To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, representing the Church Commissioners, what steps are being taken to maintain the value of pensions to the clergy.

Clergy pensions are increased in line with the previous year's national minimum stipend. The most recent increase, which took effect on 1 April 1995, was 3.3 per cent.On the wider issue of the funding of clergy pensions, a joint paper produced by the Central Board of Finance, the Church Commissioners and the Church of England Pensions Board was recently discussed at a national conference with the chairmen and secretaries of diocesan boards of finance. The draft paper will, after further discussion and refinement, be presented to the General Synod in July. It contains proposals for the establishment of a separate funded pension scheme. It is intended that the proposed arrangements will create a firm basis on which to provide continued security for the clergy in their retirement, as well as leaving sufficient funds to support the national ministry, particularly in poorer dioceses and parishes.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what were the costs of producing and advertising the 1995 Directory of Westminster and Whitehall; and how much revenue the Government estimate will be recouped from sales. [22900]

HMSO has not produced a 1995 Directory of Westminster and Whitehall, although a commercial publication bearing that title is believed to be imminent.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what special training is given to persons who have responsibility for assessing the historical significance of documents held by his Department. [23290]

Training in assessing the historical significance of departmental records is carried out under the guidance of the Keeper of Public Records. It is provided in a number of different ways, including courses on the appraisal of records and through conferences and seminars arranged by the Public Records Office.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, pursuant to his answer of 3 May, column 208, if it is his intention to consult other countries under section 2 of the Statute of Westminster Act 1931 in respect of those aspects of the Regency Act 1937 that are to be varied by the Statute Law (Repeals) Bill [Lords] currently before Parliament; and if he will make a statement. [23167]

It is not my intention, being advised that no such consultation is necessary or appropriate.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department on what occasions in the last 30 years he or his predecessors have authorised the deposit of public records in the Churchill archives; and under what provision of the Public Records Act this was done. [22914]

Under section 4(1) of the Public Records Act 1958, the Lord Chancellor has the power, now delegated to the Keeper of Public Records, to appoint places of deposit for public records to be kept outside the public Record Office itself. The Churchill archives centre, Cambridge has not been appointed a place of deposit for public records under the Act; it follows that there has been no authorisation under the Act for public records to be deposited there nor are any of the Churchill papers at the Churchill archive centre public records within the meaning of the Act.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on progress in discussions between his Department and the Home Office on extending the powers and jurisdiction of the British Transport police. [21565]

Discussions are continuing.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what new sections of Britain's motorway network will be covered by acoustic fencing in the next year. [22123]

This is an operational matter for the Highways Agency. I have asked its chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what has been the total expenditure by his Department in each year since 1990 on acoustic fencing on motorways. [22126]

This detailed information is not held centrally. It could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the exact locations of the sections of Britain's motorway network that are currently covered by acoustic fencing and the date that each section of acoustic fencing was implemented. [22129]

The detailed information is not held centrally. It could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are his Department's criteria for the implementation of acoustic fencing on (a) motorways and (b) other highways. [22130]

This is an operational matter for the Highways Agency. I have asked its chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people have submitted a claim in each year since 1990 for compensation for the decrease in property value as a result of the use of a new road from noise, vibration, smell, fumes, smoke, artificial lighting or other causes under part 1 of the Land Compensation Act 1973. [22124]

This is an operational matter for the Highways Agency. I have asked its chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what has been the total amount paid by his Department in each year since 1990 for compensation for the decrease in property values as a result of noise from the use of a new road under part 1 of the Land Compensation Act 1973; [22127](2) what has been the total amount paid by his Department in each year since 1990 for compensation for the decrease in property values as a result of noise, vibration, smell, fumes smoke, artificial lighting or other causes under part 1 of the Land Compensation Act 1973. [22128]

These are operational matters for the Highways Agency. I have asked its chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many times in the last 10 years, and on which dates, his departmental accounting officer has issued a minute in that role; and what was the issue in each case.

