To ask the Lord President of the Council how many staff employed by right hon. and hon. Members and funded by the office cost allowance had payments made to personal pension providers in each year since 1989; what is the average length of membership of such personal pension schemes for (a) those who have now left their employment in Parliament and (b) those who are still employed in Westminster; and for how many of such members are (i) regular premium payments and (ii) single premium payments made by the House.

The number of payments made to personal pension providers on behalf of staff employed by right hon. and hon. Members who are funded from the office costs allowance for the past five financial years is as follows:

• 1990–91: 1,057
• 1991–92: 1,113
• 1992–93: 1,264
• 1993–94: 1,375
• 1994–95: 1,423

Records are not centrally held to enable answers to be given to the remaining specific questions asked.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 23 November, Official Report, column 216, (1) when 1993–94 data on trust surpluses and deficits will be available;(2) if she will now publish a list of which trusts failed to

[pursuant to his reply, 9 December 1994, c. 396]: I regret that there were errors in the table provided in my previous reply.An amended table has been placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information she has in respect of employment packages offered by an NHS trust which include private medical insurance as an integral or an optional part; and if she will make a statement. [27402]

This information is not available centrally. National health service trusts have powers under the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 to employ staff on whatever terms they think fit.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 24 May, Official Report, column 594, what information her Department holds centrally in respect of contracts for health and hospital services awarded by health authorities and NHS trusts under the competitive tendering process. [27414]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 6 June at column 28 for information about contracts for clinical services awarded after competitive tender by national health service trust in England. Information about the award of such contracts by district health authorities is not available centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many dedicated private operating theatres there are in NHS hospital trusts; [27422](2) how many dedicated private operating theatres have opened in NHS hospital trusts in the past year. [27421]

Records of dedicated private operating theatres in national health service hospital trusts are not available centrally. Operating theatres should be organised in relation to the needs of the whole hospital.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the members of the health authority in charge of the clinical negligence scheme for trusts, indicating their gender, occupation and any other NHS responsibility. [27094]

The regulations in respect of the special health authority to administer the clinical negligence scheme for trusts are being prepared and will be laid before Parliament for approval in the near future. An announcement of the membership of the proposed new health authority will be made in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 25 May, Official Report, column 776, on capital underspending, when she expects to publish the 1994–95 figures. [27906]

Details of underspending on 1994–95 regional health authority capital cash limits are expected to be available at the end of July.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on her plans for the future of the Great Yarmouth and Waveney community health council. [27551]

This is a matter for the Anglia and Oxford regional health authority. It is responsible for ensuring that its local community health councils are able to reflect the views of the communities it serves. My hon. Friend may wish to contact Sir Stuart Burgess, chairman of the regional health authority, for details.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many consultants are currently suspended in the national health service by region; and for how long each consultant has been suspended. [27783]

This information is not available centrally. Decisions on employment matters, including possible suspensions, rest with the employing authority.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she last updated NHS executive circular EL(93) 113. [27903]

This executive letter is extant but will shortly be reviewed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 25 May, Official Report, column 776, what information on GP vacancies her Department holds centrally. [27907]

None. Information on general practitioner vacancies is held by the medical practices committee.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what percentage of cosmetic surgery operations that are currently carried out by NHS plastic surgeons are performed to correct previous cosmetic surgery performed in the private sector; [28174](2) what is the annual cost to the national health service of cosmetic treatment and surgery in the last three years. [28180]

This information is not available centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many complaints her Department has received related to liposuction surgery in the last year. [28178]

Five.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to regulate private cosmetic surgery clinics. [28177]

All private clinics where surgical procedures are carried out under anaesthesia are required to register with the local health authority under the Nursing Homes Act 1975. They have to satisfy requirements as to the facilities and the level and qualifications of staff. There are no plans further to regulate private cosmetic surgery clinics.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what estimate she has made of the number of people who undergo cosmetic surgery each year; and what percentage of this number takes place in the private sector. [28181](2)what percentage of plastic surgery performed by the NHS is for cosmetic purposes. [28175]

Data available do not distinguish cosmetic surgery from other plastic surgery procedures.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many complaints her Department has received related to cosmetic surgery in the last two years. [28179]

Thirty-six.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many representations she has received on the regulation of cosmetic surgery in the private sector. [28176]

Nine written representations in the last two years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the planned real change in spending on the national health service between 1995–96 and 1996–97 expressed (a) in percentage terms and (b) as an absolute sum; and if she will make a statement. [28143]

