To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list by region all health trusts for which she has departmental responsibility showing (a) pay offers made, to date, to staff covered by national pay review machinery and (b) in how many cases pay offers are linked with financial penalties for unjustified absence; and if she will make a statement. [19044]

The Review Body for Nursing Staff, Midwives, Health Visitors and Professions Allied to Medicine recommended that there should be local negotiations on pay in addition to a 1 per cent. increase in national rates of pay and similar offers have been made to most staff groups covered by negotiations in various Whitley councils. Negotiations on local pay are a matter for individual national health service trusts but I understand that in some 120 NHS trusts which have made offers about 75 per cent. are of around 3 per cent. overall.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of trusts have made formal pay offers of 3 per cent. or more. [20619]

Negotiations on local pay are a matter for individual national health service trusts but I understand that in some 120 NHS trusts which have made offers about 75 per cent. are of around 3 per cent. overall.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the future of the Centre for Epilepsy in relation to the re-organisation of neurosciences at the Kings Healthcare trust in the south-east [20056]

The Centre for Epilepsy has a positive future as part of the major new neurosciences centre being developed at King's College hospital, announced on 4 April. King's Healthcare trust will be working with the centre to relocate its facilities to purpose-built accommodation on the main Denmark hill site.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consultation was undertaken before issuing executive letter EL(95)5 on purchasing home-based hospital care. [20255]

The Department consulted representatives of health authorities and national health service trusts and informed a number of bodies representing clinicians and patients before issuing EL(95)5.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations she has received claiming a conflict of interest or unfair competition in respect of the practice of local and health authorities in granting the procurement and servicing of rehabilitative equipment to a manufacturer or supplier of such equipment. [20260]

Representations have been received from a supplier of disability aids alleging a conflict of interest within the industry. This claim is being considered.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the steps taken to ensure that enough professional clinical psychologists are available to meet the demands of care in the community. [20258]

It is for local employers to determine the staff needed to deliver the services that they have contracted to provide. Since 1991, the number of clinical psychologists employed by national health service trusts and the number of training places commissioned on their behalf by regional health authorities has continued to increase to meet the growing demand for clinical psychologists. Officials from the NHS executive and from regional health authorities meet regularly with representatives from the British Psychological Society to review progress.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the four-partner practice at Hornsey Rise health centre, a first-wave fundholder, which is leaving the scheme. [20621]

It is regrettable that this practice feels unable to continue within fundholding, but the strength of fundholding is its voluntary nature. The fact is, however, that many more general practitioners are opting to enter the scheme, taking the population covered by a general practitioner fundholder to over 42 per cent.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many meetings there have been in (a) 1994–95, (b) 1993–94, (c) 1992–93 and (d) 1991–92 between herself, a health Minister or parliamentary private secretaries and representatives of private health insurance companies; and if she will make a statement on the content of these discussions. [20625]

There have been numerous meetings to discuss a range of topics relevant to private medical insurance, including taxation policy, long-term care and advertising. The available information is shown in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many doctors under notice of dismissal are awaiting appeal to her; and for how long they have been waiting. [20620]

Doctors subject to paragraph 190 of the national health service terms and conditions of service may appeal to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health if they consider that their appointment has been unfairly terminated for reasons other than personal misconduct. Appeals are determined by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State in the light of advice from a professional committee. Six appeals are awaiting determination: four were lodged within the last 12 months, one in June 1993 and one in September 1993.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the policy of patients in casualty being asked whether they will go into private facilities within that hospital. [20624]

It is for the individual patient or their guardian to request private medical treatment. No pressure should be placed on patients in accident and emergency departments to be treated privately.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will give the number of acute private beds in England in 1993–94 in (a) NHS facilities and (b) in total. [20626]

This information is not available centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for health what representations she has received regarding the procedures for appointment of general practitioners to vacant practices; and if she will make a statement. [20535]

We have received representations on various aspects of the general practitioner appointments procedures from both the profession and the national health service. In response to that, we amended regulations on 1 April 1994 to allow family health services authorities to readvertise vacancies up to three times where the aggregated number of applications was fewer than 20. We will continue to consider any further representations that are received.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will give the cost so far to the NHS of legal actions taken by Healthcall against family health service authorities. [20622]

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for health if civilian staff currently employed by the Ministry of Defence at Queen Elizabeth military hospital will be offered employment on their current terms and conditions within the NHS when the hospital becomes a civilian NHS hospital; and if she will make a statement. [20533]

This is a matter for Greenwich Healthcare trust in consultation with interested parties. I understand that the hon. Member has already written to the trust, which will reply direct to him.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to require deputising services medically to triage calls from patients in the same manner as general practitioners. [20623]

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health in each of the last four years what were the number and total cost of extra-contractual referrals requested from each district health authority, and in total; and what were the number and total cost of such referrals approved by each district health authority. [20627]

Information on the number of extra-contractual referrals requested and approved by health authorities is not available centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will itemise how much income has been received by NHS bodies since the introduction of the income generation initiative. [20404]

Information is contained in the annual national health service national summary accounts, copies of which are available in the Library and which set out income receipts by health authorities and trusts under a number of headings.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the methods by which nurses' pay has been determined between 1974 and 1995 [17561]

