To ask the Attorney-General whether he will consider instituting proceedings under section 18 of the Public Order Act 1986 against (a) Bernard Manning and (b) the organisers of the Haydock Park police social event on Friday 10 March. [21314]

The question of prosecution does not arise unless there has first been a criminal investigation. It is the function of the police to investigate alleged criminal offences and the hon. Member should place any evidence which he considers discloses an offence in the hands of the relevant chief officer of police.

To ask the Attorney-General if he will obtain from Granada Television a transcript of the recent address by the comedian Bernard Manning at a social event organised by members of the Greater Manchester police with a view to considering a prosecution for incitement to racial hatred; and if he will make a statement. [21304]

No. The investigation of any criminal offence which is alleged to have been committed is the function of the police.If the hon. Member has reason to believe that an offence has been committed he should report the matter to the police.

To ask the Attorney-General what investigation are being undertaken in regard to those executives at Barings responsible for the criminal offence mentioned by the Governor of the Bank of England in his oral evidence to the Treasury and Civil Service Select Committee hearing of 5 April. [21133]

I understand that the hon. Member has in mind a possible contravention of section 38(9) of the Banking Act 1987. Such offences are normally investigated and prosecuted by the Bank of England.The wider inquiries by the director of the Serious Fraud Office into the affairs of Barings bank continue. If information comes to light during those inquiries relevant to possible offences contrary to section 38 then that information will be made available to the Bank of England.

To ask the Attorney-General when he expects the Director of Public Prosecutions to report on his investigation into Mr. Nick Leeson. [21134]

It is the director of the Serious Fraud Office rather than the Director of Public Prosecutions who is investigating matters relating to Barings bank. It is too soon to say when the inquiry will be complete.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department of those people who sought asylum in the United Kingdom in the last year for which figures are available, were refused asylum, and were subsequently refused an appeal, how many were given leave to appeal to the Immigration appeal tribunal; and, of these (a) how many were allowed by the Immigration appeal tribunal and (b) how many were remitted for a further hearing before a special adjudicator. [21283]

In 1994, 355 asylum appellants were granted leave to appeal to the immigration appeal tribunal. Of these, (a) eight appeals were allowed by the immigration appeal tribunal and (b) 192 were remitted for a fresh hearing before a special adjudicator.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department of those people who sought asylum in the United Kingdom in the last year for which figures are available and were refused asylum, how many (a) gave notice of appeal, (b) were certified by the Secretary of State as being manifestly unfounded and (c) had their appeals determined; and, of these, how many applications which were certified by the Secretary of State as being without foundation were allowed by a special adjudicator. [21310]

(a) In 1994, the immigration appellate authorities received 6,045 asylum appeals; (b) of these, 872 were certified by the Secretary of State to be claims without foundation under the Asylum and Immigration Appeals Act 1993; (c) approximately 2,400 cases were determined in 1994. Figures are not available as to how many "without foundation" appeals were successful during that year but will be available for cases dealt with thereafter.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department in the last year for which figures are available, of all immigration—non-asylum—appeals which were refused, how many were given leave to appeal to the immigration appeal tribunal; and of these (a) how many were allowed by the immigration appeal tribunal and (b) how many were remitted for a further hearing before an adjudicator. [21281]

In 1994, 977 applications for leave to appeal were granted; of these 253 appeals were allowed and 418 were remitted for a fresh hearing before an adjudicator.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many substantive immigration appeals were (a) heard and (b) allowed in each of the hearing centres in the United Kingdom in the last year for which figures are available in each of the following categories: (i) spouses, (ii) fiancé(s), (iii) children, (iv) dependant relatives other than children and (v) long-term students. [21282]

(a) The number of substantive appeals heard in each of the hearing centres in 1994 is set out in the following table. The immigration appellate authorities do not hold figures for the categories referred to.

Hearing centre	Appeals heard at an oral hearing	Appeals determined on the papers
Thanet House, London	5,700	3,283
Hatton Cross, Middlesex, Cardiff and Belfast	4,428	2,058
Birmingham	2,360	1,440
Manchester	1,782	619
Leeds	1,357	513
Glasgow	391	89

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department in the last year for which figures are available, how many listed immigration appeals were adjourned (a) once and (b) more than once; how many adjournments were granted at the request of the applicant; and how many on the notice of the court. [21280]

The immigration appellate authorities do not maintain a separate record of those cases which have been adjourned and the information sought could be obtained only at disproportionate cost, by going through the individual records for all cases heard during the year.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what was the average delay in waiting for court cases in London (a) in Crown courts and (b) in magistrates courts calculated from the charging by police of an alleged offender. [21896]

In the magistrates courts the average time taken in London in 1994, for indictable-triable either-way offences from charge or summons to first listing was 25 days and the average time taken from first listing to completion was 54 days.In relation to the Crown courts, the question concerns a specific operational matter on which the chief executive of the Court Service is best placed to provide an answer and I have accordingly asked the chief executive to reply direct.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make it his policy to consult other countries under section 2 of the Statute of Westminster 1931 before bringing forward proposals to amend the Regency Act 1937. [22004]