Government spending on the national health service is planned to be £32.9 billion in 1996–97. This is an increase of 0.5 per cent. in real terms over 1995–96 plans, equivalent to some £160 million at 1995–96 prices. Plans for 1996–97 are subject to review in the public expenditure survey.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people aged 25 years and under have died (a) in prison and (b) in police custody in Northern Ireland in (i) 1993, (ii) 1994 and (iii) so far this year. [26376]

No-one aged 25 or under died in prison or the young offenders centre in Northern Ireland in either 1993 or 1995. There was one death by suicide in 1994.No person aged 25 or under died in police custody during the period specified.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on what basis the Anglo-Irish secretariat collectively gave oral and written evidence to J. J. Rowe QC for his report on the operation of the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1991. [26577]

In the preparation of his report, J. J. Rowe QC took views from the Irish side of the Anglo-Irish secretariat given on behalf of the Irish Government.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the result of the prior options study of the estate services directorate within the health and personal social services management executive of the Department of Health and Social Services. [28540]

Following a prior options study, I have decided to begin preparations with a view to establishing the estate services directorate as a next steps agency in October 1995. The agency will be developed with a view to further private sector involvement, and to this end the chief executive will consider the potential for the privatisation of aspects of the agency's business, and provide me with recommendations in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he proposes to amend the police and criminal evidence codes of practice in Northern Ireland. [28541]

The Northern Ireland PACE codes of practice have recently undergone a thorough review. A considerable number of amendments have been proposed including a new, shorter police caution and the introduction of a new code on tape-recording of interviews to replace the guidelines presently followed by police. Revised draft codes have been prepared and I shall be issuing them for public consultation shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the projected future use of the official service residence, Haymes Garth near Cheltenham. [27269]

The future of Haymes Garth is being assessed in the light of the recommendations made in Sir Peter Cazalet's review of representational entertainment in the armed forces. Subject to this work, it remains the intention that this property will be disposed of as soon as practicable, subject to the availability of suitable accommodation for the Air Officer Commander in Chief Personnel and Training Command.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the original date when the Nimrod maritime aircraft were due to come out of service; and what is the current out-of-service date. [26998]

The original out-of-service date of the Nimrod MR2 was 1995; the current planned out-of-service date is 2006.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the in-service date of each of the Trident submarines. [26999]

HMS Vanguard entered service in December 1994; HMS Victorious will enter service around the turn of the year; Vigilant in 1998; and Vengeance around the turn of the century.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department has made of the impact on Britain's defence industrial base from (a) the abolition of article 223 of the treaty of Rome and (b) the amendment of article 223 of the treaty of Rome. [27000]

The Government's review of article 223 of the treaty of Rome, which I mentioned in my previous answer on 1 May, Official Report, column 84, will take into account the implications of any change for the UK defence industry.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consultations he has had with his (a) NATO counterparts and (b) WEU counterparts concerning the creation of a ballistic missile defence system; and if he will make a statement. [26995]

Consultations with NATO allies have covered a range of BMD issues including risk, prospective defensive architectures, the scope for collaboration and its contribution to our non-proliferation work. There has been no recent consideration of these issues within WEU, although there was some discussion in 1994 of the issues arising from the possible proliferation of ballistic missiles.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if any decision by his Department to acquire a ballistic missile defence system will be taken with full consultation with the UK's NATO and WEU allies. [26996]

The UK continues to participate in work with our NATO allies to assess the potential threat from theatre ballistic missiles, and to assess any requirement for systems to counter it.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's policy concerning the development of a national ballistic missile defence system; and if he will make a statement. [26997]

We are currently assessing whether we have a national requirement for ballistic missile defence, and this task will be informed by the outcome from a contract awarded last October to a consortium led by British Aerospace to provide advice on options, capabilities, time scales, costs and technical risk.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what technical problems have been experienced on the Sonar 2054 system for use in the Vanguard class strategic submarines ballistic nuclear; and if he will make a statement. [27558]

The problems experienced with sonar 2054 and its associated towed array handling system relate to the inboard reeling system and operability issues. They do not affect the sonar's ability to support operational patrols. A programme of work to address these outstanding issues is in hand.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress towards the sale of Portland naval base. [27822]

Portland Port Ltd. was selected to purchase the naval base on 6 April. Legal and other formalities are progressing. We expect to complete the sale when the naval base closes in March next year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the latest available figures, on the ethnic origin of those serving as officers in (a) the Army, (b) the Navy and (c) the Royal Air Force; and if he will make a statement. [27824]

The latest available information on the ethnic origin of officers in the armed forces is contained in the tri-service personnel statistical return entitled "Ethnic Composition of the Regular Armed Forces", a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it possible for those who volunteered to participate in experiments at the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment at Porton Down to have access to their medical records; and if he will make a statement. [27825]