For the period 1974 to 1983 nurses' pay was negotiated between the sides of the Nurses and Midwives Whitley council. In July 1983 the independent Review Body for Nursing Staff, Midwives, Health Visitors and Professions Allied to Medicine was set up to advise my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on remuneration. Since the review body was established all 12 reports have been accepted in full by the Government. Settlement levels over the period to 1994 increased by over 130 per cent. in a period when inflation rose by less than 69 per cent.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to publish the report on the transfer of a patient from Maidstone to Southampton referred to in the report of south Thames region concerning the transfer of a patient from Queen Mary's hospital, Sidcup to Leeds. [20534]

Mid Kent Healthcare national health service trust published the detailed conclusions and an action plan arising from its investigation of this incident on 5 April.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, pursuant to his answer of

	In post 19 April 1995	Appointments 19 April 1990 to 19 April 1995	Retirements 19 April 1990 to 19 April 1995	1Resignations 19 April 1990 to 19 April 1995
Law Lords	12	9	7	0
Heads of Division including Lord Chancellor	5	4	2	0
Court of Appeal	32	20	9	0
High Court Bench	95	55	16	0
Circuit Bench	516	222	108	1
Industrial Tribunal including President2	83	48	39	0
Social Security Appeals Tribunal including President2	41	26	3	23
Immigration Appeals Tribunals including President	3	1	1	0
Leasehold Valuation Tribunals	4—
1 Resignations:those who retire without being entitled to an immediate pension.
2 These President also hold Circuit Bench posts.
3 Presidents who returned to full time Circuit Bench Posts.
4 no full-timeposts

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to alter the planning law on road-side advertising; and if he will make a statement. [19748]

The four people appointed in consultation with the Prime Minister were:

• Lord Griffiths, MC, as chairman of the Advisory Committee on Legal Education and Conduct in October 1990;
• Lord Justice (now Lord) Steyn as chairman of the Advisory Committee on Legal Education and Conduct in October 1993;
• Lord Archer of Sandwell as chairman of the Council on Tribunals in November 1992; and
• Sir Tim Chessells as member of the Legal Aid Board in January 1995 and as chairman from May 1995.
• Mr. David Sumberg MP was appointed to the Advisory Council on Public Records in November 1992 in consultation with the Government Chief Whip.

A Member of Parliament from each of the main parties serves on the Advisory Council on Public Records, but only Mr. Sumberg was appointed in the period covered by the question.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list the current total number of positions held and the number of new appointments, retirements and resignations in the last five years with respect to (a) the Judicial Committee of the House of Lords, (b) the Court of Appeal, (c) the High Court Bench,(d) the Circuit Bench, (e) the Industrial Tribunal, (f) the social security appeal tribunal, (g) the immigration appeals tribunal and (h) valuation tribunals. [20318]

The information relating to the numbers of full-time office holders in post as at 19 April 1995 and to the numbers of appointments, retirements and resignations of full-time office holders in the five-year period between 19 April 1990 and 19 April 1995 is set out in the table.

My right hon. Friend has no plans to amend the provisions of the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) Regulations 1992 controlling road-side advertising. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport is consulting publicly on proposed changes to the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 1994 with regard to traffic signs for tourist destinations and facilities.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received about the proposed extension of Swinden quarry at Cracoe in the Yorkshire Dales national park; and whether he intends to call in and review the planning decision on this matter. [19752]

The Secretary of State has received approximately 70 representations from a wide range of organisations and individuals; a petition has also been received.In exercise of his powers under article 14 of the Town and Country Planning Act General Development Order 1988, the Secretary of State has directed the planning authority not to grant planning permission on this application without specific authorisation.This direction has been issued to enable the Secretary of State to consider whether he should direct under section 77 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 that the application should be called in for his own decision. No decision has yet been reached.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will obtain regular reports on the environmental effects of the ban on private cars in the centre of Athens and consider the implications for traffic policy in British cities. [19988]

I am advised that the Athens experiment is scheduled to last three months. I will study reports as and when they become available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total staffing level of the Government office for London. [20237]

Three hundred and thirty-seven.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment his Department has made of the effects of subsidence on housing in mining areas caused by mining operations in the last 10 years; what action his Department has taken to limit the effects of subsidence on housing in mining areas caused by mining operations; and how many letters he has received concerning subsidence on housing in mining areas. [19835]

[holding answer 19 April 1995]: My Department has carried out a number of general assessments of mining subsidence in the last 10 to 15 years under the planning research programme and derelict land grant. The Review of mining instability in Great Britain, published in 1992, gave a broad general picture of the extent of mining in Great Britain and its effects on land use and development; regional, technical and case study reports provide a concise summary of the mining and mining-related subsidence events and the methods of investigation, monitoring and remedial measures that are available. In addition, specific assessments have been made in a number of areas such as the black country, the Wrekin district of Shropshire, south Wales and Norwich.Derelict land grant has also been used to fund investigations and remedial measures, principally the limestone mines of the black country but also in the sand mines in West Yorkshire and Surrey, chalk mines in Norwich, Reading and Bury St. Edmunds, metal mines in Cornwall and Shropshire, salt mines in Cheshire and stone mines in Bath.Planning guidance issued in 1990 advised local planning authorities and developers of the need to take account of the possibility of subsidence when considering all development in past, present and future mining areas.There is no central record of the number of letters received concerning subsidence on housing in mining areas.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what aid is being given to Tanzania to cope with the influx of refugees from Rwanda. [18656]