In my reply of 1 March 1994, Official Report, column 659 to the hon. Member for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney (Mr. Rowlands), I stated that Department records showed that since 1979 there had been no cases where such an instruction had been issued. This is still the case.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the number of old-age pensioners in Great Britain (a) who are not provided with full free travel concessions and (b) not provided with partial travel concessionary travel passes; and if he will estimate the cost of providing free concessionary fares to all those presently not provided for. [22570]

It is not possible to give a precise figure for the cost of providing free concessionary fares for all old-age pensioners.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many unlicensed private hire or minicab firms are known to the Metropolitan police in the London boroughs; and if he will make a statement. [21225]

I am advised that the Metropolitan police do not keep lists of unlicensed private hire or minicab firms in London; all these firms in the Metropolitan police district are unlicensed.In February this year, the Government announced their agreement with the Transport Select Committee that minicabs in London should be regulated, Cm 2715, as part of their response to the Committee's recommendations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if the French National rail company, SociÉtÉ Nationale des Chemins de Fers, is allowed to submit bids to operate rail franchises in Great Britain. [22913]

There are no restrictions preventing foreign national rail companies from bidding for franchises.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which are the four British-registered ferries which do not have 100 per cent. dry-shod evacuation; which routes they sail on, and what are the evacuation arrangements on these ferries. [22907]

This is an operational matter for the Marine Safety Agency. I have asked its chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action he has taken in respect of the papers on the Lyme bay rescue operation forwarded to him in December 1994 on the direction of the trial judge. [23163]

HM Coastguard conducted its own internal investigation into the rescue operation. This was made available to the court during the trial of the company owning the activity centre, the managing director and the manager. HM Coastguard took action to discipline certain officers and to improve procedures and performance at the local rescue centre. In the light of the remarks of the trial judge I have asked John Reeder QC to conduct a review with the following terms of reference:

In the light of Coastguard internal inquiry, the evidence presented to the Lyme Bay trial and the judge's comments in his summing up—

(i) to review all the actions, both internal and external taken by Coastguard during and subsequent to the tragedy.

(ii) to consider how far this action was appropriate and whether any further action was necessary, and

(iii) to make recommendations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representation he has had from employees in the Liverpool vehicle registration office about the closure of the Liverpool office; and if he will make a statement. [23161]

Four hon. Members in the Liverpool area have drawn my attention to a letter dated 28 March which they received from two representatives of the Civil and Public Services Association on behalf of the staff about the closure of the Liverpool vehicle registration office. I have replied to these and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency has replied to another. The lease of the accommodation for this office has expired and it formed part of a review of DVLA's local office structure last year, which concluded that vehicle registration offices should close progressively over the next three years, dependent on other arrangements being made for the work of the offices. No firm date has yet been fixed for the closure of the office and the staff will be kept fully informed of any plans to do so, with a minimum of six months' notice.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on his Department's policies for reducing death and injury on the roads. [1236531

We have today published the "Road Safety Report 1995", which describes measures being taken to reduce road accident casualties. Copies have been placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to increase the level of funding made available to Cumbria county council for the implementation of road safety schemes; and if he will make a statement. [22737]

We are making available £50 million to local authorities for local safety schemes in 1995–96. This is planned to rise to £55 million in 1996–97 and to £60 million in 1997–98. The allocation of funds depends on the relative merits of the bid plans put forward by local authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what special training is given to persons who have responsibility for assessing the historical significance of documents held by his Department. [23277]

Training is provided under the guidance of the Keeper of Public Records. It includes courses on the appraisal of records arranged by the Public Record Office.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidelines his Department issues to commercial road vehicle operators to effect the reduction of accidents. [22696]

Advice is given in the Department's "Guide to maintaining roadworthiness", which was produced in conjunction with the operator trade associations. The guide gives operators detailed information on how to set up and run a system for maintaining vehicles in a roadworthy condition.Vehicle examiners from the Department's Vehicle Inspectorate also give advice to operators, both on an ad hoc basis, and when they visit operators premises in connection with corroborating compliance with the requirements of operator licensing.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to encourage commercial road vehicle operators to undertake specialist driver training. [22690]

We have no such plans, but specialist training is a statutory requirement for drivers of vehicles carrying dangerous goods.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of his Department's budget is allocated to initiatives which have been undertaken to secure private finance for his Department's projects. [22792]

Attracting private finance for infrastructure investment affects policy work throughout the Department and the related expenditure cannot meaningfully be estimated in isolation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to include causal factors in his Department's road accident statistics. [22689]

There are no plans to include causal factors in the Department's national road accident statistics. The Department is conducting research to evaluate the provision of causation factors in local area road accident statistics.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 28 April, Official Report, column 771, what percentage of passenger coaches checked at the roadside or on operators' premises were found to be defective in each of the last two years. [22802]

Ten per cent. of coaches at the roadside in 1993–94 and 9.2 per cent. in 1992–93 were found to have prohibitable defects.Of coaches checked at operators' premises as part of a maintenance assessment, 8.7 per cent. were found to have prohibitable defects in 1993–94 as opposed to 8.5 per cent. in the previous year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to make heavy goods vehicles safer. [22703]

