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

Six.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what was the total cost in 1993–94 to the immigration appeals authority of hearing application for bail by persons detained under Immigration Act powers.

The costings for the immigration appellate authorities are based on the total work load; they make no distinction between different types of hearing. The information requested is not therefore available.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what information he has from Camelot with regard to the printing of lottery tickets and other items in connection with the national lottery; and if he will make a statement.

This is an operational matter for Camelot group plc. I have therefore asked Peter Davis, the Director General of the National Lottery, who is responsible for regulating the operation of the lottery, to write to the hon. Member, placing copies of his responses in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage 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.

Between April 1992, when my Department was established and the end of the 1993–94 financial year, £519,000 was spent refurbishing a building on the government estate for use as part of my Department's headquarters. In the same period, the Historic Royal Palaces agency spent £432,203 on refurbishment of staff accommodation. The Royal Parks agency spent £1.47 million on refurbishment projects in the same period, which included conversion of an old police house into its headquarters offices, and various works on parks lodges and visitor centres thoroughout its parks in London.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage, if he will make a statement about the BBC's plans to launch two commercial satellite television services in Europe.

I welcome the BBC's plans to launch these two services, in partnership with Pearson plc. These plans are fully in line with the proposal in our White Paper on the future of the BBC, that the BBC should exploit international commercial opportunities, in co-operation with private sector partners.Following consultation with the Independent Television Commission, I have today laid before Parliament an order under section 13(2) of the Broadcasting Act 1990, providing that the services may legally be provided without a licence from the ITC.I have also placed in the House Library copies of an approval under clause 3(u) of the BBC's royal charter, approving the setting up of the two companies involved in the provision of the services. The approval includes conditions requiring the BBC to operate the ventures on a clear arm's-length accounting basis from its public services, and on the basis that the services are for reception in mainland Europe, not in the United Kingdom. The approval also ensures that programmes on the two services will be subject to broadly the same regulatory regime as other commercial non-domestic satellite services, and will comply with the relevant ITC codes. The BBC is required to report on its compliance with the terms of the approval in its annual report which will be laid before both Houses.

To ask the Lord President of the Council, 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.

The Privy Council Office has no plans to use the Internet.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those local authorities in England whose area is represented in whole or in part by a Liberal Democrat hon. Member of Parliament that bid (a) successfully and (b) unsuccessfully for funds from the single regeneration budget.

The relevant local authority districts are:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many organisations are currently receiving grants under section 73 of the Housing Act 1985; how many of these grants are due to (a) expire or (b) be reduced for March 1995; and what proposals he has to assist these organisations to secure replacement funding.

One hundred and fifty six voluntary sector projects are receiving grant in 1994–95 under section 73 of the Housing Act 1985 to assist single people in housing need. Organisations are aware that grant is normally given for up to three years on a tapering basis while they seek other sources of funding. For 1995–96, I will consider applications from the 106 projects which are part way through their cycle of funding and, on their individual merits, bids from the 50 schemes which are approaching the end of their funding.In addition, as part of the rough sleepers initiative in central London, 28 organisations are currently funded under section 73 powers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment when he intends to publish formally the material included in the supplement to the homelessness code of guidance for local authorities issued earlier this year; and what plans there are for further revisions of the code.

My right hon. Friend the Secretaries of State, in conjunction with my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Health and for Wales, is publishing today a revised third edition of the homelessness code of guidance for local authorities. This new publication consolidates the body of the third edition of the code, issued in 1991, with an amendment about assessing people from outside the United Kingdom, and supplementary guidance on applications from asylum seekers. That amendment and supplement were issued jointly by my Department and the Welsh Office in typescript form in February of this year. No other changes have been made to the code, and we have no present plans to make further revisions.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from local authorities in England about the demand for housing from applicants leaving the armed forces.

Advice to local authorities on dealing with applications for housing from people leaving the armed forces is contained in circular 14/93 "Housing for People Leaving the Armed Forces" issued on 16 November 1993. Since then, my Department has received one letter from a local authority about housing for ex-service personnel.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many (a) allocations of council housing and (b) nominations to housing association homes have been made in the course of each of the past five years by local authorities in England to applicants whose applications arose from them leaving the armed forces.

This information is not collected centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will make a statement on the future contribution by local authority housing in meeting the Government's community care objectives;(2) what plans he has to allow local authority housing departments to be more involved with the provision of community care; and if he will make a statement.

Advice to local housing authorities on their role in community care is contained in my Department's circular 10/92 "Housing and Community Care", issued jointly with the Department of Health. The two Departments work closely together to ensure that housing is fully integrated into community care.Local authorities should take account of the need for housing and its availability in preparing their local housing strategies and community care plans. I expect authorities' housing strategy statements to set out how they approach their responsibilities under community care and the way in which they co-operate with other agencies in the planning and delivery of services.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy that the public inquiry into the M25 link road between junctions 12 and 15 should precede the public inquiry into Heathrow terminal 5.

No, the timing of the Heathrow terminal 5—T5—inquiry is not dependent on the timing of the inquiry into the M25 link roads. I have already announced that the T5 inquiry will open in May 1995.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total value of grants from the European Commission given for bricks and mortar projects in the last financial year.