In addition to the substantial and continuing bilateral emergency aid that we have been providing for Rwandan refugees in Tanzania, we are also seeking to help local affected Tanzanians. We are designing a project with Help Age International to support Tanzanian elderly and disabled people in the region.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what aid provision is being made for the development of sport in South African townships. [18757]

We are currently funding, in conjunction with the British Council, an initiative with the United Kingdom Sports Council to develop sports administration and coaching, and we are about to embark, with Voluntary Service Overseas, on a two-year sports development pilot programme. Both projects are aimed specifically at disadvantaged communities in the townships and rural areas.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures he is taking to ensure that aid is targeted towards those people most in need. [18758]

The whole of the aid programme already has a strong poverty focus. In 1993–94 over two thirds of our bilateral aid went to the poorest developing countries. We are increasing our assistance through non-governmental organisations and have strengthened our capacity to design and implement projects of direct benefit to the poor.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what level of aid is currently given to Kenya; and if he will make a statement. [18759]

British bilateral aid to Kenya amounted to £31.3 million in 1993–94, the last year for which figure are available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what additional resources the Overseas Development Administration is making available to severely indebted countries to help them meet their bilateral debt commitments. [18761]

Aid is not used to finance bilateral debt commitments directly. However, the United Kingdom has converted £1.1 billion of bilateral aid to grants and links its programme aid to adjustment programmes, which often involve rescheduling of other bilateral debt.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of current humanitarian needs of Liberia; what is being done by the international community to meet those needs; and what is Britain's contribution. [19915]

We are closely monitoring the situation in Liberia and remain ready to consider further support. The UN is seeking US$65.3 million this year for emergency relief programmes which can be implemented under existing security constraints.We have provided £500,000 in response to this appeal to agencies working in the agriculture, food security and health sectors, thereby increasing our emergency aid to Liberia to over £900,000 since April 1994.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what British aid is being given to Nepal for forestry projects, designed to ameliorate flooding. [18963]

British aid for forestry in Nepal addresses two main issues. Through our community forestry project we are helping the Government of Nepal to develop a community-based approach to sustainable forest management for the benefit of people living in the hills. At the same time, our support for forestry research is helping to provide the information needed to develop and improve sustainable forest management interventions. Neither project is designed primarily to ameliorate flooding but both will help by slowing water run off and reducing soil erosion in the hills of Nepal.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what additional bilateral aid Her Majesty's Government intend to make available to the Government of Pakistan from September when UNHCR stops all funding of Afghanistan refugees in Pakistan, including food and schools; what discussions Her Majesty's Government are undertaking with EU states to assist Pakistan in supporting Afghan refugees, including the supply of wheat; and if he will make a statement. [19989]

Our assistance to Afghan refugees is channelled through NGOs and international agencies, rather than through the Pakistan Government. In the past year we have provided approximately £3 million for Afghan refugees in Pakistan, and in March 1995 we provided £1.28 million of food aid through CARE for relief programmes inside Afghanistan. We will consider further contributions during the course of the year.The EU has for many years been one of the main providers of food aid for refugees in Pakistan and those returning to Afghanistan. A joint UNHCR—World Food Programme food assessment mission arrived in Pakistan on 21 April. It will discuss its findings with representatives of donors, including EU member states, in Islamabad.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations were made by Her Majesty's Government against decisions by UNHCR to reduce and, from September, to stop all aid to refugees from Afghanistan in Pakistan except to those families deemed vulnerable; and what representations were made by Her Majesty's Government against a decision to stop funding all schools for Afghan refugee children in Pakistan from September. [19987]

:UNHCR has made no decision to stop all funding of Afghan refugees in Pakistan, including food and schools, from September.However, last year's joint UNHCR—World Food Programme food assessment mission concluded that the across-the-board care and maintenance programme should not continue after 30 September 1995. Aid will continue to be targeted at those most in need, the food assessment mission having found that many Afghan refugees in Pakistan were self-reliant and enjoyed a higher economic and nutritional status than rural Pakistanis. This year's food assessment mission is due to review the situation about now. We and other donors support the view that more UNHCR emphasis should be placed on rehabilitation efforts inside Afghanistan in order to encourage refugees to return home.UNHCR has no plans to cease primary education for all Afghan refugee children in Pakistan.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what obstacles there are for the ratification of the desertification convention by the United Kingdom. [19807]

[holding answer 21 April 1995]: We intend to ratify in concert with other EU and OECD countries in the light of further progress in the intergovernmental negotiating committee on various provisions of the convention, including administrative arrangements.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the principal reasons for the general failure of initiatives taken so far, including the tropical forestry action plan and the International Tropical Timber Organisation, not to prevent the destruction of tropical rainforests. [19803]

