To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what estimate he has made of the cost to the Exchequer of 80 per cent. official bilateral debt write-off for all severely indebted low-income countries; [25375](2) what is the cost to the Exchequer of bilateral debt write-off of 67 per cent. for developing countries under the Naples terms. [25374]

The face value of debt reduction as a result of a 67 per cent. write-off of official bilateral debt owed to ECGD and ODA by developing countries which are eligible for Naples terms would be approximately £630 million. The corresponding figure for an 80 per cent. write-off of official bilateral debt owed to ECGD and ODA by severely indebted low-income countries would be approximately £750 million.However, these figures represent only the face value written off. Debt reduction under the Naples terms is implemented on the recognition that the beneficiaries would never have been able to pay the debt in full: 67 per cent. debt reduction reflects the ability of those countries to pay and cannot therefore be said to represent a cost to the Exchequer.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what is the current total of outstanding debt owed to the United Kingdom by developing countries. [25377]

The total outstanding debt owed to ECGD and the ODA by developing countries—excluding Russia and eastern Europe—is £6.4 billion.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the value to the United Kingdom of debt interest payments from developing countries in 1994–95 from (a) payments to the Overseas Development Administration, (b) payments to the Export Credits Guarantee Department, (c) payments to the Commonwealth Development Corporation and (d) in total. [25378]

Debt interest payments from developing countries—excluding Russia and eastern Europe—in 1994–95 were (a) ODA £6.8 million, (b) ECGD £150 million, (c) CDC £105.8 million, (d) total £262.6 million.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the price charged at current prices for a complete set of Business Monitors in 1979, and Prodcom statistics in 1995, to (a) a private company and (b) a public library; and what calculations have led to the difference. [26363]

The price in 1979 for a full set of Business Monitors, adjusted to today's prices, was £1,430 to a private company. The price charged in 1995 for a full set of "UK Markets", a considerably expanded and more comprehensive set of reports which include trade data as well as Prodcom, is £4,950 to a private company. Sales of Business Monitors to public libraries in 1979 would have attracted a discount of 50 per cent. In 1995 a complete set of "UK Markets" is available to public libraries in hard copy at £4,950, but is also available on CD-ROM in a special library edition at £3,950.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if Taylor Nelson AGB plc has a monopoly on the publication of statistics; what plans he has to allow a private statistics company to produce the complete Prodcom statistics on microfiche and sell those complete tables in that medium to libraries, and if he will make a statement. [26365]

Taylor Nelson AGB does not have a monopoly on the publication of Government or Central Statistical Office statistics. HMSO remains the major publisher of CSO data. There are currently no plans for a private sector company to release Prodcom on microfiche. It is already available in hard copy, CD-ROM and I-Fax, and plans are in hand to include it on the CSO's electronic databank. If any proposals are received they will be considered on their merits.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the value of assets controlled by City institutions indicating the proportion which are British-owned and controlled. [27078]

Information on holdings of financial assets by UK financial institutions are shown in tables 9.1E to 9.1H of Financial Statistics, which is available from the Library of the House.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will update his written answer to the (then) hon. Member for Dagenham, Mr. Gould, of 28 July 1983, Official Report, columns 568–9, showing the level of investment in British industry. [27128]

Estimates at 1990 prices of capital expenditure by the industries covered by the index of industrial production¹ and by manufacturing for the years 1965 to 1994 are shown in the following table.

