To ask the Secretary of State for Health what termination payments have been made to (a) chairs and (b) non-executive directors of NHS authorities and trusts; and in what circumstances such payments are made.

No such payments have been made since the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Member for Peterborough (Dr. Mawhinney) to my hon. Friend the Member for Bristol, North-West (Mr. Stern) on 16 February 1993, column 164. Such payments may be made to the chairman of a national health service authority in exceptional circumstances by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State. No such provision exists for non-executive members of authorities or for chairmen or non-executive members of NHS trusts.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the procedures adopted in relation to in-contract settlements for former NHS trust chief executives.

The Department has issued guidance—TEL(94)3—which sets out what is expected of national health service trusts in providing for contractual termination settlements in respect of chief executives and senior managers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what different arrangements exist for the billing and funding of the outside treatment of prisoners with (a) mental illness and (b) physical illness;(2) what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the purchaser-provider split between health authorities in respect of patients who are imprisoned; and if she will make a statement.

Responsibility for meeting the costs of treatment provided to prisoners in national health service accident and emergency units is met by the district in which the hospital is located. Otherwise responsibility for outside treatment falls to the health authority in the prisoner's usual district of residence, determined by the address at which they were resident immediately before detention. Where that cannot be determined satisfactorily, responsibility falls to the district in which the offence, or alleged offence, in respect of which the prisoner is detained was committed. There is no difference between the arrangements for funding treatment of mental and physical illness.Purchasing authorities are required in their strategic and development plans to take account of the health care needs of all those who are normally resident in their district. This will include the needs of people who are in prison and who may require care and treatment in the NHS. These arrangements are subject to the normal monitoring process undertaken by the NHS Executive.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what provision the NHS provides for those prisoners suffering from mental illness too severe to be dealt with in prison but not severe enough to warrant incarceration in a Rampton-level unit.

Prisoners who are transferred to national health service hospitals under provisions of the Mental Health Act 1983 may be admitted to general psychiatric hospitals, specialist medium-secure units, or one of the three special hospitals. My right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary will name the hospital on a transfer direction following recommendations made to him by two medical practitioners who will have assessed the prisoner and advised on the level of security required.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the improvements to health care provision in Burton on Trent and district since the introduction of the health reforms in 1991.

I am aware of the excellent performance by national health service hospitals within the Burton on Trent area and I am sure that my hon. and learned Friend will wish to join me in congratulating them on their successes since the reforms were introduced in 1991. These include:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons the item concerned with fostering a climate of understanding and compassion, discouraging discrimination and safeguarding confidentiality, as set out in section D.14 of "The Health of the Nation", 1992, has been dropped from the review of "The Health of the Nation"—"One Year On", 1993; and what policy changes underlie this change.

When the AIDS epidemic began in the United Kingdom, the Government dedicated considerable efforts to combating discrimination, not least through the general anti-discrimination legislation. The UK's record is well respected internationally on this. From the London declaration of 1988 to the Paris summit of 1994, the Government have re-emphasised their continuing commitment to discouraging discrimination on this front. That still underlies each element of the strategy which covers prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care, monitoring surveillance and research, and international action.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evaluation she has made of the report published by the department of social policy at the university of Newcastle on "Health and Inequality: the Northern Region 1981 to 1991".

The issues raised in the report are under consideration by the Chief Medical Officer's sub-group looking at variations in health. The group is due to report in spring 1995 on how the Department of Health and the national health service can effectively tackle ethnic, geographical, socio-economic and gender variations in health in the five "Health of the Nation" key areas. Work is progressing in line with that timetable.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what non-governmental agencies supporting family networks are funded by the Government; and what initiatives they are undertaking.

