To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department which of the advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department are under a statutory requirement to (a) publish their advice to Government, (b) publish an annual report and (c) lay an annual report before Parliament, and if he will list those with a statutory base. [21595]

The Lord Chancellor's Department and the Northern Ireland Court Service sponsor the following advisory non-departmental public bodies:

• Insolvency Rule Committee
• County Court Rule Committee
• Supreme Court Rule Committee
• Land Registration Rule Committee
• Family Proceedings Rule Committee
• Crown Court Rule Committee
• Advisory Council on Public Records
• Advisory Committee on Legal Education and Conduct Council on Tribunals
• Law Commission

Northern Ireland Court Service:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what was the number of public inquiries which were held in each year since 1985; [20998](2) what was the average length of time it takes to obtain dates for public inquiries into planning refusals; [20999](3) if he will list by local authority the number of

I have delegated responsibility for the provision of information on planning appeals to the Planning Inspectorate agency. I have therefore asked Mr. Chris Shepley, the agency's chief executive, to reply.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the role of a parish council in the (a) preparation and (b) implementation of a village design statement. [20737]

Parish councils may have an enabling or co-ordinating role during the preparation of village design statements. They may also make representations on development plans and development control matters.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he will take if design constraints in a rural community inhibit (a) local affordable housing, (b) job creation and (c) creative use of areas of local land; and if he will make a statement. [20735]

Design issues—such as considering a building's context, its relationship to its setting, and its relationship to its proposed function—may be material consideration in determining a planning application or appeal. They will need to be assessed with other planning considerations in taking decisions.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he is taking to protect free-standing buildings in (a) villages, (b) whole parishes and (c) hamlets and less defined settlements; and if he will make a statement. [20736]

National policy on the re-use of rural buildings is set out in planning policy guidance note 7, "The Countryside and the Rural Economy." There should generally be no reason for preventing the re-use of rural buildings, provided their form, bulk and general design are in keeping with their surroundings.DOE circular 26/92 advises on planning controls over demolition.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidance is given to local authorities in determining the relative priority which is accorded to (a) a village design statement and (b) other building development; and what guidelines apply in respect of the use of concrete blocks as building materials in villages. [20738]

Village design statements are being promoted by the Countryside Commission. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State supports this initiative, which enables local people to express views on how future development can make a positive contribution to a specific area. The Countryside Commission plans to publish advice on the preparation of village design statements later this year.Village design statements may be a material consideration in determining a planning application or appeal, and it is for local planning authorities to consider whether to adopt them as supplementary guidance to the development plan.The development plan system provides the framework for planning for new development and for delivering a quality built environment. Planning policy guidance note 1 advises planning authorities to reject obviously poor designs which are out of scale or character with their surroundings.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the effect of the image presented by former seaside guest houses and hotels now operated as unlicensed houses in multiple occupation in seaside towns on the prospects for trade in those towns. [20784]

Representations received by the Department of National Heritage from tourism operators and trade organisations strongly suggest that the growth in numbers of houses in multiple occupation in traditional tourism areas, particularly in some seaside resorts, is having an unfavourable effect on the tourist trade. My Department conducted a consultation exercise between November 1994 and February 1995 on the principle of a licensing scheme for houses in multiple occupation and received similar representations. The Government hope to announce shortly the conclusions of this review.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidance is given by his Department to North Tyneside city challenge project relating to the placing of contracts for security work; what contracts have been issued by North Tyneside city council for security work; if he will name the city challenge board members and officials who are responsible for such contracts; and how they are appointed. [21224]

The Department of the Environment has not given any specific guidance to North Tyneside city challenge, or any other city challenge partnership, about the placing of contracts for security work. North Tyneside city challenge has not let any such contract. The North Tyneside city challenge partnership undertakes no direct tendering or contracting relating to city challenge projects; this is the responsibility of project sponsors, who are required to achieve value for money. Where projects are assisted by city challenge funding, it is the responsibility of the contractor to assess the degree of risk and make the appropriate contractual arrangements for security.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the number and location of Building Research Establishment, Ordnance Survey, Planning Inspectorate, Security Facilities Executive and Buying 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 what is 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. [21547]

I refer the hon. Member to my answer to him on 25 April, Official Report, column 471.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average weekly household expenditure on housing for (a) those in rented accommodation and (b) owner-occupiers in the United Kingdom; what were the corresponding figures in (i) 1987 and (ii) 1992; and if he will make a statement. [20899]

Estimates of average weekly household expenditure on housing for those in rented accommodation and for owner-occupiers in the United Kingdom are as follows:

Gross and net average weekly housing costs
£ per week
	Gross Renters	Net Owner occupiers	Renters	Owner occupiers
1987	26.80	n/a	17.20	35.80
1992	45.40	n/a	28.00	57.40
1993	49.70	n/a	29.40	52.50