The Secretary of State for the Environment was responsible for administering the majority of European regional development fund programmes which operated in England between 1989 and 1993. My officials are liaising with colleagues in other Departments, who had similar responsibilities for other European Community programmes and grant regimes during this period, in order to provide my hon. Friend with a full answer. I shall write to him with this information as soon as possible.In the meantime, I can provide figures for the programmes administered by this Department. I have interpreted "bricks and mortar" projects as those which included building and construction costs as part of their total eligible expenditure. Our records show that, from 1 April 1993 to 31 March 1994, claims from the European regional development fund totalling £119,490,056.48 were paid for projects of this type. This figure includes claims for a number of projects approved under the structural funds regime which operated before 1989.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what plans he has to include disabled households in council tax band A in the disability reduction scheme; and if he will make a statement;(2) what assistance is available to a person who is substantially disabled and lives in a property included in band A of the council tax system and applies for a tax reduction; and if he will make a statement.

We have no plans to change the reduction for disabilities scheme. The scheme ensures that disabled people do not pay more council tax as a result of their special needs than would otherwise be the case. Households in band A are already paying the lowest possible level of tax. Disabled people on a low income may be entitled to council tax benefit.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the duration of the trips referred to in his answer of 28 October, Official Report, column 863, which were undertaken by Ministers in his Department and on which they were accompanied by their spouses and paid for at public expense.

Four days.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the cost of publicity and administration of the rent-to-mortgage scheme.

Paid publicity by the Department on the rent-to-mortgage scheme cost £315,000. A further £99,000 was spent on printing and distributing leaflets. The Department has no estimate of the administrative costs of the scheme.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many responses have been received by his Department from residents of Hampshire since the Local Government Commission published its preferred options for reorganisation; and how many supported the proposed changes and how many rejected them.

As at 5 pm on 14 December, we had received 1,821 letters form members of the public, of which 178 support the Local Government Commission's final recommendations for Hampshire. In addition, Hampshire county council encouraged residents to forward pre-printed leaflets expressing their views. Some 10,202 leaflets have been returned, with 607 expressing support for the recommendations.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the changes in financial arrangements, both revenue and capital, for local authorities made since 1979 and their implications.

As one would expect, over so long a period there have been many changes in financial arrangements, some of which are now of historical interest only. The present legislative regime is contained principally in the Local Government Finance Acts 1988 and 1992 as regards recurrent expenditure and the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 as regards capital.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many "Dear Accounting Officer" letters his Department has written to his non-departmental public bodies in each year since 1984.

"Dear Accounting Officer" letters are issued by the Treasury. Since 1984, they have issued 174. Where appropriate my Department has drawn these to the attention of the non-departmental public bodies which it sponsors.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to make an announcement about the distribution of housing resources for 1995–96.

I am today announcing decisions about the distribution of resources for housing in 1995–96.Councils will receive housing investment programme allocations totalling over £1.27 billion for 1995–96. Under the competitive HIP process, we have again been able to direct resources to those councils who are best able to make use of them.Within the HIP programme £994 million is for general purpose allocations, or housing "annual capital guidelines". As last year these have been allocated 40 per cent on the basis of a statistical assessment of local housing needs and 60 per cent. on a discretionary basis related to performance.As part of the assessment of their performance, each local authority is required to submit a housing strategy statement, setting out a comprehensive framework for the housing programmes for at least the next three years, covering not only the plans of the local authority but the contribution to be made by the private housing sector. The strategy is prepared in consultation with all those interested in the local housing scene, including the Housing Corporation, housing associations, tenant's groups and the private sector. Once again, there is a continuing improvement in the performance of the great majority of local authorities, with most of them now producing good quality housing strategies.In addition to these annual capital guidelines, £278 million has been allocated for private sector renewal and housing defects in the form of "specified capital grant". Once again, 40 per cent. of these resources have been distributed on a statistical assessment of local needs, and 60 per cent. on a discretionary basis.I am depositing tables in the Library of the House showing each authority's annual capital guideline and specified capital grant allocation for 1995–96. Together, these comprise the HIP allocations. In addition, £314 million for continuing estate action commitments is being provided with the single regeneration budget next year. In addition, I am depositing a list of the authorities whose performance is assessed as being well above the average for their region.The Housing Corporation's approved development programme provides for gross capital expenditure of nearly £1.2 billion in 1995–96. Some £870 million of this is available for homes for rent and some £280 million will be available for sale and incentive schemes which make effective use of the stock to house families in serious housing need much more quickly than would otherwise be the case. In addition some £35 million is available for housing association schemes which are part of city challenge and the rough sleepers initiative.The Housing Corporation estimates that this programme should allow housing associations to provide some 52,000 new lettings in 1995–96. Over the three years to 1997–98, lettings from the Housing Corporation's approved development programme of some 135,000, together with output of some 45,000 from other sources such as housing association schemes supported by local authorities and cash incentive schemes, should mean that an estimated 180,000 new lettings will be produced over this period.One of the key aims of the 1995–96 approved development programme is to make the most efficient use of the existing housing stock. Resources for short-life housing—mini housing association grant—have been increased to their highest level ever; do it yourself shared ownership will continue to be targeted principally at local authority and housing association tenants while resources for the tenants' incentive scheme increase steadily over the three years to 1997–98. Both DIYSO and TIS are efficient and cost-effective means to enable people to move into home ownership and vacate dwellings for others in housing need. A further key aim of the 1995–96 ADP is to focus increasingly on regeneration, both urban and rural. Some 40 per cent. of the resources for new approvals will be for regeneration purposes and will include rehabilitation schemes, schemes in city challenge and renewal areas, and short-life housing schemes. The Housing Corporation has also been asked to direct some 6 per cent. of the main rental and conventional sale programmes towards rural housing schemes.The tables I am depositing in the Library of the House also contain details of the Housing Corporation's approved development programme for 1995–96.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to amend the home energy efficiency scheme to allow residents of almshouses to qualify as householders.

