To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when he expects to introduce legislation to assist parties seeking speedy and economic results in defamation proceedings. [22341]

The Government announced in November 1994 that there would be a new summary procedure which would help parties to defamation proceedings to clarify the real issues much earlier, and provide an inexpensive fast track for the disposal of straightforward claims. We are making good progress in preparing the draft statutory framework and will introduce legislation as soon as there is a suitable opportunity.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what assessment he has made of the adequacy of self-regulation by solicitors in respect of the treatment of fraud; and what assessment he has made of the impact of self-regulation on (a) the number of firms operating and (b) the number of claims against law firms. [22147]

I do not consider that the self-regulation by the Law Society in respect of the treatment of fraud is inadequate. The solicitors' profession functions independently of Government and it is the responsibility of the Law Society to maintain standards of conduct within the profession. The Law Society's statutory powers to deal with complaints about solicitors, including the investigation of fraud, have been delegated to the Solicitors Complaints Bureau. The SCB has responded to the apparent increase in fraud by increased fraud investigation work, including an increased number of inspections of solicitors' firms. The Law Society co-operates fully with other regulatory and Government bodies involved in combating fraud. It keeps under review the effectiveness of its response to the problem of fraud.

To ask the Prime Minister what discussions he has had with the Indian Government as to the holding of elections during the current year in the Indian-occupied area of Kashmir; and if he will make a statement on the criteria the British Government will expect to see followed to have confidence that such elections were free and fair. [22380]

I have had no recent discussions with the Indian Government, but my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed elections in Kashmir during his visit to India in January. We shall be considering with our European partners how best to assess the forthcoming elections in Kashmir.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his discussions with President Clinton concerning a merger between the North American Free Trade Area and the European Union. [23039]

The UK Government, the European Commission and the US Administration are each looking at various specific ways of liberalising trade both across the north Atlantic and more generally. We believe Europe and north America must work together for free and open trade across the Atlantic.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has happened to the pay of employees working in sectors formerly covered by wage councils, since their abolition in 1993. [18426]

The labour force survey shows that average earnings of workers in the industrial sectors in which wages councils mainly operated increased by 6.3 per cent. over the 12 months to autumn 1994.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is her estimate of the total administrative cost to NHS trusts of negotiating local pay schemes. [21677]

Information is not available centrally about local arrangements but it is expected that any additional costs for individual trusts would be more than offset by savings from increased flexibility in the use of staff. When trusts were established, infrastructure for human resources, which includes the ability to support local pay arrangements was an essential part of our investment in strengthening the finance, information technology and personnel functions throughout the national health service.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many chief executives of trusts had not set up local pay machinery by February; and of those that succeeded what was the average change in personnel staff and cost to trust hospitals. [21745]

Information is not available about the local arrangements established following the letter of 6 June 1994 from the chief executive of the national health service executive asking trusts to establish local pay machinery by February 1995. When trusts were established, infrastructure for human resources, which includes the ability to support local pay arrangements was an essential part of our investment in strengthening the finance, information technology and personnel functions throughout the national health service.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 24 April, Official Report, column 321, if she will list each of the trusts that have made local pay offers giving (a) the total percentage offered to staff, (b) what conditions are attached to the offer and (c) whether the offer has been accepted. [22813]

Comprehensive details of local negotiations are not available centrally. But it is understood that, by 2 May, at least 195 trusts in England had made their offers known, of which 147 are of around 3 per cent. We also understand that staff side representatives are generally unwilling to engage in negotiations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what have been the establishment costs including expenditure on conveyancing for trusts by former regional health authority areas in each of the five waves of trusts; and if she will list the number of trusts established by region in each wave. [21754]

This information will be placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evidence she has that larger accident and emergency departments produce better clinical outcomes. [23173]

There is a considerable body of scientific evidence showing that patients who have suffered a major injury receive more effective care in large, properly staffed, accident and emergency departments. I have today placed in the Library a review of the literature on the relationship between the size of accident and emergency departments and clinical outcomes prepared by my Department.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what undertakings have been made by Her Majesty's Government to the General Medical Council in respect of the Medical (Professional Performance) Bill, other than an intention to obtain Royal Assent to that Bill during the current Session of Parliament. [23012]