Housing costs include rates, community charge or council tax as appropriate. The estimates of net costs allow for housing benefit, rent rebates and allowances, and rates/community charge/council tax rebates.Figures for gross average weekly housing costs for owner occupiers are not readily available.These figures are drawn from the family expenditure survey and are subject to sampling error.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what additional financial support he will provide to local authorities which have severe problems with pigeons, with special reference to Bradford. [21551]

Support for local authorities' revenue expenditure, provided through revenue support grant, is made in respect of all local authority powers and duties. Individual authorities make expenditure decisions on the basis of local needs and priorities. We have received no representations about problems with pigeons.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures he proposes to take to control the pigeon population. [21554]

Under the provisions of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, my Department and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food issue annual general licences permitting authorised persons to kill or take 13 species of pest bird, including feral pigeons for specified reasons. Under part VI of the Public Health Act 1961, local authorities have a specific power to abate or mitigate any nuisance, annoyance or damage caused by the congregation of pigeons in any built-up area.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many accidents due to pigeon droppings were reported in (a) Bradford and (b) West Yorkshire in the last year for which information is available. [21556]

My Department does not collect this information.

To ask the Secretary of State of Education how many people graduated from English higher education institutions with honours either in philosophy or in a joint honours or composite degree involving philosophy in 1994; what proportion of the total number graduating from English higher education this represents; and if she will make a statement. [20903]

Some 500 students graduated from first degree courses wholly or mainly in philosophy from English higher education institutions in academic year 1992–93, which represents one third of 1 per cent. of all graduates from these institutions. It is not possible to give data from courses where philosophy is combined with other subjects. Statistics on the numbers graduating where philosophy has been a minor element of the course are not readily available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many higher education institutions in England currently offer single honours or joint honours degrees in philosophy; what percentage of the total number of higher education institutions in England this represents; and if she will make a statement. [20911]

From the 110 higher education institutions in England which are members of the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service, 45 offered philosophy as an element of a first degree course in the UCAS "Handbook for 1995 Entry". This represents 41 per cent. of all English higher education institutions offering courses through UCAS.

To ask the Lord President of the Council, pursuant to his answer of 24 April, column 339, if he will now reply forthwith to the letter sent to him on 25 April by the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton.

I will write to the right hon. Member shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportions of all children are in households claiming (a) income support, (b) family credit and (c) housing benefit; and what proportion of (i) single parents and (ii) unemployed drawing income support or housing benefit have mortgages. [20391]

The available information is set out in the tables. Figures are not available for housing benefit recipients with mortgages. Housing benefit is not payable for mortgage interest. Although there are a small number of cases where both housing benefit and mortgage interest are in payment, it is not possible to identify these cases separately.

Children in households receiving benefit1
Benefit	Number (000)	As a percentage of all children in Great Britain
Income Support	2,980	25.8
Family Credit	1,086	9.4
Housing Benefit	2,238	19.4

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what challenges in court have been made to his policy on the date for commencement of payment of retirement pensions; and what discussions there have been of this policy at international bodies of which the Government are a member. [20816]

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to pay retirement pensions so as to include the amount which is currently not paid for the intervening days from a person's date of retirement or relevant birthday to the Monday following. [20817]

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what records are kept by the vaccine damage payment unit of claims for compensation; and whether such records are available for all claims made since 1979. [21323]

The administration of the vaccine damage payment scheme is a matter for Mr. Ian Magee, the acting chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member with such information as is available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what is his estimate of the number of current invalidity benefit recipients in Wales who will not qualify for incapacity benefit; and if he will make a statement; [20905](2) what is his estimate of the fiscal impact of implementing the Social Security (Incapacity for Work) Act 1994 on social security expenditure incurred in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [20906]

There are insufficient data on which to base a reliable breakdown of the national estimates provided for the effect of the new medical test, or to assess, on a regional basis, the public expenditure consequences of the Incapacity For Work Act 1994.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what studies he has instigated to determine the effect of the single market on welfare provision in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [20907]

No such studies have been instigated by the Department.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, if he will make a statement on the fair play for women initiative. [21284]

Fair play for women is a joint initiative between the Department and the Equal Opportunities Commission launched in April 1994. Ten independent consortia have been set up all over England to plan how woman can realise their full capabilities and to take suitable action within their regions. The Government and the EOC are encouraged by the wide range of organisations and individuals supporting fair play, and will be monitoring consortia activity.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment which Ministers have visited workstart schemes; which schemes were visited; and when they were each visited. [21127]