Some people who live in almshouses are at present ineligible for HEES grants because they cannot be tenants and, therefore, fall outside the definition of householder in the regulations. Following representations, I propose to amend the regulations to enable people in this position to qualify for HEES grants provided they meet the other eligibility requirements. I also propose to extend HEES eligibility to protected occupiers and statutory tenants under the Rent (Agriculture) Act 1976, assured agricultural occupiers and cottars. The necessary statutory instrument to amend the regulations will be laid before the House as soon as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the number of meetings held, the secretarial and advisory arrangements, and the budgeted and actual expenditure and the subjects of any reports and submissions produced by the Going for Green Committee, since its inception.

The Going for Green Committee, which is an advisory body, has held three meetings since it was established on 1 August 1994. It has a running costs budget for 1994–95 of £150,000, of which some £53,000 has been spent to date, and its secretariat consists of two full-time civil servants on secondment from the Department. The committee is not required to produce reports but is required to plan a public campaign for 1995–96 on individual responsibilities towards the environment. It has commissioned research to help guide its work.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many tenants of private landlords are receiving housing benefit in each local authority in England; and what percentage this represents in each case of the total number of tenants of private landlords in that area.

I have been asked to reply.The available housing benefit information has been placed in the Library. The percentages requested cannot be given as information on the number of tenants of private landlords in each local authority area is not available. However, the percentage of tenants of private landlords who receive housing benefit in England is 49 per cent.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what has been the allowance per animal in real terms for the hill livestock compensatory allowance in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement as to his proposals for future levels of the allowance.

The information is available in tables 5.2 and 5.3 of the statistical tables which formed the basis of the recently completed annual review of economic conditions in the hills and uplands. Full details of these statistical tables are available in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the price charged for electricity in pence per kilowatt hour to standard tariff domestic consumers for each year since 1990; what was the percentage change in average household electricity bills for each year since 1990; and what was the average annual household electricity bill for each year since 1990.

The information requested is as follows:

	Standard domestic tariff1(pence per kwh)	Average household electricity bills £	Change in average household electricity bills Per cent.
1990	6.84	305.76	—
1991	7.41	312.52	+2.21
1992	7.71	341.12	+9.15
1993	7.87	376.48	+10.37
1994	7.75	n/a	n/a
1 Tariff effective from 1 April.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the estimated number of company directors in Northern Ireland.

Some 32,500.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the future of the Agricultural Wages Board for Northern Ireland.

The future of the Agricultural Wages Board for Northern Ireland is still under consideration.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) republicans and (b) loyalists have been charged with terrorist offences in each of the last 12 months.

The information requested is as follows:

Month	Loyalist	Republican
December 1993	11	8
January 1994	19	8
February	19	24
March	30	17
April	21	4
May	31	7
June	29	27
July	11	12
August	15	15
September	15	1
October	14	4
November	8	6
Total	223	133

If the same individual is charged on more than one occasion, he/she will be added to the statistics each time.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to arrange for the annual public expenditure survey to be formally announced in the House and then subject to a subsequent debate in Parliament; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. and learned Friend sets out the allocations to individual programmes within the Northern Ireland programme in a written answer. There are no plans at present to change this practice.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list all the respondents to the fair employment actions commenced by Mr. Dermott Nesbitt.

The respondents in the first of two applications to the fair employment tribunal made by Mr. Dermot Nesbitt are the Queen's university of Belfast and Professor T.F. Barrett and in the second is the Queen's university of Belfast. This information is in the registers which are available for inspection by members of the public without charge at the Office of the Industrial Tribunals and the fair employment tribunal, Long Bridge house, 20–24 Waring street, Belfast BT1 2EB.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list all the members of the Northern Ireland single programme monitoring committee, indicating the interests each represents.

In addition to Government and European Commission officials, the Northern Ireland single programme monitoring committee also includes outside members drawn from various key sectors. These are Mr. Sean Curran, industry sector, Professor Wallace Ewart, training sector; Mr. Desmond Mitchell, district councils; Mr. Norman Shaw, agriculture sector, and a member to be drawn from the voluntary sector.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress is being made in implementing the report of the Standing Advisory Commission on Human Rights on legislative procedures for Northern Ireland.

The Government's response to the commission's report was published in July 1993. The Government continue to consider carefully all proposals for legislation for Northern Ireland so as to choose the most appropriate legislative route and allow sufficient time for consultation. It remains the Government's policy to promote the return of responsibility, including responsibility for legislation, to a locally accountable body which would command widespread support in the community and take account of the wider relationships.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects to identify sensitive areas as required by the urban waste water treatment directive; and if he will make a statement.