There are already stringent controls regulating both the construction and use requirements of vehicles, which are continually being upgraded in line with technological improvements. Compliance with these requirements is checked at annual roadworthiness tests and enforcement spot checks both at the roadside and at operators' premises.We also regulate vehicle maintenance through the operator licensing system and have a continuing programme of research directed at the development of new standards to help reduce the number and severity of accidents.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what basis air traffic control facilities for commercial flights are shared with the military airspace. [22394]

Military air traffic services are currently provided primarily at the West Drayton and Prestwick ATC centres. Military controllers are responsible for providing the greater part of air traffic services to aircraft outside controlled airspace—be they military or civil, including general aviation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to make an announcement in respect of the future of the national air traffic services, and if he will make a statement. [22396]

The Secretary of State announced in November 1994 that the Government continued to favour privatisation of the national air traffic services in principle, but that further work was needed on a number of important issues before any final decision could be made on whether to proceed with the privatisation. In addition, the Secretary of State is considering the report of the Transport Select Committee on this subject and will be making a formal response in the near future.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what parliamentary approval will be required prior to the introduction of the JAA proposals on European regulations for flight and duty times; [21879](2) what assessment he has made of the representations he has received from the British Airline Pilots Association relating to the JAA proposals on flight and duty times; [21881](3) when he last met the head of the Civil Aviation Authority to discuss the JAA proposals for European regulations on flight and duty times; what assessment he has made of the stringency of the proposals; and if the JAA proposals are equivalent to the current CAA regulations; 21880](4) to what extent the JAA proposals for regulations on flight and duty times will be extended to airports outside London; and how these proposals will be financed. [21882]

The Air Navigation Order sets annual and monthly limits on flight times for flight crews. Within those limits, the order requires operators to establish a flight time limitation scheme which has to be approved by the Civil Aviation Authority subject to such conditions as they think fit. The CAA's advice on how to formulate an acceptable flight time limitation scheme is contained in civil aviation publication 371. The JAA's present proposals do not affect the provisions of the Air Navigation Order and could be implemented in the United Kingdom by amending the advice in CAP 371. In the longer term, the proposals should come before the European Council for adoption as an EC regulation.Specific responsibility for, and expertise in, flight and duty time limitation schemes rests with the CAA's flight operations policy section. My noble Friend the Minister for Aviation last met the head of this section to discuss the JAA proposals on 28 February 1995. The British Air Line Pilots Association has expressed concern about certain aspects of the JAA proposals which differ from the advice contained in CAP 371, but the CAA stresses that flight time limitation schemes have to be seen as an overall "package" of measures. The CAA is satisfied that the JAA proposals would achieve a comparable level of protection against the onset of fatigue to the current UK requirements.The cost of crew scheduling in accordance with any flight and duty time limitation scheme is borne by individual operators.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his new revised timetable for the building and completion of the A6(M) Stockport north-south bypass. [21993]

This is an operational matter for the Highways Agency. I have asked its chief executive to write to my hon. Friend.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consideration his Department gives to minimising noise pollution when selecting the type of surfacing for a motorway under construction or repair. [22125]

This is a operational matter for the Highways Agency. I have asked its chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 1 May, Official Report, column 61, if he will make a statement on the possible conflicts of interest involving special advisers, listing the names of the individuals, the nature of the conflicts concerned and how the matters were resolved. [22906]

It is not my practice to comment on information about the private interests of staff.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of hold baggage passing through Heathrow airport is now subject to regular checking; and what was the percentage immediately before the Lockerbie bombing. [23184]

All hold baggage passing through Heathrow airport for international flights is subjected to a range of security controls. All such baggage must be accounted for and authorised, passengers are questioned about their baggage and, in addition, an increasing proportion of baggage is screened by X-ray or other technology.Good progress is being made towards the Department's objective of screening 100 per cent. of international hold baggage. The percentage of hold baggage currently being subjected to screening by X-ray or other technology is approximately 26 per cent., although 100 per cent. of hold baggage on those flights considered to be at greater risk is screened. It is estimated that about 4 to 5 per cent. of hold baggage was being screened prior to the Lockerbie bombing.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what use his Department makes of hand-held and car-based mobile telephones; what were the costs for each financial year of these services since mobile telephones were first introduced to his Department; and how many mobile telephones are currently in use. [23447]

The Department has 351 hand-held mobile telephones and 25 car telephones. The equipment is issued on the basis of operational need, especially where staff have to work away from the office. The main users of the equipment are staff in the Coastguard agency, the Highways Agency, the Vehicle Inspectorate, the aircraft accidents investigation branch and ministerial offices. Figures are not available centrally for annual operating costs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many mobile telephones being utilised by his Department have been cloned during the last 12 months. [23429]