Workstart pays a subsidy to employers who recruit very long-term unemployed people. On 5 November 1993, the then Secretary of State for Employment visited Bishop's Move Distribution Service of Broadstairs, Kent, an employer who received a Workstart subsidy under the original pilots, which ended December 1994. Further pilots commenced this month.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his answer of 18 April, Official Report, column 57, under which sections of the Control of Pesticides Regulations 1986 Stapro insecticide was used at Grays benefit office on 5 October 1991. [21141]

Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service Agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many hours of study people in receipt of severe disablement allowance will be able to undertake without jeopardising their benefit entitlement when the jobseeker's allowance is introduced; and if he will make a statement. [19753]

I have been asked to reply.On its introduction in April 1996, jobseeker's allowance will allow unemployed people to undertake part-time further education courses of up to 16 "guided learning hours" a week. Severe disablement allowance is paid to people who are incapable of work through sickness and therefore cannot be claimed at the same time as JSA. SDA rules on hours of attendance on educational courses apply only to those recipients aged between 16 and 19 and the current limit on part time education is 21 hours a week. We are considering whether we need to change these rules.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement about nurses' pay. [22336]

The report for 1995–96 of the Independent Review Body for Nursing Staff, Midwives, Health Visitors and Professions Allied to Medicine was published on 9 February 1995. The review body recommended a 1 per cent. national increase in pay, with additional increases to be negotiated locally. The Government accepted the review body's recommendations in full.I am advised that offers have been made by 175 NHS trusts. Since the vast majority meet the nurses demand for a rise of 3 per cent., I assume that the offers are acceptable to them. It was that to which I was referring in the House yesterday.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if NHS trusts are permitted to appoint honorary non-executive directors in addition to the five paid non-executive directors. [20684]

There is no provision in either the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 or in the National Health Service Trusts (Membership and Procedure) Regulations 1990 for the appointment of honorary non-executive directors for NHS trusts.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many psychiatric beds were available in each health authority in 1979; and how many are currently available. [20686]

Figures for 1979 are published in "SH3 National and Regional Summaries (DHSS Hospital Statistics) 1979" and for 1993–94, the latest year available, in "Bed availability for England, financial year 1993–94". Copies are available in the Library. Because of changes in the classifications of beds and health authority boundaries over the period, figures are not strictly comparable.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much of each £1 spent on the psychiatric services is spent on (a) hospital beds and (b) community health services; and if she will make a statement. [20825]

Information in the form requested is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what current plans her Department has to fund Mindline; and if she will enter into discussions with MIND to do so. [20687]

No such application for funding has been received.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many mental health beds per 1,000 population were available in London, Newcastle, Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool in each year since 1991. [21914]

Hospitals in the cities listed do not provide services exclusively for the populations of those cities. The information is not, therefore, available in the form requested.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 18 April, Official Report, column 19, on the future use of the site of St. Bartholomew's hospital, if future health-related services could include a privately funded casualty, emergency or acute hospital which could incorporate some of the existing facilities. [21063]

A project team, led by Sir Ronald Grierson, will look at the practical options for future use of the St. Bartholomew's hospital site, taking into account its historic health care connections. The team will work with the Royal Hospitals trust and other interested parties.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she expects to reply to the letter of 17 March sent to her by Roger and Michelle Gould regarding the medical condition and treatment of their son, Jo. [21676]

No such letter has been received in the Department. If the hon. Lady will arrange for a copy to be sent to me I will ensure that it receives urgent attention.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the number of staff employed and the establishment and running costs of the NHS Executive (a) information desk and (b) database relating to NHS market testing guidance. [21756]

The market testing information desk and data base is staffed and run by one half whole-time equivalent national health service executive executive officer at an approximate cost of £12,500 per year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many emergency vehicles run by (a) the London ambulance service, (b) the Northumbria ambulance service, (c) the West Midlands ambulance service and (d) the Greater Manchester ambulance service are more than three years old; and what proportion of the fleet this represents in each case. [21926]

This information is not available centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish the key targets for 1995–96 for the NHS Pensions Agency. [22133]

I have agreed the agency's key targets for 1995–96. These are:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the key business targets for the Medicines Control Agency for 1995–96. [22134]

I have today placed in the Library a copy of the Medicines Control Agency's business plan for 1995–96.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consultations her Department has had with the Department of Trade and Industry over the implications to United Kingdom investment of the selected list scheme. [20629]

There are regular discussions between Government Departments, including the Department of Trade and Industry, and representatives of the pharmaceutical industry about matters of mutual concern.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what change there has been in the level of industry investment into the seven therapeutic areas listed on the 1984 selected list scheme since the announcement of the categories. [20630]

This information is not available centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what medical basis there is for retaining the category of contraception within the remit of the Advisory Committee on NHS Drugs. [20638]