	£ million at 1990 prices
Year	IOIP industries	(Of which) manufacturing
1965	18,404	10,466
1966	19,628	10,796
1967	20,017	10,583
1968	19,290	11,370
1969	19,016	12,107
1970	19,481	13,022
1971	18,138	12,190
1772	15,963	10,591
1973	16,511	10,998
1974	18,882	12,153
1975	20,326	11,214
1976	21,216	10,641
1977	20,801	11,074
1978	22,353	12,838
1979	22,298	13,558
1980	21,058	12,307
1981	18,984	9,985
1982	18,772	9,518
1983	18,661	9,413

	£ million at 1990 prices
Year	IOIP industries	(Of which) manufacturing
1984	19,825	10,975
1985	21,136	12,710
1986	20,014	12,097
1987	19,843	12,641
1988	21,383	13,846
1989	23,330	14,984
1990	23,669	14,227
1991	24,516	12,803
1992	24,516	11,590
1993	24,543	10,989
1994	21,266	11,239
1 Industry groups section C, D and E of the standard industrial classification 1992.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 3 April, Official Report, column 908, providing information on the overseas earnings of United Kingdom companies, if he will list the corresponding net return on capital invested in each of the years in question. [27072]

The information available is given in table:

Direct investment by United Kingdom companies overseas: Rate of return on direct investment1
Percentage
	Manufacturing Industry2	All Industries
1989	14.2	13.0
1990	13.9	12.8
1991	13.4	10.0
1992	10.9	9.2
1993	10.7	9.9
1 Net earnings after depreciation and tax as a percentage of the outstanding level of investment in book values at the end of the relevant year. Excludes interest receipts from overseas affiliates.
2 Classified by main industrial activity of overseas affiliate.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 3 April, Official

Percentage of gross national product1
	1970	1971	1972	1973	1974	1975	1976	1977	1978	1979
Whole economy Gross domestic fixed capital formation
All assets	18.6	18.7	18.3	19.5	20.5	19.7	19.3	18.5	18.3	18.5
Plant and machinery	7.0	6.8	6.2	6.5	6.7	6.3	6.6	6.6	6.8	6.8
Net domestic fixed capital formation
All assets	9.8	9.5	8.9	9.8	9.9	8.8	8.3	7.2	6.9	7.1
Manufacturing industries2
Gross domestic fixed capital formation	3.9	3.6	3.0	3.0	3.5	3.2	3.0	3.2	3.5	3.5
Net domestic fixed capital formation	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Industrial and commercial companies
Undistributed profits	8.8	9.3	10.4	12.5	11.9	10.0	11.6	12.3	12.3	13.1
1 Gross national product (GNP) at market prices has been used as the denominator for investment percentages and GNP at factor cost for the calculation related to undistributed profits.
2 Manufacturing is defined as all industries which contribute to Section D of the Standard Industrial Classification 1992.

The information available is given in the table. Prior to 1984 the earnings from direct investment overseas by oil companies are not available, hence figures for all industries cannot be given.

Direct investment by UK companies overseas: net earnings 1
£million
	Manufacturing Industry2
1970	350
1979	1,597
1 Earnings from branches, subsidiaries and associate companies. Earnings are defined as profits net of losses, plus interest receipts net of claims.
2 Classified by main industrial activity of overseas affiliate.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 3 April, Official Report, column 908, on the overseas earnings of UK companies, if he will publish the corresponding figures and rates of return on domestic investment distinguishing between (a) manufacturing and (b) other companies. [26928]

No corresponding figures and rates of return are available for domestic investment. However information on rates of return on capital employed are published in the annual CSO First Release [CS0(94)205] "Profitability of UK Companies", last published on 30 September 1994, a copy of which is available in the Library.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 22 July 1982, Official Report, columns 291–92, if he will update the table showing gross and net investment for the whole economy and for manufacturing industry together with undistributed profits. [27125]

The latest estimates of gross and net investment for the whole economy and for manufacturing industry, together with undistributed profits, are shown in the following table.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many owners of land in Lancashire which is conditionally exempt from inheritance tax by virtue of agreed public access arrangements have agreed with the appropriate heritage advisory agencies that access arrangements in (a) should be notified to the local tourist office and town hall, (b) should be publicised by notice or the perimeter of the land itself and (c) are not required to be publicised because public access is already widely known. [26976]