Service medical records are the property of the Department but, in common with civilian medical records, individual access to them by the patient concerned is allowed in accordance with the Access to Health Records Act 1990. Under the provisions of this Act, medical records are normally released to the individual concerned only if they were compiled after 1 November 1991. However, for service medical records of former personnel compiled before this date, it has long been my Department's policy to release them on request to the individual's general practitioner when they are required for the management of a particular case. It has also been standard practice for many years to include with the volunteer's service medical record an enclosure indicating the results of medical examinations carried out during their attendance at Porton Down.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what dates he or other Ministers or former Ministers in his Department received extracts for comment from Sir Richard Scott's draft report; on what date comments were submitted to Sir Richard; and what requests have been made for an extension of the period within which comments should have been made. [27557]

The Government do not disclose details of correspondence between the inquiry and individual witnesses. In the case of draft extracts in particular, the inquiry has asked that these be treated in the strictest confidence and we intend to respect this.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received in the past 12 months from hon. Members regarding empty dwellings owned by his Department in Weymouth. [27789]

My Department has received three representations in the past 12 months from hon. Members about empty dwellings owned by it in the Weymouth area.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many dwellings owned by his Department have been empty for over six months. [27793]

The information is not held centrally in the form requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future of RAF Turnhouse. [27595]

I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 3 November last year to the hon. Member for Motherwell, North (Dr. Reid), Official Report, column 1238.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what cargo was carried by the ship Kinterbury from Portsmouth to Coulport, arriving at Coulport on the morning of Wednesday 7 June. [28024]

As a matter of long-standing policy it is our practice not to comment on the details of particular operations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions nuclear warheads have been transported to Coulport by sea. [28025]

It is not our policy to provide details of the movement of nuclear weapons.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will place in the Library a copy of the defence costs study into (a) catering and messes, (b) animals and vets, (c) travel and subsistence and (d) uniforms. [28023]

The reports prepared by the defence costs study teams are internal working documents. It is not our practice to publish such documents.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the level of expenditure on consultancy by (a) his Ministry (b) by agencies for which his Ministry is responsible for (i) 1993–94 and (ii) 1994–95; and what are the projected figures for 1995–96. [25554]

[holding answer 6 June 1995]: Individual budget holders in my Department have delegated powers to employ consultants as they see fit within the limit of their resources and consistent with all requirements for propriety and value for money. There are no centrally held records of the value of consultancy contracts let by the Department itself and such a record could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.Total expenditure by agencies of the Ministry of Defence, as opposed to the Department directly, on consultants was £9.5 million in 1993–94 and £21.1 million in 1994–95. The projected figure for 1995–96 is around £23 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people in Scotland aged over 64 years living in (a) private residential homes, (b) private nursing homes, (c) local authority residential homes and (d) national health service nursing homes have a spouse living elsewhere. [25974]Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: The only information available centrally was obtained by the April 1991 census of population and is shown in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland on what date he expects to make an announcement on the line of route and the starting date for work on the proposed A96 Kintore bypass. [27948]

The public local inquiry into the A96 Kintore bypass raised issues which required to be considered before a formal decision could be announced. The essential consultations have now been undertaken and thus the decision can be made soon. Programming will of course depend on that decision and, if favourable, on the satisfactory subsequent completion of statutory procedures and the availability of finance.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many representations he has received from (a) organisations and (b) individuals on the proposed A96 Kintore bypass. [27949]

Forty nine formal objections were received to the draft orders and compulsory purchase order for the Kintore bypass, of which 28 were resolved by the adjustment and republication of the draft orders and by negotiations held thereafter. The remaining 21, which include one from a public body, were considered at a public local inquiry.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list for each health board area (a) the annual funding for infertility treatment, (b) the number of patients receiving infertility treatment and (c) the number of patients waiting to receive infertility treatment. [27368]

[holding answer 9 June 1995]: It is for individual health boards to decide on the level of infertility services to purchase. Information on the number of patients receiving or waiting on infertility treatment is not available centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 12 March, Official Report, column 702, if he will make a statement on the nature of the NHS projects which are being considered for the involvement of the private sector. [23405]

[holding answer 9 May 1995]: All current proposals for capital projects in the NHS in Scotland have been considered, as opportunities under the private finance initiative. The NHS trusts managing the schemes in progress to build new hospital facilities in Edinburgh and Lanarkshire are seeking private sector partners to design, build and finance the new facilities and also to operate a range of non-clinical services within the new hospitals.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the number of grants of regional selective assistance made to Scottish companies and the number of companies involved for each financial year since 1979–80. [25346]