The Government grant-aid the following voluntary organisations who support family networks:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what support (a) she and (b) the NHS is giving to "Take our Daughters to Work" campaign on 27 April.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is participating in the "Take our Daughters to Work" campaign. She will be accompanied by a schoolgirl from her constituency on 27 April. As the largest employer of women in Europe, with good examples of women working successfully at all levels of the organisation, this initiative offers an opportunity positively to promote careers in the national health service to potential future employees and a number of NHS authorities and trust have indicated their support for the campaign.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have died from solvent and volatile substance abuse in each year since 1985.

The information is shown in the table:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the categories of illnesses currently exempt from prescription costs.

People are exempt from national health service prescription charges if they hold a valid exemption certificate issued by a family health services authority on the grounds that they have one or more of the following medical conditions–

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate her Department has made of the cost to her Department of the treatment of occupational asthma for each year since 1990.

None. The Department's information does not distinguish between types of asthma.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she received a copy of the letter from the medical director of the Basildon and Thurrock Hospital trust to all general practitioners, dated 7 February 1995, on difficulties experienced by hospitals recruiting doctors of SHO grade to staff accident and emergency departments; and if she will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has not received a copy of such a letter.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the establishment of the accident and emergency department at Basildon hospital; and which of these posts are vacant.

This information is not available centrally. The hon. Member may wish to contact Mr. Ian MacPherson, chairman of the Basildon and Thurrock General Hospitals National Health Service trust, for details.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what mechanism there is within her Department centrally to collate information regarding the number of hospitals and accident and emergency departments that have been closed;(2) how many planned closures of accident and emergency units have been rejected by community health councils since 1991; and if she will list those that have subsequently not been put into effect;(3) how many hospital closures in England have taken place following objection to a proposed closure from a community health council since January 1993;(4) what information is provided to her Department by district health authorities, trusts, regional health authorities and the national health service executive on accident and emergency department closures;(5) how many accident and emergency departments are currently threatened with closure;(6) if she will list the hospitals or trusts in respect of which she has been formally consulted about partial or complete closure in the last two years.

The Department does not routinely collect information on hospital or accident and emergency department closures. Information is available centrally on proposals to close, or change the use of, health service facilities which are referred to Ministers for decision following objections from a community health council. A list of such proposed closures referred to Ministers in the period 1992–94 will be placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the capital projects in the NHS with a works cost of over £1 million that have been completed since 1992 giving a brief description of each project.

Information will be placed in the Library recording National Health Service capital building works projects with a works cost of over £1 million which have been completed since 1992.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement clarifying the circumstances surrounding the resignation of Dr. McMinn from the chairmanship of Formby health authority.

The reason given to Sir Donald Wilson, chairman of North West regional health authority, by Dr. Alex McMinn for resigning as chairman of the Southport and Formby National Health Service trust was increased pressure of business commitments.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 28 February, Official Report, column 497, if either of the two letters promoting Juice Plus were sent by hon. Members; and if any of the correspondence with officials at the Medicines Control Agency came from hon. Members.

No.

To ask the Attorney-General if the status of a victim of crime as a Member of Parliament is treated as a public interest consideration in deciding whether to bring a prosecution against the alleged offender.

Whether the fact that a victim of crime is a Member of Parliament bears upon the public interest in prosecution of the alleged offender in any particular case will depend upon all the circumstances of that case. The Crown Prosecution Service may have in mind among other factors the matters in paragraph 6.4 of the code for Crown prosecutors—namely, whether the offence was committed against a person serving the public, or whether it was motivated by any form of discrimination against the victim's political views.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what has been the change in the real exchange rate measured in terms of relative export unit values for manufacturing against the deutschmark since the lowest day's average in February 1993;(2) in what periods since 1975 British manufactures have been less competitive on price against those of the EEC than in the second quarter of 1994.

