To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the total number of scientists employed by the Agricultural and Food Research Council for (a) 1979 and (b) at present. [28567]

The number of scientists employed by the Agricultural and Food Research Council in 1979 was 3,417. As at March 1995, the number employed in the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, as it is now known, has fallen to 1,988.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many scientists were employed at the Institute of Food Research for each year since 1986; and what was the total expenditure for each year since 1986 in (a) cash and (b) constant prices. [28599]

The number of scientists employed at the Institute of Food Research since 1986, and the total expenditure for each year since 1986 in (a) cash and (b) constant prices are as follows:

		Expenditure £ million
Year	Number of Scientists	Cash	Constant
1985–86	534	9.6	14.3
1986–87	514	10.7	15.4
1987–88	517	10.9	15.0
1988–89	463	11.4	14.5
1989–90	425	11.4	13.6
1990–91	308	11.3	12.8
1991–92	338	10.9	11.3
1992–93	335	11.8	11.8
1993–94	303	11.7	11.4
1994–95	313	11.8	11.2

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many people employed on research council grants have funding from the research councils for telephone bills; and how many do not. [28678]

Research councils' databases do not hold data at this level of disaggregation. Telephone bills are covered within the indirect costs element of research grants, except where the telephone cost dedicated to a specific project exceeds £1000 per annum.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps he is taking or has taken to ensure that funds provided by research councils to meet overhead costs to universities associated with the employment of those funded by such grants are used for the purposes for which they are intended. [28679]

The funds provided to universities by the research councils to meet overhead or indirect costs are intended to cover central and departmental costs that underpin research activities, but that cannot readily be uniquely assigned to particular research projects. The funding for indirect costs is therefore not earmarked in any way for particular purposes.The Government are currently funding an independent review of new arrangements introduced in 1992 for the funding of research council work in universities to examine whether these are operating as intended.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, pursuant to his answer of 4 May, Official Report, column 264, if he will provide comparable details on civil service retirement packages on grounds of inefficiency. [29283]

Inefficiency is a ground for dismissal. An immediate lump sum payment of up to two years' salary may be made where a Department judges payment of compensation to be appropriate. Where compensation is agreed and the person dismissed is over age 55, this may be forgone in favour of immediate payment of the accrued superannuation benefits which would otherwise be preserved for payment at retiring age. There have been no departures on inefficiency grounds in the past five financial years from the Cabinet Office, including OPSS and its agencies, HMSO, or the COI.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is his current estimate of the total cost to public funds of Charter Week 1995. [29178]

A number of public service events have been timed to coincide with the fourth anniversary of the charter programme, including the publication of several new or revised charters. There will be no extra cost from holding these events in July.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to publish the results of the inquiry on (a) Kidderminster, Hagley, Blakedown bypass and (b) the western orbital route; and when he will announce a decision as to the timetable for the building of these schemes. [28274]

The Secretaries of State are considering the inspector's report on the A449/A456 Kidderminister, Blakedown and Hagley bypass following public inquiry and will announce their decision in due course. No draft orders for the western orbital route, which could be the subject of an inquiry, have been published. It is not possible, therefore, to give a timetable for either scheme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many applications for closure of rail services have been submitted to him in (a) the last five years and (b) the last 10 years; and how many of those he has accepted. [28618]

Over the past five years, 14 closure proposals have been submitted to the Secretary of State for his consent for closure. Consent was given in 13 cases and one proposal is outstanding. Thirty-six proposals have been submitted to the Secretary of State over the past 10 years. Consent for closure has been given in 30 cases, one has been refused, one is outstanding and four were withdrawn.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to ensure improvements in the provision for (a) cycles and (b) disabled persons on all rail services and in all rail stations; and if he will make a statement. [29253]

The franchising director is minded to include in franchise agreements the provision that, as far as is reasonably practicable, and subject to the availability of appropriate space on their rolling stock, franchise operators should ensure that facilities for the carriage of cycles on trains are provided.The rail regulator has responsibility under the Railways Act 1993 for the protection of the interests of disabled passengers. He has included in passenger and station licences a requirement to establish and comply with a disabled persons' protection policy; and in July 1994 he issued a code of practice on meeting the needs of the disabled which offers practical guidance to the rail industry on improving accessibility to the rail network.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport to what extent the test for excessively dark or smoked glass in the windows in motor cars depends on whether the driver of another vehicle can see the occupants of the vehicle fitted with such glass; and if he will introduce further regulations to define the criteria. [28977]

Regulations require the glass in motor cars first used from 1 June 1978 to have at least 70 per cent. light transmittance. This allows only a light tint. Whether one can see the occupants of another vehicle depends on overall light conditions as well as the light transmittance of the glass.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what assessment he has made as to the impact of the new proposed national superdome on the traffic flow of the M606, M62 and other related road systems; [29002](2) how many places are proposed for the car park for the proposed national superdome; and what estimate he has made of the length of time it would take to clear; [29003](3) what estimate he has made of the likely increase in exhaust emissions in the area should the proposed national superdome be constructed. [29001]

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement as to progress on the construction of the Jubilee line. [28990]

Progress continues to be made with construction of the line. London Underground is still aiming for it to be completed in early 1998.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action he intends to take concerning privatisation of the larger trust ports. [289617]

Ports privatised under the Ports Act 1991 are showing already the increased efficiency which comes from full commercial management and competition on an equal footing with other ports. Both ports and port users benefit from such increased efficiency. All trust ports can, at any time, use the Ports Act 1991 to take action to privatise themselves. Five—Forth, Clyde, Tees and Hartlepool, Medway and Tilbury—have done so already. Dundee is now in the process of privatisation. I welcome this, and hope more will follow.Under the Act, following consultation, I am able to direct a trust port with an annual turnover of more than £5.4 million in two of its last three accounting years to form a successor company and to prepare a scheme for transferring the undertaking to that company, with a view to the sale of the company to the commercial sector.I am considering giving a direction to the Dover Harbour Board, the Port of Tyne Authority and the Ipswich Port Authority directing each to form a company and to prepare a scheme for transferring the authority's undertaking to it. I have accordingly written separately today to the chairmen of those authorities to consult them on my proposal.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) railway employees and (b) railway passengers have suffered injury as a result of acts of vandalism or other aspects of criminal activities on railway lines in each year since 1990. [28161]

The table shows the number of passengers and staff who have suffered injury on the railways, as a result of criminal activity, since 1991. Comparable figures for 1990 are not available.