It is the Government's policy to consult as appropriate before introducing legislation.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the criteria by which the Law Commission and the Joint Committee on Consolidation, &c. Bills consider items for inclusion in Statute Law (Repeals) Bills. [22005]

The criteria are set out in section 3(1) of the Law Commissions Act 1965 and in the standing orders of both Houses of Parliament.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will refer for consideration to the Law Commission His Majesty's Declaration of Abdication Act 1936 for possible repeal. [22096]

That is not my intention.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the effect slow moving heavy duty vehicles have on air pollution. [21671]

The table illustrates that slow moving traffic emits more carbon monoxide—CO—and non methane volatile organic compound—NMVOC—than faster moving traffic. However, the latter emit more oxides of nitrogen—NOx.

Emission factors for road transport (g/km)
Vehicle type	Small HGV (<16 litres)	Large HGV (>16 litres)
Urban (Average 15–20 mph)
CO	6.00	7.30
NOx	12.60	16.95
NMVOC	6.412	6.78

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many warning letters his Department has issued where offences in apparent contravention of wildlife law have been disclosed in the last five years. [21830]

It would not be in the interests of bird conservation to publish the detailed information sought by the hon. Member about potential wildlife offences dealt with by my Department. Such information could be of use to those evading or intending to evade the controls. I will write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he proposes to announce his proposals for local government tax before the end of July; and if he will make a statement. [21812]

As usual, proposals for the 1996–97 local government finance settlement will be announced soon after the Chancellor has made his Budget statement. Levels of council tax will depend upon Budget decisions taken by local authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how often the National Rivers Authority has taken action to enforce the provisions of abstraction licences granted under the Water Acts of 1963 and 1989; and if he will make a statement. [21987]

The information conveniently available shows the following action:

Year	Enforcement inspections	Formal cautions or prosecutions
1993–94	18,470	19
1994–95	19,925	25

Inspections may also result in advice or informal warning.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how often the National Rivers Authority reviews current abstraction licences granted under the Water Acts of 1963 and 1989; and if he will make a statement. [21988]

The information requested is shown on page 102 of the National Rivers Authority's annual report and accounts for 1993–94. A total of 18,470 abstraction licences out of a total 48,189 were inspected in 1993–94. A table showing actual and forecast inspections from 1989–90 to 1997–98 is also given on page 43 in the National Rivers Authority's corporate plan for 1994–95.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made concerning enforcement issues following the ninth conference of the parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. [21829]

For actions taken by the United Kingdom concerning CITES enforcement issues, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 30 March 1995, Official Report, column 736.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) pursuant to his answer of 22 March, Official Report, columns 226–27, what means are employed for checking for previous convictions from applicants; [21877](2) how many potential offences his Department identified and pursued as a result of monitoring national trade journals prior to November 1994, relating to the sale of birds listed in appendix I of CITES and annexe CI of EC regulation 3626–82; [21870](3) what factors led to nine of the 26 potential sales offences being passed to the police; [21871](4) how many specimens of Livingstone's Turaco were advertised for sale during the period that his Department has been monitoring the trade journals; [21872](5) how many times information has been followed up by the Department's wildlife inspectorate, when doubt concerning an application has been raised; [21875](6) how many times premises have been inspected to ensure that any conditions attached to sales exemptions have been met; [21876](7) when the first police officer was designated as an authorised person under the Control of Trade in Endangered Species (Enforcement) Regulation 1985. [21883]

[holding answer 2 March 1995]: It would not be in the interests of bird conservation to publish the detailed information sought by the hon. Member about potential wildlife offences dealt with by my Department. Such information could be of use to those evading or intending to evade the controls. I will write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 22 March, Official Report, column 226, when his Department intends to register the bird species listed in CITES appendix I and annexe CI of EC regulation 3626/82, that are not currently required to be registered and ringed if kept in captivity. [21873]

[holding answer 2 May 1995]: Following our review of the secondary controls on wildlife, we have invited our scientific advisers, the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, to advise on the criteria for listing the species which must be ringed and registered with the Department, by the middle of next year.The agreed criteria will be used to carry out the first review of schedule 4 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. The results should be submitted to my Department by December 1997. We shall consider, in the light of this, whether any additions or deletions to the species listed in schedule 4 are necessary.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 22 March, Official Report, column 226, what proposals he has to ensure that individual birds of significant conservation concern advertised for sale can he uniquely identified. [21874]

[holding answer 2 May 1995]: We shall continue to ensure that sales exemptions are issued only when we are satisfied that there are no significant risks to the conservation of the species concerned. The enforcement working group, which I announced on 20 December in my reply to the hon. Member for Taunton (Mr. Nicholson), Official Report, columns 1115–16, will be looking at the current arrangements for the marking of specimens, and considering whether any changes are required.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the sites owned by British Gas where (a) discussions regarding grant aid have occurred, (b) grant aid has been formally applied for and (c) grant aid has been approved in order to redevelop the sites giving, in each case, the amount of aid involved and including grant aid from his Department, urban development corporations and any other relevant publicly funded bodies. [20410]