Sterling exchange rates against the currencies of the EU can be found in "Financial Statistics", published monthly by the Central Statistical Office. Unit value export prices of goods for these countries can be found in "International Financial Statistics", published monthly by the International Monetary Fund. Unit value export prices of manufactures for the main manufacturing countries, which excludes some of the EU, can be found in the "Monthly Review of External Trade Statistics", published monthly by the Central Statistical Office. Data on unit value export prices of manufactures for all EU countries are not readily available.Together, these data can be used to calculate changes over time in relative export prices for goods against Germany and all other EU countries, and relative export prices for manufactures against some EU countries, including Germany.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy that the Bank of England will not intervene in the foreign exchanges to prevent the pound sterling from falling against the deutschmark.

The valuation of the pound is determined by transactions in the foreign exchange market. Movements in the exchange rate are considered as part of the general assessment of monetary conditions in setting monetary policy. The Government recognise the value of a stable exchange rate, but they do not set target rates. For good reasons of market management, the Government do not comment on intervention in foreign exchange markets.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the effect of the Government's exchange rate policies on the rate of unemployment since 1975.

Levels of unemployment are influenced by a wide range of factors and it is not possible to isolate the effects of any single factor. The Government's policies are designed to promote sustained economic growth, secure jobs and rising prosperity, through structural policies to improve the long-term performance of the economy and a stable macroeconomic environment.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer why the nominal rate of exchange rose against the deutschmark between February 1993 and January 1994; what was the effect on the real exchange rate measured in terms of export unit values for manufactures; and what was the effect on the convergence criteria under Maastricht.

The sterling-deutschmark exchange rate is determined by transactions in the foreign exchange markets. Data on the nominal exchange rate can be found in "Financial Statistics" published by the Central Statistical Office. Unit value export prices for the UK and Germany can be found in "International Financial Statistics" published monthly by the International Monetary Fund. Together, these data can be used to calculate the change in the real exchange rate with Germany between January 1993 and February 1994. It is impossible to quantify the effect on the change in the exchange rate on sterling export prices, and hence on to the real exchange rate. Movements in the sterling-deutschmark exchange rate over this period have no direct consequences for the Maastricht convergence criteria.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals he has for relaxing his inflation targets to allow a faster rate of growth; and what is his estimate of the growth rate for 1995 and 1996 compatible

Permanently low inflation is the best way to ensure healthy growth in the economy. The Government's inflation target is designed to achieve this, and is set out in the "Financial Statement and Budget Report 1995–96", together with forecasts for output and inflation.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, as a condition of the guarantee given to retail depositors, the Government will require the high street banks and other financial institutions to hive off their retail operators in such a way that they cannot be affected financially by liabilities incurred in other parts of the enterprise as at present constituted as a condition of the guarantee given to retail depositors.

The Government do not give a guarantee to depositors. The statutory deposit protection scheme, which is financed by the banks themselves, is to compensate depositors in the event of their bank failing. The arrangements governing the supervision of banks are set out elsewhere in the Banking Act 1987.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he intends to proceed with his proposal to make it obligatory for part-time directors as well as part-time employees to be included in tax-relieved employee financial participation schemes, included approved executive share option schemes.

No. After further consideration, and in the light of representations from institutional investors, my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury proposes to introduce amendments at Report stage of the Finance Bill to ensure that the new provisions about the inclusion of part-time workers in tax-relieved employee financial participation schemes will apply only to part-time employees and not to part-time directors.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what overseas visits he or his Ministers have made since 1 July 1994; and what was the duration and cost of such visits and the organisations and groups that were met during the course of such visits.

[holding answer 20 February 1995]: The overseas visits made since 1 July 1994 by Treasury Ministers, and the duration and cost of such visits and the organisations and groups that were met during the course of such visits, are as follows:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the cost to the United Kingdom economy of financing the deficit in the current account of the balance of payments since 1986; and if it is the Government's policy to move the current account back into surplus to enable the debt to be repaid.

Figures for the current and capital accounts of the UK's balance of payments are published by the Central Statistical Office annually in the Pink Book, with quarterly data available on the CSO database. Both are available through the Library of the House. Latest figures for the third quarter 1994 show the current account in surplus, with net investment income at record levels and the UK a net creditor. The key to maintaining this good performance is for the Government to deliver permanently low inflation and companies to keep costs under control, thereby ensuring that British industry remains competitive.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on light dues.