	1991	1992	1993	1994
Passengers	3,316	3,523	3,745	3,742
Staff	428	442	449	344

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how the number of car parking spaces that are available at Great Minster house and the Horseferry road will affect the representation of disabled people's view points by people who are themselves disabled at meetings of (a) the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee and (b) the joint committee on mobility for disabled people; [28105](2) how many car parking spaces the city of Westminster will make available on Horseferry road for disabled orange badge holders visiting Great Minster house; [28104](3) how many car parking spaces are available at Great Minster house

The Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee is the statutory adviser to the Department of Transport on matters affecting the transport of disabled people. The needs of that committee will continue to be met when the Department moves to Great Minster house. The Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation was commissioned to carry out an access audit of the new building to ensure that it will meet the needs of disabled staff and visitors, including members of the DPTAC.The joint committee on mobility for disabled people is a non-statutory body whose meetings the Department has accommodated on an informal basis for a number of years. However, the parking requirements for that committee far exceed the capacity at Great Minster house and we have regrettably had to tell the organisers that we will be unable to continue the arrangements beyond the end of July 1995. Officials will, however, continue to attend meetings of the JCMD at their new venue and to work closely with them.Of the 21 parking spaces at Great Minster, seven will be reserved for disabled people whether staff or visitors.Westminster City council has also agreed to make two bays available for orange badge holders in Horseferry road outside Great Minster House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what estimate he now makes of the life expectancy of the existing Al2 Bascule bridge at Lowestoft; and if he will make a statement; [28911](2) what contingency he has for moving traffic from north to south Lowestoft and vice versa, when breakdowns of the Bascule bridge of Al2 at Lowestoft occur for

The Al2 Bascule bridge is now 22 years old and should continue to operate satisfactorily for many more years.For planned maintenance closures, and in the event of a breakdown of the Bascule bridge, contingency arrangements are in place to divert local and through traffic via the A1117 Mutford Lock bridge. Associated British Ports, which operates the bridge, liaises closely with the police and Waveney district council to install diversion signing and managing traffic on the diversion route.The Highways Agency and Suffolk county council are considering the possibility of a permanent diversion signing scheme to cater for closures of either the Al2 Bascule bridge on the A1117 Mutford Lock bridge.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 2 May, Official Report, column 152, if he will provide comparable details on civil service early retirement packages on grounds of inefficiency. [29290]

Inefficiency is a ground for dismissal. An immediate lump sum payment of up to two years' salary may be made where a Department judges payment of compensation to be appropriate. Where compensation is agreed and the person dismissed is over age 55, this may be forgone in favour of immediate payment of the accrued superannuation benefits which would otherwise be preserved for payment at retiring age. There have been four departures on inefficiency grounds in the past five financial years. Details are contained in the table.

			Benefits payable at age 60
Year	Number of cases	Immediate compensation lump sum £	Annual pension £	Pension lump sum £
1990–91	11	Nil	Nil	Nil
1991–92 to 1993–94	Nil	n/a	n/a	n/a
1994–95	3	12,221	1,932	5,798
		4,476	1,253	3,759
		19,256	3,770	11,059
1 The officer had under two years service and did not qualify for benefits.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action he intends to take to end the system of unadopted roads and pathways and to incorporate such thoroughfares within the responsibilities of local authorities. [29018]

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if lorry checks now include a requirement to ensure that where appropriate the connector on the brake pipe is connected to the trailer; and what spot checks are taking place to ensure that this piece of equipment is attached. [28870]

All heavy goods vehicle inspections by the Vehicle Inspectorate include a check of brake performance. Regulations requiring operating adaptors to be fitted to all heavy goods vehicles will be made shortly. In the meantime we are running a publicity campaign to alert operators to the dangers of not fitting them. In addition, the Vehicle Inspectorate is obtaining equipment with which checks for fitment can be made at annual and roadside tests.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of the track access subsidy paid to a private rail franchise will be tax deductible as a trading expense. [28671]

[holding answer 15 June]: The payment of track access charges by a franchisee to Railtrack will be deductible as a trading expense. The receipt of track access charges by Railtrack will be taxable in Railtrack's hands.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the cost to the transport and information technology industries of the Government's postponement of road pricing. [28815]

No decision has been taken about the introduction of road pricing in urban areas, so the question of postponement does not arise.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether Customs and Excise has responded to the open government initiative. [29943]

Notice 950, entitled "Open Government: Access to information held by Customs and Excise", has just been published. The notice sets out what Customs and Excise is doing about the open government code of practice, and explains the kinds of information available and how to obtain it. It also sets out Customs's charging policy and the procedures for complaining to the Department, the independent adjudicator and the Parliamentary Ombudsman should the applicant be dissatisfied with the way Customs has handled their request for information. The notice includes an application form for requesting information from Customs and is available, on request, from all Customs and Excise inquiry offices.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what legal advice he has sought from solicitors or barristers in respect of draft conclusions reached by the Scott inquiry; what is the estiamted cost of such legal expenses to public funds; and if he will make a statement. [28900]

[holding answer 15 June 1995]: The Government do not consider it right to publish the nature or costs of any advice which may have been given to individual witnesses to the Scott inquiry. This is a matter of confidence between them and any legal advisers they may have retained.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estiamte of the net government capital expenditure, less net sales of public sector assets, including privatised entities, for the fiscal years (a) 1993–94, (b) 1994–95, (c) 1995–96, (d) 1996–97 and (e) 1997–98. [28199]

[holding answer 14 June 1995]: The table gives public sector capital expenditure, net of depreciation and receipts from disposals of capital assets, for fiscal years 1993–94 to 1997–98.