The basis for asking the Advisory Committee on NHS Drugs to continue to review the therapeutic categories covered by the selected list scheme remains that there should be drugs to meet all real clinical need on NHS prescription as economically as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, on what basis, and by whom, the category of contraception was chosen as one of the selected list of scheme categories. [20639]

Ministers decided which categories of drugs should be covered by the selected list scheme on the basis that they included a range of products at varying price levels which offered scope for savings while enabling all real clinical need to be met.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the hormonal contraceptives to be blacklisted under the current selected list scheme. [20640]

There are no plans to remove any hormonal contraceptive products from general practitioner prescription under the selected list scheme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans her Department has to remove the category of contraception from the selected list scheme. [20641]

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans there are to extend the number of categories under the remit of the selected list scheme. [20642]

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) on what basis the Advisory Committee on NHS Drugs makes the decision that an oral contraceptive (a) offers a therapeutic benefit and (b) meets a clinical need; [20643](2) how the Advisory Committee on NHS Drugs makes the decision that the range of oral contraceptives available on the NHS is sufficient to take into account the individual needs of women. [20644]

The Advisory Committee on NHS Drugs is composed of a number of independent medical and pharmaceutical experts. It makes its recommendations on the basis of the clinical and scientific knowledge and experience of these members and after examining the relevant published information and any evidence submitted by the manufacturers of the drugs under review.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what her Department's plans are for research into contraception and contraceptive methods. [20631]

None. Research in this field is a matter for the Medical Research Council, which is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what initiatives, other than educational, her Department has undertaken within the last 12 months in order to meet "The Health of the Nation" target for teenage conceptions. [20632]

Priorities set by the national health service chief executive for 1994–95 required authorities to ensure the provision, within available resources, of the full range of NHS family planning services which are appropriate, accessible and comprehensive and that emergency contraception and services for teenagers, including counselling, are publicised and readily available. This requirement was reaffirmed in the priorities set for 1995–96.Over £136 million per year has been spent on NHS family planning services in England. In addition, in 1994–95, more than £340,000 was allocated to key voluntary bodies working towards "The Health of the Nation target on teenage conceptions".In March 1995 the Department sponsored a Family Planning Association radio and magazine advertising campaign in London and Manchester to launch the Sexwise phoneline—a free, confidential service offering teenagers the opportunity to receive advice from a trained counsellor. There have been more than 45,000 calls to the line during its first six weeks of operation.The Family Planning Association and the Health Education Authority, in collaboration with Brook Advisory Centres and the Birth Control Trust, have also recently launched a national radio and magazine advertising campaign to raise awareness of emergency contraception. This campaign is supported by a telephone helpline.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many women in the United Kingdom use hormonal contraception. [20633]

According to the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys 1993 general household survey, 25 per cent. of women in Great Britain aged 16 to 49 use oral contraceptives.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the average cost to the NHS of one year's course of hormonal contraception. [20634]

Assuming that recommended doses were followed in all cases, the average net ingredient cost of one year's supply of hormonal contraceptives, including implants and injections, dispensed in the family health services authorities in England in 1994 was £18.39 per woman.This figure excludes dispensing costs or fees. Preparations for short-term and emergency hormonal contraception have also been excluded from the calculation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what figures her Department has as to the cost to the NHS of (a) terminations and (b) maternities and births, resulting from (i) all pregnancies and (ii) unplanned pregnancies. [20635]

The costs to the national health service of terminations and of maternities and births resulting from planned or unplanned pregnancies are not separately identifiable.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what data her Department has on the increased likelihood of pregnancy when a woman changes the type of contraceptive pill she uses for family planning. [20636]

None. The "Handbook on Contraceptive Practice", published by the Health Departments in England, Scotland and Wales and issued to doctors and nurses working in the family planning field, provides advice on avoiding the risk of pregnancy when patients need to change their pill formulation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimates her Department makes as to what proportion of pregnancies are (a) unplanned and (b) unwanted. [20637]

The chief medical officer's report for 1990 estimated that almost half of all conceptions to women in England were in some sense unwanted or unintended.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether hormonal contraceptives are distinguished by her Department from other pharmaceutical products in any way. [20645]

Hormonal contraceptives are treated in the same way as other pharmaceutical products under the Medicines Act and the relevant European legislation. Unlike other products, people receiving hormonal contraceptives on NHS prescription do not pay a prescription charge in any circumstances.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many calls seeking post-coital contraception have to date been received by the helpline funded by the Health Education Authority and the Family Planning Association; and what specific advice is given to callers; [21733](2) what public funds have been used by the Health Education Authority and the Family Planning Association to finance their national advertising campaign and telephone advice service promoting the uptake of the morning-after pill; what was the total cost of those campaigns; and by whom were they approved. [21732]

The campaign budget for 1994–95 was £300,000. It is funded by the Health Education Authority through the Family Planning Association. All expenditure has been approved in the normal way. The helpline has received 30,000 calls to date relating to all aspects of use of emergency contraception.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the percentage of people over 16 years old who smoke; what are the corresponding estimates for (a) 1965, (b) 1970 and (c) 1980; and if she will make a statement. [20908]

The available data are shown in the table. Differences in the questions in the two surveys means that the data from the two sources are not directly comparable.

