To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to visit Turkey to discuss the situation of Kurdish people. [19645]

I have no plans at present to visit Turkey.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will identify the evidence in Social Trends for his figures on the ratio of local education authority administrators to teachers in schools. [21570]

The source is more appropriate and relevant for this issue than Social Trends. The figures are published by the Local Government Management Board, revealing that there are more than two non-teaching staff for every three teachers.The figures show that in June 1994 local education authorities in England employed 376,665 full-time equivalent teachers and lecturers and 316,244 full-time equivalent other manual and non-manual staff involved in education.This makes a ratio of 2.5 non-teaching staff to three teachers.

To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Linlithgow from the Lord President of the Council, 3 April 1995, Official Report, column 1388, whether it is Her Majesty's Government's policy to eschew further inquiry into the Lockerbie crime. [21402]

No. The criminal investigation into the Lockerbie bombing remains open.

To ask the Prime Minister what is the parliamentary timetable for consideration of the proposal of the Law Commission to amend section 2(2) of the Regency Act 1937; what consultations have been held with the governments of other countries of which Her Majesty the Queen is head of state; and if he will make a statement. [20837]

[holding answer 25 April 1995]: The Statute Law (Repeals) Bill received its Second Reading in the House of Lords on 20 April and has been referred to the Joint Committee on Consolidation Bills in accordance with the usual procedure for consolidation Bills.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the implications of amending the Regency Act 1937 in relation to the provisions of the Statute of Westminster Act 1931. [20854]

[holding answer 25 April 1995]: The proposed repeal of the words "and to the Government of India" in section 2(2) of the Regency Act 1937 has no implications in relation to the Statue of Westminster 1931. The reference to the Government of India in section 2(2) of the 1937 Act is there because India did not fall within the term "dominions" as defined by section 1 of the Statute of Westminster 1931.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which of the advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department are under a statutory requirement to (a) publish their advice to the Government, (b) publish an annual report and (c) lay an annual report before Parliament; and if he will list those bodies with a statutory base. [21155]

The information is as follows:

(a) None.

(b) The Disabled Persons' Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC).

(c) DPTAC.

DPTAC has a statutory base.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will consider making available the final report of the National Marine Safety Steering Committee. [21575]

Copies of the report are being placed in the Libraries of both Houses and are also available from the Marine Safety Agency, Marine Information Centre, Spring Place, 105 Commercial Road, Southampton, SO15 1EG, Tel: 01703 329297.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will place in the Library copies of the inspection reports of the roll-on roll-off ferries inspected at the port of Folkestone over the last six months; [19386](2) if he will place in the Library copies of the inspection reports of roll-on roll-off ferries inspected at the port of Dover over the last six months. [19385]

The Government believe that there is no benefit to the travelling public to be gained from the release of the results of routine inspections. The technical content of the report would not be easily comprehensible and could be open to misinterpretation. Moreover, to release information only on inspections carried out in an individual port could unfairly disadvantage operators to that port.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment which of the advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department are under a statutory requirement to (a) publish their advice to the Government, (b) publish an annual report and (c) lay an annual report before Parliament; and if he will list those bodies with a statutory base. [21164]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by the then Minister of State for Employment to the hon. Member for Liverpool, Walton (Mr. Kilfoyle) on 27 June 1994, Official Report, column 452.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will publish the recommendations from each Government office on bids to the single regeneration budget challenge fund in 1995–96; [20395](2) which bids for single regeneration budget monies in 1994–95 were recommended for acceptance by the relevant Government office but were rejected by the government. [20401]

In line with established practice in relation to documents which are the subject of Cabinet Committee proceedings, there are no plans to publish the internal advice to Ministers from the directors of the Government offices for the regions on bids for support from the single regeneration budget challenge fund in 1995–96.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how the latest criteria for judging bids to the single regeneration budget challenge fund have been influenced by the experiences of the 1995–96 bidding round. [20396]

Following the success of the first round of the single regeneration budget challenge fund there have only been a few detailed, positive changes to the bidding guidance. Copies have been placed in Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received to change the C2 class of the 1987 Use Classes Order to allow local authorities control of change of use of residential institutions; and if he will make a statement. [20468]

Since 1 January 1995, we have received two representations to change class C2—residential institutions—of the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987. Present arrangements reflect the assessment that a change from one kind of residential institution to another does not fundamentally affect the nature of the use of the site.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he hopes to announce the results of the public inquiry held in November in respect of Leigh Mill, Wigan; and if he will make a statement. [20726]