£ million
	1993–94	1994–95	1995–96	1996–97	1997–98
Net Capital Expenditure	11,668	12,934	11,404	11,277	10,663

Figures for receipts from privatisation are given in table 5.6 of the statistical supplement of the "Financial Statement and Budget Report" (Cm 2821). In addition, since its launch in 1992, the private finance initiative has harnessed an increasing amount of private sector finance. This increase is set to continue, leading to more and better infrastructure projects and improved services.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what policies he intends to implement in order to reduce the expenditure of Government Departments on external consultants. [281581

[holding answer 14 June 1995]: It is for individual Government Departments to decide how much of their cash provision to spend on external consultants. A report by the efficiency unit on the Government's use of external consultants, published in August 1994, indicated a number of ways in which Departments could optimise their use of consultants. Implementation of those measures, combined with continued firm control of provision available for public expenditure, should enhance the value for money Departments obtain from the services of external consultants.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many individuals in Scotland are currently receiving mortgage tax relief; what estimates he has of the regional distribution of mortgagors and mortgage interest relief in each year since 1988; and what is the current cost to the Exchequer of paying mortgage interest relief in Scotland; [27369](2) what was the cost of mortgage tax relief

[holding answer 9 June 1995]: Information for the years 1988–89 to 1992–93 was published in table 5.3 of "Inland Revenue Statistics 1994". Updated figures for 1993–94 and figures for 1994–95 are given in the tables.

Cost of mortgage interest tax relief and numbers of mortgagors, by region and country:
Amounts: £ million
Cost	1993–94	1994–951
Northern	200	160
Yorkshire	300	240
North West	430	350
East Midlands	280	230
West Midlands	340	280
East Anglia	170	140
Greater London	580	470
Other South East	1,090	890
South West	400	320
England	3,790	3,080
Wales	150	130
Scotland	300	240
Northern Ireland	60	50
United Kingdom	4,300	3,500
1 Provisional.

Numbers: thousands1
Mortgagors	1993–94	1994–951
Northern	560	570
Yorkshire	840	850
North West	1,190	1,200
East Midlands	730	740
West Midlands	910	920
East Anglia	380	380
Greater London	1,060	1,070
Other South East	2,120	2,140
South West	890	900
England	8,680	8,770
Wales	450	450
Scotland	720	730
Northern Ireland	150	150
United Kingdom	10,000	10,100
1 Provisional.

No mortgage interest relief in excess of the basic rate is available for the years specified. In 1994–95 the rate of relief was 20 per cent. and in 1995–96 the rate of relief is 15 per cent. The estimated total cost of mortgage relief in 1995–96 is about £2.8 billion with about 10.1 million married couples and single people receiving the relief. This is based on the assumption, by convention, of no change from the current estimated average building society interest rate of 8 per cent. The regional distribution for 1993–94 is a broad estimate based on analyses of family expenditure surveys up to 1993. The regional distribution for 1994–95, which is shown in the table, is a projection based on applying the same regional percentages to the total figures for 1994–95. It is not possible to provide reliable estimates of regional distributions for 1995–96.

To ask the chairman of the Public Accounts Commission (1) if the National Audit Office will publish an interim report into its findings into the British Coal privatisation by N. M. Rothschild; and if he will make a statement; [28278](2) when the National Audit Office will publish its findings into the British Coal privatisation handled by N. M. Rothschild; and if he will make a statement. [28276]

The National Audit Office is currently examining the sale by the Department of Trade and Industry of British Coal's mining activities. This examination will consider the steps taken by the Department in pursuit of its objectives for the sale, and the costs of the sale, including advisers' costs. When the examination has been completed, the National Audit Office will report to Parliament. I understand that it currently has no plans to make interim reports on any particular aspect of the sale.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, pursuant to his answer of 17 May, Official Report, column 232, if he will provide comparable details on civil service early retirement packages on grounds of inefficiency. [29281]

This information is not held by my Department in a readily accessible form. The information which the hon. Member has requested is being collated and I will provide him with a substantive answer shortly.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what was the cost of the legal aid given to Mr. Reda Hanna; what was his contribution; and what account was taken of his parents' wealth as a means of assessing his contribution. [28364]

The trial of Mr. Hanna has only just ended and the costs have not yet been determined. Mr. Hanna was not required to contribute towards the costs of his legal aid, but was ordered to pay £200 towards the costs of the prosecution. Current legal aid regulations do not provide for a parent's resources to be included in the means assessment of applicants for legal aid. However, the Lord Chancellor has indicated that he intends to amend the legal aid regulations to provide those conducting means assessments with a discretionary power to include in the means assessment the assets of friends, relatives and children where these appear to be providing a significant material advantage to the applicant.