The Department and the regeneration bodies it supports have allocated grant for the redevelopment of sites owned by British Gas in the following instances:

Project	Programme	Amount of grant £ million
Pleck Gasworks	Walsall City Challenge	1.385
Pride Park (with ABBT and British Rail Property Board)	Derby Pride Ltd (City Challenge)	12.8 (paid to Derby City Council)
Windsor Street Reclamation	Birmingham Heartlands Development Corporation	0.2
Grand Islan	Central Manchester Development Corporation	4.4
Leeds City Office Park	Leeds Development Corporation	0.5

In addition, there have been discussions on possible projects at Foleshill gasworks, Coventry; West Dyke road, Redcar; Redditch gasworks; Greenwich peninsula; Ladbroke grove, north Kensington; and Crawford street, Birmingham.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what new proposals he has further to reduce road casualties. [22222]

We are continuing to implement the measures which I described to the hon. Member in my reply of 19 December 1994, Official Report column 873.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received regarding the proposed Woolwich rail tunnel; if he will hold a public consultation; and when he expects to make a decision. [22371]

I am aware of the hon. Member's support for the Woolwich rail tunnel project and have discussed it in the past both with him and local representatives.Railtrack, British Rail, London Transport and the London Docklands development corporation are currently working to define and develop the outline scheme. I understand that they intend to consult publicly on this work at an appropriate stage, and I look forward to seeing the results. The scheme is also likely to be included in the Government office for London's forthcoming consultation on river crossings in east London.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the importance of the proposed Woolwich metro to the east Thames gateway strategy. [22372]

The proposals are at an early stage. But, as indicated in the draft Thames gateway planning framework, the metro concept could assist regeneration by extending potential labour markets.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to issue a consultation document on the proposed east London river crossing; what will be the period for consultation; and when he expects to make a decision. [22373]

I hope to publish shortly a consultation document on a range of options for river crossings on the Thames east of Tower bridge. I envisage a consultation period of three months. The timing of any subsequent decisions will depend on the outcome of the consultation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish the full costs of the Rendel, Palmer and Tritton study into the M25, and further studies arising from that. [21580]

The cost of the Rendel, Palmer and Tritton study, published in 1989, was £321,000, excluding VAT. Following publication in 1990 of the M25 action plan, the Department of Transport's response to public comments on the RPT report, five studies were commissioned. These investigated possible improvements to junctions and options for additional capacity on the M25. The total cost of these studies was £4.682 million, excluding VAT.As a result of the studies, the agency has carried forward the design for widening nearly 88 miles or 80 per cent. of the M25 to dual four lanes. Construction works have been completed or are in progress on 13 miles of the M25, with works on a further 12 miles due to start in June of this year. Comments from the public on proposals for widening are currently being considered on another 34 miles of the M25.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) on what basis he is assessing projected traffic growth on the M25 beyond 2010; [21582](2) what proposals he has to reassess national traffic forecasts in respect of the M25 in the light of the Standing Advisory Committee on Trunk Road Assessment; and if he will make a statement. [21576]

The assessment of traffic growth up to and beyond 2010 will be based on the Department of Transport's national road traffic forecasts, taking into account local traffic forecasts which reflect local growth in population and car ownership.The proposals will be assessed to see if the changes in traffic looked at by the Standing Advisory Committee on Trunk Road Assessment in its recently published report are likely to be significant. An assessment summarising the technical and economic analysis of the scheme, including traffic projections, will be published at the same time as the environmental statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will set out his timetable for new traffic management arrangements between junctions 12 and 16 on the M25. [21581]

A traffic management pilot project with the use of variable speed limits and camera enforcement will start on the motorway shortly. It uses automatic sensors to monitor traffic flows and activates signals to reduce speeds at congested times. This builds on to a longer term programme for introducing automatic incident detection systems on the motorway network.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made within his Department on equal opportunities matters. [21466]

The Department of Transport has been actively pursuing the civil service programmes for action on race, women and disability, and was one of the first Departments to produce a joint action plan covering all three areas.Particular emphasis has been given to developing training and complaints procedures and to making it easier for disabled people and for women with family commitments to work in the Department.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress he hopes to achieve in his Department over the next three months to push forward the declaration signed in October 1994 at the Vienna conference in preparation for the fourth UN conference on women; and if he will agree to incorporate a section on equal opportunities in his Department's annual report. [21468]

The Government are committed to the principles set out in the regional platform for action agreed at the preparatory conference in Vienna for the fourth UN world conference on women. DOT has taken these forward through a wide range of programmes and initiatives and will continue to do so. In accordance with the terms of the Command Paper, "The Civil Service-Taking Forward Continuity and Change", the Department will publish information on equal opportunities in annual reports from 1995–96.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which Minister in his Department has responsibility for equal opportunities issues. [21465]

I have overall responsibility for equal opportunities issues within the Department of Transport.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish the gender assessment being prepared by his Department. [21467]

