To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to seek views on the proposed changes to the regulations governing summary financial statements. [16083]

My Department has today published a consultative document seeking views on a number of recommendations for changes to the regulations governing summary financial statements. The document recommends changes to the procedures for consulting shareholders, the content of the SFS and the drafting of the regulations. The proposals have been developed with the help of business and the accountancy profession. They aim to make the SFS regime simpler and a more attractive option for companies and encourage their more widespread use.The Department believes that greater use of SFS would benefit both business and shareholders. For business, they offer opportunities for cost savings and improved shareholder communications. Shareholders—in particular, private investors—benefit by receiving company information in a form which is easier to understand and more relevant to their needs, while still retaining the right to receive full reports if they choose.The Department is also seeking views on changes to the content of SFS issued by insurance companies, which are necessary to align with new EU rules.Copies of the consultative document have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.Comments should reach my Department by 19 May 1995.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he has yet considered the business plans of the English regional development organisations; and what level of financial support he proposes to offer for 1995–96. [16084]

I am pleased to announce a 53 per cent. increase in funding next year to attract inward investment to the English regions.Grants for the eight regional development organisations will be £8.551 million in 1995–96, compared with £5.605 million for the previous year. The increase reflects the real importance that the Government attach to maintaining and developing Britains place as the preferred location for investment in the EU. It is apparent from their performance that they continue to play an important and successful role in attracting inward investment to Britain.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement about progress on the establishment of a regional supply network. [16085]

I am pleased to report that the regional supply network, which forms part of my Departments Business Links services, will become operational in April 1995. The network has, with funding from my Department, been established in fulfilment of a commitment in last years competitiveness White Paper, Cm 2563. It will consist of 10 regional supply offices covering England and will complement similar existing operations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.The network will:

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what estimate he has made of the value to British companies of contracts signed following the visit of the Philippines President. [14419]

During President Ramoss visit, agreements to the value of approximately £700 million were signed with United Kingdom companies, including British Gas, Balfour Beatty, GKN, Stramit and GEC Alsthom. UK companies are pursuing a number of other projects in the Philippines and I am confident that following the Presidents successful visit, UK commercial interests in the Philippines will develop further.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list in respect of each privatisation since 1979, including industries previously located at the Department of Energy, (a) the net equity proceeds to Government as a result of privatisation, (b) the market value at the end of the first day of trading and (c) the current market value. [15349]

I refer the hon. Member to my answer to the hon. Member for The Wrekin (Mr. Grocott) on 31 October 1994, Official Report, columns 989–90. Information on market values at the end of the first day of trading is not held centrally by my Department. In a number of cases, information on market capitalisation at flotation and movement in share values at the end of the first days trading is contained in the National Audit Office report on the relevant sale, copies of which are available in the Library of the House.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list (a) the consultants, (b) the tasks for which they were employed and (c) the payments made to them from the budget of his Department in (i) 1992–93 and (ii) 1993–94.

The detailed information cannot be provided except at disproportionate costs. However, I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Gordon (Mr. Bruce) on 10 February 1995, Official Report, column 429.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 15 March, Official Report, column 567, if he will set out the targets for the different size bands of projects applying for assisted area grants. [14937]

Target times for processing applications for regional selective assistance are as follows:

Application size band	Per cent.
Up to £25,000	80 within 35 working days
£25,000 to £100,000	75 within 45 working days
£100,000 to £1 million	75 within 60 working days
£1 million or more	65 within 100 working days

These targets are currently under review.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the progress made to date in obtaining international clearances for the revised Channel 5 frequency plan; which frequencies have now achieved clearances from which foreign jurisdictions; which are outstanding; and if he expects any impediments to final clearances being achieved by October. [15394]

I am pleased to report that most of the revised Channel 5 transmitter plan has been cleared. The coverage of the service is now around 67 per cent. of the population compared with the base figure of around 50 per cent. which had been cleared as part of the original Channel 5 plan.The Radiocommunications Agency has cleared internationally 20 out of 26 proposals put forward by the Independent Television Commission, including major transmitters such as Winter Hill, which will ensure that a major part of the north-west of England, including Manchester and Liverpool, will be able to receive the service. Achievement of the outstanding clearances will increase coverage of Channel 5 to around 70 per cent. of the population.The following transmitters which have been fully cleared by all foreign Administrations:

Location
Winter Hill	Channel 48/Horizontal Polarisation
Croydon	Channel 37/Horizontal Polarisation
Sutton Coldfield	Channel 37/Horizontal Polarisation
Black Hill	Channel 37/Horizontal Polarisation
Burnhope	Channel 68/Horizontal Polarisation
Belmont	Channel 56/Horizontal Polarisation
Fawley	Channel 34/Horizontal Polarisation
Fenham	Channel 56/Vertical Polarisation
Tacolneston	Channel 52/Horizontal Polarisation
Durris	Channel 67/Horizontal Polarisation
Chelmsford	Channel 63/Horizontal Polarisation
Perth	Channel 55/Vertical Polarisation
Tay Bridge	Channel 34/Vertical Polarisation
Plympton	Channel 30/Vertical Polarisation
Huntshaw Cross	Channel 67/Horizontal Polarisation
Craigkelly	Channel 48/Horizonal Polarisation
Mounteagle	Channel 67/Horizontal Polarisation
Selkirk	Channel 52/Horizontal Polarisation
Cambret Hill	Channel 37/Horizontal Polarisation
Oxford	Channel 49/Horizontal Polarisation

The following are still under discussion between the Radiocommunications Agency and neighbouring administrations: the transmitters at Black mountain, Londonderry, Presely and Blaen Plwyf are under consideration by the Irish Administration; the Radiocommunications Agency is currently examining a response from the French Administration concerning the proposals for the Mendip and Redruth transmitters.It is not possible to predict the outcomes or timing of the outstanding negotiations, although the discussions are taking place in a positive and constructive way.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment his Department has made of the period of time by the European Union institutions to pay bills to British companies, with particular reference to small and medium enterprises. [15144]

The United Kingdom Government have not undertaken any assessment of payments by European Commission institutions to British businesses. However, I understand that the European Commission has established a maximum payment period of 60 days and has taken steps to improve compliance with this. In addition, the Commission has said that it undertakes regular checks on the payment periods applied by its own departments.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what evidence he has that Northern Electricity plc misled the Director-General of Electricity Supply as to its true financial position during discussions last year about the appropriate level of electricity pricing; and what consideration is being given to appropriate action by his Department or other authorities to investigate the matters. [15164]

This is a matter for the Director General of Electricity Supply.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the amount of money spent on central administration and policy formulation by his Department in 1993–94; what are the projections for (a) 1994–95 and (b) 1995–96; and if he will make a statement. [14620]

Details of my Departments running costs and administrative spending for the years 1989–90 to 1997–98 are contained in the tables on pages 94 and 97 of my Departments annual report, Cm 2804, copies of which are available in the Library of the House.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what activities or discussion were forbidden under UN sanctions to the Iraqi-British Interests Group on its recent visit to Iraq.

Any prohibitions under UN sanctions apply to anyone from the United Kingdom visiting Iraq for trade purposes.

To ask the Prime Minister how many of their objectives of April 1992 the Government have now achieved; and how many remain. [15354]

Since April 1992, the Governments policies have laid the foundations for sustained economic growth. Underlying inflation is down to its lowest for a generation, interest rates are among the lowest in the EC, unemployment is down by over 600,000 since its peak, exports are at record levels, and we are attracting more investment from Japan and America than Germany and France combined.We have also pressed ahead with our reforms to raise standards in our schools, fight crime, improve the quality of care in the national health service and, with the citizens charter, make the public services more accountable to the taxpayers they serve. Our commitment to continuing improvement in standards in education has been achieved by the national curriculum, extension of objective testing of pupils, inspection of primary as well as secondary schools, continuation of publication of school results, and launch of the Teacher Training Agency. Parental choice has been enhanced by the further expansion of the grant-maintained schools and specialist colleges. The national health service is now treating 1 million more patients a year than since before our reforms began; our determination to ensure it is properly funded is borne out by the fact that, for every £1 spent on the service in 1979, over £5 will be spent in 1995–96. Against the backdrop of the largest fall in recorded crime for 40 years, we have introduced a range of measures designed to tilt the balance back in favour of the victims of crime, and ensure that crime does not pay, but criminals do.The Government have made significant progress towards achieving a lasting peace in Northern Ireland. The ceasefire has now lasted for almost seven months, giving a new basis on which we can take the peace process forward. There has also been considerable success in winning the argument in Europe—especially in our attempts to make the community more open, outward-looking and decentralised.The Governments objectives for the future remain as stated in the Gracious Speech on 16 November 1994,

To ask the Prime Minster what was the total expenditure on (a) all forms of publicity and (b) all publications and pamphlets produced for his Department and for all the agencies and public bodies for which his Department is responsible for each year since 1979, including the budgeted figure for 1995–96, (i) including and (ii) excluding privatisation-related expenditures and expressed in 1994 prices; and if he will supply information for the period from 1 April 1993 to 1 March 1995 showing (1) the nature and (2) the purpose of each publicity campaign and of each publication involving the expenditure of more than £50,000.