Four hand-held telephones were cloned during the last 12 months.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations his Department has made to the Department of Trade and Industry concerning the need for legislation to prevent the cloning of mobile telephones. [23468]

No representations have been made to the DTI concerning the need for legislation to prevent the cloning of mobile telephones.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what costs his Department has incurred during the last 12 months as a result of cloning of mobile telephones being utilised by his Department, with particular reference to the making of unauthorised calls. [23487]

The cost of unauthorised calls made due to cloning is estimated at £500. However, this is not a cost to the Department as all mobile telephone airtime suppliers accept that the costs of unauthorised calls on cloned telephones are not charged to users.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department has taken to prevent the cloning of telephones being utilised by his Department; and if his Department has discussed this matter with any official agencies. [23453]

Cloning of existing analogue phones is impossible to prevent. However, mobile telephone airtime suppliers have mechanisms in place to detect suspicious activity and the majority of clonings are detected early enough to stop serious misuse. No discussions have been held with official agencies. My Department has a policy of migration from the old analogue telephones, which are susceptible to cloning, to the new digital networks on which cloning is technically impossible.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the track access charge per mile charged in April 1994; and if he will list each change in the charge per mile since that date, and the date when each change was made. [23400]

Initial access charges were entered into between the British Railways Board and Railtrack and came into effect on 1 April 1994. These charges, contained in unregulated access agreements comprised of a variable charge for track usage and traction current and fixed element and cannot be expressed as charges per mile.Since that time, new access agreements have been entered between Railtrack and the train operating companies subject to the approval of the rail regulator. The regulator's approach to the approval of track access charges was set out in policy statements published in November 1994, January and February 1995 copies of which are in the House of Commons Library.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with the Governor of the Bank of England about the latter's allegation of criminal offences committed by Barings executives. [21129]

My right hon. and learned Friend has regular meetings with the Governor, at which a wide range of issues is discussed.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he will take to regulate the speculation in derivatives by United Kingdom based banks and their offices overseas. [21177]

Responsibility for supervising all activities of United Kingdom authorised banks, including their overseas' operations, rests with the Banks of England, where appropriate in collaboration with other regulators in the UK or overseas.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) which activities of the Inland Revenue are currently outsourced to overseas countries; and to which countries this work is sent; [22137](2) what plans he has to outsource further activities of the Inland Revenue to overseas countries; which activities these plans cover; and to which countries this work will go. [22136]

No Inland Revenue activities have been outsourced to overseas countries and there are no plans to do so in the future.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many short-term contracts at each Inland Revenue office in the United Kingdom are due to expire in the next 12 months. [22141]

The information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many civil servants, including those on short-term contracts, he expects to be employed by the Inland Revenue in (a) one year, (b) two years and (c) five years. [22135]

The Inland Revenue expects to employ mostly permanent staff for the foreseeable future. Some staff are expected to be employed on a short-term or casual basis, but the pattern of need for the next five years cannot be predicted with any accuracy at this stage.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many civil servants, including those on short-term contracts, are currently employed at each Inland Revenue offices in the United Kingdom; [22166](2) how many civil servants are currently employed on short-term contracts at each Inland Revenue office in the United Kingdom. [22142]

The information requested has today been placed in the Library.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will define short-term contract in the context of a contract of employment with the Inland Revenue. [22140]

There is no specific definition of a short-term contract with the Inland Revenue. In essence, a short-term contract could be any form of contract which does not result in the employee becoming a permanent civil servant.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what programme of research he proposes to introduce to assess the impact of macro-economic, taxation and other policies on family wellbeing and inequalities and poverty, with particular reference to women, as agreed in the programme of action resolved at the world summit for social development, article 27a. [22271]

My right hon. and learned Friend keeps the tax regime and its impact on the economy and particular groups under continual review. As a result of our policies the average income of all economic groups and family types has risen since we came into office in 1979.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which organisations have purchased the collected PRODCOM statistics in electronic form and may market the data to the public; and if he will make a statement. [22615]

Taylor Nelson AGB plc is currently the only organisation to have purchased the PRODCOM statistics. It is permitted to market the data in hard copy, CD-ROM and facsimile formats only.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which organisations were invited to tender for marketing the PRODCOM statistics. [22613]

Five organisations submitted marketing proposals to the Central Statistical Office for PRODCOM data. These proposals were submitted on a commercial-in-confidence basis.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will ensure that when PRODCOM statistics are located in libraries, the public will be enabled to photocopy them. [22611]