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the ministerial statements made in Standing Committee A, considering the Medical (Professional Performance) Bill on 2 May, if she will list the numbers, category and date of Parliamentary Assent by Resolution, or other procedures, of (a) regulations and (b) rules of the General Council now in force. [23011]

The General Medical Council has advised me that the following statutory instruments are currently in force.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many private patients were treated in NHS facilities by region and in total in 1993–94. [22812]

The information requested is due to be published in volume 1 of "Hospital Episode Statics, England; Financial Year 1993–94", shortly. Copies will he available in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many cases of alleged medical negligence by the NHS were awaiting settlement or court hearing at 30 April in each of the last five years; [22814](2) what is the average time taken for an alleged medical negligence case to be settled; and if she will make a statement on how the average time has changed over the past five years; [22815](3) if she will list all current alleged medical negligence cases against the NHS by

This information is not available centrally.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to alter the scope of the Financial Services Act 1986. [23138]

It has been suggested that non-financial spread betting should no longer he regulated under the Financial Services Act. However, in the light of a number of representations from right hon. and hon. Members and others, I have concluded that such a change would not be justified, in the absence of alternative regulatory arrangements offering equivalent protection. I do not therefore propose to make any change at the present time.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the effects of income tax at the rates of 1978 and 1995 on the average general practitioner's and on the average NHS consultant's earnings. [21741]

Based on expected levels of average net incomes for general practitioners providing general medical services in 1994–95, a single GP will pay over £65 a week less income tax in 1995–96 than under a 1978–79 indexed tax regime. In addition, a GP could also earn income from non-GMS sources. For the purposes of the calculation, it has been assumed that the GP has no tax allowances or reliefs except for the basic personal allowance.It is not possible to produce a comparable estimate for consultants because the latest available data relate to 1991–92 levels of earnings.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the retail prices index is comprised of water rates; and how the weighting of water rates within the retail prices index has changed over the last five years. [22544]

[holding answer 4 May 1995]: The information requested is available in table A3 of the publication "Retail Prices Index February 1995"; CSO "Business Monitor" MM23, a copy of which is available in the Library.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement outlining the differences in the procedures of the EU nations in formulating their cost of living indexes; and what endeavours there are to harmonise the methods of calculation. [22550]

[holding answer 4 May 1995]: Measures of consumer prices indices vary widely across the EU in terms of concepts, methods and practices. The most notable differences are in the treatment of owner-occupied housing, and health and educational services. The Statistical Office of the European Communities—EUROSTAT—has prepared a draft Council regulation, which, with the co-operation of national statistical offices, establishes a harmonisation programme with the aim of achieving comparability across member states.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how frequently and by what methods the Inland Revenue makes audits of drivers working at the unlicensed private hire or minicab firms within Greater London; and if he will make a statement. [21172]

[holding answer 4 May 1995]: Audits of employers' records are normally carried out by the Inland Revenue where there is reason to believe that the tax has not been correctly deducted from employees' pay under the PAYE system. Tax office staff also investigate self-employed people where there is reason to believe that they may not have properly declared income for tax purposes. Specific figures relating to private hire and minicab firms in London are not compiled.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many complaints were made to the Broadcasting Standards Councils in 1994; on how many it made a judgment; how many related to the BBC; and how many relating to the BBC or others were (a) upheld, (b) partly upheld and (c) not upheld. [21030]

[holding answer 4 May 1995]: The Broadcasting Standards Council records figures for complaints received by financial year, not calender year. I understand that the council received a total of 2,829 complaints in the financial year 1994–95. More detailed figures are not available at present but will be published in July in the council's annual report for 1994–95.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will set up an independent committee to examine the history of the ownership of the papers which the Churchill family have sold to the national heritage memorial fund; and if the family has a right to charge for their reproduction. [22528]