[holding answer 23 May 1995]: The available information relates to payments to companies with projects to 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 President of the Board of Trade when he plans to publish his Department's annual MINIS return. [28342]

The MINIS 95 returns for the Department, which this year include the Department's efficiency plan, were published on 12 June 1995. A set has been placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to implement in United Kingdom law the directive on the term of protection of copyright and certain related rights, 93/98/EEC, by 1 July. [27862]

A draft of implementing legislation has been circulated to interested parties for comment. The consultation period ends on 26 June. This means that we will not be able to bring the legislation into force by 1 July as we had intended, but our aim is to submit the legislation to Parliament as soon as possible after the end of the consultation period.We shall be liaising with interested parties.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 6 June, Official Report, column 66, if he will identify the areas covered in the draft material sent on 27 January and the reasons for sending this material to Amerada Hess Gas Ltd. and no other company. [28087]

The draft licence material covered technical matters relating to gas shippers. It did not relate to gas suppliers or consumer issues. The material was sent to Amerada Hess Gas Ltd. because the company was judged to have the appropriate expertise to assist DTI at that stage.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if official receivers will be required to enter into contracts with private sector providers; if they will be personally liable as part of these contacts; and if they will be formally indemnified against the liability to the provider and for the acts or omissions of the provider. [27683]

Official receivers will be the contracting parties to any contract for the discharge of their functions. As such they would be liable under the terms of such contracts and, pursuant to the provisions of section 72 of the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994, for the proper discharge of those functions. Officials receivers will therefore need to be satisfied that any such liabilities are adequately provided for.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if the local office information system computer project will be available for the private sector contractors in the Insolvency Service to use. [27682]

Yes.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what procedures will be put in place to guarantee a high quality level of service from the contracted out operations of the Insolvency Service. [27681]

The final specification and contract will clearly state the standards of service expected from contractors. Contract monitoring by official receivers offices will ensure these standards are met and maintained.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to provide training to Insolvency Service employees unused to contract management. [27685]

Planning to provide training to the Insolvency Service employees in aspects of contract management is currently under way. All staff likely to be involved in contract management will receive relevant training prior to the contracting out.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will consult Parliament before contracting out further services of the Insolvency Service, other than those that are already planned to be contracted out. [27677]

There is no intention to contract out any additional functions of the official receiver other than those currently being considered.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what procedures will exist to ensure that the private sector will (a) operate impartially and (b) respect confidentiality, when Insolvency Service operations are contracted out to the private sector. [27679]

The final specification and contract will clearly state the standards of performance, including impartiality and confidentiality, expected from contractors. Contract monitoring by official receivers' offices will ensure these standards are met and maintained.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much it will cost annually to monitor the contracts of providers in the Insolvency Service. [27686]

It is still too early in the process to determine any costs of contracting out. The cost of monitoring any contracts entered into with private sector providers will be dependent on the total number of contracts let.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what proposals he has to ensure that an Insolvency Service investigation will not be prejudiced by part of the investigation being dealt with in the private sector and the other part being handled in the public sector. [27678]

The separation of the preliminary investigation and any further investigation currently works effectively in many official receivers' offices by increasing the efficiency of dealing with targeted cases in need of further investigation. Contract management and monitoring of private sector providers by official receivers' offices will ensure that contracting out will not have any detrimental effect on the investigation procedure.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to ensure that those people who will carry out the duties of the contracted-out services of the Insolvency Service will be obliged to hold the same qualifications as are required now of Insolvency Service employees. [27676]

The requirement scoping document which will be made available to selected potential bidders will set out levels of experience and competencies of staff that will be required by private sector providers. Any contractor must satisfy these requirements.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what response he has made to the suggestion of the official receivers that insolvency practitioners could be appointed either as a liquidator or trustee, with the payment of fees guaranteed. [27688]

This option was considered by Stoy Hayward whose report concluded that it would expose far less of the official receivers' work to competition from the private sector and, if insolvencies were once again to rise, would not prevent the official receivers' specialist investigative resources from being increasingly consumed in the initial stages of casework.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he plans to publish the detailed specification of the contracting-out process. [27687]

The draft specification will be made available to selected potential bidders on 15 June 1995.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the National Audit Office's report in respect of the levels of rejection of private sector insolvency practitioners' reports. [27680]