I have today placed in the Library of the House a map of the two areas in Northern Ireland, namely Upper and Lower Lough Erne and Lough Neagh, which, on the advice of the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland, have been identified as sensitive areas on the basis of their eutrophic status. I have also placed in the Library a list of the sewage treatment works in these areas at which the installation of phospherous removal plants will be required by the end of 1998 in accordance with the directive. These decisions will make a significant contribution to safeguarding Northern Ireland's fresh waters.The map and list will also be available for inspection at the headquarters offices of the environment service and water executive of the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects to identify high natural dispersion areas—less-sensitive ares—as required by the urban waste water treatment directive; and if he will make a statement.

I have today placed in the Library of the House a map showing three areas in Northern Ireland identified as high natural dispersion areas. The map shows the location of these areas, at Portrush, County Antrim; Bangor, County Down; and Kilkeel, County Down. On the basis of the information available, the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland considers that the provision of primary treatment for the named discharges into these areas will be sufficient and that no further environmental benefit will accrue from the provision of additional levels of treatment. I have accepted this advice.Comprehensive studies will now be carried out at each location. The Department must be satisfied that the study demonstrates that the proposed discharge of primary treated effluent will not adversely affect the environment. The comprehensive studies will have to take into account the proximity of bathing waters identified under the EC bathing water directive.These decisions will ensure that sewage will continue to receive proper treatment and the quality of Northern Ireland's coastal waters and estuaries will improve in accordance with the directive's timetable.The map will also be available for inspection at the headquarters offices of the environment service and water executive of the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what responses he has received to the consultation document "Policing in the Community"; and if he will make a statement.

	Full-time employees Male	Self employed	Total male population3full-time and self employed per cent.
September 1984	245,600	51,700	39.1
September 1987	239,500	58,900	38.6
September 1989	244,300	59,900	39.1

The consultation paper "Policing in the Community" was published on 29 March, and widely distributed. More than half the bodies which received copies responded. Ministers and officials held constructive meetings with representatives of some 30 organisations, including the representatives of members of constitutional political parties.The process of consultation on policing issues was warmly welcomed. The consultation paper was necessarily cast in general terms, and some respondents called for more detail on major proposals. There was a clear agreement on the need for some reform and an evident wish for the continuation of a tripartite structure, with attention addressed to the respective roles and responsibilities of the Secretary of State, the Chief Constable and of the Police Authority. The operational independence of the Chief Constable was valued, and the integrity and efficiency of the RUC was widely recognised.Respondents stressed the importance of responsive, effective, impartial and fair policing in the development of a peaceful and harmonious society. The need for a balanced and careful approach to this end in a changing society was widely recognised.These responses and the widening of the debate since the cessation of violence by the IRA and the loyalist paramilitaries have reinforced the need for reform, approached in a careful and measured way. In particular, I consider it important to strengthen the statutory protection for the impartiality, integrity and freedom from partisan influence of the police, and to create stronger and more effective statutory accountability mechanisms. These will encourage dialogue between the police and the community, as well as give the Chief Constable greater freedom to manage and deploy efficiently the considerable resources devoted to policing.Accordingly, work is in hand to develop ideas, with the benefit of continued consultation, for legislation which will meet these objectives, clarify and strengthen the respective roles of the Secretary of State, the Police Authority and the Chief Constable, and help to enhance the provision of an efficient, effective and responsive police service, enjoying the wholehearted support and partnership of the entire society it exists to serve. I look forward over the coming months to further valuable and wide-ranging dialogue.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) males and (b) females were in full-time employment in the latest month for which figures are available and for the same month in each of the last 10 years indicating, in each case and for each year, the proportion of this figure as a percentage of the total population.

[holding answer 14 December 1994]: The information requested is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment which Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries have a legal minimum wage; and what has been the rate of job creation of each for the periods (a) 1970 to 1980, (b) 1989 to 1990 and (c) 1990 to the present day.

	Type of coverage	Rate of employment growth (percentage)			Average unemployment rate (percentage)
		1970–80	1980–90	1990–93	1970–80	1980–90	1990–93
Belgium	Legally binding central agreement; lower rates for 16–20 year-olds	2.1	1.8	N/A	4.5	10.9	9.4
France	SMW—single adult rate	4.8	3.4	-1.7	4.0	9.0	10.0
Greece	Statutory central agreement	7.1	10.9	N/A	2.4	6.7	7.4
Luxembourg	SMW	12.7	19.8	N/A	0.6	1.4	1.1
Netherlands	SMW; reduced rates for 15–22 year-olds	6.0	N/A	N/A	3.8	9.6	7.1
Portugal	SMW	N/A	17.3	-5.6	4.9	7.1	4.6
Spain	SMW—single adult rate	-7.4	7.3	-5.9	5.3	17.4	18.1
United States	SMW—single adult rate; state minimum wages; low levels	24.8	18.4	1.2	6.2	7.0	6.5
Canada	SMW—set provincially; low levels	34.6	17.4	-1.4	6.7	9.2	10.2
Australia	Federal/state minimum wages; low levels	15.3	25.4	-2.6	4.1	7.4	9.5
New Zealand	SMW	16.8	N/A	1.1	0.7	4.8	9.4
Japan	System of minimum rates; low levels	8.7	12.9	3.3	1.7	2.5	2.2
Notes:
SMW = statutory minimum wage; final column gives average unemployment rate for 1990 to 1993 except for Belgium and Netherlands 1990 to 1992—and Greece and Luxembourg—1990–1991.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will list the proportions of full-time adult manual workers, full-time adult non-manual workers and all full-time adult workers with earnings, including overtime, less than £208.53 per week in (i) Great Britain, (ii) west midlands region, (iii) West Midlands metropolitan County, (iv) Hereford and Worcester, (v) Shropshire, (vi) Staffordshire and (vii)

The following table gives Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries which have some minimum laws at a national level, and their rate of employment growth and average unemployment for the periods concerned. It should be noted that some of the countries quoted have very low levels of minimum wages, well below national average wage levels; and in some cases the minimum levels vary between administrative areas and different industries.Warwickshire for 1994; and if he will break down the figures into those for

Information available from the new earnings survey showing the proportions of employees with earnings below the amount requested at April 1994, is given in the following tables:

Full-time employees on adult rates—pay unaffected by absence: April 1994.