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State issued on 8 February his decision to refuse listed building consent for the removal of a mill engine from Leigh Mill.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he taking about the decline in numbers of the (a) swallowtail, (b) large blue, (c) pearl-boarded fritillary, (d) high brown fritillary and (e) marsh fritillary butterflies; and if he will make a statement. [20896]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave on 27 October 1994, Official Report, column 816, in which I advised on the development of targets for species conservation, announced in "Biodiversity: The UK Action Plan."English Nature is already part-funding a three-year project by Butterfly Conservation, preparing conservation plans for the scarcer butterfly species, including the five about which the hon. Member is concerned.The Biodiversity Steering Group is also considering a number of scarce butterfly and other species as candidates for action plans to improve their conservation status. The group will report later this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment which of the advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department are under a statutory requirement to (a) publish their advice to the Government, (b) publish an annual report and (c) lay an annual report before Parliament; and if he will list those bodies with a statutory base. [21163]

My Department sponsors the following advisory non-departmental public bodies which have a statutory base:

• Inland Waterways Amenity Advisory Council,
• Advisory Committee on Hazardous Substances,
• Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment,
• Buildings Regulations Advisory Committee,
• Local Government Commission for England, and
• Local Government Staff Commission

The following advisory bodies have a statutory requirement to publish their advice to Government on certain matters: the Inland Waterways Amenity Advisory Council and the Local Government Commission for England. The Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment has a statutory requirement to maintain a public register containing specific information.None of the advisory bodies has a statutory requirement to publish an annual report or lay it before Parliament.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to publish a new framework document for the Ordnance Survey Executive Agency. [21783]

The framework document for Ordnance Survey has been published today and copies have been placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Lord President of the Council, pursuant to his answer of 9 March, Official Report, columns 283–84, when the parliamentary channel stopped being available to electors with a moveable satellite dish; when United Artists digitalised the parliamentary channel signal in order to share the transponder with wire TV; and if he will request that the Parliamentary Broadcasting Unit Ltd. consider selling decoders to electors to enable then to have access to the televised proceedings of Parliament. [19115]

Until June 1994, the parliamentary channel was distributed to cable-head ends via the Intelsat transponder, from which it was possible for viewers with large rotatable satellite dishes to pick up the signal directly rather than via a local cable service. From that date, the parliamentary channel switched its delivery mechanism to a different transponder and at the same time digitalised and compressed the signal. Although it was not the intention behind the change in the delivery system, one consequence was that those viewers with moveable satellite dishes who had previously been able to receive the signal were no longer able to do so.At a meeting on 27 June 1994, the Select Committed on Broadcasting considered a number of complaints from viewers who were no longer able to receive the channel. While regretting the understandable disappointment of those affected, the Committee noted that the parliamentary channel was established as a cable service. Even though, quite fortuitously some people had been able, prior to the change to digitalisation, to eavesdrop on the signal via the distribution satellite, this did not seem to the Committee grounds for questioning United Artists' fulfilment of its original undertaking regarding the availability of the signal.As a result of the savings achieved by digitalisation, the parliamentary channel is extending its service to include coverage of Committees at weekends from 7 May 1995.Decoders which enable the digitalised signal to be unscrambled are available only to cable-head ends for cable distribution. They are manufactured specifically for that market and are not otherwise sold.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what directions he has issued under section 26(1) of the National Lottery etc. Act 1993; if he will make a statement on their content; and if he will place copies in the Library. [20983]

My predecessor issued directions under section 26(1) and (2) of the National Lottery etc. Act 1993 on 20 June last year. Copies were placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage, pursuant to the answer given by the Director-General of Oflot on 28 March in his letter to the hon. Member for Islington, South and Finsbury, what proportion of the £3 million cost of Oflot is recovered from (a) the national lottery distribution fund and (b) licencing fees. [20992]

In the 1994–95 financial year, £2,910,000 or 97 per cent. of the expenditure of the Office of the National Lottery will have been recovered from the national lottery distribution fund and £90,000 or 3 per cent. will have been from the payment of licence fees.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage on what grounds the draft guidelines issued by the National Lottery Charities Board allowed for the exclusion of charities concerned with environmental matters. [20984]

I have been asked to reply.The issue of these guidelines is a matter for the board. I understand, however, that their purpose is to indicate only those areas to which the board intends to give priority. It must consider all applications from all eligible bodies, including charities concerned with environmental matters, on their merits and can not wholly exclude any. Decisions in individual cases are a matter for the board.

