for which figures are readily available is 1991–92. Figures which relate to expenditure on films, exhibitions, publications, equipment and headquarters staff and operating costs are:

Year	£
1991–92	5,490,000
1992–93	5,520,000
1993–94	5,450,000

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he has taken to prevent sexual harassment in the armed forces.

It is made clear throughout the armed forces that ill-treatment of any sort is not tolerated. Any complaints of harassment are investigated and, if proven, appropriate action is taken. In April 1994, the Army issued guidelines on dealing with and preventing sexual harassment. The Royal Navy and Royal Air Force are in the process of drawing up similar guidelines.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how the EC code of practice on measures to combat sexual harassment has been brought to the attention of service personnel.

A single code of practice for civilian staff, covering all forms of harassment, including sexual harassment, is being prepared to update existing procedures. This new code takes account of the EC code of practice and when it has been finalised, its provisions will be incorporated into the services' guidelines on dealing with harassment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library all minutes and working party reports of the committee on women in NATO forces from 1976 to the present time.

My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence will write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library details of the entire benefits and remuneration package enjoyed by men and women in the armed forces from 1976 to the present time.

Full details of the entitlements to, and levels of, allowance since 1976 are not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost. The key documents relating to the remuneration of members of the armed forces for the period requested are, however, already in the Library of the House. They include:

• Reports of the Armed Forces Pay Review Body
• Royal Navy Orders in Council made under Section 3 of the Naval and Marine Pay and Pensions Act 1865
• The Army Pay Warrant
• The Army Pensions Warrant
• Queen's Orders for the RAF Pay, Allowances and Pensions made under Section 2 of the Air Force Constitution Act 1917
• The Queen's Regulations for the Royal Navy, the Army and the Royal Air Force

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what working party reports on equality in the armed forces were prepared between 1976 and the present time; and what were the dates upon which they reported.

In the time available it has not been possible to establish whether any such reports were prepared, other than that referred to in my answer to the hon. Member of 30 November, Official Report, column 784. It is not my Department's practice to release internal planning documents of this kind.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what advice he has received regarding the standard prescribed dosage for nerve agent pre-treatment set tablets.

The nerve agent pre-treatment set standard dose of one 30 mg tablet taken eight-hourly was based on scientific and medical advice following studies to establish the efficacy and safety of the constituent drug Pyridostigmine bromide as a nerve agent pre-treatment. Those studies showed effective protection at this dosage with only occasional minor side effects, which cease when the tablets are stopped.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if civilians serving with the Merchant Navy and based in Plymouth were prescribed a course of nerve agent pre-treatment set tablets prior to and during Operation Granby; and if he will make a statement.

All personnel deployed to the Gulf theatre of operations, including those MOD civilians working in support of the Navy, were issued with NAPS tablets for their personal administration against the risk of chemical nerve agent attack. All personnel were briefed not to exceed the stated dose and were advised when to commence taking NAPS tablets.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the standard prescribed dosage of nerve agent pre-treatment set tablets was exceeded (a) during biological and chemical defence training in preparation for Operation Granby and (b) during Operation Granby.

During biological and chemical warfare training, personnel are instructed on the purpose and proper administration of nerve agent pre-treatment set tablets and are advised that the stated dose should not be exceeded. The standard dosage of one 30mg NAPS tablet to be taken every eight hours is shown clearly on the packet, which also advises that the standard dose should not be exceeded.The actual taking of NAPS tablets does not form part of chemical and biological training, and we have no evidence to suggest that personnel exceeded the stated dosage during Operation Granby.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of the Tornado F3 aircraft serviced by Airworks Ltd at RAF St. Athan are no longer capable of operational duties; and if he will make a statement.

Of the Tornado F3 aircraft that entered the fatigue modification programme with Airwork, 16 require repair. All of these will be recovered to a fully operational state and returned to the RAF.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what expenditure was made by his Department on developing proposals for the creation of the housing trust for the disposal of married quarters.

My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence will write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Milton Keynes, North-East (Mr. Butler) of 8 December 1994, Official Report, column 303, how much money the contract won buy the investment bank, Nat West Markets, for the development of further proposals for the transfer of the married quarters estate is worth.

The price of this contract is commercially confidential.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many units the married housing quarters estate owned by his Department consists of; and what proportion of the estate is currently empty.

As at 30 September, the married quarter housing estate owned by my Department consisted of 73,595 properties, of which 11,729 were vacant. Included in these figures were 2,744 properties in the process of sale, of which 2,014 were vacant. The majority of the other empty properties were undergoing or awaiting major maintenance, held for future deployments, or formed part of the management margin needed to ensure that accommodation is available for entitled service families.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the recent United States Senate Committee for Veteran Affairs' report on Desert Storm syndrome; and if he will make a statement.