Proportion with gross weekly earnings including overtime below £208.53.

	Per cent.
Manual men
West Midlands Region	27.0
West Midlands MC	23.8
Hereford and Worcester	34.4
Shropshire	31.0
Staffordshire	31.9
Warwickshire	20.6
Great Britain	26.0
Non-manual men
West Midlands Region	12.8
West Midlands MC	11.4
Hereford and Worcester	12.8
Shropshire	15.5
Staffordshire	17.6
Warwickshire	10.8
Great Britain	11.5
All men
West Midlands Region	20.0
West Midlands MC	17.5
Hereford and Worcester	24.2
Shropshire	24.1
Staffordshire	25.2
Warwickshire	15.4
Great Britain	18.0
Manual Women
West Midlands Region	75.0
West Midlands MC	71.8
Hereford and Worcester	79.0
Shropshire	81.2
Staffordshire	76.2
Warwickshire	76.9
Great Britain	73.4
Non-manual women
West Midlands Region	43.4
West Midlands MC	41.8
Hereford and Worcester	40.7
Shropshire	52.4
Staffordshire	46.7
Warwickshire	43.2
Great Britain	34.7
All women
West Midlands Region	50.4
West Midlands MC	47.6
Hereford and Worcester	49.9
Shropshire	59.1
Staffordshire	54.5
Warwickshire	51.4
Great Britain	41.5
Manual adults
West Midlands Region	36.0
West Midlands MC	32.1
Hereford and Worcester	43.3
Shropshire	40.1
Staffordshire	41.4
Warwickshire	32.8

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many civil servants have been transferred to training and enterprise councils and local enterprise companies on a three-year secondment; how many were at grade (a) senior information officer, (b) higher information officer, (c) higher executive officer and (d) senior executive officer; how many in each grade returned to the civil service upon completion of their secondment; how many of those in each grade have since left the civil service on early retirement, voluntary redundancy or similar schemes; and how many of those remaining in the civil service by grade are below the age of 58 years.

Approximately 4,000 staff volunteered to second to training and enterprise councils and local companies on three-year secondments, including some 21 SIOs, 144 HIOs, 855 HEOs and 178 SEOs. About 10 SIOs, 77 HIOs, 526 HEOs and 128 SEOs returned to the Department. Some five SIOs, 43 HIOs, 71 HEOs and 12 SEOs left on early retirement schemes. Most of those remaining are below 58 years of age.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people within the Health and Safety Executive are employed in connection with its pesticide monitoring function; and at what locations.

No Health and Safety Executive staff are employed specifically to monitor pesticides. HSE inspectors based in a national network of 20 area offices undertake a programme of preventative inspection, including premises where pesticides are used, and investigate reported incidents. Trends are monitored and summaries of investigated incidents are published annually.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what flexibility he allows in the 21-hour per week rule for those engaging in education or training while claiming benefit.

I have been asked to reply.The 21-hour rule is itself a special concession to the normal availability for work conditions, which enables income support claimants who are unemployed to spend their time usefully in part-time study whilst continuing their search for work. They must continue, however, to make a sustained effort each week to find a job and be prepared to leave the course immediately a suitable vacancy becomes available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) male and (b) female foreign inmates were held in prisons in England and Wales on 8 December.

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 (a) men and (b) women were being held in either prisons or immigration detention centres in England and Wales on 8 December.

On 9 December 1994, there were 48,512 males and 1,927 females held in Prison Service establishments in England and Wales. A further 110 males were held in police cells. Information on immigration offenders relates to those detained on 12 December and shows that there were 382 males and 49 females detained in immigration service accommodation. A further 32 males and four females were held in police cells for immigration offences on that date.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what research he has (a) undertaken and (b) commissioned into pepper foam and pepper spray;(2) what assessment he has made of the dangers of the public use of pepper foam and pepper spray.

The Home Office police scientific development branch has reviewed all the available information about the effects of incapacitant products containing oleoresin capsicum. My right hon. and learned Friend has commissioned research into the possible carcinogenic effects of oleoresin capsicum's main incapacitating ingredient, capsaicin. He expects to receive the final results of the research very shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those United Kingdom airports receiving schedules flights from abroad open to the public for normal ticket purchase which are not covered by immigration service staff on arrival in the United Kingdom.

The airports are as listed in my reply to a question from the hon. Member on 29 November 1994, column 553.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to introduce legislation to enable the prosecution in United Kingdom courts of British nationals and residents for sexual offences against children abroad.