To ask the Secretary of State for the National Heritage what is the legal basis for the issuing of draft guidelines for the disbursement of funds by the National Lottery Charities Board. [20982]

I have been asked to reply.Section 26(1) of the National Lottery etc. Act 1993 provides that the National Lottery Charities Board, inter alia, shall comply with any directions given to it by the Secretary of State as to the matters to be taken into account in determining the persons to whom, the purposes for which and the conditions subject to which it distributes any money. The board is currently being consulted on the proposed directions as required by section 26(5) of that Act. The issue by the board of guidelines to applicants on how, in the light of the directions, it intends to set about the disbursement of the funds available to it, is a matter for the board.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what consultation he has had with the chairman of the Sports Council concerning discrimination by the rugby league authorities against the Australian rugby league in international matches; and if he will make a statement in relation to the principle of discrimination within rugby league and between rugby union and rugby league. [21327]

I have had no such consultation. I have, of course, read the National Heritage Select Committee's report on relations between rugby union and rugby league and will be responding to the issues raised, including discrimination, in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will list the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department which are subject to (a) investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner, (b) scrutiny by the Audit Commission (c) scrutiny by the National Audit Office, (d) statutory provisions for open government, (e) performance indicators and (f) provisions under the citizens charter. [20661]

[holding answer 25 April 1995]: My Department's executive non-departmental public bodies are listed in "Public Bodies 1994". The functions and responsibilities of each body are specified in its founding legislation or charter. The information requested is as follows:

(a) Bodies subject to the jurisdiction of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration are listed in schedule 2 to the Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1967 as amended. This includes:

• Arts Council of Great Britain
• British Film Institute
• British Library Board
• Crafts Council
• English Tourist Board
• Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission (English Heritage) Museums and Galleries Commission
• Trustees of the National Heritage Memorial Fund
• Register of Public Lending Right
• Sports Council

(b) None.

(c) All of my Department's executive NDPBs are subject to scrutiny by the Comptroller and Auditor General with the exception of the national film development fund.

(d) There are no statutory provisions on open government which apply to executive NDPBs, although all NDPBs subject to the jurisdiction of the PCA will be covered by the non-statutory code of practice on access to Government information.

(e) Performance indicators for my Department's executive NDPBs can be found in their annual reports.

(f) The principles of the citizens charter apply to all the Department's executive NDPBs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what funds were provided to Derbyshire family health services authority for reallocation to the other family health service authorities in Trent for dental peer group review in each year since 1991; [20674](2) what amounts were reallocated by each family health service authority within Trent regional health authority by Derbyshire family health services authority of the funds provided for dental peer group review in each year since 1991. [20675]

Since the start of the peer review scheme in August 1991, the Department has reimbursed Derbyshire family health services authority the amounts as shown, for payment to dentists who participated in peer review. Derbyshire family health services authority has been nominated to make all peer review payments to dentists in the Trent region and no reallocation of funds by it to other family health services authorities is required.

1997–92 £	1992–93 £	1993–94 £	1994–95 £	Total £
3,965	44,736	127,176	223,096	398,973

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what action she intends to take to improve value for money in the community dental service; [20704](2) what out of hours emergency service she intends to require the community dental service to provide to cover shortfalls in the general dental service. [20679]

The community dental service is the responsibility of health authorities and national health service trusts. It is for these authorities to ensure that the service is run efficiently and meets the needs of people in the locality, who cannot get treatment in the general dental service. The Government have recently announced their intention to strengthen the "safety net" role of the CDS. Health authorities and trusts will be considering all aspects of this, including the provision of emergency service.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recommendations in the Bloomfield dental report (a) have been implemented and (b) are planned for implementation. [20691]

Sir Kenneth Bloomfield was not asked to make recommendations but rather to identify the options for change. I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Carshalton and Wallington (Mr. Forman) on 5 April at cols. 1213–15, on the package of reforms which was consistent with Sir Kenneth's report.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action she is taking to remove the chairman and non-executive directors of Manchester family health services authority following their unlawful use of funds when promoting fundholding general practitioners. [20682]

None. The chairman and chief executive of Manchester family health services authority who were in post during the events which led to the judicial review left the authority in 1992.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will require all NHS trusts to display prominently at the accident and emergency reception and at the main reception the name and telephone number of the duty manager. [20700]

The patients charter sets out the right for patients to be given information on local health services. It is for trusts to decide locally how to make this information available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she expects to set up a Department of Health inquiry into the dismissal of Mr. Michael Murray from his post as chief executive of the Foundation Trust, Stafford; and when the findings will be made public. [20673]

I have no plans to do so.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what decision has been taken, following discussions with the Royal College of Psychiatrists, to begin research into the deaths of psychiatric patients associated with neuroleptic drugs. [20730]

It has been agreed in principle that the remit of the confidential inquiry into homicide and suicides by mentally ill people should be extended to cover the deaths of patients associated with neuroleptic drugs. Further discussions will be held about the arrangements for examining these deaths.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of the budget of each local authority's social services department is currently spent on mental health services. [20826]

Information is not yet available for the current year. The information for 1994–95 is shown in the table.