Percentage of adults aged 16 and over who smoke cigarettes
Great Britain
percentage
Year	Men	Women
19651	54	42
19711,2	51	42
19803	43	37
19923,4	29	28

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many were treated for lung cancer in the NHS in (a) 1993 and (b) 1994; what percentage of these were smokers; and if she will make a statement; [20909](2) what was the cost of treating people suffering from lung cancer on the NHS in

The number of episodes of hospital care in the national health service in England with a main diagnosis of lung cancer is shown in the table:

Finished consultant episodes, ordinary admissions and day cases Malignant neoplasm—bronchus or lung (Diagnostic Codes ICD9 162.2–162.9)
	Number
1992–93	57,261
1993–94 (provisional)	56,317

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what investigations she has conducted into evidence from research at Musgrove Park hospital, Taunton, that consumption of milk from cows treated with bovine somatotropin may increase the risk of tumours developing in humans. [21073]

This research shows that increased cell division can occur in isolated intestinal tissue directly treated with the growth factor IGF-1. This result is not unexpected. Treatment of cows with BST can cause slight rises in the concentrations of BST and IGF-1 in milk, but the rises are very small compared with the natural variations in levels. There is no convincing evidence to suggest that IGF-1 can cause cancer. The ability of IGF-1 to cause cell division was one of the considerations taken into account by United Kingdom and European Union expert committees in their thorough assessment of the safety of milk from BST-treated cows. They concluded that the levels of IGF-1 and of BST in such milk will have no adverse effect on the health of consumers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what is her policy with regard to the use of electronic tagging for hospital patients. [21425]

Selection of electronic tagging or other security equipment for national health service units is a matter for local managers to determine in the light of local needs, priorities and resources. Tagging is used to increase the safety of patients, but is in itself unlikely to offer a complete solution to security or safety needs. It should be used as part of a wider local strategy which places an emphasis on staff and patient awareness.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance she has issued regarding the electronic tagging of hospital patients. [21426]

No specific guidance has yet been issued on the use of electronic tagging. Guidance will be contained in a supplement to the national health service security manual and a report on a recent survey of security in maternity units, both of which will be published in July.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will identify which (a) NHS hospitals, (b) private or voluntary hospitals or (c) care or nursing homes currently use electronic tagging; and if she will specify the category of patient involved. [21427]

Decisions on security measures in individual units are the responsibility of local management in consultation, where necessary and appropriate, with clinicians, patients and their relatives.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has for making available joint parental responsibility agreements in registry offices for parents when registering the birth of their child. [21600]

The Government are considering whether a supply of forms for the making of parental responsibility agreements can and should be made available in registry offices.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the Crown post offices converted to agency status in England and Wales, giving the parliamentary constituency in which they lie. [19484]

A list, obtained from the Post Office, showing the Crown post offices in England and Wales which have been converted to agency status, together with the parliamentary constituencies within which they are located, is being placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the agency post offices which were once Crown post offices, listing for each (a) how many staff were employed in them prior to agency status, and how many now, (b) the level of training before and after agency status, (c) what changes have occurred in respect of the business in which the Post Office is sited and (d) the occasions on which the Post Office has at any time had to move to other premises and the factors leading to the move. [20892]

[holding answer 27 April 1995]: A list of Crown post offices which have been converted to agency status in England and Wales will be placed in the Library of the House in answer to a question from the right hon. Member for Copeland (Dr. Cunningham) today. As more than 700 Crown post offices have been converted to agency status, the specific information requested about each individual office could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what are the terms of reference of the efficiency audit of the Post Office. [21183]

A copy of the terms of reference of the Post Office performance review has been placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the tendering and cost of the efficiency audit of the Post Office. [21182]

My Department has recently invited tenders for the Post Office Performance Review from five shortlisted consultants. I expect to make an appointment in May.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade when his Department was first informed of allegations that Singapore was a conduit for arms exported by the company BMARC to Iran; [19078](2) if he will list those contracts involving the firm BMARC, which were notified to his Department as being potentially in breach of Her Majesty's Government's arms export controls; and on what dates this information was received in each case; [19079](3) what assessment he has made of the number of occasions on which breaches of the rules applying to notification took place in respect of BMARC between 1988 and 1991. [19165]

The information required to answer these questions is not held centrally. I will write to the hon. Member in due course and will place a copy of the letter in the Library of the House.