There is a significant proportion of cases where elements of unfit conduct have been identified by insolvency practitioners as well as by official receivers, but in relation to which, taking into account all the aspects of the insolvency, it is not in the public interest to institute proceedings under section 6 of the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986. There has been a discernible improvement in reporting by insolvency practitioners both in respect of completeness and timeliness and as a result of which the percentage not providing a basis for consideration of proceedings has fallen from 81 per cent. reported by the National Audit Office in October 1993 to 69 per cent. in 1994–95.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) what assistance his Department is giving towards the restoration of the Grand theatre in Doncaster; and if he will make a statement; [27389](2) what assistance his Department is giving for the conversion of the Square chapel at Halifax west Yorkshire to a recital room; and if he will make a statement; [27398](3) what assistance his Department is giving to the creation of a theatre in the Odeon cinema at Scarborough; and if he will make a statement; [27399]

English Heritage has contributed £342,228 towards the cost of eligible repairs to the Square chapel, Halifax. The Arts Council announced last month an award of £1.4 million from the national lottery to the Stephen Joseph theatre, which is developing the Odeon cinema, Scarborough. I understand that plans for the development of the Grand theatre, Doncaster, are still at an early stage.Both the Square chapel and the Stephen Joseph theatre receive funding for their artistic programmes from the Yorkshire and Humberside arts board.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will estimate the expected deficit or surplus of Channel 4 in the years 1990 to 2000. [26444]

Forward financial planning is a matter for the Channel 4 television corporation. Figures for the period 1990–94 are contained within the annual reports published by the Independent Television Commission, for 1990–1992, and Channel 4, for 1993–1994. The figures are:

Date	£ million
April-December 1990	1.1 surplus
January-December 1991	0.2 surplus
January-December 1992	6.6 deficit

From January 1993, when Channel 4 became a self-governing statutory corporation, its retained profit figures, after taxation and payments of excess qualifying revenue to the Independent Television Commission, were:

Date	£ million
January-December 1993	1.3 retained profit
January-December 1994	21.9 retained profit

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what action he is taking in respect of the draft UNIDROIT convention on the international return of stolen or illegally exported cultural objects; who will be attending from the United Kingdom the June conference to be held in Rome on this subject; what support his Department is giving; and if he will make a statement. [27396]

The UK will be represented at the conference in Rome by officials from the Department of National Heritage and the Treasury Solicitor's Department. There is still work to be done on the draft UNIDROIT convention. However, the objectives behind the draft are laudable; and we will continue to work constructively with other countries participating in the discussions, to achieve a convention that could be a mutually acceptable compromise to as many states, both importing and exporting, as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will ensure that the odds of winning the national lottery are printed on the lottery ticket. [27794]

This is an operational matter for Camelot Group plc. I have therefore asked the Director General of the National Lottery, who is responsible for regulating the operation of the lottery, to write to the hon. Member, placing copies of his response in the Libraries of the House.

To ask the Prime Minister whether the proposals put forward by the President of the Board of Trade of intervention by Her Majesty's Government to improve the non-price competitiveness of British industry at home and overseas are intended to restore the balance between price and non-price competitiveness; and if he will publish his assessment of the likely cost of such intervention on (a) output and (b) employment in (i) 1996 and (ii) 1997. [27494]

The measures brought forward in the Government's recent White Paper on competitiveness are designed to improve the overall competitiveness of United Kingdom business and so help raise output and employment.

To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his speech on 31 May, Official Report, column 1001, how many Ukrainian United Nations peacekeeping soldiers were taken hostage by the Bosnian Government forces on 28 May; how long they were held; when and where they were released; what sanctions or threats were made against the Bosnian Government to secure their release; and on how many other occasions since 1992 UN forces have been taken hostage by the Bosnian Government side. [28112]

We understand that six Ukrainian UN personnel were detained by Bosnian Government forces in Gorazde on 28 may. They were released later the same day and returned to their camp. We are not aware of any other occasion when the Bosnian Government took UN peacekeepers hostage.We condemn unreservedly all acts of hostage taking by all parties. The Serbs must release the hostages that they hold immediately and unconditionally co-operate with the UN in carrying out its mandate.

To ask the Prime Minister on what dates he received extracts for comment from Sir Richard Scott's draft report; on what date comments were submitted to Sir Richard; and what requests have been made by his Department for an extension of the period within which comments should have been made. [27554]

To ask the Prime Minister which Ministers have received a draft, or draft extract, of Lord Justice Scott's inquiry report into the sale of arms to Iraq affair. [27590]

The Government do not disclose details of correspondence between the inquiry and individual witnesses. In the case of draft extracts in particular, the inquiry has asked that these be treated in the strictest confidence.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the criteria for determining whether the legal costs arising from the Scott inquiry of (a) Ministers, (b) ex-Ministers and (c) senior civil servants, should be covered by the Government; and if he will list all possible costs incurred or committed; and if he will make a statement. [28139]

Legal advice is available to witnesses to Sir Richard Scott's inquiry in each of the three categories listed where it is requested by the individual concerned and where their departmental legal adviser or the Treasury solicitor's department agrees that the request for the provision of such advice is reasonable. The total cost to public funds of providing legal services to witnesses to date is approximately £568,000. This figure includes the costs of legal services provided by the Treasury solicitor's department and by external lawyers. Some legal advice has also been provided by departmental lawyers as part of their normal duties. The cost of this advice is not quantifiable.