Personal social services: percentage of total budgeted expenditure on mental health services 1994–95
	Per cent.
City of London	19.5
Camden	8.3
Greenwich	5.1
Hackney	6.9
Hammersmith and Fulham	11.5
Islington	3.6
Kensington and Chelsea	8.2
Lambeth	5.7
Lewisham	6.5
Southwark	4.8
Tower Hamlets	12.0
Wandsworth	6.8
Westminster	8.6
Barking and Dagenham	4.3
Barnet	6.3
Bexley	3.2
Brent	6.1
Bromley	4.3
Croydon	6.4
Ealing	6.3
Enfield	6.8
Haringey	7.1
Harrow	7.5
Havering	3.0
Hillingdon	5.1
Hounslow	6.6
Kingston upon Thames	5.1
Merton	5.5
Newham	6.6
Redbridge	3.0
Richmond upon Thames	7.0
Sutton	2.4
Waltham Forest	7.7

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if she will issue guidance reminding NHS trusts of the rights of out-patients to travelling expenses and requiring them to draw patients' attention to such rights in their in their out-patient appointment documentation; [20693](2) if she will take immediate steps to ensure out-patients are not deprived of their rights to travelling expenses. [20697]

The Department has already issued guidance to the national health service setting out the arrangements for payment of travel costs to all those hospital patients entitled to it. This guidance advises hospitals to send details of these arrangements with appointment or admissions letters.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance her Department offers to health authorities and trusts concerning the appointment of voluntary staff to clerical and administrative posts. [21053]

HSG(92)15 issued to national health service trusts, health authorities and community health councils on 17 March 1992 provided guidance on voluntary work in hospitals. Copies of the guidance are available in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the standard of treatment of and research into scar tissue as a result of burns; and what evaluation she has made of the effect on the treatment and research relating to scar tissue which will result as a consequence of the closure of the Bradford unit. [19945]

Treatment of and research into scar tissue as a result of burns is carried out in several plastic surgery units in this country. The standard of both treatment and research is excellent. I understand that the Bradford plastic surgery and burns unit, a charity, makes a helpful contribution in this field. I hope that the Bradford unit will succeed in its bid for further charitable funding so that it can continue to complement the work done by the other units.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is her estimate of the approximate population to be served by a district general hospital. [21070]

There is no fixed population to be served by a district general hospital as such hospitals do not just serve the needs of the local population. It is the responsibility of district health authorities, as the main purchasers of health care for their populations, to ensure that local health care needs are met through the placing of contracts with hospitals both inside their boundaries and, where appropriate, outside.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance she gives on the percentage of a district general hospital area that should be within a 30-minute blue light travel time from a district general hospital. [21071]

There is no central guidance on this matter. It is for the district health authority to take relevant issues into account when placing contracts for services.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evidence she has on trends in hospital referrals by general practitioner fundholders. [21072]

A report by Professor Angela Coulter in the British Medical Journal of February 1993, based on the first two years of fundholding, showed no evidence of any changes in general practitioner fundholder referral patterns. Other studies have shown that fundholders have improved services for patients, including the reduction of waiting times.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what meetings she has had in the last six months about the future of the Royal Marsden hospital; [21086](2) what plans she has to close the Royal Marsden hospital. [21087]

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the position in respect of eradication of the wild polio virus from the United Kingdom; and if she will make a statement. [21320]

The World Health Organisation considers the United Kingdom as being one of those countries which have eliminated polio due to wild virus. This is due to the great success of our childhood immunisation programme which has resulted in the incidence of childhood diseases being at their lowest ever levels. Today, 95 per cent. of all children have been unimmunised against polio by two years of age. However, despite this achievement, nobody should remain immunised against polio, whatever age they are. Unimmunised people can be at some risk of catching polio from recently immunised babies if standard hygiene procedures are not carefully followed; travellers to areas of the world where polio is still endemic should ensure that they are appropriately protected.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what medical research her Department is aware of suggesting that a return to the inactivated polio vaccine would reduce the remote risk of vaccine damage to children; and whether this position is being reviewed. [21326]