To ask the Attorney-General how many second world war war crimes are still under investigation; for how long each of the cases has been under investigation; and when a decision on each case as to possible prosecution is due to be taken.

There are 20 second world war war crimes currently under investigation by the Metropolitan police. Fourteen of these allegations were received from the Home Office on 28 May 1991 on the formation of the Metropolitan police war crimes unit. One allegation was received on 3 June 1992. Three allegations were received on 11 March 1993, 9 August 1993 and 8 December 1993. Two allegations were received on 21 January 1994 and 25 March 1994. Decisions as to possible prosecution will be taken once all relevant evidence has been fully considered and analysed. I refer my hon. Friend to the answers that I gave in the House to the hon. Member for Coventry, South-East (Mr. Cunningham) and my hon. Friend the Member for Gravesham (Mr. Arnold) on 24 April 1995 Official Report, columns 517–18, concerning those allegations in the seven cases which have been the subject of initial advice from senior Treasury counsel.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the quantitative impact on inward investment into Wales of an increase of (a) 1p, (b) 2p and (c) 5p on corporation tax; and if he will make a statement. [20897]

The fact that corporation tax in the United Kingdom, along with levels of income tax, is among the lowest in European Union is undoubtedly an important factor in the attraction of inward investment but there are many other factors which need to be taken into account. These include the skill and flexibility of the work force; the competitive overheads that we have to offer; the excellent communications in this country; and the warm welcome offered by central and local government.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the average weekly household expenditure on housing for (a) those in rented accommodation and (b) owner-occupiers in (i) Wales and (ii) for each Welsh council district area; what were the corresponding figures in (1) 1987 and (2) 1992; and if he will make a statement. [20898]

Estimates of average weekly household expenditure on housing in Wales are as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people graduated from Welsh higher education institutions with honours either in philosophy or in a joint honours or composite degree involving philosophy in 1994; what proportion of the total number graduating from Welsh higher eduction this represents; and if he will make a statement. [20902]

The most recent data available, from Welsh office returns and the university of Wales registry, are for 1992–93. These data can identify only courses whose only, or main, component was philosophy. Courses in which philosophy was a minority component cannot be identified. On this basis, there were 100 first degree graduates in philosophy from Welsh higher education institutions. A total of 9,360 students graduated with first degrees in 1992–93. The proportion with philosophy degrees was therefore 1.1 per cent.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many higher education institutions in Wales currently offer single honours or joint honours degrees in philosophy; what proportion of the total number of higher education institutions in Wales this represents; and if he will make a statement. [20913]

The most recent data on courses offered by higher education establishments come from the University and College Admissions Service handbook for the academic year 1994–95. This shows that of the 15 higher education institutions in Wales, four offer first degree courses which have "philosophy" in the course title. This is just under 27 per cent. of the number of institutions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many licences have been granted for interference with badger setts for the purpose of hunting in each year since 1991. [21112]

None. There are no specific provisions under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992 for the granting of licences to interfere with badger setts for hunting purposes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales who he is consulting on his direction to the Local Government Boundary Commission for Wales; on what basis; what deadline he has placed on the consultations; and if he will place a copy of the consultation document in the Library. [21415]

For the guidance of the Local Government Boundary Commission for Wales in undertaking the electoral arrangements reviews, I propose to issue directions under section 59(1) of the Local Government Act 1972. Copies of the directions in draft form have been sent for comments to the Commission and to the Assembly of Welsh Councils and the Council of Welsh Districts. Comments have been requested by 5 May.Section 59(2) of the 1972 Act requires me to consult associations which appear to be representative of local authorities. Since the directions will be issued to the Local Government Boundary Commission, I consider it appropriate to seek beforehand the benefit of their advice and experience in these matters.I have made arrangements for a copy of the draft directions to be placed in the Libraries of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which of the advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department are under a statutory requirement to (a) publish their advice to Government, (b) publish an annual report and (c) lay an annual report before Parliament; and if he will list those with a statutory base. [21594]

The Local Government Boundary Commission is under a statutory requirement to deposit copies of its reports and proposals to the Secretary of State at the offices of any principal council whose area might be affected.The Historic Buildings Council for Wales, the Ancient Monuments Board for Wales, and the Local Government Boundary Commission are under a statutory requirement to publish an annual report and lay it before Parliament. A report on the work of the Welsh Industrial Development Advisory Board must be contained in the annual report on the Industrial Development Act 1982, which must be laid before Parliament.The following have a statutory base: the Historic Buildings Council for Wales; the Ancient Monuments Board for Wales; the Local Government Boundary Commission; the Staff Commission for Wales; the Welsh Industrial Development Advisory Board; the NRA Advisory Committee for Wales; the Agricultural Dwelling House Advisory Committees; the Welsh Dental Committee; the Welsh Medical Committee; the Welsh Optical Committee; the Welsh Pharmaceutical Committee; the Welsh Nursing and Midwifery Committee; and the Library and Information Services Council.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Swindon (Mr. Coombs) of 24 April, Official Report, column 369, what interim payments had already been paid (a) to Balfour Beatty with respect to the Cardiff bay barrage construction contract and (b) to contractors carrying out the sewer diversion contract connected with the barrage. [21680]