To ask the Prime Minister what has been the cost to date of the Nolan Committee on Standards in Public Life. [28931]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Ryedale, (Mr. Greenway), 22 May, Official Report, columns 377–78.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his recent meeting with the hon. Member for Liverpool, Riverside, and adeputation from the Merseyside police authority concerning recent troubles on Liverpool streets and the funding for the police. [29279]

This was a useful meeting, at which I was able to receive a personal briefing on the position in the hon. Member's constituency and to hear the views of the police authority. My Department continues to keep in close touch with events in the area.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the letter dated 1 May from the hon. Member for Hammersmith concerning training of probation officers. [29103]

A reply was sent to the hon. Member for Hammersmith on 16 June.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average time between a death occurring and an inquest being completed in (a) south Northumberland and (b) nationally; [29256](2) on how many occasions over the past five years the coroner for south Northumberland has failed to issue a death certificate within 12 months of death occurring. [29255]

Information collected on deaths reported to coroners is published in an annual Home Office Statistical Bulletin. The latest bulletin "Statistics of Deaths reported to Coroners: England and Wales, 1994", issue 6/95, was published on 20 April 1995 and is available in the Library. This covers information on deaths reported, post-mortems, inquests held and verdicts returned at inquests.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the contractual enforceability of conditions of employment which apply to overseas domestic workers. [29493]

The position of overseas domestic workers is no different from that of other employees in this respect. Contractual terms are matters for employers and employees to agree. Once agreed they are legally binding and, in cases of non-compliance, employees can take action for breach of contract through the civil courts or, in certain circumstances, through industrial tribunals.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what bonuses were paid to prison officers at Blakenhurst prison by United Kingdom Detention Services following the riots of February 1994; and what conditions were applied to them. [28831]

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 information is recorded when a person who entered the United Kingdom as a visitor, without need for a visitor's visa, leaves the United Kingdom; [28789](2) what information is recorded, and how this information is stored, when a visitor to the United Kingdom who is not required to possess a visitor's visa is admitted at a port of entry; [29787](3) what information is recorded, and how this information is stored, when a visitor to the United Kingdom with a valid visitor's visa is admitted at a port of entry; [28786](4) what information is recorded when a person who entered the United Kingdom in possession of a valid visitor's visa, leaves the United Kingdom. [28788]

Information about bona fide visitors, whether or not they require a visa, is not routinely recorded either on arrival or departure. Details of a person's limited leave to enter, and subsequent departure, may, however, be recorded on the Immigration and Nationality Department electronic computer system depending upon individual circumstances. In such cases, information given on arrival will be recorded on an arrival card for input on INDECS. Where a detailed interview is required, any supplementary notes will be filed at the port and the outcome may be reported to the Immigration and Nationality Department for information.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the ratio of staff to prisoners at each prison in England and Wales at the latest available date; and what were the figures for 12 months ago. [28254]

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 what estimate he has of the number of dogs destroyed under the provisions of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. [27855]

[holding answer 12 June 1995]: During 1992 and 1993, a total of 630 people were convicted either of offences under section 1 of the Act, or of aggravated offences under section 3. In each of these cases, the court would have had no option but to order the destruction of the dog concerned. This figure is therefore likely to be close to the actual number of dogs put down under the Act in that period.Figures for 1994 are likely to be available in the autumn.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what procedure he intends to adopt for appointing a successor to Her Majesty's chief inspector of prisons following the recent announcement of Judge Tumim's retirement. [28313]

[holding answer 13 June 1995]: The post will be filled by open competition using both advertisement and executive research to identify suitable candidates.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which Ministers, former Minsters or civil servants in his Department have sought independent legal advice in assisting their response to draft extracts from Sir Richard Scott's report; in each case from whom the advice has been sought; and what limit has been placed on payment for such advice from public funds. [28390]

[holding answer 13 June 1995]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minster to the hon. Member for Bradford, West (Mr. Madden), on June, col. 374.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further progress is being made in concert with the Chancellor of the Exchequer to assist in the reduction of third-world debt. [28622]

Ten countries have benefited from debt reduction under Naples terms since these were agreed by the Paris Club in December 1994. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister raised the Chancellor's proposals on multilateral debt at the G7 summit.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what bilateral agreements currently exist between the United Kingdom and the Seychelles. [28785]

The following bilateral agreements are in force:

(i) Exchange of notes between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the Republic of Seychelles concerning the return to Seychelles of the Islands of Aldabra, Desroches and Farquhar.

• Signed at Victoria on 29 June 1976
• Published in the Treaty Series (Command 6713)

(ii) Agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the Republic of Seychelles concerning public officers' pensions.

• Signed at Victoria on 29 June 1976
• Published in the Treaty Series (Command 6635)

(iii) Letters of understanding concerning the United Kingdom/Seychelles loan 1977.

• Signed at Victoria on 10 March 1977

(iv) Exchange of notes between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the Republic of Seychelles constituting the Overseas Service Aid Scheme (Seychelles) Agreement 1981.

• Signed at Victoria on 31 March 1981. Amended by No. 6 of 6 May 1986 to 3 June 1986.
• Published in the Treaty Series (Command 8343)

(v) Exchange of notes between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the Republic of Seychelles constituting the British Expatriates Supplementation (Seychelles) Agreement 1981.

• Signed at Victoria on 31 March 1981. Amended by No. 7 of 6 May 1986 to 3 June 1986.
• Published in the Treaty Series (Command 6635)

(vi) Exchange of notes between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the Republic of Seychelles amending the Overseas Service Aid Scheme (Seychelles) Agreement 1981/86).

• Signed at Victoria on 6 May 1986 to 3 June 1986.
• Published in the Treaty Series (Command 217)

(vii) Exchange of notes between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of Seychelles amending the British Expatriates Supplementation (Seychelles) Agreement 1981 (The British Expatriates Supplementation (Seychelles) Agreement 1981/86).