In accordance with the normal conventions on copyright, photocopying of PRODCOM data will be permitted for non-commercial use.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he takes to ensure that there is minimum delay in public access to PRODCOM statistics. [22614]

PRODCOM statistics are released for publication as soon as the CSO is satisfied with their quality. They are published by Taylor Nelson AGB as soon as practicable thereafter.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the PRODCOM statistics were first collected; how much of the first year's data in the series has been published; and when the first year's total data will be published. [22612]

The first PRODCOM data were collected on a quarterly basis from April 1993 and on an annual basis from January 1994 onwards. In all, publishable PRODCOM data spans 90 annual and 34 quarterly reports. Of these, 84 annual and 28 quarterly have been published to date; the remaining 12 are due to be published by the end of May 1995.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with whom and with what organisations he is consulting in regard to Govnerment policy on the work and structures of the International Monetary Fund and World bank prior to the 50th anniversary conferences of the Bretton Woods institutions. [22436]

The 50th anniversary conference of the Bretton Woods institutions took place in September 1994 prior to 1994 annual meetings of the World bank and IMF. I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 19 October to the hon. member for Blaenau Gwent (Mr. Smith) Official Report, column 272–74.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the effects on (a) inflation, (b) interest rates and (c) the balance of payments according to the Treasury model for the years 1996 to 2000, consequent upon a 2p reduction in the basic rate of income tax in April 1996, assuming no changes in other given exogenous factors. [22443]

[holding answer 4 May 1995]: Since 1978, it has not been the practice to provide results from the Treasury model in response to parliamentary questions, but the hon. Member will be aware that the model is available for Members' use through the Library of the House.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many times in the last 10 years, and on which dates, his departmental accounting officer has issued a minute in that role; and what was the issue in each case. [22558]

Where a Minster overrules an accounting officer's advice on an issue of propriety or regularity or one of value for money, the accounting officer should request a written instruction from the Minister to take the action in question. No such instructions have been issued during the last 10 years.All such instructions are now reported to the Comptroller and Auditor General who, after making whatever investigations he considers appropriate, will report his finding to the Public Accounts Committee.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 9 May 1995. [21898]

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 9 May. [21899]

I have been asked to reply.My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister is currently on an official visit to Moscow as part of the VE day commemorations.

To ask the Prime Minister which of his Ministers has responsibility for designation of bank holidays in (a) Scotland, (b) England, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland. [22820]

Bank holidays are designated in the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971. Power to vary the specified dates or to designate additional dates is exercisable by Her Majesty by royal proclamation or in the case of Northern Ireland by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. By virtue of the Chancellor of the Exchequer's overall responsibility for the 1971 Act, the Treasury currently co-ordinates advice on any designations for royal proclamation in consultation with other Departments as necessary.

To ask the Prime Minister if he expects to make a further visit to St. Paul's Angels' nursery before September. [23132]

I currently have no plans to do so.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will introduce legislation to prohibit individuals, acting in a private capacity, from charging for the reproduction of any document or other material produced directly or indirectly in the service of the Crown. [23069]

No. Such legislation is not necessary. It is already the law, under section 163 of the Copyright, Design and Patents Act 1988, that Crown copyright subsists in any work made by an officer or servant of the Crown in the course of his or her duties.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will publish the whole of the correspondence with the Churchill family and their advisers relating to the expenditure of £13.5 million on the purchase of public and other records created during Sir Winston Churchill's periods of office as well as the records of all meetings of the commission with the Churchill Trust to discuss the matter. [23070]

No, it is not my normal practice to publish private correspondence.Contrary to the impression given in the question, no public records were purchased. The national lottery memorial fund funded the purchase of non-state papers; the Government have transferred the state papers so that the whole archive is preserved, intact, at Churchill college.

To ask the Prime Minister what special training is given to persons who have responsibility for assessing the historical significance of documents held by his Department. [23280]

Training and assessing the historical significance of departmental records is carried out under guidance of the Keeper of Public Records. It is provided in a number of different ways, including courses on the appraisal of records and through conferences and seminars arranged by the Public Record Office.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he intends to publish guidelines relating to the abandonment of offshore oil and gas structures. [23517]

The Department issued detailed guidelines on Thursday 4 May. Copies have been placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what proposals he has to introduce statutory controls over the salaries of senior executives. [21632]

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what proposals he has to introduce statutory controls over the salaries of senior executives. [21634]

Sir Richard Greenbury's committee is considering the structure within which remuneration for directors of public companies is determined and disclosed. Once it has made its recommendations, the Government will consider whether any of these should be reinforced by legislative change. But executive salary levels and details of remuneration packages are matters for individual companies and their shareholders. It is not for the Government to intervene in these decisions or to limit companies' ability to pay competitive salaries.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement about his Department's policy towards promoting employment in small businesses. [21644]