[holding answer 17 March 1995]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service and Science on 21 March.

To ask the Prime Minister what was the total annual expenditure by the Prime Ministers Office on press and public relations for each year since 1987–88, including the estimated expenditure for 1994–95 and the budgeted expenditure for 1995–96. [14588]

[holding answer 17 March 1995]: Expenditure on the No. 10 press office for each year since 1987 is as follows. There is no separate expenditure on public relations.

£000
Year	Total excluding superannuation	2Superannuation	Total including superannuation
1987–88	378	n/a	n/a
1988–89	419	n/a	n/a
1989–90	428	n/a	n/a
1990–91	514	39	553
1991–92	571	36	607

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much money was spent on central administration and policy formulation by his Department in 1993–94; what are the projections for (a) 1994–95 and (b) 1995–96; and if he will make a statement. [14250]

Details of the Home Offices running costs and central services spending for the years 1989–90 to 1997–298 are contained, respectively, in the tables in annexe 3 and annexe 1 of the Home Office Annual Report, Cm 2808, copies of which are available in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the hon. Member for Sherwood may expect a reply to his letter dated 22 December 1994 about the Nottingham probation service. [14705]

A reply was sent on 17 March.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the main conclusions of the joint inquiry by the football associations of England and Ireland into the violence at the England v. Ireland football match in Dublin on 15 February; and if he will place a copy of the report in the Library. [15436]

I understand that a report has been prepared by the Football Association and that the Football Association of Ireland will be producing a separate report. It is for the FA to decide whether to make its findings public.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will ensure that a national database is maintained in regard to those who commit sexual offences against children and young people.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for the introduction of a permanent register of convicted paedophiles and sex offenders; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 27 February 1995]: A comprehensive database, known as Phoenix, which will cover all reportable offences including paedophile and other sex offences, is currently being developed by the Government on behalf of the police service. It will come into service for new offences in the late spring of this year, and the transfer of existing records to the new database will be complete by mid-1996. Phoenix is a development of exceptional importance to the police service, and I believe that it will meet many of the concerns which have led to suggestions for a separate register of certain convicted sex offenders.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to grant Government Departments and agencies direct access to criminal records held on the police national computer for security vetting purposes. [16058]

I have agreed with the Association of Chief Police Officers that limited direct access to the criminal record information held on the police national computer will be allowed to six Departments and agencies. The checks performed under this arrangement will be carried out strictly in accordance with the existing statement of security vetting policy announced by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 15 December, Official Report, columns 764–66. The Departments and agencies, which will be taking up the new service at differing times, are the Ministry of Defence, the Secret Intelligence Service, the Security Service, the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority—acting also on behalf of BNFL plc, URENCO, URENCO (Capenhurst) Ltd. and the UK NIREX—the Home Office, and the Department of Trade and Industry.The new arrangements will allow these bodies to improve the efficiency of their procedures through direct preliminary checks which would establish whether or not a subject has a criminal record, but would not give them access to the record itself. In the minority of cases where the preliminary search indicates that the subject has a criminal record, the Departments or agencies would continue to ask the national identification service—formerly the national identification bureau—to supply the record itself.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his policy in relation to Ethiopians seeking political asylum in the United Kingdom. [15331]

All asylum applications from Ethiopian nationals are considered individually in accordance with our obligations under the 1951 United Nations convention relating to the status of refugees.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 16 February, to the hon. Member for Davyhulme (Mr. Churchill), Official Report, columns 755–56, how many of those port asylum applicants, refused both asylum and exceptional leave to remain in each year since 1992 but who have not yet departed voluntarily or been removed (a) are currently detained pending the outcome of an appeal or awaiting removal, (b) have been placed on restriction orders or granted temporary admission and (c) are known to have absconded. [14799]

The information available is given in the table:

Number of applicants
	Position at 16 March 1995
Year of refusal	Detained pending outcome of an appeal or awaiting removal	Granted temporary admission	Absconded
1992	0	65	10
1993	13	815	290
1994	78	3,950	280
Total	91	4,830	580

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total number of arrests made to date in connection with protests against the M11 link road; how many were made under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994; what were the reasons for the arrests; and what have been the outcomes of these cases. [15336]

This information is not collected centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which police forces monitor relevant trade journals to identify potential wildlife sales offences. [15048]