The Government consider that it should be the responsibility of the country where the alleged offence has occurred to enforce its own law.Unlike some countries which claim a wide extra-territorial criminal jurisdiction over their citizens, the United Kingdom is willing to extradite its nationals to stand trial in the places where they are alleged to have offended, subject to the usual safeguards. We are also willing to provide legal assistance to other countries under the Criminal Justice (International Co-operation) Act 1990. We are currently considering ways in which it may be possible to improve liaison between our police and foreign enforcement agencies.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance is given to police authorities on whether incidents of criminal damage or violence should be recorded as crimes.

When recording offences, police consult Home Office rules for classification and counting of crimes which are standard for all the police forces in England and Wales. The classification of crimes is determined by precise statutory definitions. It includes all offences of criminal damage, as well as offences of violence against the person, sexual offences and robbery, as defined in Appendix 3 of "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales 1993", a copy of which is available in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the co-ordinated Government strategy aimed at reducing the incidence of domestic violence; and if she will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a question from the hon. Member for Coventry, South East (Mr. Cunningham) on 1 December, Official Report, column 841.Working groups have been set up at both official and ministerial level to enhance inter-departmental co-operation in tackling all facets of domestic violence.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his oral answer of 24 November, Official Report, column 716, when the Government will allow qualified majority voting provided for in article K, otherwise than in subsection (9) on matters that affect immigration policy.

There is no provision for qualified majority voting in article K, except under article K3.2(b) in relation to measures implementing joint action. No joint action requiring implementing measures has been adopted on matters of immigration policy. When such joint action is proposed, we shall consider on their merits both the substance of the proposal and whether it would be appropriate to adopt the implementing measures by a qualified majority.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 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.

Twenty-two.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total cost in 1993—94 to the Prison Service of holding persons detained under Immigration Act powers.

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 persons detained under Immigration Act powers were held in Prison Service established in 1993.

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 on what occasions he has intervened with the governor of Erlestoke prison to suspend day release arrangements in the case of prisoners.

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 what steps he is taking to facilitate the use of the British Telecom caller identification initiative to preventing telephone tapping and to use similar technology at telephone exchanges to detect third party connections.

None. I understand that the BT caller display facility could not support such applications.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to review the Official Secrets Acts to ensure that an individual disclosing possible unethical or illegal actions, including telephone wire tapping, would be allowed a public interest defence.

We have no such plans.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide details of the calculation used by his Department in determining appropriate provision for the Dyfed-Powys police; and if he will make a statement.

The calculation used by the Home Office determined allocations of police grant for 1995–96. Details of that calculation are provided in the draft "Police Grant Report (England and Wales 1995–96", a copy of which was placed in the Library by my right hon. and learned Friend on 1 December.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy that Welsh police forces are able to maintain funding levels comparable with those of similar English forces; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. and learned Friend announced on 1 December, Official Report, columns 544–45, his provisional police grant allocations to police authorities in England and Wales for 1995–96. The provisional standard spending assessment allocations to Welsh police authorities are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give the cost of pension provision to the budget of the Dyfed-Powys police for each year from 1987 to date; if he will give an estimate of the commensurate figures for 1995–96 and 1996–97; and if he will make a statement.

Net pension payments by the Dyfed-Powys police authority, as derived from the annual police revenue grant claim forms submitted by the authority, for the period 1987–88 to 1993–94 were as follows.

Year	£
1987–88	3,008,079
1988–89	2,693,674
1989–90	3,528,776
1990–91	3,509,717
1991–92	4,222,518
1992–93	4,025,892
1993–94	5,253,417

Figures for 1994–95 are not yet available. It will be for Dyfed-Powys police authority, in setting their budget requirements for 1995–96 and 1996–97, to decide the appropriate provision to be set aside to meet pension costs.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the officer establishment for the Dyfed-Powys police; how many officers are in post; and if he will make a statement.

The approved establishment for Dyfed-Powys police is 972 officers. At the end of September, the actual strength was 971. As from 1 April next year, formal approval of establishments will end, and complement levels will be entirely for local decision.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what will be the cost of the DNA provisions of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 to the Dyfed-Powys police in a full accounting year; and if he will make a statement.

The new power we have given the police to take non-intimate samples without consent from anyone charged or reported for caution for a recordable offence is permissive. The police are not required to take samples in every case. Costs will therefore depend upon what use Dyfed-Powys police make of this new power. That will be a decision for the chief constable, who must decide on the most effective use of the resources available to him.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will refer the case of Samuel Clayton Hill for review by the Court of Appeal; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. and learned Friend expects to take a decision about this case shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advice has been sought by the Dumfries and Galloway police from the Metropolitan police in relation to the film "Maltese Double Cross".

I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that the Metropolitan police have provided assistance to and maintained regular contact with the Dumfries and Galloway constabulary throughout the investigation into the Lockerbie bombing.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has decided the future policing arrangements for Humberside.

I announced on 25 October, Official Report, columns 512–13, that I would consult the forces, police authorities and local authorities in the area on the future policing arrangements for Humberside and also ask Her Majesty's chief inspector of constabulary to report on the viability of a police force based on the boundaries of the four unitary authorities which will replace the county of Humberside.The majority of those who responded favoured the retention of a separate Humberside police force. Her Majesty's chief inspector of constabulary considers that a force based on the boundaries of the four unitary authorities would be viable and efficient.I have therefore decided that the Humberside force will be retained on those revised boundaries, with the area around Goole in the present district of Boothferry transferring to North Yorkshire.The necessary provisions to give effect to this decision will be included in the order for the reorganisation of local government in the area.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what information has been recently provided to him by Nuclear Electric regarding operational risks at the Dungeness B and Heysham nuclear plants.