All six owners of land in Lancashire which is currently conditionally exempt from inheritance tax or capital transfer tax are required to publicise the arrangements for public access to their land as agreed with the appropriate heritage advisory agency.The heritage advisory agencies discuss with each owner the appropriate level and nature of publicity. Each case is considered individually and all relevant factors, including the existing level of publicity, are taken into account. Although the extent of public access may already be widely known—for example, where substantial public access is already giventhe owner will normally be required to ensure due publicity for the agreed access arrangements, where appropriate, by advertising the access arrangements in a local tourist office or town hall. For new designations of scenic land in England, owners are required to display at all points of entry on to their land map boards showing the agreed public access.I am unable to provide more specific information as this would help to identify individual cases of tax exemption, thus compromising the normal rules on taxpayer confidentiality.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action is being taken to establish a voluntary share protection scheme for credit unions; what consultation or discussion with credit unions and their promoting bodies has taken place on the need to provide this additional protection for members; and if he will make a statement. [26915]

Section 16 of the Credit Unions Act 1979 gives unions the power to set up or join a share protection scheme, to protect members in the event of the collapse of their union. Any such scheme must be approved by the Chief Registrar of Friendly Societies, but he has no statutory power to require that one be set up.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the nationalised industries that have been privatised since 1979; and if he will calculate the total revenue the Government has received from the sale of, and in taxation from, each of the privatised companies since their privatisation. [27263]

For a list of privatisations and the gross equity proceeds from each, I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave on 30 November 1994, Official Report, column 758. Details of the tax affairs of each company cannot be made public without the prior approval of that company. However, in total, privatised companies paid about £50 million per week in tax in 1994–95.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to raise the limit below which delivery of an inheritance tax account is not required for administering a deceased person's estate. [27983]

The Inland Revenue has today laid regulations increasing the limit from £125,000 to £145,000. The increased limit will come into operation on 1 July 1995 for estates of persons dying on or after 6 April 1995. It will simplify the administration of some 7,500 estates.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer—what are his latest estimates for (a) the south-east and (b) Greater London for (i) the number of income taxpayers, (ii) the number of income taxpayers with gross earnings above £70,000, (iii) the number of income taxpayers with gross earnings above £80,000 and (iv) the number of income taxpayers with gross earnings above £100,000. [25951]

[holding answer 25 May 1995]: The table provides estimates for 1992–93, the latest available year for which information can be provided below the United Kingdom level.

Thousands
	South East	Greater London
Number of income taxpayers	8,440	3,190
Number with gross earnings over £70,000	90	47
Number with gross earnings over £80,000	70	39
Number with gross earnings over £100,000	46	27

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish a table of loans made by British Coal for each year between 1985 and 1993. [26994]

British Coal makes loans to its employees and to members of the corporation, and to its wholly owned subsidiary undertakings—the latter with the consent of the Secretary of State and the approval of the Treasury. The aggregate outstanding balances on these loans are published in the corporation's report and accounts, copies of which are available in the Library of the House.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many newsagents have referred to arbitration carriage charges levied by news wholesalers; what was the outcome in each case; and if he will make a statement. [27032]

An appeals system to consider disputes between retailers and newspaper wholesalers concerning serious breaches of terms and conditions of supply has been established voluntarily by the industry. Information about cases handled may be obtained from the Association of Newspaper and Magazine Wholesalers.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 3 April, Official Report, columns 902–3, concerning the percentage change in United Kingdom export unit values relative to those of the Six, if he will publish the corresponding figures (a) the non-EEC countries and (b) the other EEC countries. [26559]

The information requested relating to non-EEC countries is given in the table. Unit value indices for manufactured goods are only readily available for those EEC countries listed in table D6 of the Monthly Review of External Trade Statistics, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what maternity and paternity entitlements are available to employees within his Department. [27279]