To ask the Prime Minister (1) which civil servants, Government advisers or ministerial advisers, past or present, have sought legal advice from solicitors or barristers in respect of draft conclusions reached by the Scott inquiry; what is the estimated cost of such legal expenses to public funds; and if he will make a statement; [27882](2) which Ministers, past or present, have sought legal advice from solicitors or barristers in respect of draft conclusions reached by the Scott inquiry; what is the estimate cost of such legal expenses to public funds; and if he will make a statement. [27781]

[holding answers 9 June 1995]: Details of the costs of legal advice to witnesses to the Scott inquiry are not held centrally nor is the cost of advice in respect of draft conclusions identified separately from the cost of other advice. This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost. It would not right to identify the nature of the advice given to particular individuals. This is a matter of confidence between them and their legal advisers.

To ask the Prime Minister if he intends to establish an inquiry into the leak to the BBC of a provisional draft of the report by Mr. Justice Scott. [27894]

[holding answer 9 June 1995]: Extracts of the draft report were sent by Sir Richard Scott to a number of people, some of whom are outside Government. Inquiries have been undertaken to establish whether there is any prima facie evidence that there has been an unauthorised disclosure of the information concerned from within Government. On the basis of these inquiries, there is no reason to suppose that the leak came from within Government.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will make it his policy to include the future of British fishing stocks in the agenda for the intergovernmental conference in 1996; and if he will make a statement. [27244]

Intergovernmental conferences deal with treaty change rather than adjustment of the content of individual policies. We will of course continue to work for improvements in the operation of the appropriate fora.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has received from his Russian and United States counterparts on the progress made by the Gore-Chernomyrdin Commission on the Iranian nuclear programme and nuclear exports to Iran. [27649]

The Gore-Chernomyrdin Commission has not met since the US-Russian summit in May, but is due to do so before the end of June. Progress has already been made on the question of nuclear exports to Iran with President Yeltsin's commitment at the Moscow summit not to transfer gas centrifuge equipment to the Iranians.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what response Her Majesty's Government have made to the call by Colonel Gaddafi of Libya on 16 May that the Arab states should collaborate on the production of nuclear weapons. [27653]

None. Libya, like most other Arab states, is a member of the non-proliferation treaty and we expect her to comply fully with her obligations not to acquire nuclear weapons.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's policy in respect of the letter, dated 9 May, from the permanent representative of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to the president of the non-proliferation treaty review and extension conference, NPT/Conf. 1995/30, claiming a special status for North Korea within the non-proliferation treaty; and if the United Kingdom within the non-proliferation treaty; and if the United Kingdom has discussed the implications of the letter with the other two depositary states for the treaty. [27655]

We have not discussed the North Korean letter with the other depositary states: we expect all states parties to the non-proliferation treaty to comply fully with their obligations. We have welcomed the framework agreement between the US and DPRK and we hope this will lead to a resolution of the North Korean nuclear issue.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's policy towards the proposals by Japan to create a nuclear co-operation organisation for states in Asia along the lines of the European Union's Euratom agency. [27654]

We know of no Japanese Government proposals for a nuclear co-operation organisation in Asia on the lines of Euratom. However, there is considerable discussion at a non-government level on increasing nuclear co-operation in the east Asian and south-east Asian area, with particular emphasis on co-operation in the area of research, safety and operating standards. We welcome any moves by Japanese industry or Government to ensure that nuclear energy development in east Asia take place in a sound, safe and secure manner.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the international commitments entered into by Her Majesty's Government through the signing by a Foreign Office Minister of the declaration agreed by participating states at the United Nations world summit for social development in Copenhagen in March. [27805]

The declaration and programme of action of the world summit for social development were adopted by the consensus. No legal commitment was entered into. The advance unedited texts of the declaration and programme of action have been placed in the Library of the House. When the final text issues from the United Nations they will be placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the agreement between the European Union and the Ukraine on the financing of the closedown of the Chernobyl reactors. [27887]