I am pleased to announce that light dues for 1995–96 will be frozen at the levels set in April 1993 for a second year in succession. I have decided to remove the supplementary roll-on/roll-off charge levied on tonnage in excess of 1,000 tonnes for any vessel whose liability is assessed by an international tonnage convention 1969 certificate. The surcharge will remain for any vessel unable for any reason to offer such a certificate. I have concluded that all other rates should remain unchanged.I commend the general lighthouse authorities on their continuing achievement of efficiency savings.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effect of a rise in fuel duty of 5 per cent. per year above the rate of inflation on car use and congestion.

The strategy to raise fuel duty by a minimum of 5 per cent. per annum is an important part of the Government's climate change programme to reduce the UK's carbon dioxide emissions to 1990 levels by the year 2000.The forecast for the growth rate of traffic up to 2000 with these increases is much the same as in the Department's current national road traffic forecasts. This reflects the fact that the real price of fuel assumed in those forecasts is similar to that now expected, as the duty increase is offset to a large degree by a lower forecast for real oil prices.The responsiveness of road use to fuel prices is believed to be low. As well as adjusting the mileage that they drive, road users have the choice of buying smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles, and manufacturers have an incentive to supply them.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what will be the effect of the postponement of the North London line modernisation project on the introduction, or operation, of passenger and freight trains from France for destinations north of London.

Railtrack advises me that there has been no postponement of work on the North London line which would affect channel tunnel services.Railtrack is currently carrying out a study to determine which of several route options through north London will be adopted for channel tunnel services north of London.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what monitoring has taken place of emissions from diesel trains.

Under section 79 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, it is the duty of district councils and London borough councils to inspect their areas from time to time to detect any statutory nuisances, including emissions from railway engines but excluding steam locomotives.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to curb emissions from railway diesel engines.

It is a condition of the train operator's licence to produce an environmental policy, taking account of guidance from the rail regulator which I understand is in preparation. British Rail takes active steps to control exhaust emissions in sensitive locations. In some terminal stations and depots, provision of shore-based electrical supplies has greatly reduced the need for engines to idle. For new trains, better fuel consumption control has been incorporated in design specifications, together with automatic engine shut-off after a predetermined period.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the local authorities in the United Kingdom which include people with epilepsy who cannot drive for medical reasons within their concessionary fare schemes.

The information requested is not held centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consideration his Department has given to measures to decrease the current level of use of private motor vehicles in cities and conurbations; and if he will make a statement.

Local authorities are already able to introduce a wide range of measures to reduce urban congestion which they can tailor to the particular circumstances of their areas: for example, traffic management schemes, bus priority lanes, park-and-ride schemes and parking controls, all of which are the subject of departmental advice notes.Two years ago, we introduced the "package approach" under which local authorities, individually or collectively, can obtain funding for strategic transport plans which encompass all forms of transport. Local authorities are now invited to bid for Government funds on the basis of multi-modal transport packages which take a strategic overview of transport needs and look beyond road-based options.Planning policy guidance note No. 13, published jointly by the Departments of the Environment and of Transport, offers advice on the role which transport and land use planning policies can jointly play in reducing the need to travel.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in full the results of the UK Atomic Energy Authority investigation into the radioactive fallout at Dounreay on 11 February; what assessment he has made of the effect of weather conditions on the level of risk; how far away any safety official was when exposed to radioactivity above the safe working level; whether any person sent to the contamination area wore respirators instead of sealed protective clothing; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 27 February 1995]: The incident is being investigated urgently. In line with normal practice, I understand that a report on the incident will be published in the Health and Safety Executive's quarterly statement of nuclear incidents at nuclear installations.The waste disposal authorisations granted to the Atomic Energy Authority under the Radioactive Substances Acts include limits designed to protect the public no matter what the weather conditions prevailing at the time of a discharge. Inspectors from HM industrial pollution inspectorate have carried out their initial inquiries into the circumstances leading to the incident and I understand that they are satisfied that it did not cause any of the permitted atmospheric emission limits to be exceeded.Investigation of workers' exposure issues lies with HM nuclear installations inspectorate. Its investigation will include such issues as whether the radiation exposure of individuals exceeded relevant limits and whether appropriate personnel protection was provided.Sponsorship of the UKAEA is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the blow-out of radioactive dust at the Dounreay reprocessing plant in February.