In addition to their statutory entitlements, permanent employees within DTI and its agencies with over year's service are entitled to enhanced levels of maternity leave up to a total of 52 weeks. They are also entitled to a period of 14 weeks' maternity leave at full pay, which includes statutory maternity pay, subject to returning to work for a month after maternity leave. Other entitlements for women include time off to attend ante natal appointments and the right to apply for a career break of up to five years to care for her child/children.Fathers employed by DTI and its agencies are entitled to take two days paid paternity leave at the time of the birth or during the weeks following the birth of the child.The Department's maternity and paternity entitlements and those of its agencies are based on the civil service management code.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade at what rate funding for renewables will continue under the non-fossil fuel obligation when the nuclear industry is privatised. [27132]

Renewables will continue to be funded through the fossil fuel levy. The amount of this support will reflect the excess cost above the pool price to the regional electricity companies of renewables-sourced electricity generated within the non-fossil fuel obligation. This support is likely to build up over the next few years to a maximum of about £150 million annually.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) how much the proposed new privatised nuclear power company will be required to set aside annually to meet the eventual costs of decommissioning the pressurised water reactor and advanced gas cooled reactor power stations; [25288](2) how much the proposed privatised nuclear power company will be required to set aside for the long term storage of the nuclear waste produced by its reactors. [25289]

[holding answer 22 May 1995]: The Government will ask all nuclear operators to draw up strategies for decommissioning their redundant plant. The Government have made it clear that the privatised nuclear generators will have to meet their obligations in respect of all their long-term nuclear liabilities, including those for decommissioning, in full and that they should make sufficient financial provision to do so. The Government believe that segregated funds are the best way of ensuring public confidence that the nuclear generators will meet their obligations and will consider carefully the detailed

Income support recipients—Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale district
	Quarter ending 31 May	Quarter ending 31 August	Quarter ending 30 November	Quarter ending 28 February	Annual average
1992–93	22,654	23,760	23,336	25,162	23,728
1993–94	24,988	25,540	24,421	24,744	24,923
1994–95	24,949	25,633	24,560	25,153	25,074

Data is provisional and subject to amendment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 17 May, Official Report, column 273, which country initiated negotiations for the agreements of 1975 and 1979 with (a) Spain and (b) Portugal; what reasons were given for the initial approach; and what estimates he has of the current number of Spanish and Portuguese retired citizens in the United Kingdom whose pensions are paid by their Governments. [26373]

At the request of Her Majesty's Government, a Spanish delegation met UK officials in February 1956 with a view to negotiating a social security agreement between the two countries to protect the benefit rights of migrant workers moving from one country to the other and to ensure that they pay into only one country's social security scheme. Negotiations ceased in 1960 and subsequently resumed again in 1971. The agreement with the Spanish Government was signed on 13 September 1974. On 1 December 1976 the Portuguese Government requested the negotiation of a social security agreement along the lines of that between the UK and Spain. The number of retired Spanish and Portuguese citizens in the UK whose pensions are paid by their Governments is not known.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many persons were in receipt of income support in the Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale districts for each year since 1992. [26570]

The administration of income support is a matter for Mr. Ian Magee, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what maternity and paternity entitlements are available to employees within his Department. [27280]

Subject to the conditions set out in the civil service management code, permanent staff and staff on fixed-term appointments of two years or more are entitled to three calendar months and one week paid maternity leave if monthly paid, or 14 weeks if weekly paid. This will include entitlement to statutory maternity pay.Paid maternity leave may be followed by an optional period of unpaid leave which, together with the paid leave, cannot exceed 52 weeks in total.Casual staff and staff on fixed term appointments of less than two years are entitled to 14 weeks' unpaid maternity leave plus an optional period of four weeks unpaid special leave.Where an officer is not entitled to paid maternity leave she may nevertheless qualify for statutory maternity pay.All staff are allowed paid time off for ante-natal care.Fathers are allowed two days' paid paternity leave at the time of the birth or at a later date if this is more helpful. This can be increased to a maximum of 10 days when there are medical complications or acute domestic difficulties in caring for other children in the household.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the occasions in the last 12 months when answers to hon. Members given at Prime Minister's Question Time were subsequently corrected or otherwise qualified. [26970]