At the EU and G7 summits in 1994, substantial sums were committed to an action plan for Ukraine's energy sector, including the closure of Chernobyl. Following a visit to Ukraine in April by a senior delegation from the EU and the G7, President Kuchma undertook to close the remaining Chernobyl reactors by 2000, which we warmly welcome. Discussions are continuing with the Ukrainians to draw up a final plan on closure. The EU, the G7 and international financial institutions will continue to work closely with Ukraine to achieve this aim as well as the wider objectives of the action plan.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the current arrangements for broadcasts by the World Service to Iran and Iraq. [27459]

The World Service broadcasts to Iran in Persian for 22 hours a week. The emphasis is on news and current affairs, but programmes covering the arts, science, economics, medicine, culture and entertainment also form part of the output.The Arabic service is on the air for 12 hours and 15 minutes every day. All broadcasts are beamed to Iraq. As the World Service's biggest foreign language service, it broadcasts a wide range of programmes, with news and current affairs as the backbone.English language broadcasts are beamed to Iran for 18 hours a day and to Iraq for twenty-one and a half hours a day. English teaching programmes are also broadcast, either as part of the Persian and Arabic services, or as separate transmissions.World Service output reaches Iran and Iraq mainly through shortwave transmissions from relay stations at Masirah in Oman, Cyprus and from the UK. Some medium-wave transmissions from Masirah also reach the area. Arabic service transmissions have been jammed within Iraq in the past, but no jamming is taking place at present.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the current expenditure incurred by Her Majesty's Government in the dependent territories in the Caribbean. [27982]

The total expenditure by Her Majesty's Government on the five Caribbean dependent territories for the financial year 1994–95 is estimated to be £20.5 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the value of British investment for each of the last five years into (a) Hungary, (b) Poland, (c) the Czech Republic, (d) Slovakia, (e) Romania and f Bulgaria and also publish corresponding figures for German, French, Italian and Dutch investment into those countries. [26742]

The value of British direct investment for the five years 1989 to 1993, the latest available, is as follows:

Stock of UK direct investment (book value, £ million)
	1989	1990	1991	1992	1993
Poland	0	4	6	16	18
Hungary	0	0	26	84	68
Czech Republic	0	0	1	13	8
Slovak Republic
Romania	0	0	0	2	11
Bulgaria	0	0	1	6	7

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will urge the Government of Turkey to allow the Armenian Orthodox and Greek Orthodox churches in Turkey to re-open their theological seminaries. [26883]

Decisions on the operations of the specific religious or educational institutions are a matter for the Turkish authorities. We have raised with the Turkish Government our concerns on the rights of religious and other minorities in Turkey including on the position of the Armenian Orthodox and Greek Orthodox churches.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what dates he or other Ministers or former Ministers in his Department received extracts for comment from Sir Richard Scott's draft report; on what date comments were submitted to Sir Richard; and what requests have been made for an extension of the period within which comments should have been made. [27591]

The Government do not disclose details of correspondence between the inquiry and individual witnesses. In the case of draft extracts in particular, the inquiry has asked that these be treated in the strictest confidence.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if a young person is unable to remain within the United Kingdom without the requisite entry clearance whilst adoption formalities are being pursued. [27694]

I have been asked to reply.A child coming to the United Kingdom for adoption would on arrival normally be expected to be in possession of an entry clearance issued for the purpose. If my hon. Friend has in mind a particular case where an entry clearance has not been issued, I should be happy to advise him further.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether Her Majesty's Government are required to provide information to (a) the European Commission, (b) the London dumping convention and (c) the Oslo convention the past disposal at sea in the north Atlantic and Irish sea by the United Kingdom of surplus chemical weapon munitions, redundant explosives or other military origin toxic materials. [26701]

There are no requirements to report any information on disposal at sea to the European Commission. The reporting requirements of the London and Oslo conventions do not extend to military wastes which are covered by sovereign immunity. However, the UK no longer disposes of such wastes at sea.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many dogs were exported from the United Kingdom to non-EU countries in the last three years; and what was their country of origin. [27107]

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

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research is being undertaken on the application of sludge to farm land. [26940]

My Department is spending about £0.7 million in 1995–96 on six research projects concerning sewage sludge applications to farm land. The project titles, contractors and estimated costs for 1995–96 are as follows:

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list those nations which are members of the European Economic Community which impose more stringent regulations than those adopted by the United Kingdom on the application of pesticides or herbicides in agriculture and horticulture, in each case specifying the prohibitions or standards they apply additional to those of (i) the European Community and (ii) the United Kingdom. [27314]

The UK's regulatory system for pesticides, including herbicides, has the objective of protecting people and the environment while ensuring that pesticides are available to those who really need them. As the harmonised Community regime comes into effect, all member states will increasingly work to the same rules. Differences in decisions taken will then be attributable solely to differences in characteristics such as climate and farming practice.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he has had with his ministerial counterpart in the Republic of Ireland about a permanent agreement on fish quota swaps; and if he will make a statement. [27151]