[holding answer 21 April 1995]: Much forest loss is caused by local land use pressures which are not subject to resolution through international initiatives. TFAP and ITTO have assisted and encouraged Governments to develop and implement sustainable forest management policies in their own countries, but they cannot replace the overriding importance of national action and local political commitment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the willingness or otherwise of the British public to pay, through taxation, for additional measures to conserve tropical rainforests. [19806]

[holding answer 21 April 1995]: Sustainable management of tropical rainforests is principally the responsibility of the Governments of the countries in which they occur. It is not evident that measures taken by them would be directly assisted by taxation levied in the United Kingdom. In due course, producer countries might aim to fund forest conservation partly from a premium on tropical timber certified as being from a sustainable source, but there are differing views on the willingness of consumers to pay such premiums.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the United Kingdom Government's policy regarding the involvement of the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation in the issue of tropical rainforest conservation. [19805]

[holding answer 21 April 1995]: FAO is responsible within the UN system for forest issues and has considerable expertise in forestry. We believe that FAO should increase the proportion of its existing resources which it devotes to assisting the sustainable development and conversation of forests.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many rules and regulations he repealed in the first three months of 1995; and how many new rules and regulations were introduced in that period by way of statutory instruments, motions or orders. [19367]

In the first three months of 1995, 32 statutory instruments were laid, not including commencement orders, Orders in Council and instruments not subject to parliamentary procedure, of which five introduced new regulatory requirements which had costs for business. Compliance cost assessments were published and copies have been placed in the Library. These statutory instruments also repealed eight rules and regulations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many competitive tendering exercises carried out by his Department in each of the last two years were caught by the provisions of the public services directive but were not subsequently advertised in the Official Journal of the European Union in compliance with the relevant regulations. [19227]

All contracts for services awarded by this Department since the public services directive came into effect on 1 July 1993 have been awarded in compliance with the relevant regulations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many representations he has received expressing opposition to the new incapacity benefit; and what plans he has to review the working of this benefit. [20371]

I have received a number of letters about incapacity benefit since the changes were announced in December 1993. We will closely monitor the effects of the changes but we have no plans to review the benefit.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when the revised charter for national insurance payers will be published. [20757]

I have today published the revised contributor's charter. It highlights the progress the Contributions Agency has made since its launch four years ago. It demonstrates the agency's continuing commitment to providing a quality service. I am particularly pleased to see that the charter's complaints section has been revised. Customers now have access to an independent adjudicator and are clearly directed to other sources of independent advice. The agency is now better placed to deal with customers dissatisfaction effectively and positively.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to provide injury benefit to self-employed farmers who paid class 2 national insurance contributions and who are now suffering from organophosphorous poisoning as a result of the compulsory use of organophosphorous dips. [20259]

Injury benefit was abolished in 1983. Disablement benefit may be payable under the industrial injuries scheme to employed earners who suffer organophosphorous poisoning as a result of their work. We have no plans to extend the industrial injuries scheme to the self-employed in agriculture. However, incapacity benefit is available to self-employed farmers who satisfy the relevant incapacity and contribution conditions.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the future of Annesley Bentinck colliery. [21001]

Discussions with Coal Investments plc on its proposed acquisition of Annesley Bentinick are at an advanced stage and we hope to complete the sale very shortly.The bid has been subject to a detailed process of clarification and negotiation since Coal Investments was selected as preferred bidder in October 1994. Agreement has now been reached, subject to contract, that Coal Investments will acquire Annesley Bentinck colliery, which has been on care and maintenance since February 1994, for a nominal consideration of £1. Coal Investments will take over British Coal's substantial liabilities in relation to the colliery—for example, in relation to site restoration when production ceases. In order to conclude the transfer at the earliest opportunity so as to minimise the on-going costs currently being incurred by British Coal, the Government will pay Coal Investments a contribution of up to £270,000 towards continuing care and maintenance costs for a limited period.The Department will shortly lay a minute before the House describing certain limited warranties which it proposes to give in relation to the sale.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if the fee paid by Canuk Exploration Ltd. for the exploration licence covering the Windsor area will correlate to the proceeds of any oil discovery; and if he will make a statement. [20042]

Application fees and rental payments for all petroleum licences are not related to future proceeds from any oil discovery but are charged on a standard basis. All third round licensees, including Canuk Exploration Ltd., paid a standard application fee of £1,000 and a non-recurrent rental of £75 per square kilometre when it was awarded exploration licences. The rental paid by Canuk amounted to £7,500. Licensees wishing to develop any discoveries would need first to apply for an appraisal licence, which currently attracts a non-recurrent rental of £75 per square kilometre, and then a development licence, for which the charge is £1,500 per square kilometre per year. Licence fees and rentals are agreed with the Treasury prior to each licensing round and are currently being reviewed. I hope to announce the new rental structure shortly.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what criteria are used to access the adequacy of the financial and technical resources of applicants applying for oil exploration licences. [20043]

Before awarding an onshore exploration licence, my officials make the necessary checks to ensure that applicants have sufficient technical resources to perform their proposed work programmes and have access to the funding required to enable these to be carried out.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the Crown post offices in Britain which are earmarked for conversion to agency status and the constituencies within which they lie. [19483]