Oral polio vaccine and inactivated polio vaccine are both efficacious vaccines. However, whereas both vaccines provide protection against poliomyelitis for the individual immunised, only OPV produces "herd immunity' whereby susceptible contacts are protected as well. OPV is the vaccine used in the United Kingdom.On average there are between one and two vaccine-associated cases of poliomyelitis reported in England and Wales each year. During 1994–95 over 7 million doses of OPV were issued to the national health service. The National Institute of Biological Standards and Controls undertakes research on the neurovirulence of oral polio vaccine. The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation keeps matters such as vaccine-associated poliomyelitis under careful review and believes that OPV is the most appropriate product for United Kingdom circumstances. OPV is the vaccine recommended by World Health Organisation for global polio eradication.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the results of the study into the 17 cases of severe adverse reaction from the 1994 mass measles and rubella vaccination. [21325]

The 17 cases referred to were spontaneous reports of suspected adverse reactions to measles and rubella vaccine which predominantly affected the nervous system. Doctors who reported these cases have been contacted to obtain further details of the reaction and the progress of these patients. Thirteen are known to have recovered from their reaction, two have not yet recovered and further information is not yet available in two cases. These figures are out of nearly 6.5 million children who were immunised during the campaign.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what studies have been made and what records are available from the Committee on Safety of Medicines concerning adverse reactions to whooping cough vaccine. [21322]

The Committee on Safety of Medicines keeps records of suspected reactions to whooping cough vaccine. Receipt of a report does not indicate that the vaccine caused the reaction, merely that the reporter suspected that this may have been the case. Whooping cough vaccine is usually given in a combined preparation with diphtheria and tetanus vaccine and at the same time as vaccines for haemophilus influenzae type B and poliomyelitis. This makes it difficult to identify the cause of an adverse reaction.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the general medical services cash-limited budget in each family health services authority area in each year since 1990–91; and what is the planned budget for the next three years.

[holding answer 21 April 1995]: The information requested is not available centrally. Allocations to family health services authorities are made by regional health authorities. The allocations to RHAs for cash-limited general medical services are shown in the tables. Allocations are made for one financial year ahead only.

GMS cash limited allocations
£ million
RHA	1990–91	1991–92	1992–93	1993–94
Northern	26.8	32.1	36.4	36.7
East Anglian	24.4	31.8	34.4	35.1
Mersey	21.6	26.9	30.2	30.0
West Midlands	41.5	52.2	59.1	60.1
South Western	39.2	48.0	52.9	53.2
Oxford	25.3	33.2	36.6	36.7
Wessex	29.3	37.7	41.6	41.8
SW Thames	28.6	35.7	39.9	40.7
SE Thames	37.4	46.1	51.1	52.3
NE Thames	34.7	43.5	48.7	50.1
NW Thames	33.9	43.3	48.7	49.3
Trent	41.8	53.5	59.2	59.4
Yorkshire	39.2	42.6	47.2	47.2
North Western	33.7	38.0	42.7	43.7
Total allocation	457.40	564.60	628.70	636.30

GMS cash limited allocations
£ million
RHA	1994–95	1995–96
Northern and Yorkshire	88.8	94.5
Trent	63.1	67.1
Anglia and Oxford	81.9	85.0
North Thames	98.0	101.7
South Thames	99.0	102.8
South and West	98.9	102.6
West Midlands	64.5	70.2
North West	80.1	86.4
Total Allocation	674.30	710.30

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department which are subject to (a) investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner, (b) scrutiny by the Audit Commission, (c) scrutiny by the National Audit Office, (d) statutory provisions for open government, (e) performance indicators and (f) provisions under the citizens charter. [20652]

[pursuant to his answer, 25 April 1995, c. 412]: I regret that the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council was omitted from the list of executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by the Office of Public Service and Science.

To ask the Attorney-General if he will list the number and location of Government Property Lawyers 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. [19970]

I have responsibility for the Government Property Lawyers, which is an agency of the Treasury Solicitor's Department, whose remit extends only to England and Wales. It follows that no work of that agency has been or would be transferred either to or from Scotland.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what proposals he has in respect of personal injury claims through the small claims court; and if he will make a statement. [21149]

Procedures affecting small personal injury claims, among others, are within the scope of Lord Woolf' s comprehensive review of civil justice. The Lord Chancellor is awaiting the first report of this review, and any decisions will be taken in that context.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department (1) how many (a) Lords of Appeal, (b) Lord Justices of Appeal, (c) High Court judges, (d) chairmen of tribunals for which his Department is responsible and (e) members of non-judicial bodies for which his Department is responsible, are former members of the Freemasons, according to his departmental files; [21256](2) how many

Such information is not collected either on candidates for appointment or on serving judges or office-holders, so the information requested is not available from my Department's files.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what were the total costs to the legal aid fund in the case of Alistair Green v. Ministry of Defence; and what costs were incurred by the legal aid fund after the Ministry had paid £32,000 into court. [19903]