Interim payments of £16.9 million have been paid to Balfour Beatty-Costain for barrage construction and £0.3 million has been paid for sewer diversion works.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Swindon (Mr. Coombs) on 24 April 1995, Official Report, column

£ million
To:	31 March 1994	1994–95	1995–96	1996–97	1997–98	Future	Totals
Totals	22.3	22.3	44.4	48.1	36.6	17.3	191.0

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Swindon (Mr. Coombs) of 24 April, Official Report, column 369, if he will list what categories of cost escalation apply to (a) the main contract with Balfour Beatty for the construction of the Cardiff bay barrage and (b) contracts for sewer diversion being funded by the Cardiff Bay development corporation; and if he will make a statement on how these categories have affected the difference between the October 1992 estimate and the present outturn forecast. [21681]

This is an operational matter for the corporation and I will ask the chief executive of the corporation to respond.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Swindon (Mr. Coombs) of 24 April, Official Report, column 369, if he will specify how much of the £15.4 million for preliminary design work and the presentation of Bills to Parliament was (a) for preliminary design work and (b) for presentation of Bills to Parliament. [21683]

Of the £15.4 million preliminary design and barrage Bill costs, £9.30 million was for preliminary design work and £6,066 million was for presentation of Bills to Parliament.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Swindon (Mr. Coombs) 24 April, Official Report, column 369, if he will specify what proportion of the construction of the barrage had been completed by 31 March. [21682]

By 31 March 1995, the corporation estimate the construction of the barrage to be 8 per cent. complete. This does not represent the actual cost spent on barrage construction to date, which includes enabling works such as piling and dredging as well as construction materials already bought in.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact of increases in (a) interest rates and (b) exchange rates on the standard of living. [21404]

Permanently low inflation provides the best environment for achieving sustained growth and higher living standards. Monetary policy is set to keep 369, if he will give the details of the breakdown of the figure of £191 million, by each financial year in which any significant part of that expenditure has or will occur. [21684]

Details of possible barrage expenditure to 1997–98 are as follows:underlying inflation within the Government's 1 to 4 per cent. target range and to bring it down into the lower half of this range by the end of the present Parliament. Movements in the exchange rate are taken into account, along with a range of indicators, when considering the prospects for underlying inflation.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the effects of a half point rise in official interest rates in the United Kingdom upon the trade-weighted value of sterling. [21430]

Movements in the trade-weighted value of sterling depend on many factors beside interest rates and it is not possible to estimate the effect of any one factor with any degree of confidence. Interest rates are set to meet the Government's objective of permanently low inflation.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is Her Majesty's Government's assessment of the effect on the rate of inflation of raising interest and the exchange rate when the output of manufacturing industry approaches full capacity. [21301]

Interest rates are set to keep underlying inflation within the Government's 1 to 4 per cent. target range and to bring it down into the lower half of this range by the end of the present Parliament.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact of increases in (a) interest rates and (b) exchange rates on the standard of living. [21404]

Permanently low inflation provides the best environment for achieving sustained growth and higher living standards. Monetary policy is set to keep underlying inflation within the Government's 1 to 4 per cent. target range and to bring it down into the lower half of this range by the end of the present Parliament. Movements in the exchange rate are taken into account, along with a range of indicators, when considering the prospects for underlying inflation.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what weight he attaches to the cost of NHS treatment of smoking-related diseases when determining the level of duty on tobacco; and if he will make a statement. [20914]

The Government recognised the importance of tax in reducing consumption in the continuing Budget commitment to raise tobacco duties, on average, by at least 3 per cent. per annum in real terms.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which of the advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department are under a statutory requirement to (a) publish their advice to Government, (b) publish an annual report and (c) lay an annual report before Parliament; and if he will list those with a statutory base. [21593]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave him on 7 March 1995, Official Report, column 62.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many individual offences against section 47 of the Financial Services Act 1986 have been recorded by the Securities and Investments Board since April 1988; and what measures have been taken by the Securities and Investments Board or his Department to notify victims that they have a legal right to ask the police to investigate these offences. [20833]