• Signed at Victoria on 6 May 1986 to 3 June 1986.
• Published in the Treaty Series (Command 217)

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what technical assistance and aid the United Kingdom gives to the Seychelles. [28784]

Our aid programme consists of training awards, small projects and gifts under the British partnership and heads of mission gifts schemes, and residual assistance to the fire service. In addition, the UK share of EC aid to the Seychelles under Lomé IV is over £600,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 8 February, Official Report, columns 289–94, what was the nature of the technical co-operation given under the radio/rehabilitation and radio studios projects concluded with Indonesia in (a) 1988 and (b) 1989, respectively, involving David Whittle Associates, and what was the outcome of that technical co-operation. [29537]

The appointment of David Whittle Associates was linked to the project to rehabilitate the radio studios in Jakarta.The company was initially engaged in February 1988 to advise the ODA on the scope of project and to advise Indonesia Radio, RRI, on its implementation. Its 1989 contract covered specialist advice to RRI on studio building, acoustics and fire safety.The technical co-operation improved the capabilities of the Indonesian team working on the project.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 6 June, Official Report, columns 58–59, if he will list the sites in Indonesia at which diesel generating sets supplied under the isolated diesels project and the scattered diesels project were installed. [28185]

[holding answer 12 June 1995]: In my reply to the hon. Lady's earlier question, I stated that the isolated diesels project consisted of 45 diesel generating sets at 14 sites. However, further research has revealed that the scope of the project was subsequently modified. The modification was at the request of the Government of Indonesia, and was primarily for financial reasons. The revised project provided 23 generating sets at seven sites. These were located at:

• Lhok Seumawe
• Dumai
• Bengkulu
• Jambi
• Pangkal Pinang
• Samarinda
• Kupang

The locations of the three sites covered by the scattered diesels project were:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 1 February, Official Report, column 704, to the hon. Member for Eccles, (Miss Lestor) regarding the national overview of land resources in Indonesia, if he will list the forestry officers trained under the project, in each case specifying the position of the officer within the Ministry of Forestry; and whom the Government engaged to carry out the training. [27827]

[holding answer 14 June 1995]: The national overview of land resources was a synopsis of the land resources and land use of Indonesia. On the job training under the project was provided to project staff in the department of transmigration as follows:

• Mrs. Donna Sipahutar: Co-team leader/agriculture team member
• Dr. Wahyudi: Land resources team member
• Dr. Eko Budiman: Remote sensing team member
• Mr. Herniono Sigit: Soil team member
• Dr. Sukardi: Hydrology team member
• Dr. Sarjono: Social Demography team member
• Mr. Wirawan: Cartography team member
• Mr. Tobing: Cartographer
• Mr. Sarono: Cartographer
• Mr. Dasimi: Cartographer
• Mr. Sudirman: Cartographer
• Mr. Mulyoto: Cartographer
• Mr. Mulyoto: Cartographer
• Mr. Effendi: Cartographer
• Mr. Sutaryo: Cartographer
• Mr. Maruwi: Cartographer
• Mr. Sunarta: Cartographer
• Mr. Subiono: Cartographer
• Mr. Puji Yuwono: Cartographer
• Mr. Pujo CH: Cartographer

Mrs. Sipahutar, Dr. Budiman and Mrs. Lillak Winami, secretary, also undertook training in the United Kingdom.The land resources department of the Natural Resources Institute was engaged as project manager.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 1 February, Official Report, column 704, to the hon. Member for Eccles (Miss Lestor), regarding the regional physical planning, map improvement and training project in Indonesia, what were the outer islands and other geographical area covered by the project; what was the nature of the training provided under the project; what were the names of the trainees and what was their status within the directorate general of settlement preparations; and whom the Government engaged to carry out the project. [27828]

[holding answer 14 June 1995]: The project covered 26 provinces of Indonesia, and excluded Jakarta. Training was provided in Indonesia on the interpretation and improvement of land use maps and a database for land systems. Officials from all district govyernment organisations and universities concerned with land use planning attended. In total 1,237 people were trained in Indonesia. In addition, seven people involved in mapping and land use planning were trained in UK. Their details are:

Name	Nature of training
Mr. Herson	MSc (Econ) Development Policy Planning
Mr. K. Supraplo	Postgraduate diploma in Human Resource Development
Mr. M. Effendi	MSc Geographical Information System
Ms Diah Kirana	MSc Geographical Information System
Mr. Marsono Yullanto	Postgraduate Diploma in Digital Mapping and Automated Cartography
Mr. Syaliul Anwar	MSc in Resource Management
Mr. Muhtadl Ganda Sutrisna	MSc in Geology

The Natural Resources Institute was engaged as project manager.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 1 February, Official Report, column 704, to the hon. Member for Eccles, (Miss Lestor) regarding the forestry project identification mission in Indonesia, whom the Government engaged to carry out the mission; what was the outcome of the mission and what further forestry development has been, or will be, funded in Indonesia by the Government. [27829]

[holding answer 14 June 1995]: The mission in 1989 was led by one of the Overseas Development Administration's senior natural resources advisers, and included a forestry specialist and commodities economist from the Natural Resources Institute as well as a private forestry consultant. The report of the mission set the future framework for UK aid to the forestry sector in Indonesia. We are now implementing the projects the mission identified, known collectively as the Indonesian tropical forest management project.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 1 February, Official Report, column 704, to the hon. Member for Eccles (Miss Lestor) regarding the regional physical planning project for transmigration in Indonesia, for which specific geographical areas maps and data were provided under the project; and whom the Government engaged to carry out the project. [27830]

[holding answer 14 June 1995]: The project mapped the land resources and land use of the whole of Indonesia. The project was implemented by the land resources department of the Natural Resources Institute with the Department of Transmigration.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his Department's assessment of the implications for the future stability of the non-proliferation regime of agreement to the extension decision of the non-proliferation treaty by majority vote rather than by consensus.