Department of Transport policy, in line with guidelines issued in 1992 by the ministerial group on women's issues, is that policy proposals should ensure that unlawful or unjustifiable sex or race discrimination does not occur and that similar principles apply to people with disabilities, older people or ex-offenders. This scrutiny is part of a continuous and routine process, as part of policy advice to Ministers.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps are being taken to monitor the behaviour of cable television operators by central Government. [20718]

My officials monitor the behaviour of cable operators through a continuous assessment of statistical evidence, through discussions with operators, and by handling individual complaints. Broadcast entertainment is subject to normal Independent Television Commission licensing and content requirements.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his oral answer to the hon. Member for Milton Keynes North-East (Mr. Butler), of 5 April, Official Report, column 1722, and his answer of 27 April, Official Report, column 662, on what date he expects all schools in the area for which the Communications Association has franchises to be connected to the cable network; and if he will make a statement. [22217]

[holding answer 2 May 1995]: Schools will be progressively linked to cable networks as cable operators install their systems.The existing cable franchises networks, covering some two-thirds of the population, are likely to be virtually compete by the end of 2000. The new local delivery operator franchises now being awarded, which permit radio delivery of services, are expected to extend cable type coverage to around 80 to 85 per cent. of the United Kingdom population. The Radiocommunications Agency has announced plans for use of radio spectrum in more rural areas.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what facilities are provided and arrangements made for the well-being and comfort of staff who (a) smoke and (b) do not wish to be affected by smoking at (i) the work-station and (ii) rest, recreation and refreshment facilities at Ashdown house, 123 Victoria street, London. [21913]

This Department's policy is to ban smoking in general office areas. Smoking is allowed only in designated smoking rooms and areas. Smoking is not permitted in the staff restaurant at Ashdown house during the luncheon period. Smoking is permitted in a separate area at other times.A copy of my Department's current smoking policy is available in the House of Commons Library.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to privatise the nuclear energy industry. [22036]

The nuclear review is nearing completion. An announcement will be made shortly.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what funds are available for decommissioning and waste disposal in the nuclear industry. [22063]

The Department of Trade and Industry provides to the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority the funds required to undertake its programme of work on nuclear decommissioning and the management of radioactive waste arising from government nuclear programmes. The provision of funds in respect of the decommissioning and waste disposal liabilities of other parts of the nuclear industry is a matter for the companies concerned: their annual accounts report on the relevant provisions.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what measurements he has made of the security and safety implications of a privatised nuclear energy industry. [22030]

Safety is of paramount importance and will continue to be so irrespective of ownership.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is his estimate of the asset value of the nuclear energy industry in England and Wales. [22029]

I refer the hon. Member to the annual reports and accounts of the relevant companies, copies of which are available in the Library of the House.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what negotiations he has had with the Taiwan Government regarding the joint bid by Nuclear Electric and Westinghouse for the building of a nuclear power plant in that country. [22035]

The United Kingdom Government supported Nuclear Electric's bid for the Lungmen project but does not take part in commercial negotiations regarding any international bid.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what emergency storage facilities exist at the Sizewell B reactor for nuclear fuel rods withdrawn from the reactor core should an accident occur while the interim on site storage ponds are being completed. [22034]

I understand that the fuel storage pond at Sizewell B was commissioned before nuclear fuel was accepted on site. There has therefore been no need for any interim storage facilities, nor is there a need for any additional emergency storage facility. If fuel failures should occur, the failed fuel can be withdrawn from the reactor core using the normal fuel handling equipment and can then be stored safely in the fuel storage pond.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what estimate he has made of the additional costs involved, including the disposal of surplus materials for (a) the public service and (b) the United Kingdom economy which will stem from the implementation of the European Community directives which require all references to imperial measures to be stopped, with the exception of the area of exemption set out in the Health and Safety Executive document OM 1995/121 appendix 5. [21997]

[holding answer 1 May 1995]: The cost to business of compliance with legislation to implement Council directive 89/617/EEC on harmonisation of units of measurement was considered to be about £35 million spread over a period of six years. This does not take into account the benefits which will accrue from metrication. The costs to the public sector were not considered to be significant.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what calculations his Department has made in respect of the cost of issuing an ID card. [21894]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Pontypridd (Dr. Howells) on 27 April 1995, column 674.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to introduce proposals on daylight saving; and if he will make a statement. [22221]

Our policy on future summer time arrangements, including whether to move to central European time, remains under consideration.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration he has given to implementing the conclusion of his Department's working group report on electoral registration in respect of the provision to transfer electoral qualification from one address to another when an elector moves. [22381]

I understand that the working group on electoral registration considered the issue only in the context of rolling registration where it came to no firm conclusion.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what percentage of those individuals involved in marriages between British citizens and non-British, non-EU citizens which were adjudged to be bogus by his Department were deported in each year since 1989; [21514](2) how many individuals involved in marriages between British citizens and non-British, non-EU citizens which were adjudged to be bogus by his Department were deported in each year since 1989. [21815]