No final bill has been received in this matter and, therefore, the total cost to the legal aid fund is not yet known. However, £80,000 has been paid to date on account to lawyers representing Mr. Green. It is not possible to identify separately costs incurred after the Ministry of Defence had paid moneys into court.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on the actions of the public trustee in relation to legal proceedings brought by Miss Phoebe Winch. [19998]

I am unable to comment on individual cases where legal proceedings have been brought against the public trustee, who is also chief executive of the Public Trust Office. Whilst she is accountable for her actions as public trustee, she is also an independent statutory office holder and the decisions she takes in exercise of her statutory functions are those of her office and are not taken on behalf of the Government.As the question concerns a specific case, I have asked the chief executive to reply direct.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list the number and location of HM Land Registry, Public Record and Public Trust 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. [19969]

Neither Her Majesty's Land Registry nor the Public Record and Public Trust Offices have ever had offices or jobs in Scotland and neither have these agencies transferred any offices or jobs to Scotland to date. Accordingly, the situations referred to in the question have not arisen.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what are the key performance targets for Her Majesty's Land Registry, the Public Record Office and the Public Trust Office executive agencies for 1995–96. [21854]

The following tables set out the key performance targets that the Lord Chancellor has set for Her Majesty's Land Registry, the Public Records Office and the Public Trust Office for 1995–96.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans the Government have for the future responsibility for the funding of marriage guidance and research organisations from the Home Office to the Lord Chancellor's Department. [21853]

With the approval of my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, responsibility for the funding of marriage guidance and research organisations has been transferred from the Secretary of State for the Home Department to the Lord Chancellor.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans the Government has to bring forward reforms to the law of divorce in England and Wales following the publication of the consultation paper in December 1993; and if he will make a statement. [21855]

The Lord Chancellor has today laid before Parliament a White Paper, "Looking to the future. Mediation and the ground for divorce'. This paper sets out the Government's proposals in relation to the introduction of family mediation, reform of the ground for divorce and related matters.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he or his private office is consulted by the Lord Chancellor or his private office, either formally or informally, about (a) candidates for appointment as magistrates, tribunal members and senior full-time judges, (b) candidates for non-judicial public appointments and (c) candidates for appointments of chief executives of executive agencies and non-departmental bodies for which his Department is responsible. [21412]

It is not the practice to disclose internal consultation between Ministers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish for each financial year since 1991–92 the hospital and community health services gross current expenditure by sector and by age; and if he will separately distinguish the expenditure on the hospital and community health service for each age group, expressed as a cost per head of population. [19897]

The gross current expenditure on hospital and community health services for the years 1991–92 to 1993–94 is as follows. Information on expenditure by sector and age is not held centrally.

	£
1991–92	1,200,616,000
1992–93	1,296,607,000
1993–94	11,296,629,000

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales: (1) how much staff time, and at what estimated cost, was put into compiling the departmental annual report; and what were the figures for each year for which figures are available since 1990. [20169](2) what measures the Department takes to assess the cost and staff implications of compiling material for the departmental annual report. [29170]

Costs are not separately attributable to the departmental report of much of the information there presented, which is collected for other purposes. At a rough estimate, staff costs of the editing, design and translation of the 1995 Report, Cm 2815, were £37,000, and for previous years would be broadly comparable in real terms.The Department operates a system of divisional and group plans which ensures that both programme and running cost provision are identified for key objectives and targets.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many farmers in Wales received environmentally sensitive area payments greater than (a) £100,000, (b) £50,000, (c) £10,000, (d) £5,000 or (e) £1,000 in the last year for which figures are available. [20001]

The total number of farmers in Wales in 1994–95 who received environmentally sensitive area payments in each band is as follows:

	Number
(a)	0
(b)	2
(c)	29
(d)	30
(e)	190

In addition, 501 scheme participants received payments of less than £1,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what amount of environmentally sensitive area grant budget for 1994–95 is still uncommitted (a) in cash and (b) as a percentage of the budget: and if he will make a statement on underspending in the environmentally sensitive areas budget for 1993–94 and 1994–95. [20000]

Expenditure in 1994–95 was £1,533,000 or 22 per cent. of the total budget of £6,863,000.Five new areas were launched in Wales during 1994, bringing the total number of designations in Wales to eight. I expect expenditure in Wales to increase as more farmers enter the new schemes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the standard and enforcement of fire safety regulations in houses in multiple occupation in Wales. [20783]

The Government have consulted widely on both fire safety and houses in multiple occupation; decisions will be announced in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the average rent charged by each Welsh housing association for (a) one-bedroom, (b) two-bedroom and (c) three-bedroom properties in each year since Tai Cymru was established. [21084]