Prosecution powers in relation to section 47 have not been transferred to the Securities and Investments Board nor are they exercised by the Treasury. These powers can be exercised by the Department of Trade and Industry, the Serious Fraud Office, the Crown Prosecution Service and the procurators fiscal in Scotland.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, on the various occasions that Treasury Ministers and officials have met pensions industry practitioners and regulators, they discussed (a) section 47 offences and pensions mis-selling and (b) the provision of information to victims that they had the right to ask the police to investigate such offences. [20835]

No.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, on the occasion of its pensions initiative in October 1994, the Securities and Investments Board referred to (a) the gravity of the offence of mis-selling pensions, (b) prison terms possibly resulting and (c) the fact that victims have the legal right to involve the police in investigations. [20834]

I can add nothing further to my answer to the hon. Member of 30 March 1995, Official Report, column 727.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how far (a) his Department, and (b) the Securities and Investments Board, have day-to-day policy control over offences under section 47 of the Financial Services Act 1986; and what information about this control provided to those making representations over the mis-selling of pension and other investment products. [20836]

The Treasury is responsible for the general policy expressed in the legislation. On specific contraventions of section 47 and information provided in relation to mis-selling, I refer the hon. Member to my answers of 30 March 1995, Official Report, column 727.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what factors influenced the decision to impose vehicle excise duty on tower wagons; for what reasons vehicle excise duty was not imposed on mobile cranes and mobile concrete pumps; and what principle determined the different status of these items. [21126]

A wide-ranging reform of the system of vehicle excise duty exemptions and concessions was announced in the Budget.Tower wagons currently pay a concessionary rate of duty of £150. Under the new arrangements, they will pay full vehicle excise duty, in common with nearly all goods vehicles fitted with hydraulic platforms.Mobile cranes, including concrete pumps, currently pay duty of £35. Those weighing 3.5 tonnes or more will, under the new arrangements, be registered in the new special vehicles class and will be subject to duty of £150. Vehicles under that weight can register as normal light goods vehicles and pay £135.Mobile cranes use the road only between sites and their operations are restricted by their specialised construction which means that they cannot carry any load except necessary equipment. Tower wagons, on the other hand, are adapted goods vehicles which use the road more extensively than mobile cranes and are often parked on the road. Their impact on the roads and the environment is no different to that of normal goods vehicles. There has always been a significant duty differential between the two types of vehicle.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will discuss with the Secretary of State for Wales and the Governor of the Bank of England the issue of bilingual bank notes for Wales; and if he will make a statement. [21048]

[holding answer 26 April 1995]: The Bank has no plans to issue bilingual English/Welsh banknotes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many licences have been granted for interference with badger setts for the purpose of hunting in each year since 1991. [21111]

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to the letter and attached documents JRE 110119 from the Under-Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Edinburgh, West (Lord James Douglas-Hamilton) of 21 April 1995 to the hon. Member for Linlithgow, (1) what evidence he has that the Libyan position on trial of the accused has been one of constant prevarication, and to whom he refers as intermediaries and well-intentioned individuals; [21409](2) what offers have been made by the Crown Office to Lockerbie to the German authorities of evidence relating to Lockerbie. [21410]

I did not write to the hon. Member on 21 April attaching the documents referred to. The document to which the hon. Member appears to be referring was prepared for internal use and I am not therefore prepared to comment further on it.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will arrange for the Minister of State, Scottish Office, to visit Paisley to meet the police and others involved in combating the drugs-related problems there; and if he will make a statement. [18994]

My noble and learned Friend has no such immediate plans. He has recently held constructive meetings with the hon. Member and with two other hon. Members who represent constituencies in Renfrewshire to discuss drug-related crime. Furthermore, he has been kept fully briefed on relevant developments by the chief constable of Strathclyde police.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what assessment he has made of the comparative proportion of unpaid water bills in Scotland and in (a) England and Wales and (b) Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement. [20352]

My right hon. Friend has made no such assessment. Domestic charges in Scotland are collected along with the council tax.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many cases of TB in cattle were reported in each region in each year since 1985. [20553]

Complete information in the form requested is not available and information which is available for the years 1985 to 1987 could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, the total numbers of confirmed cattle tuberculosis breakdowns in each region affected in Scotland in years 1988 to 1991 were as follows:

Scotland	Number of herds	Number of confirmed reactors
Aberdeenshire	4	9
Argyll	1	1
Ayrshire	10	65
Berwickshire	1	1
Kirkcudbright	2	3
Midlothian	1	1
Wigtown	4	5
Shetland	1	1

For the period 1992 to 1994, the number of confirmed cattle tuberculosis breakdowns in each of the administrative areas in Scotland covered by a divisional animal health office is as follows:

Scotland	Year	Number of herds	Number of confirmed reactors
Aberdeen	1994	2	4
Ayr	1993	2	52
	1994	1	1
Galashiels	1993	3	4