The Government fully recognise and appreciate the importance of small businesses to the economy and the vital contribution they make to job creation.The Government encourage the role played by small businesses in job creation by creating an economic environment in which they can flourish and grow. This includes stabilising interest rates and inflation and reducing legislative and administrative burdens.My Department is developing a network of business links based on partnerships between local authorities, TECs, chambers of commerce, and enterprise agencies, to develop a wide range of high-quality business support services, particularly to businesses with the potential for growth.It is my intention that the wide range of services delivered by my Department will be available through the business link network.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what were the outstanding liabilities of British Beef when it went into receivership. [22606]

British Beef Co. Ltd. went into administrative receivership on 23 March 1995. The joint receivers have informed my officials that the directors estimated the realisable value of the company's assets at that date to be £14 million and that secured creditors were owed £8.5 million, preferential creditors £0.75 million and unsecured creditors £6 million.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received from representatives of the performing arts about the draft Copyright and Rights of Performers Regulations 1995; and if he will make a statement. [21567]

About 500 representations have been received in response to the consultative draft of these regulations issued by my Department with a request for comments by 28 April. Some 460 of these were from representatives of the performing arts, the great majority being from individual performers belonging to the Musicians Union or other performers' organisations and expressed in near identical terms. The remainder of the submissions were from other interested parties, most in the form of responses by national organisations replying on behalf of all their members. I am considering all the representations received and will in due course lay a statutory instrument before Parliament under the affirmative resolution procedure.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many times in the last 10 years, and on which dates, his departmental accounting officer has issued a minute in that role; and what was the issue in each case. [22557]

Where a Minister overrules an accounting officer's advice on an issue of propriety or regularity or one of value for money the accounting officer should request a written instruction from the Minister to take the action in question.The cases where such an instruction has been Issued were set out in the reply given to the hon. Member for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney (Mr. Rowlands) on 8 March 1994,

To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 2 May, column 131, to what extent (a) professional historians and (b) qualified archivists are involved at any stage in the 10-year and 25-year sifts. [22939]

(a) When the Department needs the advice of a professional historian, it obtains this via the Public Record Office, which maintains close links with the academic community.(b) Those staff at the Public Record Office whose role is to guide and inspect the work of my Department's records review section include one qualified archivist who carries out checks on 10-year sifts and two to three qualified archivists who are involved with the 25-year reviews.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 2 May, column 131, what special training is given to persons who have responsibility for assessing the historical significance of documents held by his Department. [22940]

The Department provides internal, on-the-job training for records review staff, who are also supported by on-the-job coaching from qualified archivist staff from the Public Record Office. The Department also avails itself of formal training courses, annual conferences and special seminars provided by the Public Records Office.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what percentage of his Department's budget is allocated to initiatives which have been undertaken to secure private finance for his Department's projects. [22793]

The private finance initiative within the DTI is one of the responsibilities of the MINIS—management information system for Ministers—unit within the finance and resource management division of my Department. This unit is expected to cost £249,000 in 1995–96 against a total gross running costs provision of £318,883,000.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations have been received by Her Majesty's Government in regard to the permission given to Shell to scuttle the Brent Spar oil platform in the Atlantic. [22928]

Under the terms of section 1(3) of the Petroleum Act 1987, Shell UK Exploration and Production was required to consult a number of interested parties about its abandonment programme for the Brent Spar installation. Replies were received from the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Scottish Natural Heritage, the Scottish Fishermen's Federation and British Telecom International.Since I approved the programme, Greenpeace has made representations to my right hon. Friend the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what surveys and investigations he has conducted into the acceptability of the use of synthetic BST in milk among (a) farmers and (b) consumers.

[holding answer 1 May 1995]: A formal consultation of over 200 organisations and individuals, including farmers and consumer groups was conducted last year seeking views on the future availability of BST products. A copy of the responses received is available from the main Ministry library in Whitehall place. We have also received a number of representations on the subject via hon. Members and direct from both farmers and consumers. In addition, the subject has been raised at farmers and consumer meetings which my ministerial colleagues, have Attended around the country.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which of the advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department are under a statutory requirement to (a) publish their advice to (b) publish an annual report and (c) lay an annual report before Parliament; and if he will list those with a statutory base. [21598]

[holding answer 28 April 1995]: The information is as follows:

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the business name and address of each site at which fish are farmed in the country of Wiltshire. [21566]