The information requested is not available. The deportation statistics do not identify separately cases involving a bogus marriage.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his practice to publish his reasons for refusing an applications for United Kingdom citizenship where an applicant wishes this to be done. [21952]

No.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many metres of mahogany or products containing it his Department has bought in the last five years; and if he will list the purposes and the costs. [19836]

Between September 1993 and March 1995, 132m³ of African mahogany was purchased, costing £70,000 for use in prison workshops for the construction of furniture for sale and order. The supplier purchases hardwood from controlled areas in line with Government guidelines to the timber trade.Information is not available for the period prior to September 1993.Home Office policy on the purchase of wood is, as far as possible, to ensure that wood used in building works and furniture comes from sustainably-managed forests.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many full-time employees in the north-west earn less than £2 an hour. [21546]

It is estimated from the autumn 1994 labour force survey that approximately 1.7 per cent. of full-time employees in the north-west earn less than £2 per hour. A total of 78.1 per cent. earn more than £4 per hour.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many jobs he estimates will be at risk in the United Kingdom if the proposed takeover of the National and Provincial building society takes place. [21931]

No such estimate is available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many jobs he estimates will be at lost in Yorkshire if the proposed takeover by Abbey National of the National and Provincial building society took place. [21906]

No such estimate is available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will make it his policy for job centres to establish with employers the minimum rate of pay for jobs they advertise when the rate is negotiable and to refuse to display advertisements for jobs paying £1 an hour or less; [22211](2) what discretion is allowed to jobcentre managers in deciding whether to accept a job advertisement where the wage rate offered is unreasonably low. [22281]

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the lowest hourly rate of pay for a job advertised at the jobcentres in Nelson and Colne for the latest l2 month period for which figures are available. [22203]

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has replied to an inquiry from Commissioner Padraig Flynn regarding donations to the South Thames training and enterprise council from the European social fund.

The Department replied to the European Commission on this matter on 2 May 1995.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many journey plans were submitted by hauliers of livestock through (a) Shoreham port, (b) Plymouth docks, (c) Dover port, (d) Brightlingsea docks and (e) Coventry airport in each month since such journey plans became compulsory; how many of these plans were not adhered to; and how many have been submitted for future journeys. [20604]

[holding answer 1 May 1995]: Journey plans were compulsory for certain journeys from 1 January 1993. The Welfare of Animals during Transport Order 1994 made journey plans compulsory in a specified format for any journey likely to take more than 15 hours, with effect from 23 January 1995. Between this latter date and 7 April, 1995 journey plans have been checked by the Ministry. This figure cannot readily be broken down in the way requested. Exporters are advised to give the Ministry 10 days' notice of an intention to export animals, and in practice not all intended journeys take place. Arrangements exist to carry out spot checks on the details declared in the journey plans with co-operation from certain member states, and inquiries are continuing in a number of cases.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 4 April, Official Report, column 1058, how it is possible for calves to be fed a liquid feed while on a lorry. [21088]

[holding answer 1 May 1995]: I am advised that calves could be fed aboard lorries in circumstances where the lorries were standing part-loaded and there was room for individual feeding. Facilities for the preparation of the liquid feed would also have to be available nearby.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will show his assessment of the percentage of beef samples with traces of clenbuterol or other artificial promoters in each of the EC member states; how much of this contaminated beef finds it way into the British market; what concerns he has as to whether existing EC legislation to prevent the use of artificial growth promoters is effective; and if he will make a statement. [21315]

Surveillance for concentrations of clenbuterol and other artificial growth promoters in beef is carried out in all member states under the terms of directive 86/469/EEC. I regret, however, that information on residues surveillance, comparable with that made available by the veterinary medicines directorate, is not published by other member states, and I cannot therefore comment on the position in those countries.So far as domestic production is concerned, I can confirm that no clenbuterol positives have been identified in any sample collected from slaughterhouses in Great Britain under the national surveillance scheme since testing began in August 1989, nor have any of the samples tested for the banned hormonal growth promoters been found to be positive since 1992. Samples of beef and other meat and meat products are also purchased from retail outlets in the United Kingdom, under a separate surveillance programme which covers both home produced and imported meat products. During the period July 1993 to March 1994 one sample of calf liver imported from a member state was found to contain traces of clenbuterol below the maximum residue limit of 0.5µg/kg and did not present a hazard to human health.The use of hormonal growth promoters is banned throughout the European Community, although this ban does not extend to clenbuterol which is an authorised veterinary medicine and available, under prescription, in several member states, including the UK, to treat respiratory ailments in calves and horses and to assist cattle at the time of calving. When used illegally, at high dosages, clenbuterol has similar growth promoting effects to the banned hormones. I am satisfied from the assurances that have been received from member states where a problem with the abuse of these substances is reported to exist, that urgent steps are being taken to stamp out any illegal use, and that consumer safety is not at risk from imported beef.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the number of licensed mink farms in each year since 1989. [21190]

[holding answer 1 May 1995]: The number of licensed mink farms in England is as follows:

Year	Number of licensed mink farms on 31 March of each year
1989	52
1990	45
1991	26
1992	19
1993	20
1994	12
1995	13

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many farm animals were identified as being unfit to travel in each month since January 1992. [21168]

[holding answer 1 May 1995]: The information is given in the following table for the years 1992, 1994 and 1995—to February. No figures are available for 1993.

