To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for every police force in England and Wales for each year since 1989 (a) the total number of sickness days taken due to injury on duty and (b) the average number of days lost per police officer due to injury on duty. [28165]

Information on the number of injuries sustained on duty is not held centrally. However, information has been kept since 1990 on days' sick leave taken due to assault and is shown in the table.

Total Number of Days Sick Leave Due to Assault
Forces	1990	1991	1992	1993
Avon and Somerset	1,402.00	840.00	868.00	906.00
Bedfordshire	582.00	831.00	633.00	341.00
Cambridgeshire	213.00	589.00	391.00	400.00
Cheshire	1,109.00	921.00	777.00	1,119.00
City of London	37.00	6.00	4.00	9.00
Cleveland	731.00	610.00	654.00	1,069.00
Cumbria	169.00	358.00	563.00	457.00
Derbyshire	648.00	1,135.00	1,331.00	1,502.00
Devon and Cornwall	865.00	986.00	423.00	712.00
Dorset	406.00	325.00	456.00	490.00
Durham	1,191.00	1,129.00	708.00	448.00
Dyfed-Powys	622.00	223.00	636.00	557.00
Essex	629.00	454.00	1,291.00	582.00
Gloucestershire	259.00	338.00	475.00	482.00
Greater Manchester	3,708.00	3,618.00	1,712.00	1,427.00
Gwent	330.00	126.00	317.00	342.00
Hampshire	2,170.00	930.00	1,030.00	1,535.00
Hertfordshire	650.00	640.00	403.00	214.00
Humberside	895.00	856.00	829.00	727.00
Kent	542.00	190.00	231.00	400.00
Lancashire	1,371.00	2,422.00	2,024.00	1,160.00
Leicestershire	644.00	678.00	1,320.00	469.00
Lincolnshire	670.00	758.00	639.00	709.00
Merseyside	4,086.00	4,264.00	2,560.00	2,825.00
Norfolk	381.00	157.00	405.00	256.00
North Wales	623.00	810.00	531.00	61.00
North Yorkshire	274.00	419.00	332.00	119.00
Northamptonshire	132.00	65.00	538.00	370.00
Northumbria	4,296.00	3,993.00	2,585.00	4,048.00
Nottinghamshire	1,302.00	1,081.00	1,160.00	1,161.00
South Wales	2,422.00	2,874.00	2,786.00	3,414.00
South Yorkshire	1,297.00	600.00	813.00	697.00
Staffordshire	1,120.00	1,096.00	622.00	345.00
Suffolk	443.00	333.00	440.00	122.00
Surrey	811.00	641.00	442.00	240.00
Sussex	1,026.00	1,708.00	1,083.00	738.00
Thames Valley	1,144.00	761.00	1,152.00	668.00
Warwickshire	438.00	275.00	498.00	375.00
West Mercia	487.00	405.00	598.00	504.00
West Midlands	2,992.00	1,279.00	1,979.00	2,054.19
West Yorkshire	2,455.00	2,880.00	2,396.00	2,017.00
Wiltshire	456.00	400.00	266.00	249.00
Provincial Total	46,028.00	43,004.00	38,901.00	36,320 69
Metropolitan Police	7,598.00	10,564.00	8,122.00	11,323.00
England and Wales Total	53,626.00	53,568.00	47,023.00	47,643 69

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he intends to send asylum seekers under 18 years of age, or who claim to be under 18, to Campsfield house detention centre when Group 4 sets up its tactical support unit at the centre; [29663](2) if he will take into account the advice of an independent medical expert in helping to determine the age of an asylum seeker who claims to be under 18 years old when detention is being considered. [29673]

The availability of staff trained in control and restraint techniques is required to meet extreme operational demands. This facility will not affect the fundamental regime at Campsfield house, which will remain suitable for the detention of young people and those claiming to be under the age of 18.Asylum applicants who are, or claim to be, under 18 are detained only in the most exceptional circumstances where this appears appropriate in the light of all relevant considerations. In assessing the person's age, medical evidence may be taken into account and if that were available from an independent medical expert that would be considered. However, I see no justification for formal arrangements to seek such independent evidence in all cases where the detainee claims to be under 18.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children are currently held in detention in connection with asylum applications; what are their nationalities; how many have been held for more than two months; and if he will list the detention establishments where they are being held. [29885]