I will not be setting up an independent committee to examine the history of ownership of the papers which have been acquired for Churchill college, Cambridge through lottery funds distributed by the national heritage memorial fund.Subject to the fair dealing and any other available exceptions in the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, it is for the copyright owners to license reproductions of copyright material and to charge for such reproductions if they think it appropriate. The owners of the copyright in the non-state papers sold to Churchill college retain this right in those papers but have granted a licence to enable the papers to be copied without payment of a royalty in the circumstances referred to in sections 37 to 43 of the 1988 Act—copying by libraries and archives. The Crown has retained similar rights in respect of the state papers and has also granted a similar licence.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) if he will publish the names of those people who advised the national heritage memorial fund on the valuation of the Churchill papers; [22117](2) if he will publish both the identities of the valuers and their valuation advice for all future purchases financed by the national heritage memorial fund; [22118](3) if he will publish all the valuation advice received by the national heritage memorial fund. [22119]

[holding answer 2 May 1995]: This is a matter for the national heritage memorial fund, which is an independent body. I understand, however, that the chairman has written to the hon. Member. I have asked him to place copies of his letter in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage who will grant requests to reproduce documents purchased from the Churchill family by the national heritage memorial fund; and what steps will be taken to ensure that the family do not charge for the reproduction of any document at any time covered by the Official Secrets Acts. [22623]

Permission to reproduce the documents from the Churchill archive for commercial purposes will have to be sought from the copyright owners. Copyright in the non-state papers is vested in the Churchill family, copyright in the state paper is vested in the Crown.Any person who wishes to reproduce for commercial purposes a work in which copyright subsists must ensure that he or she has the appropriate permission.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his estimate of the number of refugees from Haiti currently on the Turks and Caicos Islands; what action is being taken to capture and contain them; what further action he proposes to deal with their return; and if he will make a statement. [22428]

There are no accurate figures for the number of Haitian migrants in the Turks and Caicos Islands—TCI. The total Haitian population in the territory is estimated to be around 8,000, of whom 1,500 hold work permits.The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees recommended a registration project, to be carried out by a non-governmental organisation. The project is designed to register all Haitian migrants in the TCI and to establish whether those migrants without a work or resident permit have a case for remaining in the territory. That decision would be taken by the TCI authorities.We have received a draft project proposal from the International Catholic Migration Commission, an experienced NGO based in Geneva, and are currently discussing it with the TCI Government.The TCI Government have negotiated a draft agreement with the Haitian Government on the orderly repatriation of Haitians identified as economic migrants by the registration project.Meanwhile, the surge in illegal Haitian immigration into the TCI over Easter has forced the TCI Government to conduct regular immigration sweeps to identify, screen and repatriate recent arrivals in advance of any registration project.In parallel, the TCI authorities are seeking to prevent further undetected arrivals of illegal immigrants with the temporary support of the West Indies guardship and units of the US coast guard.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have taken place with representatives of the United States Government on the circumstances surrounding the death of members of the Spiro family in the United States of America. [22535]

There have been a number of exchanges. Most recently our consul-general in Los Angeles pressed the San Diego authorities on 8 February 1994 for information from the medical examiner's records for the United Kingdom coroner. The San Diego county sheriff has said he will release the medical examiner's report as soon as his investigation is concluded. The consul-general is keeping in touch with the San Diego authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will request representatives of the Government of the United States of America to ask United States law enforcement officers to interview Mr. Alain and Mr. Arthur Ivy on the question of what knowledge they may have as to the circumstances surrounding the death of the Spiro family. [22536]

The Spiro family died in the United States of America and it is for the authorities of that country to pursue investigations into the incident.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to deal with the Cuban refugees currently remaining on the Cayman Islands; what discussions he has with the Governments of the United States and Cuba to try to prevent further exodus of Cubans to the Cayman Islands; and if he will make a statement. [22426]

I refer the hon. Member to the statement issued on 2 May by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The decision to repatriate any future Cuban migrants who fail the refugee screening process in the Cayman Islands was taken with the full agreement of the Cuban Government. The United States Government have now announced a similar policy.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his estimate of the cost of the United Kingdom police sent to the Cayman Islands to help deal with the Cuban refugees; how this is to he met; and if he will make a statement. [22427]

The cost of deploying United Kingdom police to the Cayman Islands, including transport, is estimated to be £375,000. It will be met in full by the Cayman Islands Government.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the total cost of the Cuban refugees on the Cayman Islands including any repatriation and the costs of keeping those who are housed at Guantanamo; how he plans such costs should be met; what discussions he has had with the Government of the United States about their responsibilities for the costs involved; and if he will make a statement. [22425]