This information is not available in the form requested. Information for 1994–95 is, however, held by Housing for Wales and I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to carry out road improvements during the next three years on the A44 trunk road between Ponterwyd, Cardiganshire and Llangurig Montgomeryshire. [21104]

There are no plans for any major improvements to this section of road. However, a small scheme to provide a footway near Ponterwyd is under consideration and some localised side support works are planned at Gelli Bends and Bont Rhydgaled.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the survey on the future needs and aims of the Welsh health service. [21319]

The survey will help my Department and the NHS in Wales identify priority areas for improving both the health of the population and the responsiveness of the service to the needs and expectations of patients.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will name the company administering the Welsh health service random sample questionnaire survey and the principle components of the work specified in that company contracts; and if the company was chosen after competitive tender. [21318]

The contract for the Welsh health survey was awarded to the South East Institute of Public Health. The main components of the contract are: testing the questionnaire and the survey method; drawing the sample; printing and posting the letters, questionnaires, and reminders; entering the answers from the completed questionnaires into a computer database; analysis of the data and production of a report.The contract was advertised in the

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answers of 24 April, Official Report, columns 371–72, if he will make a statement on the guidelines he issued on financial viability of trusts as a consideration in contract setting by NHS providers and on what date he issued them (a) in draft and (b) in final form; and what representations he has received concerning their content from (i) purchasers and (ii) providers. [21414]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave him on 25 April, Official Report, column 515.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects to announce the new membership of the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales and if he will make a statement. [21981]

The following have accepted invitations to be members of the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales.

• Sir Idris Pearce, Chairman
• Dr. Eleri Edwards
• Professor Richard Griffiths
• Sir Philip Jones CB
• Mr. Alfred Morris
• Dr. Brynley Roberts
• Dr. Ann Robinson
• Professor Roger Williams

Dr. Edwards and Professor Williams have been appointed for three years from 6 May 1995, and the other members reappointed for two years from the same date.Dr. R. H. Jones continues as a member until 30 June 1995 and Professor Andrews as chief executive and member until 5 May 1997.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department have (a) a statutory requirement to admit members of the public to all board or committee meetings and (b) a statutory requirement to hold open meetings for the public. [20876]

[holding answer 26 April 1995]: Only the Residuary Body for Wales, as a levying body, is bound by a statutory requirement, under the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960, to open its board meetings to the public. No NDPB has a statutory requirement to hold open meetings for the public.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what financial aid is now being given to Turkey from organisations in which the United Kingdom has a vote; and if he will list the organisations. [20741]

A detailed breakdown of financial aid by international agencies to Turkey is not available. According to OECD Development Assistance Committee statistics, in 1993, the latest year for which figures are available, total multilateral aid to that country was $3 million in loans and $25.8 million in grants. Taking into account receipts, net multilateral assistance was minus $8.7 million.The following agencies in which the UK has a vote currently have programmes in Turkey:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British non-governmental organisations have, over the last five years, been working in Pakistan and elsewhere in support of refugees and displaced persons from Afghanistan; what funding each has received in each year; and what funding each is to receive over the next two years. [21150]

We have provided assistance to the British non-governmental organisations as detailed in the table over the last five years for their work with Afghan refugees and displaced persons. We are unable to predict how much funding may be made available to any organisation for emergency aid over the next two years.

£000s
	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994
Afghanaid1	800	700	1,307	599	787
CAFOD	0	20	29	19	18
Ockenden
Venture	0	50	0	0	0
SGAA	14	0	0	0	0
Save the Children	50	110	0	0	0
1 Includes rehabilitation work.

In addition the following three British non-governmental organisations received grants for immediate disaster response work. Figures are available for 1993 and 1994 only.

£000s
	1993	1994
CARE	0	828
Ockenden Venture	0	47
Oxfam	110	323

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made to Her Majesty's Government directly and indirectly through international organisations to invest in infrastructure development in Afghanistan; what is the total amount agreed by Her Majesty's Government to be spent in such development projects over the next three years; and what assessment has been made of the need for development investment in Afghanistan to facilitate the return of refugees to that country. [21151]

Frequent discussions on the needs of Afghanistan are held with international development agencies, the Government of Pakistan and UK non-governmental organisations.We take the view that long-term infrastructure and development programmes are only possible when the political and security situation is stable. At present, the main focus of our assistance for Afghanistan will remain emergency aid and refugee relief and resettlement programmes. We give funding through international agencies and UK NGOs, some of which operate small rehabilitation projects in the more peaceful parts of the country.We understand that the United Nations development programme have plans for a meeting to discuss with the international community the prospects for a transition from humanitarian assistance for Afghanistan to longer term rehabilitation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government regarding financial inducements to Afghan refugees and displaced persons in Pakistan and elsewhere to assist their return to Afghanistan; and what contribution Her Majesty's Government have agreed to make to such programmes over the next two years. [21152]