As at 16 June 1995, there was one recognised minor who had claimed asylum in the United Kingdom being held in detention. This Algerian national, who is 17 years of age, was an illegal entrant and has been held at Campsfield house for less than two months.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if unaccompanied children seeking asylum will be excluded from the short procedure pilot scheme; and if he will make a statement. [29672]

Asylum applications made by or on behalf of unaccompanied children under the age of 18 are not included in the short procedure pilot.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the special security unit at Whitemoor prison will reopen. [30059]

The special security unit at Whitemoor prison reopened yesterday. Comprehensive changes have been made to the unit since it closed following the escape attempt last September. These changes are in line with the recommendations in Sir John Woodcock's report. They include: major construction work to upgrade physical security measures; mandatory operating standards which lay down procedures for staff; carefully selected with trained staff, and a reorganised management structure with clear lines of responsibility.I have also decided to introduce a policy of closed visits for all exceptional risk prisoners in the light of the Prison Service's assessment of their security requirements. By removing all physical contact between prisoner and visitor, the opportunity for the passing of weapons or other illicit items should be eliminated. As a result, all exceptional risk prisoners in the Whitemoor special security unit and the category A unit at Belmarsh prison will be subject to closed visits arrangements. The policy will be applied at the Full Sutton special security unit when it reopens following the construction work necessary to implement the Woodcock recommendations.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his current policy on allowing switching after entry into the minister of religion category by people who are admitted to the United Kingdom, under the immigration rules, in another capacity. [30060]

The immigration rules require that a person entering the United Kingdom as a minister of religion must obtain an entry clearance for that purpose in advance. The purpose of the entry clearance requirement is to ensure that the bona fides of the applicant as a minister of religion can be fully assessed, in the country where he lives and works, in advance of his coming to the United Kingdom. An application to remain as a minister of religion in the United Kingdom by a person who has not entered in that capacity is therefore to be refused. We would be prepared, exceptionally, to waive this requirement only where a bona fide minister of religion had been granted a visa or leave to enter as a visitor specifically to attend an interview for a job as a minister in the United Kingdom and was offered the job; or where a bona fide minister of religion, who had been granted a visa or leave to enter as a visitor specifically for a preaching tour of the United Kingdom, was asked to fill a vacant post as a minister in this country, the job offer appeared to be genuinely unexpected at the time the applicant entered the United Kingdom and there were good community relations reasons for allowing him to stay.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convicted offenders failed to complete their community service orders, and were not taken back to court, in west Yorkshire in each year since 1985. [27706]

[holding answer 13 June 1995]: Complete information about whether offenders who fail to comply with their orders are taken back to court is not collected centrally. The available information is given in the table.

Termination of Community Service Orders, West Yorkshire Probation Service, 1985–93
Year	Percentage of CSOs completed without termination for breach or further offence	Percentage of CSOs terminated because of failure to comply with requirements, conviction of another offence or other reason1
1985	74	26
1986	77	23
1987	75	25
1988	72	28
1989	71	29
1990	71	29
1991	69	31
1992	71	29
1993	69	31
1 Includes small proportion terminated due to changes in circumstances.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many designated establishments have ethics committees, operated by the Home Office inspectorate, for animal care and use under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986; and if he will list them. [28677]

None.The Animals (Scientific Procedures) inspectorate does not operate any ethics or animal care and uses committees in establishments designated under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. They may attend meetings of animal care and use committees set up by designated establishments as invited observers when asked to do so.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what percentage of parliamentary questions, which would have been answered directly by him or his Ministers prior to the establishment of executive agencies, are now referred to the chief executive of such an agency. [28502]

Ministers are accountable to Parliament for all matters concerning their agencies. Written parliamentary questions concerning matters which have been delegated to the chief executive of an executive agency in its Framework document normally receive a reply from the Minister to the effect that he or she has asked the chief executive to reply direct to the Member by letter. The chief executive's letter is published in Hansard below the Minister's reply.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department 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 non-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. [28521]

The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many appeals against the refusal of entry clearance were outstanding on 31 May or at the most recent date for which this information is available; how many appeals against the refusal of asylum were outstanding on this date; what action is being taken to reduce the numbers of outstanding appeals; and whether any priority is given to appeals against the refusal of asylum. [29793]

The number of outstanding appeals against refusal of entry clearance is not recorded as a separate figure. However, at 31 May 1995, approximately 9,369 non-asylum appeals were outstanding. The number of asylum appeals outstanding was 4,885. There are plans to recruit additional adjudicators and staff, and to expand existing court room accommodation, to enable more cases to be heard in future. In the short term, more flexible listing arrangements and an increase in the length of the sitting day will help to increase the disposal rate. The immigration appellate authorities are also able to offer parties in London a hearing at a provincial centre where waiting times are shorter.