The total cost to date is approximately £2.7 million, the majority of which has been met by the Cayman Islands Government. We have spent £175,000 in providing material and technical assistance. We are also pursuing the possibility of EU funding for the continuing cost to the Cayman Islands Government.The US Government agreed in December 1994 to offer up to 900 places in their safe haven at Guantanamo bay for Cuban migrants who volunteer to transfer from the Caymans. A total of 723 have so far done so. The Cayman Islands Government agreed to meet the cost of transferring and supporting these migrants in Guantanamo bay. Subsistence costs in Guantanamo are US$10 per person per day, but no invoice has yet been raised by the Americans. The Guantanamo costs are therefore not included in the above total.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about Government policy in respect of the recent debate and vote at the Council of Europe meeting on the future membership of Turkey of the Council of Europe Assembly. [22406]

The Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly debated and carried on 26 April a motion for a recommendation on

"Turkey's military intervention in northern Iraq and on Turkey's respect of commitments concerning constitutional and legislative reforms."

The recommendation will be discussed shortly in the Committee of Ministers. We are considering our position in advance of any discussion. We share the Assembly's concern about Turkey's human rights record. But we see continued dialogue through the Council of Europe as an important aspect of our relationship with Turkey, including as a means of conveying to the Turkish Government our concerns on human rights.

Enrolment figures for each school in the Derry City, council area 1984–85 to 1994–95
	1984–85	1985–86	1986–87	1987–88	1988–89	1989–90	1990–91	1991–92	1992–93	1993–94	1994–95
Nursery schools
Belmont	72	70	66	70	65	68	72	75	75	75	74
Bligh's Lane	73	74	66	72	70	73	68	75	75	76	75
Carnhill	65	65	62	55	59	58	69	71	52	76	75
Galliagh	72	68	67	71	69	65	66	74	75	78	77
Lisnagelvin	72	64	72	68	73	70	73	75	75	77	75
Londonderry	70	72	70	68	67	67	68	72	74	74	75
Strathfoyle	51	49	49	50	54	54	51	56	50	50	52
Trench Road	48	50	63	50	49	50	50	74	50	73	69
Primary schools
1. Balloughry	27	29	24	27	39	42	46	44	38	39	45
Broadbridge	163	160	166	168	171	188	189	188	184	190	195
Bunscoil Cholmcille	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	182	193
Carlisle Road	66	65	65	67	62	62	58	39	37	38	27
Carnhill	693	645	601	542	537	521	507	512	488	477	439
Chapel Road	208	195	195	188	178	196	195	192	191	191	163
Claudy	317	324	325	322	326	311	289	293	281	256	249
Craigbrack	76	88	84	77	83	84	90	86	96	94	102
Culmore	66	72	69	60	52	35	34	29	29	23	29
2. Cumber Claudy	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	154
Cumber Upper	24	21	27	30	28	28	30	25	24	20	—
Drumahoe	225	228	232	234	232	228	213	214	223	221	202
Dungiven Road	392	436	458	456	469	505	493	483	490	473	463
Ebrington	598	609	612	597	605	613	604	596	587	594	578
Eglinton	202	211	213	219	225	199	211	210	198	219	218
First Derry	56	64	63	56	52	50	43	51	53	60	72
Fort James	259	235	226	232	226	217	207	211	206	188	189
3. Foyle and Londonderry Prep	—	—	61	57	58	60	61	66	59	53	47
Glendermott	163	164	168	166	167	161	174	182	150	148	150
Greenhaw	264	279	285	292	290	290	295	291	280	294	297
Groarty	57	56	56	47	41	34	27	28	27	30	35
Hollybush	159	164	171	186	184	200	201	211	231	246	247
Holy Child	421	447	494	472	476	477	474	472	450	410	383
4. Holy Family	—	—	—	458	656	867	1,040	1,107	1,182	1,195	1,161
Killaloo Cumber	119	1ll	115	99	97	97	97	80	69	70	—
Lenamore	361	416	451	462	478	473	499	490	494	478	472
Lisnagelvin	528	530	530	545	566	566	574	577	577	590	569

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what reasons the application of Iqbal Masih of Pakistan for a visa to visit the United Kingdom was refused; and if he will make a statement. [22580]