On 11 February 1995, at the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority Dounreay site, a process plant was shut down and evacuated because of abnormal concentration of radioactivity in working areas within the plant. A formal investigation has been carried out by the UKAEA. The incident is being investigated by the nuclear inspectorate of the Health and Safety Executive and HM industrial pollution inspectorate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the cost to (a) his Department and (b) Scottish Nuclear of all aspects of the proposal to construct a dry store for waste nuclear fuel at Torness; and if he will give separately the figures for (i) the cost of designing the proposed installation and (ii) the public inquiry into the proposal.

The cost to the Scottish Office of arranging and conducting the public inquiry into the application by Scottish Nuclear Ltd. to construct a dry store at Torness was approximately £28,700. The cost to the company of the dry store project, including participation in the public inquiry, is a commercial matter for Scottish Nuclear.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how section 155 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1986 is applied in practice in Scotland; what further scope he has to take further action under the section; and if he will make a statement.

Section 155 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 allows the Secretary of State to establish a scheme to give, with Treasury consent, financial assistance to one or more local authorities which have incurred expenditure in respect of immediate action to safeguard life or property, or to prevent suffering or severe inconvenience, arising from an emergency or disaster which involves destruction of or danger to life or property.The main application of section 155 in Scotland has been the Bellwin scheme, under which grant is payable at the rate of 85 per cent. on current expenditure above a set threshold incurred by local authorities in responding to natural emergencies.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland for what reasons the management arrangement with Farquharson of Invercauld concerning Cairn Lochan estate fell into abeyance in 1986.

Negotiations took place between the Nature Conservancy Council and the estate about renewal of the nature reserve agreement which expired in 1986, but renewal could not be agreed. Details of negotiations are a private matter between the two parties involved.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list for each management arrangement in relation to national nature reserves, the person with whom the arrangement is made, the period of the arrangement and the cost.

The question could be answered only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate the cost to his Department's budget and to local authorities' self-financed expenditure in 1995–96 of implementing in full the recommendations of (a) the School Teachers' Review Body, (b) the Review Body on Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration and (c) the Review Body on Nursing Staff, Midwives, Health Visitors and Professions Allied to Medicine, assuming no changes in staff numbers.

[holding answer 3 March 1995]: The School Teachers' Review Body is responsible only for teachers in England and Wales. Statutory responsibility for determination of pay and conditions of service for teachers in Scotland lies with the Scottish Joint Negotiating Committee. The Government have accepted the recommendations of the Review Bodies on Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration and on Nursing Staff, Midwives, Health Visitors and Professions Allied to Medicine. The 1995–96 settlement for the NHS in Scotland provides for a cash increase of £143.2 million, or 3.6 per cent. increase. The cost of pay increases will be dependent on the outcome of negotiations at local level.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many external audits carried out upon hospitals by the Royal College of Surgeons or a similar body in (a) Renfrewshire, (b) Strathclyde and (c) Scotland as a whole in each of the past 10 years have led to disciplinary measures being taken by him; and if he will make a statement;

[holding answer 6 March 1995]: The Secretary of State is not aware of any external clinical audits carried out under the auspices of the Royal College of Surgeons or a similar body in hospitals in Renfrewshire, Strathclyde or Scotland in the past 10 years. Clinical audit is an education process and there is quite a separate and distinct machinery for disciplinary procedures which are a matter for employing authorities. The Medical Royal Colleges carry out accreditation inspections of hospitals but these are solely for the purpose of approving training posts.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his letter of 27 February to the hon. Member for Linlithgow, (a) what proposals he has to make changes in the system of written work in relation to physical education examinations in schools and (b) what factors led him to reject the explanation put forward in relation to the two pupils accused of cheating from a school named in correspondence with the hon. Member for Linlithgow.