On 11 May the states parties to the non-proliferation treaty participating in the NPT review and extension conference decided without a vote to extend the treaty indefinitely. This decision will send the strongest possible signal of the international community's determination to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the statement of 24 May in European Standing Committee B, Official Report, column 12, by the Minister of State, the hon. Member for Boothferry (Mr. Davis), on the 16 new areas of competence sought by the European Commission during the Maastricht negotiations, if he will list the areas of competence to which he referred; and which were conceded at Maastricht. [27493]

During the Maastricht negotiations, new or extended Community competence was proposed in the following 16 areas: education and training; health; environment; research and technological development; development co-operation; civil protection; tourism, culture, industry; energy; trans-European networks; consumer protection; external trade in services; social policy; free movement of persons; the common foreign and security policy.The result of the negotiation was complicated: for example the CFSP has been established in a separate pillar outside Community competence and social policy was covered in a separate protocol. It was decided not to introduce new chapters on energy, tourism or consumer protection. Community action in the majority of new chapters which were included in the treaty is either subject to unanimity or to limitations on the scope for harmonising legislation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when a Minister last visited the Seychelles. [28785]

My hon. Friend the Member for Chipping Barnet (Mr. Chapman), a Government Whip, attended the inauguration of President Rene in July 1993.We look forward to a visit to Britain by the Foreign Minister of the Seychelles in July.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made to the Spanish Government about their recent requirement that a person seeking to cross the Spain-Gibraltar border on an Isle of Man passport must also obtain a visa. [28606]

None. We are investigating the incident.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what occasions in the last five years a Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister has visited Gibraltar. [28608]

Francis Maude MP, Minister of State, visited Gibraltar on 23–25 January 1990.Tristan Garel-Jones MP, Minister of State, visited Gibraltar on 26–28 July 1991.David Heathcoat-Amory MP, Minister of State, visited Gibraltar on 30 November to 1 December 1993.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures he proposes to ensure the swift access into Gibraltar for athletes and officials travelling to Gibraltar for the Island Games in July via Malaga airport or other locations in Spain. [28610]

The majority of teams are expected to fly to Gibraltar. But we shall of course continue to press Spain to bring an end to the unacceptable delays at the Spain—Gibraltar frontier.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the estimated cost of the European Parliament in 1995. [28680]

The total amount in the 1995 European Community Budget for the European Parliament is 843 mecu—705 million—*.*The figure for the European Community budget has been converted to sterling at the rate of 1 ecu = £0.8361 being the rate notified in the EC

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will now release the names of British supplier companies to the Iraqi nuclear programme listed in the International Atomic Energy Agency report. [28998]

No. I have nothing to add to previous replies on this matter.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the Japanese authorities concerning a Japanese apology for events during the second world war. [29068]

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to secure a full apology from the Japanese Government for the conduct of its troops towards British prisoners of war during world war II. [29257]

When my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister visited Japan in September 1993, the Prime Minister of Japan expressed his deep remorse as well as apologies for the fact that Japan's past actions had inflicted deep wounds on many people including former prisoners of war.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 2 May, Official Report, column 150, if he will provide comparable details on civil service early retirement packages on grounds of inefficiency. [29291]

Inefficiency is a ground for dismissal. An immediate lump sum payment of up to two years' salary may be made where a Department judges payment of compensation to be appropriate. Where compensation is agreed and the person dismissed is over the age of 55, this may be forgone in favour of immediate payment of the accrued superannuation benefits which would otherwise be preserved for payment at retiring age. Details of the departures on inefficiency grounds are not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what investigation his Department has (a) instigated and (b) evaluated into the allegations made by Fr. Joseph Jin Dechen in respect of forced abortions in the Chinese population control programme. [28964]

We are deeply concerned by the reports of enforced abortion in China on which we receive information from a number of sources including NGOs. We raise these matters with the relevant Chinese authorities, and we are in contact with the UN agencies working in this area in China. We will continue to monitor the activities of the Chinese population control programme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what written briefing material he will be making available to those attending the UN conference on women in Beijing in respect of human rights abuses against women by the Chinese Government. [28947]

The UK delegation will be provided with briefing covering issues to be raised at the conference. A general background brief is also being prepared and will be available to other participants.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the current arrangements for non-governmental organisations in respect of the UN conference on women in Beijing. [28949]

We welcome the conclusion of recent negotiations and the acceptance of Huairou as the site for Forum '95 by the convenor of the non-governmental organisations facilitating committee. The provision of additional accommodation and transport should facilitate the effective exchange of views between the United Kingdom delegation and British NGOs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make further representations to the Chinese Government to request them to lift all restrictions on the movement and freedom of Fr. Joseph Jin Dechen. [28950]

We continue to be extremely concerned about abuses of human rights in China, including the persecution of religious believers such as Fr. Joseph Jin Dechen. We will continue to use every suitable opportunity to express our concerns to the Chinese authorities, both bilaterally and in conjunction with our European partners.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he expects to give permission for Joyce Kiiza—Ref: 95 21 70—to come from Uganda to the United Kingdom. [29509]

I have asked the high commission at Kampala for details and will arrange for the hon. Member to receive a substantive reply from the migration and visa correspondence unit as soon as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what has been the actual cost of totally funding supply cover during standard assessment tests (a) nationally (i) for seven-year-olds and (ii) for 11-year-olds and (b) in Nottinghamshire schools for (i) seven-year-olds and (ii) 11-year-olds; [28915](2) what is the total amount that has been