I have answered in excess of 750 questions during Prime Minister's Question Time over the last 12 months. My records show that I have subsequently clarified three answers by means of written questions.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what maternity and paternity entitlements are available to employees within his Department. [27284]

In addition to the statutory maternity leave and statutory maternity pay entitlements, women with one year's service at the start of their maternity leave who state their intention to return to work after their babies are born are entitled to 14 weeks' maternity leave on full pay and a period of unpaid maternity leave thereafter, up to a total maximum absence of 52 weeks. They return to work on no less favourable terms than these enjoyed prior to their maternity leave.Women with 40 weeks' service by the expected date of birth, who qualify for statutory maternity leave—of 14 weeks—and statutory maternity pay, are given the option to extend their period of absence by four weeks, to enable them to benefit from the full entitlement to 18 weeks' statutory maternity pay. They, too, return to work on no less favourable terms than those held prior to their maternity leave.Fathers are entitled to two days' paternity leave and there are provisions for staff to apply for additional paid and unpaid special leave for compassionate or domestic reasons. Staff with dependant care responsibilities may apply for a career break of 12 months, renewable on an annual basis to a total of five years if required, because of genuine family reasons or difficulties.The above arrangements currently apply throughout the Lord Chancellor's Department, including the Court Service and the Public Trust Office.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how he communicates to the families of victims their right to be seated in the well of the court rather than in the public gallery. [27276]

The question concerns a specific operational matter on which the chief executive of the Court Service is best placed to provide an answer and I have accordingly asked the chief executive to reply direct.

To ask the Attorney General what maternity and paternity entitlements are available to employees within his Department. [27285]

Entitlements are available in accordance with the civil service management code. They provide for:

Reasonable paid time off for ante-natal care.

A maximum of 52 weeks paid and unpaid maternity leave for permanent staff¹ with one year's service who state an intention to return to work. Of this, three months and one week² will be paid leave.

Staff may also apply for an unpaid career break of up to 5 years. Other staff, regardless of employment status, are entitled to 14 weeks' unpaid maternity leave and to return to work.

Staff³ are entitled to two days' paid paternity leave.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has for further measures to require Scottish Homes to be more accountable to its tenants; and if he will make a statement. [24064]

My right hon. Friend has no plans for further measures to require Scottish Homes to be more accountable to its tenants.Within its objective of contributing to improved quality in housing and its management, Scottish Homes has finalised its tenant participation policy, which was developed with the assistance of tenants. The policy encourages increasing involvement of tenants in the management of their own homes. Scottish Homes has also issued a revised tenants handbook and is establishing a panel with tenant representation to review the effectiveness of communication with tenants.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the annual administrative running costs of the Crofters Commission, including its share of the cost of administering the crofting agriculture scheme, the township development scheme, the various livestock schemes and the building grants and loan scheme. [26344]

The Crofters Commission's approved running costs budget for 1995–96, including the cost of administering the crofting counties agricultural grants scheme and the township development scheme, is £1.444 million. The commission has no involvement in the administration of the crofters building grants and loans scheme or the livestock improvement schemes for crofters.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the annual administrative cost of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries of (i) the crofting agricultural loan scheme, (ii) the crofting township development scheme, (iii) the crofting building grant and loan scheme (iv) the livestock improvement scheme. [26343]

The estimated cost to the Scottish Office Agriculture and Fisheries Department in 1994–95 of administering crofting schemes is set out in the table.

Scheme	Administrative cost £000
Crofting counties agricultural grants scheme	680
Crofting township development scheme	2
Crofters building grants and loans scheme	870
Livestock improvement schemes	330

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the number of applications under the crofting agricultural grants scheme for projects not requiring prior approval and the number of applications for comparable projects in each year since 1991–92. [26382]

The information requested is set out in the table.