Column 1	Column 2	Column 3	Column 4	Column 5	Column 6	Column 7	Column 8	Column 9
Total number of men in receipt of state pension	Total number of women in receipt of state pension	Column 1 + column 2	Number of men aged 65 and over in receipt of basic retirement pension (based on own contributions) at less than standard rate	Number of women aged 65 and over in receipt of basic retirement pension (based on own contributions) at less than standard rate	Column 4 as a percentage of column 1	Column 5 as a percentage of column 2	Column 4 as a percentage of column 3	Column 5 as a percentage of column 3
3,310,060	6,285,590	9,595,650	172,310	334,890	5.21	5.33	1.80	3.49

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the average state earnings-related pensions scheme pension for (a) women aged 60 to 64 years and (b) men aged 65 to 69 years in the latest available year.

At 31 March 1994, the latest date in respect of which information is available, the average rate of additional pension payable as a component of retirement pension was:

My Department is aware of a report dated 8 November 1994, written by the majority staff of the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, entitled "Is Military Research Hazardous to Veterans' Health? Lessons Spanning Half a Century". As with all material relating to the alleged Desert Storm syndrome, my Department will be reviewing the scientific and medical basis for the report and evaluating the relevance of it, if any, to our own investigations into the claimed Gulf war-related illnesses among UK armed forces personnel.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the full-year effect on social security expenditure of the proposal to cover only 50 per cent. of rent above the average for similar properties in an area for new claimants and those moving home after October 1995.

Much will depend on the definition of the average and other factors, including the behaviourial effects of the proposals. However, the estimated savings to housing benefit from this proposal from October 1995 to October 1996 are around £40 million. The projected cost of housing benefit expenditure over this period will be published in the social security departmental report in the normal way.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many (a) men and (b) women aged over 65 years who qualified for a state pension based on their own contributions did not qualify for the full rate of state pension; and what proportion those figures represent of the total of (i) men, (ii) women and (iii) men and women in receipt of state pension.

The information is in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of (a) men aged 65 years and (b) women aged 60 years received a state earnings-related pension at the latest available date.

At 31 March 1994, the latest date in respect of which information is available, 71.8 per cent. of men aged 65 and 35.2 per cent. of women aged 60 were in receipt of additional pension payable as a component of state retirement pension.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many (a) men aged 65 years and over and

Column 1 Total number of women receiving standard rate Category A, B, B(L) or A/B(L) retirement pension	Column 2 Figure at column 1 as a percentage of the total female population	Column 3 Figure at column 1 as a percentage of the total female population aged 60 and over	Column 4 Figure at column 1 as a percentage of total number of women in receipt of state pension
5,328,920	18.4 per cent.	78.8 per cent.	87.0 per cent.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many women who retired at age 60 years during the latest year for which figures are available received pensions based (a) wholly and (b) partly on the husband's national insurance contribution

Column 1	Column 2	Column 3	Column 4	Column 5	Column 6	Column 7	Column 8	Column 9	Column 10	Column 11
Number of married women aged 60 in receipt of Category B(L) retirement pension	Number of widows aged 60 in receipt of Category B retirement pension	Number of married women aged 60 in receipt of Category A/B(L) retirement pension	Total female population aged 60 years and over	Total female population in receipt of state pension	Column 1 as per cent. of column 4	Column 2 as per cent. of column 4	Column 3 as per cent. of column 4	Column 1 as per cent. of column 5	Column 2 as per cent, of column 5	Column 3 as per cent, of column 4
19,690	4,440	13,870	6,764,000	6,285,590	0.29 per cent.	0.07 per cent.	0.21 per cent.	0.31 per cent.	0.07 per cent.	0.22 per cent.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply of 25 October, Official Report, column 428 to the hon. Member for Liverpool, Broadgreen (Mrs. Kennedy).

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many (a) men aged 65 to 69 years and (b) women aged 60 to 64 years were receiving an occupational pension at the latest available date.

The most recent estimates available¹ show that in 1992 there were 1 million men aged 65 to 69 years and 0.4 million women aged 60 to 64 years in receipt of an occupational pension.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many women aged over 60 years are currently not eligible for state pension as a result of an insufficient national insurance contribution record.

The information requested is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many women eligible for the state pension in the latest available year received the full state pension; and what percentage of women this represents of (a) the female population, (b) the female population aged over 60 years and (c) the female population in receipt of state pension.

The information is in the table.records; and what proportion, by percentage, these figures represent of: (i) total female population aged over 60 years and (ii) total female population in receipt of state pension.