I refer the hon. Member to the replies that I gave him on 6 June, Official Report, columns 10–11.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is the projected cost of assessing pupils of too low an academic standard to take the formal standard assessment tasks. [28917]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave him on 6 June, Official Report, column 10. No information is available at present in respect of the projected costs of the national curriculum tasks to be used in the 1995–96 school year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to her answer of 2 May, Official Report, columns 153–54, if she will provide comparable details on Civil service early retirement packages on grounds of inefficiency. [29289]

Inefficiency is a ground for dismissal. There have been no departures from the Department for Education on inefficiency grounds with retirement packages in the last five years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much public money has been paid to St. James school, Farnworth, since it opted out; what effect there has been on spending from public funds as a result of problems in financial management at the school; and if she will make a statement. [28963]

St. James is a grant-maintained school. Responsibility for payment of grants to the school and for monitoring its financial management therefore rests with the Funding Agency for Schools. I have asked the agency's chairman to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is the forecast for expenditure on mandatory awards and loans given to students from Wales during the current year; and if she will make a statement. [29028]

The Department's plans for expenditure in the 1995–96 financial year on mandatory awards and on student loans are £2,095 million and £644 million respectively. The plans relate to expenditure for students domiciled in England and Wales; separate forecasts are not made for students from Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what was the total amount of local education authority holdback in Hampshire in 1994. [29561]

A total of £125,952,000. This figure is derived from the budget statement for 1994–95 published by the local education authority under section 42 of the Education Reform Act, and relates to all planned expenditure on mandatory and discretionary "excepted items".

To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many continuing students commencing a degree course or post-graduate teacher training course in the autumn of 1995 will he eligible for the mature students allowance (a) in England and (b) in Wales. [29249]

This information is not collected centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to her answer to the hon. Member for Rugby and Kenilworth of 12 June, Official Report, column 415, if she will give details of the 20 countries that send most students to the United Kingdom to study in advanced education. [28926]

The requested information is given in the table.

Full-time higher education students from overseas 1992–931
(thousands)
Rank	Countries	Postgraduate	Undergraduate	Total higher education
1.	Malaysia	1.7	6.9	8.5
2.	Germany2	1.4	5.6	7.1
3.	Irish Republic	0.9	5.9	6.8
4.	Hong Kong	1.3	5.3	6.6
5.	France	1.2	5.1	6.3
6.	Greece	2.4	3.5	5.9
7.	USA	1.6	3.5	5.2
8.	Singapore	0.6	2.8	3.4
9.	Spain	0.7	2.1	2.8
10.	Italy	0.6	1.5	2.1
11.	Japan	0.9	1.1	2.0
12.	Cyprus	0.3	1.6	1.9
13.	Norway	0.3	1.5	1.9
14.	China	1.3	0.1	1.4
15.	Netherlands	0.3	1.1	1.4
16.	Kenya	0.3	0.9	1.3
17.	Canada	0.8	0.5	1.3
18.	Belgium	0.3	0.9	1.2
19.	Pakistan	0.7	0.4	1.1
20.	India	0.7	0.4	1.1
Source:
Education Statistics for the United Kingdom, 1994 Edition, HMSO.
Notes:
1 Enrolments.
2 Includes the former East Germany.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Health regarding the safety of schools with fewer than five pupils, with particular reference to schools in Coventry; and what proposals she has for the registration of private preparatory schools with a class of up to four pupils. [29008]

My right hon. Friend the responsibility for registration of independent schools; she works closely with the Secretary of State for Health who has responsibility for registration of other services for young children, including those with fewer than five full-time pupils of compulsory school age who by law are not independent schools. They keep under regular review the arrangements for ensuring appropriate standards of child care and education for young children in all settings.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what was the pupil teacher ratio in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools for the first six months of 1995; and if she will make a statement. [28995]

Information about pupil-teacher ratios in maintained schools in England in January 1995 will be published in a statistical press notice on 29 June.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what percentage of London education authorities provide educational support services for children with autism; and if she will make a statement. [29086]

All LEAs are required to arrange any special educational provision specified in a statement of SEN for a child for whom they have responsibility. They have the power to provide support services for children with special educational needs in their or any other area. How these services are organised is a matter to be determined by each LEA.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans she has to provide innovation grants to universities to fund innovation projects in their communities. [29152]

Under the 1992 Further and Higher Education Act my right hon. Friend provides grants to the Higher Education Funding Council for England to distribute to universities and colleges to fund teaching and research. She has asked the Council to take into account in its funding for research the Government's policies on competitiveness, including those concerned with innovation. Separately the HEFCE provides HE institutions with grants to promote innovation areas such as: teaching, learning and technology, teaching practices; the organisation of the academic year; improving access to local groups traditionally under represented in HE; and providing continuing professional development for local employers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what nutritional quality standards are regulated by her Department in respect of school meals; and when was the last change in these standards. [28819]

Under the Education Acts, the nutritional quality of school meals in England is the responsibility of local education authorities or, where applicable, the governing bodies of schools, and is not subject to regulation by the Department.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what was the net expenditure on free school meals for each year since 1987 broken down by county. [28820]

The Department does not collect this information.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education under what authority the selling of confectionery in schools may be prohibited; and which schools have prohibited its sale. [28830]

Decisions about the sale of confectionery are the responsibility of local education authorities or, where applicable, the governing bodies of schools in England. We do not collect information on school which have prohibited the sale of confectionery.

To ask the Lord President of the Council what assessment he has made of the adequacy of facilities for hon. Members to carry out their duties. [27635]

In the structure introduced following the Ibbs report at the start of the 1991–92 Session the facilities available to hon. Members are generally a matter for the domestic committees and the House of Commons Commission. A number of further improvements are in hand, for example, to provide additional office accommodation and to enhance the availability of information technology.

To ask the Lord President of the Council what studies he has made of the accounting for, and application of, Short money following the Nolan report.