Nuclear Electric plc has recently informed my Department and the Health and Safety Executive's nuclear installations inspectorate of the discovery of cracks in steam pipe welds during the statutory outage of reactor 21 of Dungeness B. The station will be brought back into operation only after a satisfactory safety case has been made by the operator to the NII.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what discussions he has had with British Nuclear Fuels plc since April on the legal requirements relating to the level of insurance against nuclear accidents.

DTI officials are in regular contact with British Nuclear Fuel plc on a range of matters.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to end the 30 years restriction on claiming of compensation under the existing nuclear insurance arrangements by anyone developing adverse medical problems attributable to contamination from a nuclear accident.

None. The 32-year time limit for claims in the United Kingdom legislation is longer than is required by international conventions.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what arrangements exist under the nuclear insurance provisions to provide for compensation to pay for environmental restoration in the event of a nuclear accident involving the significant release of radioactivity; and what plans he has to extend them.

Under United Kingdom law, the cost of environment restoration would be recoverable, where there is damage to property, in accordance with normal civil law principles as to the assessment of damages.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to reassess the level of insurance arrangements covering third party liability for compensation in the event of an accident at a nuclear facility.

The level of insurance for third party liability required to be held by nuclear operators is kept under review. The limit was most recently increased on 1 April this year to meet the internationally agreed target limit for parties to the Paris convention.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what discussions he has held since April with the insurance industry as to the adequacy of the present upper limits of insurance cover in connection with liability for nuclear accidents.

The limits are kept under review. DTI officials have contact with the insurance industry from time to time.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 8 December, Official Report, columns 295–96, what is his policy on the continued allowing of unauthorised displays at public telephones, what representations he has received from telephone companies in regard to their inability to disconnect lines advertised in unauthorised displays at public telephones; and what legislation other than telecommunication legislation could be amended to allow the disconnection of lines advertised in unauthorised displays at public telephones.

I share my hon. Friend's concern at the nature of some of the displays of unauthorised material to be found in public telephone boxes. Although I have not received any formal representations from telephone companies on this matter, my Department has discussed it with other interested Departments and Oftel. However, I am not convinced that disconnecting the lines displayed in unauthorised advertisements is an appropriate remedy.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade on how many days since it was started the thermal oxide reprocessing plant at Sellafield has operated at full capacity; and what quantities of (a) plutonium, (b) depleted uranium and (c) each category of radioactive waste arising have been separated in the THORP to date.

Operations at the THORP plant are a management matter for British Nuclear Fuels plc. The Commissioning programme for the plant is being implemented subject to the appropriate regulatory requirements.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many "Dear Accounting Officer" letters his Department has issued to his non-departmental public bodies in each year since 1984.

UK Trade with Libya—1989–93 (£ Thousands)
	1989	1990	1991	1992	1993
Imports	104,545	151,605	121,219	162,899	156,542
Exports	239,191	244,849	255,718	228,273	274,051

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what action he proposes to take to prevent consumers from being misled when they buy tickets for the theatre and other forms of entertainment; and if he will make a statement.

Following public consultation, my noble Friend Earl Ferrers has today made the Price Indications (Resale of Tickets) Regulations 1994. Under the regulations, those who resell tickets will have to disclose specified information about a ticket before making a sale. This will include any original price printed on the ticket and known information about the rights which it confers, such as the location and quality of the seat or space. The regulations will come into force on 20 February 1995.A compliance cost assessment, which was prepared by my Department, concluded that this significant improvement in consumer protection will impose little, if any, additional costs on traders. Copies of the compliance cost assessment have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will announce the results of the evaluation of his Department's trade fairs support scheme.

The evaluation of the trade fairs support scheme was undertaken for the DTI by KPMG Management Consulting. They surveyed a cross-section of exhibitors from 15 sectors of industry representing two thirds of all supported firms, trade associations, chamber of commerce, exhibition organisers and other interested parties. KPMG's report to the Department and the

"Dear Accounting Officer" letters are issued by the Treasury. Where appropriate, my Department draws the contents of "Dear Accounting Officer" letters to the attention of the non-departmental public bodies which we sponsor. We do not keep records of the precise numbers which are brought to the attention of individual non-departmental public bodies.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the loss to British engineering firms of exports to Libya as a result of UN sanctions.