All fish farming businesses are required to register with MAFF for disease control purposes under the Registration of Fish and Shellfish Farming Businesses Order 1985 made under the Diseases of Fish Act 1983. There are currently 25 fish farm sites registered in the country of Wiltshire.Under the terms of the Act, information obtained for disease control purposes relating to the particulars of any one person or business may be disclosed only in certain specified circumstances. I regret that I am therefore unable to provide details of the business name and address of each site at which fish are farmed.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will institute a comprehensive technical survey of the coastline between Flimby and Silloth with a view to establishing the scale of coastal erosion arising from tidal action in poor weather conditions. [22537]

This Department commissioned a survey of coast protection works and eroding coastlines in England in 1993 and the then Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Norfolk, South-West (Mrs. Shephard), announced it publication by written answer on 30 March 1994, Official Report, column 774. A copy of the report on the survey was placed in the Library of the House.More detailed studies of coastal erosion in local areas are the responsibility of the relevant coast protection authority, which for the coastline between Flimby and Silloth is the borough of Allerdale council. I understand that the council intends to prepare a plan for the future management of the shoreline in its area, taking account of coastal erosion patterns. This Department may provide grant aid for studies leading to the preparation of such shoreline management plans or to proposals for improved coastal defences.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received from Crosscanonby parish council as to coastal erosion on the west Cumbrian coast. [22538]

We have no record of any such representations from Crosscanonby parish council having been received by this Department.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many times in the last 10 years, and on which dates, his departmental accounting officer has issued a minute in that role; and what was the issue in each case. [22559]

Where a Minister overrules an accounting officer's advice on an issue of propriety or regularity or one of value for money, the accounting officer should request a written instruction from the Minister to take the action in question.The cases in which such an instruction has been issued between 1979 and February 1994 were set out in my reply to the hon. Member for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney (Mr. Rowlands) on 25 February 1994,

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of his Department's budget is allocated to initiatives which have been undertaken to secure private finance for his Department's projects. [22797]

At present, a modest proportion of the resources of my financial policy division, my building and estate management division and some other divisions with significant capital budgets are devoted to this initiative.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many, and what proportion of, vacancies advertised by his Department, and by each of his Department's agencies, in the last three years have listed the attainment of national vocational qualifications as an acceptable entry requirement; and, of those, how many have required (i) level 1 NVQs, (ii) level 2 NVQs, (iii) level 3 NVQs and (iv) other level NVQs. [22973]

My Department and its agencies have not listed the attainment of NVQs in advertised vacancies as an acceptable entry requirement in the last three years.For those vacancies where academic qualifications are an entry requirement, the Department accepts GCSEs and equivalent qualifications including NVQs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what has been the annual cost to his Department of UK military training assistance scheme in each of the last five financial years. [23242]

The annual cost of the United Kingdom military training assistance scheme for the last five financial years was:

• 1990–91: £18.1 million
• 1991–92: £15.2 million
• 1992–93: £12.5 million
• 1993–94: £11.9 million
• 1994–95: £12.1 million (forecast outturn)

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those countries which have benefited from the United Kingdom military training assistance scheme since 1 June 1990. [23247]

The countries which have benefited from United Kingdom military training assistance since 1 June 1990 are Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua, Argentina, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Botswana, Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Czech Republic, Dominica, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Lithuania, Macedonia, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Montserrat, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal,

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what were the costs

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many entry clearance officers were in post in (a) New York, (b) Moscow, (c) St. Petersburg, (d) Accra, (e) Lagos, (f) Abuja, (g) New Delhi, (i) Bombay, (j) Calcutta, (k) Madras, (l) Dhaka, (m) Islamabad, (n) Karachi and (o) Colombo in the financial years (i) 1992–93, (ii) 1993–94 and (iii) 1994–95 to the latest convenient date. [22646]

The number of entry clearance officers at the posts listed, for the calender years 1992, 1993 and 1994, is given in man years as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what were the costs of the entry clearance work at each post in the Indian subcontinent in (a) 1992–93, (b) 1993–94 and (c) 1994–95; what they are forecast to be in (i) 1995–96 and (ii) 1996–97; and how they are calculated. [22644]

The costs of entry clearance work at each post are shown on the table.These reflect the numbers and grades of staff, both UK-based and locally engaged, employed on entry clearance as a proportion of total staff at post.of the entry clearance work at the British posts in

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many entry clearance officers in (a) New York, (b) Moscow, (c) St. Petersburg, (d) Accra, (e) Lagos, (f) Abuja, (g) New Delhi, (i) Bombay, (j) Calcutta, (k) Madras, (1) Dhaka, (m) Islamabad, (n) Karachi and (o) Colombo have other duties; and what proportion of their time, respectively, is spent on these. [22639]