This is an operational matter for individual chief officers of police and is not recorded centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many inquests into road deaths have been held in the presence of a jury, in each year from 1978 to 1994; [14856](2) what statistical records his office holds for the length of time elapsing between death on the road and an inquest taking place for each year from 1984 to 1994; [14858](3) how many inquests into road deaths have been held after summary charges, in each year, by county, from 1978 to 1994; [14857](4) how many inquests have been reconvened after a guilty plea in respect of road deaths in the Crown court for each year from 1984 to 1994. [14859]

The available information collected on deaths reported to coroners is published in an annual Home Office Statistical Bulletin. The latest bulletin, Statistics of Death reported by Coroners: England and Wales, 1993, issue 7/94, was published on 21 April 1994 and is available in the Library. Specific information on road deaths is not collected separately.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what recent representations he has received from womens organisations on the subject of crime and the fear of crime; [14860](2) if he will give details of meetings he has had with representatives of womens organisations to discuss crime and the fear of crime. [14863]

The information requested is as follows.On 11 March 1994, the Womens National Commission, an advisory committee to the Government, forwarded a copy of its 1991 recommendations on women in prison, the operation of the criminal justice system and the management of prisons as they affect women in particular, to find out how far current practice reflected what was recommended.On 15 March 1994, the Conservative Womens National Committee forwarded recommendations on law and order issues. Matters raised included juvenile crime, media portrayal of crime, drug abuse, police-community partnerships and sentencing and prisons.On 14 November 1994, Mothers against Teenage Criminal Hooligans—MATCH—forwarded for comments a survey of the views of some 500 people about youth crime.A number of representations have also been received from individuals and organisations working, or experiencing, the problems associated with domestic violence.On 15 November 1994 the Minister of State met Mothers Against Murder and Aggression—MAMAA—which was formed in the wake of the Jamie Bulger murder to address issues of abuse and violence against and by children and young people.On 7 December 1994 the Home Secretary addressed a plenary meeting of the Womens National Commission. His speech covered juvenile crime, domestic violence and victims and witnesses of crime.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will give details of the number of (a) women and (b) men employed at each grade within the police service, for each police authority for every year since 1989 with details of their responsibilities. [14862]

Information on the duties to which officers are assigned could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Tables giving the information requested on police ranks have been placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of Asian and Afro-Caribbean officers, both male and female in each police authority, in each year since 1989; and what are the figures as a percentage of officers employed in each area. [14398]

The information for 1992 and 1993 is provided in the table. Figures for earlier years are not held centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those countries from which visitors to the United Kingdom do not require a visa. [14911]

Those other than the following countries or territorial entities:

• Afghanistan
• Albania
• Algeria
• Angola
• Armenia
• Azerbaijan
• Bangladesh
• Belarus
• Benin
• Bhutan
• Bosnia-Herzegovina
• Bulgaria
• Burkina
• Burma
• Burundi
• Cambodia
• Cameroon
• Cape Verde
• Central African Republic
• Chad
• China
• Comoros
• Congo
• Cuba
• Djibouti
• Egypt
• Equatorial Guinea
• Eritrea
• Ethiopia
• Gabon
• Georgia
• Ghana
• Guinea
• Guinea-Bissau
• Haiti
• India
• Indonesia
• Iran
• Iraq
• Jordan
• Kazakhstan
• Kirgizstan
• Korea (North)
• Laos
• Lebanon
• Liberia
• Libya
• Macedonia
• Madagascar
• Mali
• Mauritania
• Moldova
• Mongolia
• Morocco
• Mozambique
• Nepal
• Nigeria
• Oman
• Pakistan
• Philippines
• Romania
• Russia
• Rwanda
• Sao Tome e Principe
• Saudi Arabia
• Senegal
• Sierra Leone
• Somalia
• Sri Lanka
• Sudan
• Syria
• Taiwan
• Tajikistan
• Thailand
• Togo
• Tunisia
• Turkey
• Turkmenistan
• Uganda
• Ukraine
• Uzbekistan
• Vietnam
• Yemen
• Zaire

The territories formerly comprising the Socialist Republic of Yugoslavia, excluding Croatia and Slovenia

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellors Department how much money was spent on central administration and policy formulation by his Department in 1993–94; what are the projections for (a) 1994–95 and (b) 1995–96; and if he will make a statement. [14239]