Financial year	Number of applicants claiming grant
1991–92	2,731
1992–93	2,688
1993–941	2,537
1994–952	2,334
1 Applications for assistance towards cost of improving virgin hill land not accepted after 1 April 1993.
2 Minimum level of claims increased from £100 to £500 with effect from 15 April 1994.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress has been made on the proposed boundary changes for local enterprise companies with particular reference to Dumbartonshire Enterprise. [26858]

As the hon. Member knows from my letter of 31 May, my right hon. Friend announced his decision on local enterprise company boundaries on 31 May. A copy of his statement has been placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what criteria are used to decide whether to close a small primary school. [26856]

Such decisions will depend on the merits of individual proposals.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many (a) cases of heart disease and (b) deaths due to heart disease were recorded for each year since 1990. [27214]

The number of recorded deaths in Scotland from heart disease in the years in question were as follows:

• 1990: 19,798
• 1991: 19,598
• 1992: 19,336
• 1993: 19,922
• 1994: 17,922

Information on heart disease morbidity is not available. Data are however, held on hospital admissions. The information for the period requested is set out for both admissions and cases since an individual patient can be admitted more than once during the year.

Year	Hospital admissions	Cases
1990	68,024	42,120
1991	73,791	44,156
1992	78,718	46,031
1993	82,228	48,039
1994	183,781	n/a
1 Provisional.
n/a=not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the consequences for fishing of the disposal by Shell of the Brent Spar in the North sea. [25822]

The site selected for the disposal operation is in the north-east Atlantic in an area where the water is over 2,300 m deep. This is well beyond the current limit of deep-water trawling activity and hence disposal at this location will not present a hazard to fishing.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on his policy for environmental education. [28002]

The working group on environmental education chaired by Professor John Smyth reported to me in April 1993, making more than 90 recommendations for action by a wide range of organisations in Scotland. The report set out a strategy for taking forward environmental education in Scotland over the next 10 years. Public consultation following the report overwhelmingly endorsed the proposals made.One of the central recommendations was that there should be a national advisory panel. I am pleased that the advisory group on sustainable development has accepted my invitation to provide that central point around which environmental education can develop in Scotland, offering advice and targets for others to take up. This is an important initiative enabling environmental education to provide a significant tool with which to achieve our primary objectives for sustainable development.I am today publishing "A Scottish Strategy for Environmental Education" which commends "Learning for Life" to all seeking a guide as to my policy on environmental education. I intend to adopt it as the foundation on which developments in my policy will be based, recognising that some of the recommendations within it may not be feasible or necessarily appropriate to implement immediately. I shall expect all organisations for which I have responsibility to have regard to its advice on environmental education. I will place copies of the publication in the House Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he intends to lay regulations before Parliament in respect of section 12 of the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1990. [27254]

[holding answer 6 June 1995]: Regulations in respect of section 12 are in the course of preparation and will shortly be laid before Parliament.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the amount spent by the Scottish Office in regional selective assistance for each financial year since 1979–80. [25347]

[holding answer 23 May 1995]: The available information relates to payments to companies with projects in Scotland. For earlier years, this is published in the Scottish Economic Bulletin, copies of which are available in the Library. Expenditure in 1994–95 amounted to £77.1 million.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what maternity and paternity entitlements are available to employees within his Department. [27293]

My right hon. Friend is responsible for the Office of Public Service and Science, its agencies, Her Majesty's Stationery Office and the Central Office of Information. Each of these departments follows the relevant chapters of the civil service management code in respect of maternity and paternity entitlements. Copies of the code are available in the House Library. Maternity arrangements are provided in conjunction with the statutory entitlements available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what maternity and paternity entitlements are available to employees within his Department. [27278]