[holding answer 6 March 1995]: The Scottish Examination Board keeps all its assessment arrangements under review and has decided that revised procedures will be in place for written work in standard grade physical education assignments for 1996 onwards.Responsibility for decisions in relation to assessment for awards under the Scottish Certificate of Education rests with the Scottish Examination Board, which carried out a thorough review of the case in question.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the cumulative cost of all legal aid to date to the families in the Ayrshire child abuse case; what is his estimate of the likely total cost; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 6 March 1995]: Six legal aid certificates have been granted in respect of this case. Payments to date amount to £538,000. The total costs may be subject to scrutiny by the Auditor of Court and cannot yet be accurately assessed. The Scottish Legal Aid Board has, however, estimated that they may fall in the range £1.5 million to £2 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what amount of revenue deficit grant he proposes to make available to Caledonian MacBrayne in 1995–96.

Subject to approval of the estimates, I propose to make available to Caledonian MacBrayne in 1995–96 revenue deficit grant amount to £8.3 million.The proposed amount reflects an increased requirement for grant compared with the 1994–95 level and takes into account the effect of the proposed closure of the company's Kyle of Lochalsh-Kyleakin service when the Skye bridge opens later in 1995. the costs associated with the introduction, also later in 1995, of a major new vessel on the Ullapool to Stornoway service and the costs of compliance with additional safety requirements on vessels.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 7 March.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 7 March 1995.

This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House, I shall be having further meetings later today.

To ask the Prime Minister what progress has been made with the review announced in the White Paper, "Scotland in Union", of the scope for transferring from the Department of Trade and Industry to the Scottish and Welsh Offices responsibility for measures which encourage industrial innovation and technology transfer in Scotland and Wales.

The review has been completed. It concluded that responsibility for the Smart and Spur schemes, which provide grants for the development of new products and processes and for design services in Scotland and Wales, should be transferred. In addition, it has now been agreed that responsibility for new measures to support innovation locally will be transferred to the Secretary of State for Scotland as soon as the administrative arrangements have been completed.

To ask the Prime Minister whether he will instruct the Civil Service Commissioners to advertise for open competition at the previous rate of remuneration the post of any permanent secretary who wishes to take advantage of the recent pay award.

No.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will be attending the conference on the future of the non-proliferation treaty to be held in New York in April and May.

No. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary plans to attend on 18 April.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 1 March, Official Report, columns 580-581, if he will make a statement as to the grounds on which the charges incurred by individual airlines under the Immigration (Carriers' Liability) Act 1987 are treated as commercially confidential.

; Administration of the Immigration (Carriers' Liability) Act involves the Home Office in sensitive discussions with individual carriers. These are conducted on a commercial in confidence basis. To disclose the nature of the discussions, including the level of charges, would represent a breach of that confidentiality, and could jeopardise both the carriers' commercial operations, and our own debt recovery programme.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what police records still exist in relation to the security of the Pan Am Clipper, Maid of the Seas, at Heathrow airport on 21 December 1988.

[holding answer 6 March 1995]: The inquiries conducted by officers of the Metropolitan police concerning the security of the aircraft Maid of the Seas, at Heathrow airport on 21 December 1988 in relation to the Lockerbie case, and the records of those inquiries, form part of the case against the two Libyans who have been accused of this crime. It has been made clear that, as in any other case, it is not appropriate for the investigating or prosecuting authorities to give details of the evidence while criminal proceedings are pending.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the section 11 (a) successful and (b) unsuccessful bids showing in the case of the approved figure as a percentage of the bid in each case.