I have had no discussions with my opposite number in the Republic of Ireland about a permanent agreement on fish quota swaps. A permanent agreement would risk undermining the principle of relative stability. Agreement on fish quota swaps is reached, however, on a year-by-year basis in the light of prevailing fishing opportunities.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the organisations and individuals who have produced consultative documents to the proposed rural White Paper. [27224]

My right hon. Friends the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Secretary of State for the Environment have received written representations from 328 organisations and 53 individuals. A list of the organisations which had submitted representations by 20 February was deposited in the Library of the House on 22 February. I am today placing in the Library of the House an updated list of all organisations and individuals who have made written submissions. Copies of these submissions, except where confidentiality has been requested, are available for inspection in the Ministry's main departmental library.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list all products on sale in the United Kingdom controlled under the Genetically Modified Organisms (Deliberate Release) Regulations 1992. [27203]

I have been asked to reply.The Secretary of State for the Environment has not issued any consents under the Genetically Modified Organisms (Deliberate Release) Regulations 1992 for products consisting of or containing genetically modified organisms for placing on the market in Great Britain. The information relating to Northern Ireland is a matter for my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.The Environmental Protection Act 1990 and the Genetically Modified Organisms (Deliberate Release) Regulations 1992 together implement Council directive 90/220/EEC on the deliberate release into the environment of genetically modified organisms. In accordance with this directive, the products which have been approved for sale in the European Community are a vaccine to control Aujeszky's disease in pigs, a vaccine to control rabies in foxes and seeds of herbicide-tolerant tobacco.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what progress has been made in the past six months in implementing the proposals in the science and technology White Paper. [26063]

Excellent progress has been made, particularly in building improved partnerships between government and industry to enhance our research and development record.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement about the technology foresight programme. [26064]

The foresight programme is a resounding success. The Government are grateful for the voluntary efforts of Foresight panels. We need to follow up vigorously on foresight priorities.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what plans he has to introduce and develop a code of conduct for civil servants. [26067]

I intend to introduce the civil service code after due consultation and consideration.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what plans he has to ensure that the civil service continues to be seen to be above party politics. [26066]

The Government will introduce a new civil service code summarising the values, including political impartiality, which civil servants are expected to hold.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what plans he has to encourage more Government Departments to make more information available on Internet. [26068]

Staff at CCTA, the Government Centre for Information Systems, are working with Departments to increase the breadth and depth of information available over the Internet. Already, more than 40 Departments and agencies have information accessible via the CCTA Government Information Service, and there are, on average, more than 80,000 requests for information each week.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what opportunities he has identified for the Civil Service College to co-operate with similar institutions overseas. [26069]

I mention the Civil Service College's services to overseas ministers and officials whenever appropriate. The college also makes direct contact and is co-operating with a number of similar institutions overseas.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what plans he has to increase public awareness of the charter mark scheme. [26062]

Charter mark is going from strength to strength. Over 3,000 members of the public have been involved in this year's scheme by nominating organisations they think deserve an award. We are delighted with this response and will give people the opportunity to nominate services again next year.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what new action he is taking to increase public access to information. [26057]

We are implementing the proposals contained in the White Paper on open government.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 6 June, Official Report, column 56, on concessional loans agreements with Indonesia, what projects have been identified for funding under the concessional loan agreements which were signed in April 1993 and April 1994; and what progress has been made towards concluding agreements with the Government of Indonesia in respect of each of those projects. [28182]

The current position on projects funded from the concessional loan arrangements signed in 1993 and 1994 is as follows:PROJECTS IDENTIFIED FOR FUNDING UNDER CONCESSIONAL LOAN ARRANGEMENT 1993

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 6 June, Official Report, column 58, if he will list the locations in Indonesia, at sea and on land, at which the lighthouses, light-beacons and lightbouys supplied under the navigational aids project have been installed. [28184]

This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his letter of 31 May relating to his answer to the hon. Member for Sunderland, South (Mr. Mullin) of 6 December 1994, Official Report, columns 118–20, if (a) full and (b) formal appraisals were carried out in respect of each of the aid projects cited; and by whom each was undertaken. [28192]

Appropriate appraisals were carried out in all cases. Details of these appraisals are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to refer back to the Court of Appeal the case of Emma Humphreys who was convicted in 1986 of murder; at what Her Majesty's prison she is currently being held; and if he will make a statement. [27415]

Ms Humphreys has been granted leave to appeal to the Court of Appeal. I understand that the case has been listed for hearing on 29 June. She is currently held at Holloway prison.