Farm animals inspected prior to export and rejected as unfit for transportation
	1992	1994	1995
January	1,608	not available	1,259
February	1,116	not available	698
March	662	1,534	—
April	425	1,545	—
May	792	1,881	—
June	1,262	618	—
July	2,206	1,227	—
August	3,694	4,032	—
September	4,710	4,534	—
October	5,330	1,424	—
November	3,126	1,681	—
December	3,139	1,195	—

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which Minister in his Department has responsibility for equal opportunity issues. [21445]

My right hon. Friend the Minister, has overall responsibility for all departmental issues. I have particular responsibility for equal opportunity issues.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress has been made within his Department on equal opportunity matters. [21446]

The Department continues to implement its strategy for equality of opportunity for women staff. In the past 12 months this has included the introduction of a career break scheme, an assessment of the suitability of posts for flexible working and increased child-care facilities. The departmental strategy for equality of opportunity for staff of ethnic minority origin has been relaunched. A departmental strategy on the employment of staff with disabilities is being formulated using results from a staff survey in which 600 staff reported a disability.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish the gender assessment being prepared by his Department. [21447]

The Department's policy, in line with guidance issued in 1992 by the ministerial group on women's issues, is that policy proposals should ensure that unlawful or unjustifiable discrimination against specific groups of people, including men and women, does not occur. This scrutiny is part of a continuous and routine process, as part of policy advice to Ministers.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress he hopes to achieve in his Department over the next three months to push forward the declaration signed in October 1994 at the Vienna conference in preparation for the fourth UN conference on women; and if he will agree to incorporate a section on equal opportunities in his Department's annual report. [21448]

The Department will continue to ensure that unlawful or unjustifiable discrimination against specific groups of people does not occur as a result of its policies.The Department's annual report already includes details on equal opportunities with regard to its staff. The Department will continue to include such information in line with central commitments.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what support his Department has given since December 1993 (a) to the continued monitoring of infection in the wild badger population, (b) to research into ways of avoiding transmission of disease from badgers to cattle and (c) to co-operation with university departments on proposed studies about the effects of badger removal operations on the badger population and its impact on the subsequent spread of disease within the badger population. [21716]

[holding answer 2 May 1995]: In the financial year 1994–95 the Ministry invested £370,000 in on-going work at the central veterinary laboratory and the central science laboratory on an ecological and epidemiological study of a badger population naturally infected with M. bovis in the Gloucestershire study area. A further £138,000 was invested in on-going work to understand the demography and epidemiology of badgers through the production of mathematical models of badger populations to assist in the development of M. bovis control strategies. The Ministry also continues to examine the carcases of wild badgers found by members of the public in the vicinity of farms where there have been cattle herd breakdowns for M. bovis in addition to those killed in Ministry badger removal operations.In 1994 the Ministry agreed to fund a project over the next three years, now being carried out by Oxford university in collaboration with the Central Science Laboratory and the Central Veterinary Laboratory, to look at the effects of a badger removal operation by examining the behaviour of surviving badgers, their demography and dynamics, and effects on disease transmission. The Ministry has also just agreed to fund a project over the next three years, to be undertaken by the University of Bristol, to investigate the relationships between badger population density and size of social groups with different habitats, the distribution of

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress has been made since December 1993 regarding (a) research into the development of effective vaccines for TB in badgers and (b) research to develop new or improved diagnostic tests for the presence of infection in cattle and badgers. [21717]

[holding answer 2 May 1995]: In the financial year 1994–95 the Ministry invested £217,000 on the development of a suitable vaccine for the protection of badgers against infection with M. bovis. Work on this project started at the Central Veterinary Laboratory in April 1994. Initially, this work has concentrated on understanding the badger's responses to the infection, in order to determine possible mechanisms of protection, and investigating possible vaccine candidates. A feasibility study has been completed and is due to be published in the Veterinary Record on 6 May. This work is progressing well although it is anticipated that it will take approximately 15 years to complete.The Ministry invested £543,000 in financial year 1994–95 in on-going research at the Central Veterinary Laboratory to develop methods for the improved diagnosis of

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what is the estimated (a) loss of United Kingdom apple orchards, (b) cost of grants in the United Kingdom, (c) cost of grants across the European Union and (d) cost of grants in the Mediterranean European Union nations under the European Union's grubbing-up grant; [21866](2) what estimates he has made of the effect of the European Union grubbing-up grants on the United Kingdom's trade balance in