To ask the Secretary of State for the environment, pursuant to his answer of 23 February, Official Report, column 268, if he will update the table on the number of households in negative equity. [27532]

Estimates of negative equity are sensitive to the house price index and other assumptions used. Based on Department of the Environment house price data, an estimate of the number of households affected by negative equity in the first quarter of 1995 and the value of negative equity by region is as follows:

Region	Number of households (thousands)	Value (millions)
South East	374	1,910
Greater London	1.00	371
South West	97	309
East Anglia	71	309
East Midlands	33	71
West Midlands	7	6
Wales	11	13
Yorks and Humberside	70	153
North West	41	29
North	28	40
Scotland	53	80
Northern Ireland	1	1
UK	886	3,292

This table is intended to provide only a broad indication of the level of negative equity. Certain assumptions used in compiling the table may have overstated the number. My Department is reviewing with the Bank of England the reliability of those assumptions.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what percentage of coastal discharge of sewage are given (a) no treatment, (b) preliminary and (c) secondary treatment; [28675](2) what steps are being taken to achieve those provisions of the urban waste water treatment directive requiring all towns, whether or not with a population greater than 10,000 to apply secondary treatment before discharge. [28676]

Some 96 per cent. of the UK population is connected to a sewerage system. Eighty per cent. of sewage is treated and 90 per cent. of this receives secondary treatment or better. The proportions, already high in comparison with those in many continental countries, will rise as a result of investment over the next few years in particular the implementation of the urban waste water treatment directive. More detailed information on the proportion of the UK's population receiving different levels of sewage treatment and the programmes for implementing the directive are contained in the report produced by the UK under article 17 of the directive, a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the percentage and total number of families in temporary bed-and-breakfast accommodation who have kitchen facilities. [28808]

The information requested is not centrally available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (I) what guidelines his Department has published for the disposal of paper pulp; [29271](2) what discussions he has had with ADAS with regard to the disposal of paper pulp by spreading on land; [29272](3) what representations he has received regarding problems caused by the disposal of paper pulp at Thieveley Pike, Cliviger, Burnley; [29273](4) if he will call for an inquiry into environmental damage at Thieveley Pike, Cliviger, Burnley caused by the spreading of paper pulp; and if he will make a statement. [29274]

Responsibility for the enforcement of waste management controls rests with waste regulation authorities such as Lancashire county council. It is an offence under section 33(1)(a) or (b) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to deposit, recover or dispose of controlled waste without a waste management licence or contrary to the conditions of a licence exemption. It is also an offence under section 33(1)(c) of the 1990 Act to carry out these activities in a manner likely to cause pollution of the environment or harm to human health.We have provided exemptions from licensing in schedule 3 to the Waste Management Licensing Regulations 1994. Subject to certain conditions, paragraph 7 of schedule 3 exempts the spreading of de-inked paper sludge on land used for agriculture. The exemption applies only where the actively results in benefit to agriculture or ecological improvement and the waste regulation authority for the area are provided with information about the spreading.We have provided guidance on this exemption in DOE circular 11/94 paragraph 5.66–5.86. I understand that Lancashire county council, as waste regulation authority for the area, is aware of the incident referred to by the hon. Member and has taken appropriate action. The Department has received no representation about the incident.The Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food has published codes of good agricultural practice for the protection of water in 1991 and for soil in 1993. The Department is also considering with MAFF the provision of technical guidance on the spreading of waste on land. In this context, officials have held discussions with ADAS and other consultants.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what action will be taken in respect of safety issues such as fire risks, chemical fire or spillage at the proposed new national superdome at Odsal; [29005](2) what action will be taken in respect of fire and other anticipated safety hazards in the development of the national superdome. [29006]

Should planning consent be granted for the superdome, these issues will be matters for the developers, the contractors the stadium operators and the appropriate safety authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals are being considered to minimise risks to the public from chemical works and associated industrial development in the area of the proposed national superdome. [29004]