The main maternity benefits provided by the Department depend on the individual's length of service. Women are allowed 18 to 52 weeks' maternity leave. The first 18 weeks are paid at normal or statutory maternity pay rates as appropriate.All have the right to return to work at the end of their maternity leave. In addition, while at work, they are allowed paid time off to attend any necessary medical appointments.Men are currently allowed two days' paid paternity leave.In all, the arrangements are in line with legislation and Treasury guidance.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many officers responsible for enforcing heavy goods vehicle legislation are employed in Hampshire; [27143](2) how many heavy goods vehicles were inspected in roadside checks in Hampshire in each year since 1979; [27144](3) how many inspections of MOT testing stations were conducted in Hampshire; and how many testing stations were operating in each year since 1979; [27145](4) how many inspections of public service vehicles were conducted in Hampshire; and how many public service vehicles were operating in Hampshire in each year since 1979. [27146]

This information is not available in the form requested.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many lines intended for closure British Rail is currently running with only a limited service of a few trains a day which otherwise would be subject to the formal closure process; and if he will list the lines involved. [27190]

British Rail is currently operating the following limited services for which statutory closure procedures are likely to begin in the near future: Derby to Sinfin and Watford junction to Croxley Green. The Croxley Green branch is subject to a major development proposal linking it to the LT Metropolitan line Watford branch to provide through Metropolitan services to Watford junction.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the average capital and net revenue cost to his Department of providing a public weighbridge. [27147]

The cost of providing a public weighbridge is £60,000 with running costs of £5,000 per annum.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans his Department has to improve port waste reception facilities. [26116]

My Department is currently consulting interested bodies on a number of measures to improve port waste reception facilities, including financial mechanisms to encourage use, improved communications between the users and providers of facilities and measures to aid the enforcement of vessels which do not make appropriate use of waste reception facilities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many ships annually used United Kingdom port facilities; and how much each port charges for the use of its facilities. [26113]

A total of 144,919 ships arrived at UK ports in 1993. Information on their use of port waste reception facilities is not available; nor is information on the charges levied by individual ports for the use of such facilities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the result of research conducted on the issues raised by the Donaldson report referred to in the press notice No. 055 of 28 February on port waste reception facilities. [26115]

The Department of Transport's research has shown that while port waste reception facilities are generally adequate to meet the UK's international commitments, there is scope for improvement in the planning and organisation of facilities. This research has formed the basis of a consultation exercise with interested parties to consider how waste reception facilities could be improved, in the light of the recommendations of the report of Lord Donaldson's inquiry.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his Department's estimate of the amount of illegal discharges made by ships into the North sea for the last 10 years (a) including and (b) excluding accidental discharges. [26112]

The information is not available in the form requested.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what proposals the United Kingdom Government will put forward or support at the forthcoming North sea ministerial conference in relation to controlling non-accidental pollution from ships with particular reference to oil. [26114]

In addition to a number of proposals on marine pollution generally, the Government will put forward and support specific proposals on the designation of the North sea as a special area for oil discharges under annex I of the international convention on the prevention of pollution from ships 1973–78 and on the improvement of the availability and quality of port waste reception facilities for oily wastes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how his Department intends to police the limits of discharge by ships set by the amendments to annexe 1 of MARPOL 73/78 in 1992. [26117]

Port state control inspectors assess discharges of oil by studying oil record books and quantities of oil on board vessels. Inspectors also inspect oil pollution prevention equipment and the ability of ships' staff to use it correctly, when carrying out port state control inspections of foreign vessels and general inspections of UK vessels.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when he intends to issue his response to the KPMG/capital planning report on library services; and if the report itself will be published. [26734]

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply that my right hon. Friend gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Stratford on Avon (Mr. Howarth) on 16 May 1995, Official Report, columns 150–51, referring to the KPMG contracting out study. No decision has yet been made about the handling of the study, but we expect to make a further statement in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when cable television franchises will be able to offer a service to areas in Thurrock; and if he will make a statement. [27342]