The present procedures by which a party claims financial assistance and subsequently accounts for these sums to the House, are set out in the Resolution of the House of 4 November 1993. I have made no study of these procedures since the Nolan report.

To ask the Lord President of the Council when he expects to propose the membership of the Select Committee to consider the first report of the Committee on Standards in Public Life. [27637]

The Select Committee on Standards in Public Life was nominated on 13 June.

To ask the Lord President of the Council what proposals he has to seek a ban on all-night sittings of the House; and if he will make a statement. [27640]

One of the aims of the current experiment with revised sitting arrangements, which the House approved on 19 December 1994, is to avoid late sittings wherever possible. There have been no all-night sittings since the experiment began, and only one occasion when the House has sat after 1 am. The experiment is at present being reviewed by the Procedure Committee.

To ask the Lord President of the Council what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of parliamentary scrutiny of the activities of the European Union. [27641]

Our scrutiny arrangements are amongst the most rigorous in the European Union, and generally work well. However, they continue to be kept under review.

To ask the Lord President of the Council how many Select Committee reports have been debated on the Floor of the House during the last four years; and if he will make a statement. [27639]

Since 19 June 1991 222 Select Committee reports have been debated on the Floor of the House. A further 84 reports have been "tagged" on the Order Paper as relevant to a debate.

To ask the Lord President of the Council how many written parliamentary questions were tabled for answer by his Department in each of the past five years; how many of these were not answered because the information (a) could be obtained only at disproportionate cost, (b) was not held centrally and (c) was not normally disclosed; how many of these could now be answered due to computerisation, more effective and efficient operational systems or more open government; and if he will list each question along with the name and constituency of the right hon. or hon. Member who originally tabled it.

The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will take steps to ensure that all the documents (a) seized by the Ministry of Defence police from the offices of British Manufacture and Research Company in April 1990 and (b) held by the receivers of Astra Holding and British Manufacture and Research Company are made available to the Scott inquiry.

Pursuant to the answer I gave on behalf of my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 4 April 1995, Official Report, column 987. I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State for the Armed Forces earlier today.

To ask the right hon. Member for Berwick upon Tweed, representing the House of Commons Commission, what financial provision exists to increase the number of seats available to members of the public to observe House of Commons debates. [27630]

None.

To ask the right hon. Member for Berwick upon Tweed, representing the House of Commons Commission, what was the direct cost of recalling the House for its special sitting on Wednesday 31 May.

The cost of provision of the papers in the Vote Bundle and the Official Report was £11,500. Travelling expenses and overtime payments relating to the sitting are expected to produce further costs. To date, claims totalling some £1,000 have been made.

To ask the Lord President of the Council what discussions he has had with the Commonwealth countries as to the current make up of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. [27638]

None.

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

The Government are committed to the principles set out in the regional platform for action agreed at the conference in question, and have pursued these through a wide range of programmes and initiatives. As indicated in my reply to the hon. Lady of 4 May, 60 per cent. of staff in my Department are women. I am considering the recommendation in the White Paper "Taking Forward Continuity and Change" regarding the publication of material on equal opportunities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what assurances he has given to the committee of independent experts in respect of the Government guaranteeing in practice complete and effective protection against anti-trade union discrimination based on trade union membership or activities. [27657]

The Government, in reporting to the Council of Europe in respect of the Council's social charter, have on a number of occasions, most recently in its 15th report which was submitted in 1994, provided information on the provisions in UK law which protect:

(a) employees against dismissal or action short of dismissal on grounds related to trade union membership or activities; and

(b) people against refusal of employment on grounds related to union membership.

Under the Council's reporting procedures, the committee of independent experts will give their opinion on the 15th report in 1996. A copy of the report has been placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what information he has given to the committee of independent experts concerning (a) the proportion of the working population employed under atypical contracts, including fixed-term contracts, casual short-term work, part-time work and home-based work and (b) the entitlement to paid annual holiday of such workers. [27659]

Information was provided in 1994 in the UK Government's 15th report to the Council of Europe in respect of the Council's social charter, on the number of part-time workers in Great Britain. The report states that the seasonally adjusted level of part-time employment in December 1993 was 6,789,000 million, to the nearest thousand, of which 5,297,000 were women.The experts have now asked for information on the proportion of the working population employed under fixed-term contracts, in casual, home-based and part-time work and the entitlements to paid annual holidays of such workers, and in line with the current reporting procedures the UK will seek to provide this information in its 17th report in 1996.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of (a) boys and (b) girls leaving school and not continuing in full-time education or training became unemployed in the Rotherham and Mexborough travel-to-work area in 1993 and in 1994. [27914]

[holding answer 15 June 19951: The information is not available in the form requested. Figures are available only by the areas covered by the Rotheram careers service and the Doncaster careers service. The information is taken from figures published by the local authority associations.The following table shows the total number of statutory school leavers in both Rotherham and Doncaster in 1993 and 1994, and the numbers who at the date the information was collected were known to have been unemployed.

	Total number of school leavers		Known to have been unemployed
Date information collected	Boys	Girls	Boys	Girls
Rotherham
October 1993	1,537	1,460	97	60
November 1994	1,617	1,524	112	75
Doncaster
November 1993	1,622	1,657	112	74
November 1994	1,790	1,618	129	80

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what employment protection is specifically available for transsexuals; and if he will make a statement. [29548]

Transsexuals have the same employment protection rights as other employees.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what positions in rank order of employment service offices has been achieved by the Manchester Cheetham employment service office in respect of the number of people successfully removed from benefit. [29340]

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date his Department took possession of documents taken from the company BMARC; on what date these documents were handed over to the Scott inquiry; and if he will list the Ministers who had access to these documents within his Department. [18300]