A planning application for the superdome in Bradford has been referred to the Secretary of State as a departure from the development plan and is being assessed to decide whether it should be called in for public inquiry. The relevance of risk from other development is a matter for consideration in the normal procedures of local planning authorities and, where necessary, consultation with the appropriate safety authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when a national list of sites will be sent to the European Commission under the habitats directive. [29856]

Following extensive local and national public consultation launched on 31 March, a first list of 136 candidate special areas of conservation was sent today to the European Commission.This list covers only sites on land and those that are already sites of special scientific interest. Consultation on possible marine sites will continue until 22 June.I will announce the submission of a further tranche of sites to the Commission as soon as points raised in the consultation exercise have been fully considered and resolved.A number of organisations have suggested additions to the list. These suggestions will be fully considered in accordance with the approach to site selection applied to the current list of possible sites and outlined in section 3 of "A list of possible Special Areas of Conservation in the UK" which was published on 31 March and placed in the Libraries. If the nature conservation agencies, through the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, advise that any of these additions qualify as possible SACs they will be published for consultation in due course. As indicated in my written reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Eastbourne (Mr. Waterson) on 31 March at column

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action his Department is taking to minimise detrimental environmental effects from (a) opencast mining and (b) quarrying. [29646]

Tight, improved guidelines which upgrade environmental requirements on opencast mining were published last July. Similar guidelines for quarrying were published in April 1994. These guidelines would apply to any new permissions for either opencast mining or quarrying.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the likely need for social housing in Britain up to 2001. [28108]

My Department estimates that the additional demand for new social lettings over the current public expenditure survey period lies within the range of 60,000 and 100,000 units per year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is the current timetable for recommendations to changes in part M of building regulations to be considered by the Building Regulations Advisory Committee; [29665](2) what is the current timetable for bringing into force parts M5 and M6 of building regulations. [29666]

Officials in my Department are analysing all the many responses received to the consultation paper on part M of the building regulations issued earlier this year. I expect the Building Regulations Advisory Committee to consider this analysis in the autumn, after which its recommendations will be considered by Ministers. No decisions have been taken as to when any changes to part M should come into effect.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment under what circumstances he will call in a proposal for major development in a national park. [29877]

Both within and beyond national parks, planning applications are, in general, called in for decision by my right hon. Friend only if planning issues of more than local importance are involved. He is very selective about calling in applications to determine himself. Such cases may include, for example, those which, in my right hon. friend's opinion, could have wide effects beyond their immediate locality, which give rise to substantial regional or national controversy, which may conflict with national policy on important matters and those where the interests of foreign Governments may be involved.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, if he will outline Government policy on major development proposals in national parks. [29879]

Special considerations apply to major development proposals in national parks. Such development should not take place in national parks, the Broads and the New Forest heritage area save in exceptional circumstances.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment for what reasons it was decided not to call in the planning application for further minerals extraction at Swinden quarry in the Yorkshire dales national park. [29875]

The Secretary of State is selective about calling in applications for his determination and will, in general, take this step only if planning issues of more than local importance are involved. Each case must be considered on its individual merits. The decision not to call in the application to extend Swinden quarry, given the site's location in a national park, was taken only after the most careful scrutiny. The Secretary of State decided on the basis of the information before him that the application did not raise issues of more than local importance.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if the application for development at Swinden quarry was in accordance with the structure plan; and if it was subject to an officer recommendation of refusal. [28878]

The Yorkshire dales national park authority considered the application to be contrary to the provisions of the north Yorkshire county structure plan. It was subject to an officer recommendation of refusal.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many letters he has received requesting him to call in the application for further mineral extraction at Swinden quarry. [29876]

The Secretary of State has received 55 letters asking him to call in the application for further mineral extraction at Swinden quarry. In addition a petition was received.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give approval to London Underground Ltd. to go ahead with shotcreting the Thames Brunel tunnel to allow tunnel repair and associated works to go ahead. [29874]

An application by London Underground Ltd. for listed building consent to carry out works to the Thames tunnel has been notified to the Secretary of State for the Environment in order that he may consider whether he should determine it.Very careful consideration is currently being given to whether the application should be called in. In these circumstances, it would not be appropriate to comment further on the matter.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the answer of 21 February given by the Secretary of State for Education, Official Report, columns 183–84, in relation to his statement in the debate on council budget capping on 15 June about comparative figures for Devon and Somerset local education authorities' central administrative costs; and if he will make a statement on whether the figures are correct. [29926]