I understand from the Post Office that it has begun or completed consultation on the conversion of the following Crown post offices in Britain to agency status but has either not yet taken a decision to proceed or has not yet proceeded with the conversion.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he has written to the chief executive of Raytheon asking him to meet representatives of the Raytheon campaign. [19956]

Ministers at the DTI and the Welsh Office have written to the chief executive of Raytheon asking him to meet representatives of the Raytheon campaign.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the public information telephone inquiry lines operated by his Department, in each case indicating the costs of establishing, operating and publicising these lines and the number of calls made to them up until this point; when they were established; and what assessment his Department has made of their effectiveness. [17456]

[holding answer 3 April 1995]: The information requested is as follows.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what quality standards he will require when the marketing and information technology section of the Patent Office is opened to competitive tenders. [20028]

The Patent Office will require prospective tenderers to demonstrate commitment to quality standards as part of their proposals and quality standards will be incorporated in the specifications. Deciding the nature and scope of appropriate standards will form part of the process of drawing up those specifications.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he intends to invite tenders for Patent Office work including the marketing section and duties undertaken by the London Front section. [20027]

The Patent Office will seek to contract out activities wherever this is compatible with its statutory role and good value for money. It is currently assessing the scope for contracting out and some candidates have been identified. Before tenders can be invited, operational requirements need to be assessed and specifications drawn up. In the case of marketing and the London Front office, it is likely that consultants will be appointed in May to help with this stage of the work, on which the subsequent timetable depends.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he is now expecting the house to receive the findings of the Scott inquiry. [18746]

Sir Richard Scott has advised me that he hopes to publish his report in late June or shortly thereafter.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will set up an inquiry into the extent to which British companies have been involved in the export or arrangement for sale of electro-shock equipment since 1984. [19510]

[holding answer 18 April 1995]: The export of portable anti-riot devices for administering an electric shock and specialised components therefore has been controlled since 1984 under the terms of various Export of Goods (Control) Orders which have applied since and before that date. In considering any applications for licences for the export of such equipment the Department of Trade and Industry and advisers in other Government Departments would take special care and consider very carefully the political and military implications of allowing such goods to be exported. Particular attention is paid to proposed exports to countries with poor human rights records, where the equipment might be used for internal repression. Evasion of UK export controls is a criminal offence and investigation of such evasion is a matter for Customs and Excise; any evidence that evasion may have taken place should be supplied to that Department. Controls on the exports of such goods from outside the United Kingdom are the responsibility of the appropriate authorities in the countries from which the goods are supplied. In these circumstances I do not think that inquiry is necessary or appropriate.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will give the number and location of Accounts Services Agency, Companies House, Insolvency Service, Laboratory of the Government Chemist, National Engineering Laboratory, National Physical Laboratory, National Weights and Measures Laboratory, Patent Office and Radiocommunications Agency offices closed and the number of jobs lost or transferred as a result of agency work transferring from Scotland to the rest of the United Kingdom over the past five years; and if he will list the number and location of offices opened and jobs gained in Scotland as the result of agency work transferring to Scotland from the rest of the United Kingdom over the same period. [20299]

One clerical post in Radiocommunications Agency was transferred to Scotland during the period in question. No other work carried out by any of the Department's executive agencies has been transferred to or from Scotland from or to the rest of the UK during the period.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list those companies in the Corby area which have qualified for regional selective assistance since 1991–92, together with the total value of such selective assistance in each year. [20277]

Discussions about regional selective assistance grants are confidential between the company concerned and my Department. I am, therefore, unable to provide a full list of companies which received RSA during the period in question. However, where RSA exceeds £75,000, details are published in the Employment Gazette once the first payment has been made.I can provide figures which show the total amounts of RSA approved for projects in the Corby travel-to-work area from financial year 1991–92 onwards, and these figures are as follows:

Financial year	Number of offers	Amount offered £000s
1991–92	4	553
1992–93	6	588
1993–94	11	1,295
1994–95	4	843

As my hon. Friend is aware, Corby lost its development area status when the new assisted area map was published on 1 August 1993. The above totals for 1993–94 and for 1994–95 include figures for projects which were submitted to my Department prior to 1 August 1993 but which were not officially approved until after that date.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the viability of Business Link outlets which have already been created. [18106]

All Business Links which are open have convinced a national assessment panel that they have sound financial plans, including their long-term viability.Business Links are private sector companies. It is for their boards to ensure that they remain solvent and that they keep their expenditure within their income. This includes, for 1995–96 alone, £38.5 million from the Government for pump priming, in addition to £50 million which will be provided for services. The amount available for services will be known three years in advance in a rolling programme for funding. Over and above Government funding, there will be additional funding from other partners, membership fees, charges for services and sponsorship income.

To ask the Lord President of the Council what debates have been held in the past year as a result of requests made by hon. Members at business questions.

Alongside a wide range of other factors, representations at business questions frequently have considerable influence on the content and timing of the business scheduled. Examples of debates where this has been particularly clear so far this year are the Commonwealth, civil service, tourism and Hong Kong.