UNHCR provides repatriation grants to assist the return of Afghan refugees from Pakistan and Iran. We support UNHCR's work with Afghan refugees, both politically and financially. Whilst we do not earmark funds given to UNHCR specifically for repatriation grants, such use is not excluded. We are unable to make advance commitments about the use of emergency aid funds.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment has been made by the United Nations Commissioner for Refugees on the likely implications of closing schools located in Afghan refugee camps in Pakistan; and if he will make a statement. [21167]

UNHCR have no plans to cease primary education for all Afghan refugee children in Pakistan.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will list the average length of time a claimant who was (a) retired (b) sick or disabled, (c) a single parent and (d) unemployed remained on benefit 30 years ago; and if he will give what those averages are at the latest available date. [20389]

Information is not available for 30 years ago.Current available information is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the number of war pension appeals in (a) 1979 and (b) 1993 and the average length of time which elapsed between the lodging of an appeal and the appeal being heard. [20734]

During 1979, 1,816 war pension appeals were lodged against decisions on entitlement and 1,872 appeals on the assessment of the degree of disablement. During 1993, 11,079 entitlement and 9,147 assessment appeals were lodged. The average length of time in 1993 between the lodging of an entitlement appeal and the appeal being heard was 349 days. The time scale in 1993 for an assessment appeal was 288 days. Comparable information for 1979 is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will make a statement on claims for war disablement pensions in respect of bilateral noise-induced sensorineural hearing loss. [20731](2) if he will make a statement on the restriction on claims for war disablement pensions due to bilateral noise-induced sensorineural hearing loss arising from

The war pensions scheme provides compensation for disablement arising from injury or disease which is due to service in the armed forces.Where the degree of disablement in respect of bilateral noise-induced sensorineural hearing loss is assessed at 20 per cent. or more, a war pension may be paid. Below this level, no award is made in respect of such hearing loss or any condition or symptom, such as tinnitus, which is attributable to the same basic injurious process.I remain satisfied that bilateral noise-induced sensorineural hearing loss of less than 20 per cent. is not the sort of disablement which should be compensated under a war pensions scheme.The provisions on this type of hearing loss, which came into effect on 7 January 1993, brought war pensions rules more into line with the rules covering occupational deafness under the industrial injuries scheme. They formed part of a package which increased considerably, from April 1993, the war pensions of the most severely disabled.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to make payments to those recipients of family credit and disability working allowance who lose income for the balance of the period of their existing claim to benefit as a result of the child support regulation changes to be introduced on 18 April, and if he will make a statement. [21900]

The Department intends to make such payments as soon as it is administratively possible to do so once the loss to the individual has been identified and calculated. This compensation will equal half of the difference between the previous maintenance assessment and the new maintenance assessment for the outstanding period in that claim to family credit or disability working allowance. Although awards of these benefits are not normally changed for variations in income once made, the Government have recognised that it is unreasonable not to offer compensation to working parents with care who are modestly paid, particularly as the structure of income support offers automatic adjustment for the incomes of those parents with care not at work and dependent on income support.It would also be wrong to wait until the Child Support Bill received Royal Assent, before considering compensation, as this would result in a delay of several months which could cause hardship. Accordingly, payments will be made in advance of Royal Assent. Parliamentary approval for this service will be sought in a Supplementary Estimate for the Department of Social Security's central government administered Social Security benefits and other payments vote, class XIII, vote 1. Pending that approval, urgent expenditure estimated at £1,000,000 will be met by repayable advances from the Contingencies Fund.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what agreements his Department and the Benefits Agency have with the utility industries regarding deductions from income support. [21901]

The Department of Social Security and the Benefits Agency have negotiated a joint statement of intent with the fuel and water industries, a copy of which has been placed in the Library. Its purpose is to ensure the continuity of an essential supply to claimants and to prevent disconnection of that supply. It outlines procedures for direct payment for fuel and water bills from income support by reflecting regulations and providing guidance on how the direct payment system should operate in practice. The JSI is not a contract between the parties but works as a "best practice" guide.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has so far made of the number of individuals annually who change from a fixed rate to a variable rate mortgage; if such individuals would be considered under his current proposals to have obtained a new mortgage and be ineligible for the existing range of social security assistance with mortgage interest; and if he will make a statement. [21106]