As I said in my reply of 3 May columns 249–50 to the hon. Member for Bradford, West (Mr. Madden) Mr Iqbal Masih's visa application was not refused.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the United Kingdom will take part in the social development fund of the Council of Europe; and if he will make a statement. [22750]

There are no plans for United Kingdom participation in the social development fund of the Council of Europe.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the enrolment figures for each school in the Deny city council area for each year since 1984, according to educational sector. [21785]

The enrolment figures are as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the number of children enrolled in each sector of primary education for each year

Number of children enrolled in each sector of primary education (1984–85 to 1994–95)
		1984–85	1985–86	1986–87	1987–88	1988–89	1989–90	1990–91	1991–92	1992–93	1993–94	1994–95
Controlled	DCC	3,221	3,275	3,287	3,254	3,286	3,236	3,246	3,241	3,164	3,190	3,165
	NI	91,670	90,695	90,351	89,791	90,329	90,764	90,741	90,452	91,826	91,230	91,549
Voluntary	DCC	n/a	n/a	61	57	58	60	61	66	59	53	47
	NI	3,692	3,585	3,548	3,569	3,293	3,326	3,197	3,119	3,118	3,151	3,109
RC maintained	DCC	10,218	10,368	10,485	10,581	10,782	11,041	10,902	10,950	11,091	10,899	10,774
	NI	89,936	90,762	91,846	92,954	94,369	95,436	93,596	93,492	93,524	92,826	91,830
Other maintained	DCC	—	—	—	—	—	—	142	122	125	130	109
	NI	—	—	—	—	—	—	1,360	1,192	1,104	1,129	1,158
Controlled	DCC	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
	NI	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	123	393	365	373
GM integrated	DCC	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	96	173	219	262
	NI	—	—	—	—	—	—	654	1,103	1,419	1,802	2,219
Total	DCC	13,439	13,643	13,833	13,892	14,126	14,337	14,351	14,475	14,612	14,491	14,357
	NI	185,298	185,042	185,745	186,314	187,991	189,526	189,548	189,481	190,384	190,503	190,238

1. Other maintained, controlled integrated and grant mainained integrated were new school management types introduced in 1990–91.2. Some schools in the maintained sector became "Other Maintained" when the new category was introduced in 1990–91.3. District council information assumes the current boundaries for all previous years.4. Primary education covers all pupils in primary schools and preparatory departments of grammar schools.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the current level of public funding of community relations by (a) central Government and (b) local government. [22102]

The resources available for community relations are directed at consolidating a range of major initiatives which are designed to increase cross-community contact and encourage greater mutual understanding and respect of different cultures and traditions.The current level of central Government funding for community relations work is £8.74 million. This includes grant of 75 per cent.—£1.87 million—to district councils for their own community relations programmes. The balance of funding is provided by local government. In addition, other local government programmes may involve projects relevant to community relations, notably community services and cultural facilities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress he has made on the current review of the fair employment legislation in Northern Ireland, and if he will make a statement. [22111]

In November 1994, my right hon. and learned Friend asked the Standing Advisory Commission for Human Rights to carry forward a review of employment equality after five years experience of the

The information is as follows:Fair Employment (Northern Ireland) Act 1989. The commission is taking steps to do so, and a review report should be available in 1996.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what were the numbers of staff and the administrative costs of statutory bodies responsible for aspects of the administration of the education system in Northern Ireland in the year ended 31 March; and what are the projected costs for 1995–96. [21792]

The numbers of staff and the administrative costs for those statutory bodies engaged in the administration of the education system in Northern Ireland for the year ended 31 March 1995 and projected costs for the 1995–96 year are as follows:

	Staff numbers	Annual costs (£000s)
	1994–95	1994–95	1995–96
Council for Catholic Maintained Schools	137	964	857
DENI Inspectorate (including inspectorate support branch)	65	3,061	3,236
DENI—other staff	518	11,960	12,389
Education and Library Boards Belfast	330	5,087	4,935
North Eastern	349	5,957	6,051

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list those projects in privatised companies which have received European social fund support since privatisation indicating (a) the level of funding and (b) the dates when it was received. [21293]