To ask the Lord President of the Council what proportion of written parliamentary questions were answered (a) directly by Ministers and (b) in letters from officials of executive agencies in the first three months of (i) 1993, (ii) 1994 and (iii) 1995.

I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Dewsbury (Mrs. Taylor) on 5 April, Official Report, column 1131.

To ask the Lord President of the Council, pursuant to his answer on 5 April Official Report, column 1132, to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe (Mr. Morris), on what date the report by the Government Actuary on the valuation of the parliamentary contributory pension fund, placed in the Vote Office on 4 April, came into operational effect, as it affects hon. and right hon. Members' contributions to the fund.

[holding answer 18 April 1995]: The report of the Government Actuary on the valuation of the parliamentary contributory pension fund as at 1 April 1993 covers the general financial position of the fund and, as required by legislation, recommends the Exchequer contribution needed to meet the balance of the cost of the scheme.The Government Actuary Department's report will not affect the contribution payable by hon. and right hon. Members. The Exchequer contributions rate recommendation is in respect of the financial year beginning after the Actuary's report is made, in this case, 1 April 1995.

To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will make a statement on the work in which he has been involved aimed at tackling the problems related to drug misuse in the United Kingdom.

I chair the ministerial sub-committee on the misuse of drugs which has co-ordinated a series of reviews of the Government's strategies to tackle drug misuse in the United KingdomA new drugs strategy for England for the period 199598 will be set out in a White Paper to be published shortly. The White Paper is a revised version of the consultative document "Tackling Drugs Together", which was published in October 1994. In Scotland, work is underway to implement the recommendations of the report "Drugs in Scotland: Meeting the Challenge" produced by the ministerial drugs task force, which was also published in October 1994. In Wales, a strategy on drug and alcohol misuse is being prepared. It is intended to set up a Welsh drug and alcohol unit to oversee the implementation of the strategy. The Northern Ireland committee on drug misuse has reviewed existing drug policies in Northern Ireland and last month issued a new policy statement for consultation.

To ask the Lord President of the Council, if he will list for each agency and the central Department for which he is responsible (a) the total hours of overtime worked for which payment has been made, (b) the total amount paid in overtime and (c) the total time in days and its monetary equivalent lost through sickness in each of the last three years.

The information requested under (a) could not be provided except at disproportionate cost. As to (b), overtime costs incurred by the Privy Council Office were as follows: 1992–93 £36,000 (estimate), 1993–94 £34,121, and 1994–95 £41,137. The total number of days lost through sickness in the PCO was 100 in 1992 calendar year and 237 in 1993. Figures are not yet available for 1994. It is not possible to attribute accurate monetary equivalents to days lost through sickness.I am not responsible for any agencies.

To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will list for each agency and the central Department for which he is responsible (a) the total amount of removal costs and associated expenses reimbursed to officials who were required to relocate as part of their employment, (b) the amount of each of the highest three claims that were concluded and settled and (c) the average amount of each claim in each of the last three years.

No relocation expenses were claimed by staff of the Privy Council Office in the years in question. I am not responsible for any agencies.

To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will list the total amount paid by his central Department and each agency for which he is responsible in subsistence allowances for travel (a) within the United Kingdom and (b) outside the United Kingdom in each of the last three years.

Separate figures for subsistence costs incurred by the Privy Council Office in 1992–93, when such costs were aggregated with travel costs, are not available. Subsistence costs in 1993–94 and 1994–95 were as follows:

	UK £	Overseas £
1993–94	680	—
1994–95	747	202

I am not responsible for any agencies.

To ask the Attorney-General if he will make a statement about progress in the case of Asil Nadir. [18747]

To ask the Attorney-General when he now expects Asil Nadir to return to this country to face the charges against him [18749]

A warrant has been issued for the arrest of Asil Nadir. The Crown is ready to proceed as soon as he returns or is returned to the jurisdiction.

To ask the Attorney-General what plans he has to review the procedure by which the Crown Prosecution Service informs its witnesses of the scheduling of the court case in which they have to appear. [18744]

Witness warning has been recently under review. Two independent reports have recommended that it should continue to be carried out by the police who already have the necessary liaison with both victims and witnesses and are currently best placed to do the job effectively.

To ask the Attorney-General what arrangements exist for liaison between his Office and the Crown Office in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

There are established procedures for liaison and consultation on matters of mutual interest to Government Departments. Close co-ordination between the English and Scottish law officers ensures effective contact between my office and the Crown Office.

To ask the Attorney-General what percentage of charges prosecuted by the Crown Prosecution Service has resulted in conviction in each of the years of the Crown Prosecution Service's existence.

Crown Prosecution Service records are based on the number of defendants whose case results in a conviction, rather than the number of charges resulting in conviction.Since 1987, expressed as a proportion of all defendants whose case proceeded to a hearing, the percentage convicted in magistrates court proceedings has been 97 per cent. each year. In the Crown court, the percentage was 91 per cent. between 1987 and 1991, and 90 per cent. thereafter.