United Artists Communications holds the Thames estuary north cable television franchise, which includes the Thurrock area. Construction is in progress, but is a time-consuming process. I understand that the franchise holder has not yet announced a target date for providing a service in Thurrock.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how much was raised from admission charges to Windsor castle and Buckingham palace in 1994. [26971]

The royal collection is responsible for visitor admissions and the related income and expenditure for Buckingham palace and Windsor castle. The royal collection is a department of the royal household and is not a responsibility of my Department.However, I understand that gross income, excluding VAT, from admission charges in the year to 31 March 1995 for Windsor castle, including precincts, state apartments and St. George's chapel, was £5,309,000 and for Buckingham palace state apartments was £2,662,000, in both cases subject to audit. Audited figures and further explanation will be provided in the annual report of the royal collection trust which will be available in early July.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what maternity and paternity entitlements are available for employees within his Department. [27283]

The maternity and paternity entitlements available to employees of my Department are consistent with the provisions of the civil service management code, copies of which are held in the House Library. A woman who satisfies the criteria set out in chapter 5 of the code is entitled to three months and one week's paid maternity leave. She is also entitled to a period of unpaid maternity leave; the total of paid and unpaid maternity leave should not normally exceed 52 weeks. All permanent male staff in the Department are entitled to two days' paid paternity leave, as outlined in chapter 3.1 of the code. These maternity and paternity provisions will be incorporated into the departmental staff handbook in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what agreement has been reached with the Churchill family on the circumstances in which they can raise their fees for the reproduction of the documents purchased by the National Heritage Memorial Fund. [27339]

No agreement has been reached with the Churchill Archive Settlement Trust on reproduction fees since these are always a matter for the individual copyright owner.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will publish, for each of the countries of the United Kingdom and for the United Kingdom as a whole, his estimate of (a) total receipts of the national lottery and (b) proceeds of the Treasury tax on the national lottery receipts. [25679]

[holding answer 6 June 1995]: The total receipts of the national lottery to date stand at £2099.2 million. The proceeds of Treasury tax on the national lottery receipts to date stand at £201 million. These figures are available only for the United Kingdom as a whole.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the effect of overtime restrictions on the operation of specialist squads of the Metropolitan police, with particular reference to the drug squad and flying squad. [27189]

I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that no special overtime restrictions have been applied to these specialist squads. However, they are, of course, required to operate within their agreed overall budget for the financial year. Action against drug-related violence, street and commercial crime and burglary are all specific objectives for the Metropolitan police and will continue to receive priority for resources within the overall budget for the force.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what maternity and paternity entitlements are available to employees within his Department. [27286]

Chapters 3.1 and 5 of the leave section of the civil service management code—a copy of which is in the Library—set out the paternity and maternity arrangements and entitlements available to staff in the Home Office. These arrangements are provided in conjunction with the statutory entitlements.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners from HMP Holloway and HMP Styal were granted home leave in each complete month of 1995. [26891]

Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is his policy towards convicted prisoners participating in radio phone-in programmes; [22770](2) if he will undertake an inquiry into the participation of Mr. Jeremy B amber in a radio phone-in programme on Talk Radio UK; and if he will make a statement. [22769]

[holding answer 9 May 1995]: I do not think it appropriate for prisoners to participate in radio phone-in programmes. I share my hon. Friend's concern that Jeremy Bamber was allowed to do so. I have asked the Director General of the Prison Service to take immediate steps to change the appropriate standing order and governors will be advised that any breach by prisoners will be contrary to these regulations and will lead to disciplinary action.I am very concerned about the inappropriate use of telephones by inmates and have asked the Prison Service to take action. New technology which will allow prisoners to access only approved telephone numbers is about to be tested and, if effective, will be introduced throughout the prison system.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many restart interviews were conducted in each year from 1988–89 to 1994–95 for Great Britain and in each standard region; and as a result of these how many claimants (a) were placed directly in a job, (b) claimed other benefits, (c) entered his Department's programmes or (d) signed off from claiming benefit. [26616]

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