The number of entry clearance officers in the following posts with other duties; and the percentage of their time spent on them is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many applications for visit entry clearance were (a) made, (b) granted and (c) refused at the British post in Kingston, Jamaica in (i) January to June 1993, (ii) July to December 1993, (iii) January to June 1994 and (iv) July to December or the latest convenient date in 1994. [22640]

We do not have a half-yearly breakdown of the details requested.The number of UK applications for entry clearance—both settlement and non-settlement—made, granted and refused in 1993 and 1994 at Kingston was as follows:

The cost of entry clearance work at each post are shown on the table.These reflect the numbers and grades of staff, both UK-based and locally engaged, employed on entry clearance as a proportion of total staff at post.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many applications for visit entry clearance were (a) made, (b) granted, and (c) refused at the British posts in (i) Ottawa, (ii) Moscow, (iii) Wellington and (iv) Canberra in (1) January to June 1993, (2) July to December 1993, (3) January to June 1994 and (4) July to December or the latest convenient date in 1994. [22642]

We do not have a half-yearly breakdown of the number of the details requested.The number of applications for visit entry clearance—both settlement and non-settlement—made, granted and refused in 1993 and 1994 at the posts listed was as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many applications for visit entry clearance were (a) made, (b) granted and (c) refused at the British posts in (i) Manila, (ii) Tokyo, (iii) Sana'a and (iv) Addis Ababa in (1) January to June 1993, (2) July to December 1993, (3) January to June 1994 and (4) July to December or the latest convenient date in 1994. [22643]

We do not have a half-yearly breakdown of the details requested.The number of UK applications for visit entry clearance made, granted and refused in 1993 and 1994 at the posts listed was as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his letter of 26 April to the hon. Member for Linlithgow, what action was taken by Her Majesty's Government's delegation to the Antarctic treaty consultative meeting in Seoul about the condition of the Amundson-Scott base at the south pole. [22661]

The Antarctic treaty consultative meeting in Seoul does not finish until Friday 19 May. I will write to the hon. Gentleman giving a substantive reply after that date.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what basis certain citizens of the countries of the former Soviet Union are not charged for visas to travel to the United Kingdom; when this policy was started; and what plans there are to extend it to other countries. [22649]

The exchange of notes between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics concerning the mutual abolition of consular fees on visas, Moscow, 13 April 1964, provides for entry clearance application fees to be waived for nationals of the former Soviet Union.There are no plans to introduce similar arrangements for nationals of other countries.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the stamping of United Kingdom passports at the Belgian frontier; and if it is his intention that Belgian passports should be stamped at the United Kingdom frontier. [22773]

We are aware of a number of cases recently where the passports of UK nationals have been date-stamped by Belgian immigration officials at the Belgian frontier. We have no reason to believe that this practice amounts to immigration control on UK nationals, which would be illegal. Nevertheless, we have brought it to the attention of the Belgian authorities. The UK has no intention of date-stamping the passports of Belgian or any other EU nationals.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many times in the last 10 years, and on which dates, her departmental accounting officer has issued a minute in that role; and what was the issue in each case. [22556]

Where a Minister overrules an accounting officer's advice on an issue of propriety or regularity or one of value for money the accounting officer should request a written instruction from the Minister to take the action in question.In a reply to the hon. Member for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney (Mr. Rowlands) of 3 March 1994

To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will make a statement on progress of the special educational needs code of practice; to what extent teachers are reporting increased work load as a result; and what plans there are to revise it. [22634]

The code of practice on the identification and assessment of special educational needs came into effect in September 1994. It has been widely welcomed as reflecting and supporting good practice in schools. Some schools have expressed concern at the increased work load as they change their procedures in the light of the guidance in the code. The Department is monitoring the implementation of the code and will in due course evaluate its effectiveness. There are no plans to revise the code at this stage.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is the current average cost of providing a full-time nursery place in each local education authority in England and Wales. [22822]

This information is not held centrally for local education authorities in England. Local education authorities in Wales are the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will list the grant-maintained schools which have sought a change in their planned admission level or their standard number; and in each case (a) if the application has been successful, (b) how many objections were submitted and (c) if an objection was submitted by the local education authority. [23127]

Schools set published admission levels above their approved admission numbers in any particular year without applying to my right hon. Friend for approval.Details of applications from grant-maintained schools to vary their approved admission numbers are shown in the table. Applications from grant-maintained schools in stage 2 and 3 areas are the responsibility of the Funding Agency for Schools. I have asked its chairman to write to the hon. Member.