To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 28 March, Official Report, columns 545–46, and to his letter to the hon. Member for Linlithgow of 10 April, what response he has had from the United States authorities as to the authenticity or otherwise of a signal, a copy of which was sent to him and to the US embassy in London, by the hon. Member for Linlithgow, purporting to be a threat to the life of Major Charles McKee, who died over Lockerbie by the agencies of the United States Government. [20316]

The United States authorities' examination of the document concerned is continuing. They have not yet been able to establish its authenticity.

To ask the Prime Minister what are the total number of workplace nursery places provided by each Government Department; and what plans there are to increase this provision [20292]

Information on individual Departments and agencies' number of workplace nursery places is not collected centrally in the form requested. However, as detailed in the childcare bulletin, to be published by the Cabinet Office later this month, 39 Departments, agencies and non-departmental public bodies are currently involved in 71 workplace nurseries, in which there are over 1,800 places. Copies of the bulletin will be placed in the Library of the House.It is for Departments and agencies to decide whether to increase their childcare provision in the light of their own circumstances, provided they can justify this in value-for-money terms and contain costs within their existing budgets. I am aware of plans for two further workplace nurseries—in Falkirk, 30 places, and in York, 33 places.

To ask the Prime Minister what representations have been made to Her Majesty's Government alleging disparity of treatment between Poland and other allied countries in respect of Poland's exclusion from the principal allies Heads of States and Heads of Governments visits to allied countries in and around the days of commemorating victory in Europe; and if he will make a statement. [20227]

We have had no such representations. Her Majesty's Government invited the Polish Head of State, President Walsea, to attend the United Kingdom's VE day commemorations. The Polish Foreign Minister, Wladyslaw Barotszewski, will attend as his representative. It is for other countries to decide who to invite to their commemorations.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will state the policy of his Government on the existing United Nations resolutions on Kashmir; and if he will make a statement. [20370]

Britain supported, and both India and Pakistan agreed, the United Nations resolutions of 1948 and 1949, which provided the basis of a possible solution of the Kashmir disputes. Neither side fully implemented those resolutions which have, to some extent, been overtaken by events. The 1972 Simla agreement represents the most recent formal agreement between India and Pakistan on the handling of the dispute. It envisages settlement through bilateral negotiations or other peaceful means mutually agreed between them. We believe this to be the best way forward.

To ask the Prime Minister how many metres of mahogany or products containing it his Department has bought in the last five years; and if he will list the purpose and the costs. [19839]

[holding answer 19 April 1995]: None.

To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 15 December 1994 on security vetting, Official Report, coluiri 764, where civil servants who undergo vetting are informed as to why they have been refused security clearance; whether they are given an opportunity to contest the accuracy of information held against them; whether they are informed of any appeals process; and if he will make a statement. [19104]

Under the security vetting system introduced on 1 January 1995, civil servants in post must always be informed of the outcome of their vetting. An individual who is refused security clearance will be informed of the reasons for this. In a small number of exceptional cases, considerations of national security and maintaining the confidential nature of the information provided by referees may limit disclosure. If a clearance has been denied on the grounds of criminal convictions, or as a result of financial inquiries, the individual will be shown the information on which the decision was based and will have the opportunity to correct any inaccuracies. Under the grievance procedures provided for in the civil service management code, it is open to civil servants to appeal against any management decisions which affect them adversely, including vetting decisions.

To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 15 December 1994 on security vetting, Official Report, column 764, if he will outline the safeguards he has put in place to protect those who are vetted; and if he will make a statement. [19105]

All candidates for security vetting are asked to complete a security questionnaire which explains the purpose of the procedure and invites them to provide the personal details required for the necessary checks to be carried out. Only the checks listed in my statement to the House of 15 December 1994 are carried out. All information given for the purpose of the vetting process is treated in confidence and protected accordingly.

To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 15 December 1994 on security vetting, Official Report, column 764, to what extent the basic check involves the use of criminal records and criminal intelligence to ensure that potential recruits are reliable and trustworthy; whether contractors, needing to carry out basic checks, will be able to access information from police sources to access whether potential recruits are reliable and trustworthy; and if he will make a statement. [19103]

The basic check is designed to assure Departments that potential recruits are reliable and trustworthy primarily through the verification of identity, the taking up of character references and self-declaration of unspent criminal convictions. In some exceptional cases, however, it may be decided, with Cabinet Office—Office of Public Service and Science approval, that additional checks are necessary. This may involve a check against the national collection of criminal records. Contractors are not able to access these records and the department or agency placing the contract conducts this part of the check.

To ask the Prime Minister how many advisers his department employs broken down to show (a) political advisers and (b) economic advisers; at what grade and salary they are employed; and what are their minimum working hours in each case. [19418]

My Department employs seven political advisers. Their salaries and conditions of work are negotiated individually in relation to their previous earnings and are confidential. My department employs no professional economists; economic advice is obtained from career civil servants, who may be employed on a variety of working patterns.

To ask the Prime Minister if the Government have been approached during the last 15 years for advice on the suitability of accepting any financial gift, payment or commission by a Minister, a relative of a Minister, an hon. Member or a relative of an hon. Member. [19447]

[holding answer 18 April 1995]: Advice to Ministers on the acceptance of gifts by themselves or by members of their families is contained in "Questions of Procedure for Ministers" Advice on specific cases sought by and given to individuals is private.Hon. Members are guided in these matters by the rules of the House.