[holding answer 28 February 1995]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave him on 22 February 1995 Official Report, columns 228-32, in which I set out the level of grant sought by each applicant under the recent section 11 bidding round, and to the reply which my right hon. and learned Friend gave to the hon. Member for Edmonton (Dr. Twinn) on 28 February 1995, Official Report, columns 541-45, in which he listed the grant budget allocation for 1995-96 for each successful applicant. Table (a) shows, in respect of each successful applicant, the level of budget allocation for 1995-96 expressed as a percentage of grant sought for that year, all on the basis of November 1994 prices which applicants were asked to use in preparing their bids, and subject in some instances to arithmetical adjustments to correct an applicant's original calculations. Table (b) lists those applicants whose bids were unsuccessful.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to reply to the letter of 19 January from the hon. Member for Ealing, North regarding Government policy towards the Protection of Animals (Amendment) Bill; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend the Minister of State wrote to the hon. Member for Ealing, North (Mr. Greenway) on 2 March.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many items of correspondence were received from the hon. Member for Tatton (Mr. Hamilton) by Ministers in his Department on issues relating to the interests of the Al Fayeds; on what dates they were received; and how many were replied to.

It is not the practice to disclose information about communications between hon. Members and Ministers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what were the total administrative costs of her Department for 1993–94 and 1994–95.

Total administrative costs, including capital, for the Department in 1993–94 were £88 million. The comparable forecast outturn figures for 1994–95 is £92 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what was the total number of civil servants employed in her Department in 1993–94; and what is the expected figure for 1994–95.

The actual outturn figure for 1993–94 was 2,101 full-time equivalent staff. The estimated figure for 1994–95 is 2,097.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many people were employed in the school curriculum branch of her Department in each year since 1992–93; and what were the total operating costs of the branch in each of those years.

The school curriculum branch of the Department came into existence on 1 April 1994 as part of a wider reorganisation within the Department. For 1994–95 full-time equivalent staff in post are expected to average 81, with estimated running costs of £2.3 million. Because of the reorganisation, it is not possible to give comparable figures for earlier years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what was the total staff pay bill for her Department for 1993–94 and what is the expected amount for 1994–95.

The total staff pay bill for the Department in 1993–94 was £51 million. The comparable forecast outturn figure for 1994–95 is £52 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is the average cost of Ofsted inspections for (a) secondary, (b) primary and (c) special schools for each group size of school in 1994–95.

This is a matter for Her Majesty's chief inspector of schools, who heads the independent Office for Standards in Education. I have asked Mr. Chris Woodhead to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposals he has for compensating fishermen who lose their jobs when fishing vessels are decommissioned under his scheme.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 6 March, Official Report, column 34.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which division of his Department is responsible for the implementation of milk hygiene inspection.

ADAS, an executive agency of the Ministry and the Welsh Office, is responsible for hygiene inspections on dairy farms in England and Wales. This work is carried out under the terms of a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry's milk and milk products division and the relevant division in the Welsh Office.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will support the Commission's proposal for an early retirement scheme for fishermen at the forthcoming council meeting.

No such proposal has yet been made to the Council.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he intends to implement the two-year extension to the deadline for abattoirs to meet EU structural requirements; and if he will make a statement.

The deadline for abattoirs to meet EU structural requirements remains 31 December 1995. The December Agriculture Council agreed in principle a package of amendments to the fresh meat directive which cannot be formally adopted until the European Parliament's opinion has been delivered and considered. That package would confirm the 31 December 1995 deadline, but would allow member states to extend it in exceptional circumstances where plants which are in the process of upgrading cannot complete the work for reasons outside their control. If these provisions are adopted, the Government will therefore consider exercising a small degree of flexibility only in exceptional circumstances.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the capacities for EU certified slaughterhouses in the United Kingdom.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 16 January 1995 to the hon. Member for North Cornwall (Mr. Tyler), Official Report, column 364.