Growers in the EU have applied to grub about 28,000 hectares of apple orchard. In the United Kingdom we have accepted 271 applications into the scheme covering 2,432 hectares. However, it will be some time before we have details of the final outcome of the 1994–95 apple orchard grubbing up grant scheme since acceptance of an application does not necessarily lead to grubbing.On trade, "English Apples and Pears" says that the 90 per cent. of English apple growers staying in the industry are delighted that a significant reduction in the surplus of European apples is in prospect. They are confident that with the modern orchards planted in recent years they will, in future, be better placed to produce even higher quality apples in the range of varieties the UK consumer wants.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the total compensation paid to farmers for loss of earnings and clean-up of radioactive contamination arising from the fall out from the Chernobyl nuclear accident in 1986. [22027]

The sheep compensation scheme was introduced in July 1986 to compensate farmers whose enterprises had been disrupted as a result of movement and slaughter restrictions associated with the Chernobyl accident. The total paid out under the scheme in the United Kingdom up to the end of March 1995 was £11,567,729. A table follows, showing the breakdown of payments by country.

Sheep Compensation Scheme 1986—compensation payments up to 31 March 1995
	£
England	1,313,912
Wales	7,524,272
Scotland	2,491,842
Northern Ireland	237,703
Total	11,567,729

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the total number of (a) farmers and (b) farm workers for each year since 1988, giving the figures as a percentage of the population for England. [21861]

The information requested is given in the table.

Persons engaged in agricultural work on agricultural holdings in England
	Farmers		Farm workers
	Number (000's)	As percentage of population	Number (000's)	As percentage of population
1988	184	0.39	286	0.60
1989	182	0.38	275	0.58
1990	182	0.38	274	0.57
1991	180	0.37	265	0.55
1992	182	0.38	259	0.53
1993	184	0.38	253	0.52
1994	184	0.38	247	0.51

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many cases of brucellosis have occurred in each year since 1985. [21818]

The number of brucellosis cattle herd breakdowns in Great Britain in each year since 1985 from which the organism Brucella abortus was recovered were:

• 1985: 69
• 1986: 39
• 1987: 3
• 1988: 1
• 1989: 6
• 1990: 1
• 1991: None
• 1992: None
• 1993: 1
• 1994: None

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many cases of foot and mouth disease occurred in each year since 1978. [22175]

There was one outbreak of foot and mouth disease which occurred in 1981 on the Isle of Wight. There have been no outbreaks since then.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many cases of pleuro-pneumonia occurred in each year since 1985. [22170]

There have been no confirmed cases of pleuro-pneumonia in England since 1898.

	Annual compensation payment to age 60 (rate pa)	Superannuation lump sum	Lump sum compensation payment	Compensation in lieu of notice (if any)
1990–91
Compulsory	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
Flexible	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
1991–92
Compulsory	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
Flexible	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
1992–93
Compulsory	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
Flexible	3,607.27	9,702.39	Nil	Nil
1993–94
Compulsory	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
Flexible	4,444.73	12,025.30	Nil	Nil
1994–95
Compulsory	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
Flexible	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps are being taken to help to combat fraud in the European Union. [20412]

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps Her Majesty's Government are taking to combat fraud within the European Union with particular reference to the common agricultural policy and the cohesion budget. [20439]

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many prosecutions of dairy farmers in Lancashire for failing to comply with necessary hygiene standards (a) have been successfully undertaken and (b) are outstanding since 1990. [22272]

[holding answer 2 May 1995]: Responsibility for the enforcement of hygiene standards at dairy farms is split between Agricultural Development Advisory Service, an executive agency of the Ministry and the Welsh Office, and local authority environmental health departments. There have been no prosecutions by ADAS in Lancashire since 1990. Information on prosecutions by environmental health departments is not held centrally.

To ask the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the individual value of each (a) compulsory early retirement and (b) flexible early retirement package received by civil servants leaving his department on grounds of limited efficiency in each of the last five years. [22093]

[holding answer 2 May 1995]: Compensation payments for early retirement on grounds of limited efficiency are age, salary and service related. Details of limited efficiency early retirements for each of the last five financial years are as follows:

I refer to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Uxbridge (Mr. Shersby) on 30 March 1995, Official Report, columns 654–55.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was spent on official hospitality by his Department in 1994–95. [21211]

[holding answer 1 May 1995]: In 1994–95, spending on official hospitality by Her Majesty's Treasury was £85,888.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the cost of employing consultants in connection with market testing programmes in which his Department has been engaged since their inception. [21379]

[holding answer 1 May 1995]: The Treasury's estimated cost to date of employing consultants in connection with market testing programmes is as follows:

	Support to
	In House Team £	Department £
1 April 1992–30 September 1993	21,018	37,692
1 October 1993–30 September 1994	15,087	47,878
1 October 1994–31 March 1995	nil	64,625
Sub totals	36,105	150,195

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on how many occasions during the last five years (a) civil servants and (b) special advisers in his Department or its agencies have declared conflicts of interest; and how many instructions have been issued about their retention, disposal or management. [21400]