The British Government neither promote nor discourage trade with Libya. We are unable to assess any actual loss of trade to British engineering firms. I can tell the hon. Member however, the legitimate exports of general industrial machinery and equipment constitutes the bulk of our exports to Libya. Figures for United Kingdom trade with Libya over the past five years are given in the table.Department's response are being published today. A copy has been placed in the Library of the House of Commons.The TFSS is designed to encourage UK exporters to move into new markets. Last year, the Department spent £14 million on the scheme in support of some 6,500 to 7,000 firms at around 300 events. The scheme is based on grants which are delivered to exhibitors through "sponsors" such as trade associations or chambers of commerce. Eligible applicants receive 50 per cent. grants towards the main costs of exhibiting. Outside western Europe, a travel grant is also paid for up to two people to man the stand.I welcome the evaluator's report, which shows that there is a clear justification for retaining the scheme.The Department agrees with KPMG's conclusion that the rule under which companies are only eligible for support for three trade fairs in any market, the so-called "three times rule", should be retained. The survey provided strong evidence that the three times rule increases value for money by removing from eligibility regular exhibitors at a single event, ensuring that for a given budget more firms benefit from the TFSS support.In response to suggestions that some companies might find support more helpful in this form, the Department will however be prepared to offer firms who opt for it a variant on the three times rule, under which support is offered at half the normal rates, over twice as many events.The report recommends that international events, currently known as "flagship" events, should no longer attract support for more than three participation as they do at present, but should cease to be subject to individual country quota. The Department accepts this recommendation in principle and will consult sponsors on which events will constitute a new "international" category.The present scheme restricted government assistance for overseas trade fairs by requiring that a minimum number of participating firms be eligible for support. The report recommends that minimum numbers for these events should not be based solely on those eligible for grant. The Department accepts that the benefits of attendance depend on the numbers in the group, not on whether they are all supported.The Department has not accepted KPMG's recommendation that priority be given to emerging markets with above average exports prospects, or which have significant entry barriers, by allowing five, not three, supported participation. The Department, however, accepts the need to improve the scheme's coverage of such markets. We consider the annual priorities exercise, which selects the trade fairs which are to be supported, a more appropriate way of improving the scheme's coverage of emerging markets. In addition, the Department will increase assistance to sponsors in the selection and promotion of fairs by providing greater information on new markets and fairs with above average exports prospects.The Department does not accept, as a general rule, the recommendation that individual company participation be grant-aided where there is no group participation arranged. However, the Department will consider claims for treatment as a special case from unrepresented or self sponsored small industries.KPMG's research indicated that the sponsor system was in principle the most appropriate way of delivering trade fairs support. Their report however suggested ways of improving sponsor performance. The Department has proposed revised criteria for sponsorship and will step up its monitoring of sponsor performance and produce a code of practice for sponsors. The Department is not in general in favour of introducing competition between sponsors, but sees advantages in opportunities for greater co-operation between sponsors and the private sector.The changes I have announced will take effect from the 1996–97 programme. All in all this was a positive evaluation of the Government's support for overseas trade fairs.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the compliance cost assessments published during the past year.

Since April 1993, the Government have required Departments to prepare and publish compliance cost assessments with all proposed legislation presented to Parliament to assess their impact on business costs. This includes a special test of the impact on small businesses. CCAs are central to the Government's deregulation initiative and are a vital part of the decision making process. They are used to help Parliamentary consideration of regulatory proposals and to give business the opportunity to respond to proposals.A Command Paper listing those CCAs published between November 1993 to June 1994 has been presented to Parliament today by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade. Copies of the CCAs listed are available in the House Library. Further Command Papers listing CCAs published in the preceding six-month period will be published at six-monthly intervals.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement about the outcome of his review of the status of the national measurement accreditation service and the National Accreditation Council for Certification Bodies.

My Department published a consultation document in April on the future provision of accreditation services in the United Kingdom. In the light of the response to this consultation, which favoured a merger of NACCB and NAMAS, the Government propose that a new company limited by guarantee be established during 1995 to take on the current functions and staff of NACCB and NAMAS. This will involve the transfer of around 60 posts out of DTI.The company will carry out, under a memorandum of understanding with DTI which will recognise its national status, the assessments currently carried out by the two organisations covering laboratories, test houses and certification bodies. It will also cover environmental verifiers and inspection bodies and, as appropriate in future, others in related fields. The new body will make recommendations to the DTI which will grant accreditation. As a consequence accredited organisations will continue to be entitled to use marks incorporating the royal crown.I expect a single, integrated private sector organisation to achieve efficiency savings leading to lower costs for industry. The organisation will also be in a strong position to promote United Kingdom interests in the rapidly developing international markets for certification and testing services in both the voluntary and regulatory spheres. With this in mind, the Government have decided that the body should be open to applications from non-United Kingdom organisations seeking accreditation.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what plans he has to introduce regulations requiring British Telecom to meet minimum technical quality standards for voice, fax and data transmission in remote or rural areas;(2) what plans he has to introduce regulations requiring British Telecom to meet minimum technical quality standards for voice, fax and data transmission.

I do not believe that it would be justified at present to introduce regulations on minimum technical quality, either generally or specifically in relation to remote or rural areas. BT's investment programme in digital exchanges is already raising transmission standards, and increasing competition in the telecommunications market means consumers are offered a wider range of service levels and tariff packages.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he will take to ensure that former tunnellers who worked on the Clyde tunnel between 1959 and 1964, and who subsequently contracted bone necrosis as a result of this work, will be able to pursue compensation claims.

My right hon. Friend need take no action in this matter. Current legislation allows claims to be raised within three years of the date on which the injuries were sustained. This period can be extended where the claimant did not realise at the time how serious the injuries were or where he was unaware that the injuries were attributable to an act or omission of his employer. Furthermore, where the pursuer is not entitled to such an extension, the court has discretion to admit a claim if it seems equitable to do so.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to improve the provision of information to the victims' relatives concerning the investigation of fatal road accidents in Scotland.

Procurators fiscal are authorised to provide the next of kin with information about the circumstances of the death. Where a fatal accident inquiry is to be held, procurators fiscal will discuss the evidence with solicitors for interested parties and will provide them with copies of autopsy reports and, if appropriate, with statements of witnesses. A working party is reviewing the guidelines on the provision of information to the next of kin.