Details of my Departments running costs and administrative spending for the years 1989–90 to 1997–98 are contained in table 4 of my Departments annual report, Cm 2809, copies of which are available in the Members Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what studies her Department has made of the side-effects of chorion villus sampling for Downs syndrome; and if she will take steps to ensure that all prospective parents are provided with information on the possibility of abnormalities resulting from the tests; [14455](2) how many CVS tests were provided under the NHS in each of the past five years and at what cost; and if she will list the manufacturers of these tests. [14457]

The results of a major Government-funded Medical Research Council clinical trial conducted in a number of international centres and examining the use of chorion villus sampling were published in 1991 and the findings published in The Lancet¹, copies of which are available in the Library. This also highlighted the possibility of a risk of limb reduction deformities associated with the procedure. Health professionals involved in conducting CVS would be aware of these findings and therefore in a position to advise parents of the potential risks involved, including that of miscarriage.Information is not available centrally about the number or cost of the tests. The procedure involves tests undertaken usually in national health service laboratories, on placental tissue taken from the woman by CVS. There are therefore no manufacturers of these tests.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children with Downs syndrome were born in each of the past 10 years. [14456]

This information is shown in the table.

Notification of babies born with Downs Syndrome in England and Wales, 1984–1993
Year	Numbers
1984	505
1985	442
1986	445
1987	459
1988	428
1989	487
1990	415
1991	440
1992	394
1993	311

Data were obtained from the national congenital malformation notification scheme. For the years given, the data were collected for live and stillbirths where the malformation was identified at or within 10 days of birth.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the Government will continue to identify an element for support of independent living within the revenue support grant for local authorities from 1996–97; and if she will make a statement. [15053]

Currently, an element of the special transitional grant for community care is identified as relating to the former independent living fund. It is not separately ring-fenced and local authorities are free to use it for any community care service. Whether former independent living fund resources will continue to be separately identified after the special transitional grant ends has not yet been determined.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will encourage and fund research into the therapeutic use of cannabis with double blind trials designed to established the efficacy or otherwise of this form of treatment. [15069]

The main agency through which the Government support medical and related biological research is the Medical Research Council, which receives its grant in aid from the office of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. It is always willing to consider scientifically sound proposals. As for any other unlicensed product, a sponsor seeking a product licence for cannabis would need to present supporting data to the Medicines Control Agency, which would evaluate any application made to it in the normal way.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the adequacy of the provision of nursing homes for poor elderly people; and what information she has on the equivalent provision in each of the other European Union states. [14914]

Matters of quality and quantity of local nursing homes, irrespective of the income levels of residents, are for local commissioning authorities. We do not hold information on nursing homes in other European countries centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has for granting prescription charge exemptions to people with splenectomies who require prophylactic doses of penicillin. [15372]

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many applicants there were per GP trainee post (a) nationally, (b) regionally and (c) broken down by each FHSA in the current year and for each of the last 10 years. [15364]

This information is not available centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action her Department is taking to reduce levels of cigarette smoking among people on low incomes. [15380]

The White Paper The Health of the Nation sets a target of 20 per cent. for adults smoking by the year 2000. In view of their higher smoking rates, it is clearly essential to reach people on low incomes if this is to be achieved.This will be done through the comprehensive programme set out in the White Paper and the action plan Smoke Free for Health including health education, action on price, advice from general practitioners and other health professionals and proper controls on advertising and promotion.Copies of both documents are available in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to reduce the requirement on health boards for formal consultation when major changes to health services are planned. [15362]

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she expects consultations with representatives of the Association of Optometrists on the GOS sight test fee for 1995–96 to begin. [15873]

Consultations on the 1995–96 national health service sight test fee will begin shortly with the Optometric Fees Review Committee, which represents the optometric profession.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what response she intends to make to the representations to her from the London borough of Lambeth in relation to the reform of the system for registering births, marriages and deaths. [15137]

The London borough of Lambeth has been advised that the Government intend to introduce legislation to implement the proposals in the White Paper entitled Registration: proposals for change, Cm 939, when parliamentary time allows.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the provision of accident and emergency services at hospitals serving the constituency of Carshalton and Wallington. [15268]

Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth health authority is responsible for purchasing accident and emergency services for Carshalton and Wallington residents. My hon. Friend may wish to contact Mr. Harry Cowd, chairman of the health authority, for details.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she expects to publish her response of the Wilson report on patients complaints. [15829]

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health published today the Department of Healths response to the report of the review committee on the national health service complaints procedures, chaired by Professor Wilson, vice-chancellor of Leeds university, in a document Acting on Complaints. Copies of this document will be placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what level of immunisation coverage has been achieved by the measles rubella campaign; and what impact this has had on the number of cases of measles. [15853]