[holding answer 1 May 1995]: The information requested is not held centrally.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list for each agency and the central Department for which he is responsible (a) the total amount of removal costs and associated expenses reimbursed to officials who were required to relocate as part of their employment, (b) the amount of each of the highest three claims that were concluded and settled and (c) the average amount of each claim in each of the last three years. [19648]

The amounts shown below are in respect of cases which were completed during the past three years. The information is as follows:

HM Treasury
Year	£
(a)
1992–93	No cases concluded and settled.
1993–94	244,465.00
1994–95	29,981.00
(b)
1992–93	No cases concluded and settled.
1993–94	49,609.00
	45,824.00
	44,311.00
1994–95	27,897.00
	2,083.00—only two cases during year.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he proposes to take to establish the policies, objectives and measurable targets relating to (a) women's economic opportunities and (b) women's access to productive resources contained in article 26e of the programme for action agreed at the world summit for social development in Copenhagen. [22269]

I have been asked to reply.The United Kingdom's report for the United Nations fourth world conference on women, produced in October 1994, details key achievements and priorities for action in a range of areas of particular interest to women. A copy is available in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will extend the remit of the consultants reviewing the sailing schedule of RMS St. Helena to include all forms of passenger linkage to the island and their potential. [22012]

No. The consultants were required to focus on the specific issue of a rescheduling of RMS St. Helena. This is a priority matter for the St. Helena Government because of the early improvement in access to the island which would result. The consultations draft report is currently under consideration.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance the Government will provide to the Palestine National Authority during 1995. [20420]

We are committed to providing £82 million over three years from 1994–95 to support the Palestinian Authority and the peace process. This includes contributions through the European Union and other multilateral organisations, notably the United Nations relief and works agency. Our bilateral aid includes a £1.25 million project in support of the Palestinian police and a £5 million know-how programme announced by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister in March. Our aid priorities are good government, finance and private enterprise, water, health and education.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage on how many occasions during the last five years (a) civil servants and (b) special advisers in his Department or its agencies have declared conflicts of interest; and how many instructions have been issued about their retention, disposal or management. [21390]

[holding answer 1 May 1995]: For the Department and agencies for which I am responsible, any conflict of interest involving civil servants will have been dealt with in accordance with established guidance.My Department has existed for three years. It holds no central records on the number of occasions during that period that career civil servants have declared conflicts of interest.In the same period, no special advisers in my Department have declared conflicts of interest.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list all the amendments which have been made to the Acts of Union between England and Scotland; and how many of these have affected Scottish law and how many English law; and in what way. [21411]

The information requested can be obtained by an examination of the official revised edition of the "Statutes in Force" published by HMSO. This shows the Union with Scotland Act 1706, which was passed by the English Parliament, and the Union with England Act 1707, which was passed by the Scottish Parliament, revised to 1 February 1978, together with a note of all the repeals and amendments which have been made to those Acts until then. Cumulative supplements to the "Statutes in Force" were published until February 1991 but no amendments are shown to have been made to those Acts. Since then, information as to any further repeals or amendments to those Acts can be obtained by looking at the "Table on the Effect of Legislation" in part IV of each annual volume of the "Public General Acts", published by HMSO. This has recently been published for 1993 and shows a repeal of article XXII of the Union with Scotland Act 1706.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proposals she has to promote the education of children affected by attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder, and if she will make a statement. [20550]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 24 January 1995, Official Report, column 166–67.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) how many schools and colleges currently offer intermediate and advanced GNVQ courses in (a) health and social care, (b) leisure and tourism, (c) business, (d) art and design, (e) manufacturing, (f) science, (g) construction and the build environment, (h) hospitality and catering, (i) engineering, (j) information technology, (k) distribution, (l) media, communications and production and (m) management studies in each county in England and Wales; [21801](2) how many schools and colleges currently offer foundation GNVQ courses in

It will take some time to gather this information. I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education when she expects to publish the report on school centred initial teacher training and if she will place it in the Library immediately. [22190]

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what mechanisms her Department now uses to forecast the numbers of teachers needed over the next decade. [22191]

The Department's targets for intakes to initial teacher training courses are based on supply and demand models which take account of a range of data, including the number and age of the existing teacher force, movements into and out of teaching, and demographic trends.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what are the current figures for unfilled teaching posts. [22192]

The latest figures for unfilled teaching posts in England—January 1994—are given in the table. Figures for teacher vacancies are not yet available for 1995.

	Number of Vacancies1	Vacancies as a percentage of teachers in post
Primary/Nursery	762	0.4
Secondary	624	0.4
Total	1,386	0.4
1 Advertised vacancies for full-time permanent appointments (or appointments of at least one term's duration). Includes vacancies being filled on a temporary basis.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what over-capacity there currently is in teacher supply. [22193]

There are currently some 365,000 qualified teachers under 55 in England who are not serving as full-time teachers in maintained nursery, primary or secondary schools.In terms of future supply, the Teacher Training Agency was advised in November 1994 of the Secretary of State's targets for initial teacher training for 1995–96 to 1997–98. These envisage an 11 per cent. increase in secondary targets over this period, but with a similar reduction in primary targets.