[holding answer 1 May 1995]: There are no privatised companies in Northern Ireland in direct receipt of support from the European social fund since their privatisation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list those public projects which received European social fund support and were subsequently privatised over the last 10 years indicating (a) the level of funding and (b) the dates when it was received. [21292]

[holding answer 1 May 1995]: Over the last 10 years, three public sector organisations, Northern Ireland Electricity, Harland and Wolff and Short Brothers received support from the European social fund as follows:

ESF Paid(£)
	NIE	H and W	Shorts
1985	733,564	475,591	815,349
1986	873,671	170,547	790,429
1987	856,619	384,623	324,563
1988	760,997	93,531	160,120
1989	605,442	—	—
1990	1,005,805	—	—
1991	1,037,414	—	—
1992	670,344	—	—
1993	176,390	—	—
Total	6,720,246	1,124,292	2,090,461

Funding was awarded to NIE to run EC-approved engineering apprenticeship training courses at a purpose-built training centre. H and W and Short Brothers did not make any further applications for ESF after 1988.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many cases of brucellosis have occurred in each year since 1985. [21819]

The number of herds in which brucellosis has been confirmed in Northern Ireland since 1985 is as follows:

• 1985: Nil
• 1986: Nil
• 1987: Nil
• 1988: Nil
• 1989: 3
• 1990: 1
• 1991: 4
• 1992: 3
• 1993: Nil
• 1994: Nil

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many cases of pleuro-pneumonia occurred in each year since 1985. [22169]

None

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many cases of paramyxovirus occurred in each year since 1985. [221731]

Six outbreaks of paramyxovirus occurred in 1991.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many cases of foot and mouth disease occurred in each year since 1978. [22177]

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many cases of epizootic lymphangitis occurred in each year since 1985. [22181]

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people in Northern Ireland have been (a) arrested and (b) convicted under (i) section 9, (ii) section 10, (iii) section 11, (iv) section 12, (v) section 13, (vi) section 17 and (vii) section 18A of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1989 since 1989. [22446]

The information is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 3 March, Official Report, columns 727–28, how many current or former Indonesian police officers who received any form of training paid for by his Department served with the Brigade Mobile—BRIMOB—of the Indonesian police force (a) before such training (b) during such training and (c) after such training. [22284]

The Indonesian national police force inform us that one officer who has received training under our project has served with the Brigade Mobile. This officer is serving there at present.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) how many in-depth interviews her Department has commissioned Reflexions Market Research Ltd. to undertake; how many (a) parents, (b) teachers and (c) governors will be interviewed; how long the interviews will last; and what level of remuneration the interviewees will be given; [22463](2) how many focus groups her Department has commissioned Reflexions Market Research Ltd. to undertake to evaluate publicity material on grant-maintained schools; how many

Reflexions Market Research Ltd. has been commissioned to undertake qualitative research to assist the Department to evaluate its publicity material on grant-maintained schools. Research of this type is common to all of our major information campaigns.Eighteen in-depth interviews are being carried out: six with teachers, 12 with governors and none with parents. The interviews average 45 minutes. There are nine focus groups which comprise 21 parents, 35 teachers and seven governors.In line with industry practice, each interviewee receives a nominal sum to cover travel and any child care costs.A range of schools were written to in Northamptonshire, London, Sheffield, Sutton, Surrey and Warrington to obtain interviewees. These areas were chosen to provide a representative sample.The cost of the research is commercial-in-confidence. No video tapes or pamphlets were commissioned from Reflexions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps she is taking in relation to Stratford grant-maintained school. [23586]

Stratford grant-maintained school was inspected in November 1993 and found to be failing to provide an acceptable standard of education. Since then, it has been subject to regular termly monitoring by Ofsted. The most recent report from Ofsted shows that standards of teaching and learning remain poor, that management is inadequate, and that the school has shown no signs of improvement since it was first found to be failing 18 months ago.This persistent failure to provide an acceptable standard of education cannot be tolerated. My right hon. Friend is, therefore, exercising her power to remodel the governing body. The chairman of the governing body, Mr. Mark Prisk, has resigned and my right hon. Friend is arranging for the appointment of four new governors: Dr. Peter Osbourne, Mrs. Pat Collarbone, Mrs. Joan Greenfield and Mr. Paul Lewis.As a matter of urgency, this remodelled governing body will need to devise a strategy to revitalise the school. I look to the school's head teacher and her staff to give their whole-hearted support to raising standards at the school.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans she has to allow medical students and those on above average length degree courses to borrow more money from the Student Loans Company. [22698]

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many medical students failed to complete their courses due to financial difficulties in each of the last five years.