To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 5 April, Official Report, column 1131, if he will publish the rules governing the use by members of the Government of private hire cars at public expense. [20309]

[holding answer 21 April 1995]: I have nothing to add to the answer given on 5 April. There are no rules governing the use of private hire cars.

To ask the Prime Minister (1) if he will list the total amount paid by his central Department and each agency for which he is responsible in subsistence allowances for travel (a) within the United Kingdom and (b) outside the United Kingdom in each of the last three years; [19561](2) if he will list for each agency and the central Department for which he is responsible

For this purpose, my office is part of the Cabinet Office. I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service and Science on 20 April, Official Report, columns 258–61.

To ask the Prime Minster what is the target time that each Government Department aims to take in replying to letters from right hon. and hon. Members and if he will give the reasons for variations; and if he will make a statement. [18987]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service and Science, to the hon. Member for Chorley (Mr. Dover) on 18 April, Official Report, columns 21–24.The nature of correspondence varies greatly between Departments. In some Departments, for example, a high proportion of correspondence requires reference to individual casework before a reply can be sent. Targets are set to reflect the particular circumstances of Departments and consequently target times may differ.

To ask the Prime Minister (1) what measures the Department takes to assess the cost and staff implications of compiling material for the departmental annual report; [20203](2) how much staff time, and at what estimated cost, was put into compiling the departmental annual report; and what the figures were for each year for which figures are available since 1990. [20202]

For this purpose, my office is part of the Cabinet Office. I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service and Science on 21 April, Official Report, column 290.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on recent levels of drugs-related crime and violence within the 'K? Division of Strathclyde police; and what measures he has put, is putting or will put in place to support the police and the local community in their endeavours to tackle these problems. [19034]

My right hon. Friend fully understands the concerns of Paisley residents about increased drugs-related crime, which often involves violence, in their areas. He trusts that the police will receive the support of the local community in the actions which they are taking to curb such incidents and to bring the perpetrators to justice. He fully supports the chief constable of Strathclyde police in the mounting of "Operation Dragon", which will, it is to be hoped, result in the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the recent spate of shootings. My right hon. Friend will continue to seek to ensure that the police have adequate resources and equipment to tackle the full range of policing requirements for which they have responsibility.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what safeguards exist to prevent Scottish Homes giving without permission the names and addresses of their tenants to organisations other than registered housing associations; [20281](2) if he will list the occasions since its inception on which Scottish Homes has been requested to give the names of its tenants to organisations other than registered housing associations and the occasions on which it supplied this information; [20283](3) if Scottish Homes sought permission from its tenants in Strathkelvin before giving their names to Gemini housing association. [20282]

The information requested is a matter for Scottish Homes. I have asked its chairman, Sir James Mellon, to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many rules and regulations he repealed in the first three months of 1995; and how many new rules and regulations were introduced in that period by way of statutory instruments, motions or orders. [19366]

[holding answer 18 April 1995]: Rules and regulations made by the Scottish Office cover a very broad field of activities, and many have little or no consequence for business. The total number of statutory instruments, including orders, schemes, rules and regulations which were repealed in the first three months of 1995 was 45. In the same period the number introduced by my Department, but excluding instruments made jointly with other Departments, was 77.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what requirements there are for officials in his Department to introduce a compliance cost assessment for all rules and regulations coming before him and his Ministers; and how many compliance cost assessments have been issued in his Department in the first three months of this year. [19352]

[holding answer 18 April 1995]: Scottish Office officials are required to comply with the procedures which were agreed by Ministers and informally introduced on 1 April 1993 and which were subsequently formally agreed with the House authorities in October 1993. The Scottish Office has issued one compliance cost assessment in the period January to March of this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the directors and nominating organisations of the board of Ferguslie Community Business Securities, their holding companies and predecessors. [20223]

Mr right hon. Friend is not involved in the running of these companies and so cannot supply the detailed information requested which should be available from Companies House. However, through the involvement of the Scottish Office in the Ferguslie Park partnership, he understands that Strathclyde regional council, Renfrew district council and the Ferguslie Park Training, Employment and Enterprise Development—TEED—Company Ltd. are entitled to nominate directors to the board of Ferguslie Park Community Holdings Ltd. The directors appointed by the Ferguslie Park TEED Company Ltd. have been members of the Ferguslie Park business support group appointed to offer business expertise in the running of the company's affairs in line with the recommendations of management consultants' report prepared in 1989.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will arrange for an inquiry into the accounts of Ferguslie Park Community Business Securities, its holding company or companies and their predecessors; if he will ensure that the scope of the inquiry includes employment practices and accounting procedures; and if he will make a statement. [20225]

[holding answer 21 April 1995]: My right hon. Friend has no involvement in the management of the companies and has no locus to establish such an inquiry.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the number, and sources, of representations received by him, or by the Ferguslie Park partnership, into the activities of Ferguslie Community Business Securities, their holding companies and predecessors. [20224]