This information is not currently available centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps she is taking to ensure that students undertaking medical science degrees are adequately financially supported during their courses. [22699]

The total support available to all students in 1994–95 through the main rates of grant and loan is 4 per cent. higher than in 1993–94, thus maintaining its value in real terms. The extra weeks' allowances payable to students as part of the mandatory award who attend their courses for longer in the academic year than normal have also been increased by 4 per cent. Medical students, may benefit from these. The Government have also made £21 million in access funds available to universities and colleges in England for the 1994–95 academic year so that they can assist students, including medical students, in particular financial difficulty.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what element of the maintenance grant for students is allotted for expenditure on books and equipment for (a) arts students, (b) social science students, (c) medical students and (d) engineering students. [22697]

It is for students to decide how to spend the total resources available to them from both maintenance grants and loans according to their particular needs. Disabled students may be eligible for additional means-tested allowances to cover the cost of special equipment and materials. Local education authorities can also, in certain circumstances, make discretionary awards to pay for books and equipment to students who are not eligible for mandatory awards.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will make a statement on educational and youth exchanges between the United Kingdom and Pakistan. [22377]

In 1993–94, the Government-funded scholarships and awards for 568 Pakistani students here in the United Kingdom at a cost of around £5.1 million. In that same year the British Council administered 330 exchange visits to the UK from Pakistan, and the League for the Exchange of Commonwealth Teachers, funded by the UK Departments of Education, arranged 21 teacher exchanges. Through Government funding provided to the Commonwealth Youth Exchange Council, 23 young Pakistanis came to the UK in 1992–93, with 20 of our young people going to Pakistan in 1993–94.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the numbers of staff and the administrative costs of each education authority in Scotland and the number of school pupils for which each education authority was responsible in the year ended 31 March. [21789]

The information on administrative costs and pupil numbers is given in the following table for 1993–94, the latest available year. Details of numbers of staff employed by each education authority are not held centrally. However the "Joint Staffing Watch" records that, at September 1993. Scottish education authorities employed a total of 53,212, full-time equivalent, teachers and lecturers and 25,651, full-time equivalent, other staff, including non-teaching staff in schools and administrative staff.

	Net administrative expenditure of Education Departments £000	Pupils Numbers (FTE) in local authority nursery, primary, secondary and special schools
Borders	3,031	15,164
Central	6,553	42,417
Dumfries and Galloway	3,811	22,799
Fife	8,434	56,341
Grampian	10,587	79,371
Highland	4,191	34,727
Lothian	20,245	101,555

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he intends to contact Sir Donald Miller regarding the assurances the latter received from the right hon. and learned Member for Edinburgh, Pentlands (Mr. Rifkind) when he was Secretary of State for Scotland regarding the independence of Scottish Nuclear. [22065]

My right hon. Friend has no plans at present to do so.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussion he has had with the chairman of Scottish Nuclear regarding the future of that company. [22038]

My right hon. Friend has met Mr. Hann on several occasions in recent weeks to discuss a range of issues concerning Scottish Nuclear Ltd.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the average cost in 1993–94, per pupil, of (a) education at a local authority school, (b) meals, (c) travel and (d) any other incidental expense; and what were the all-Scotland totals in each of these categories. [21864]

Net current expenditure per pupil in local authority nursery, primary, secondary and special schools in Scotland is normally provided, for technical reasons, exclusive of the costs of school meals, home to school transport, central administration and loans charges. The figure on this basis for 1993–94 was £2,379 per pupil and £1.861 billion in total.The equivalent figures for pupils consuming schools meals were £174 and £61.186 million respectively and for pupils benefiting from free home-to-school transport were £343 and £53.442 million respectively.These figures have been derived from local authority financial returns which do not include a heading for other incidental expenditure.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of the asset value of the nuclear energy industry in Scotland. [22037]