Our decisions on capping were based on the figures put to us by the authorities themselves as a part of their representations, rather than the 1992–93 figures listed in the answer of 21 February. In the view of Somerset county council the difference between the Somerset and the Devon figures in the answer may reflect differences in definitions or accounting practices between the authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment who will serve on the Local Government Commission for England. [30058]

Sir David Cooksey will be chairman. We have asked four of the existing commissioners to remain on the commission and they have agreed to do so. They are: Professor Malcolm Grant, Ken Ennals, Robert Scruton and David Thomas.In addition, four new commissioners will be appointed with effect from 1 July 1995. They are: Peter Brokenshire, chairman of Redbridge and Waltham Forest family health services; Professor Michael Clarke, professor and head of the School of Public Policy, university of Birmingham; Helena Shovelton, chairman of the National Association of the Citizens Advice Bureaux; and Norman Warner, managing director of Warner Consultancy and Training Services Ltd.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to assist with the preparations for the pan-European conference of Environment Ministers to be held in Sofia in October. [30237]

With the Austrian Minister of the Environment, I co-hosted and chaired a meeting of a number of Environment Ministers from western and eastern Europe at Lancaster house on 12 and 13 June to discuss key issues for the forthcoming Sofia conference and to guide the officials engaged in the detailed preparations. There was a consensus that the conference should focus on further implementation of the environmental action programme for Europe under which countries of central and eastern Europe are being assisted to tackle their most serious environmental problems, and that to this end enhancing environmental investment, encouraging the private and business sectors to become fully involved and protecting biodiversity were key areas for attention. My colleagues agreed that the Sofia conference should produce a number of concrete projects to demonstrate how new ideas could be realised, including the development of pilot projects for joint implementation under the climate change convention and the sulphur protocol.In addition we have co-sponsored with our Austrian colleagues a study of impediments to environmental investment from the perspective of central and eastern European countries and we are assisting the Bulgarians directly with the conference preparations through the provision of a high-level adviser.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how much Her Majesty's Government have paid to Barlow Clowes victims; [27272](2) if he will publish the statement read out in court in the recent Barlow Clowes case; and if he will set out the full terms of the settlement; [27274](3) what sums each of the relevant parties have agreed to pay to HM Treasury following the recent out-of-court settlement in connection with Barlow Clowes; [27270](4) for what reasons Her Majesty's Treasury agreed to settle out of court in the Barlow Clowes case; and on whose authority the decision was taken; [27273](5) what was the total cost to public funds of the action to obtain payment in the matter of Barlow Clowes recently settled out of court. [27271]

The Government's publicly stated aim is to pursue vigorously any claims showing prospect of reducing the cost to the public purse of the ex-gratia payments scheme. This has paid some £150 million to investors who suffered loss as a result of the collapse of the Barlow Clowes group of companies in May 1988.Consequently, the Government initiated litigation against a number of parties previously involved with Barlow Clowes companies. This litigation included proceedings against a group of professional advisers, comprising Midland bank plc, Rensburg and Co., Simpson Curtis, Singer and Friedlander Ltd., Singer and Friedlander (Isle of Man) Ltd., Sinjul Nominees Ltd., Spicer and Pegler, Spicer and Pegler (Gibraltar) and Touche Ross and Co.The decision to settle the litigation by acceptance of a substantial sum in respect of claims made in those proceedings, including interest and costs, was taken after receiving firm legal advice from leading counsel and solicitors, which also confirmed the commercial good sense of such a course.The settlement was signed and announced to the High Court on 24 May 1995. That statement made it clear the parties do not intend to make any further public statement, except as may be required of the Government by Parliament or of any defendant by its obligations to the stock exchange, concerning the settlement of these proceedings. I have arranged for a copy of the statement to the court to be placed in the Library.It is generally the Government's policy not to comment on the detail of legal proceedings or settlements relating to the Barlow Clowes litigation, so as not to influence the attitude and outcome of continuing actions. The Government continue to pursue vigorously any claims in relation to the Barlow Clowes companies which show any prospect of cost-effective recovery in order to reduce the cost to the taxpayer of the ex-gratia payments schemes.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the report of the study group on the role of public finance in European integration chaired by Sir Donald MacDougall, published in 1977; and what are his conclusions on its findings on the effect on the size of the European Community budget, in the event of the creation of a single currency. [27671]

The MacDougall report was an early attempt to assess the role of the public finances in European integration. Its analysis reflected the thinking of the 1970s. The Government do not endorse its conclusions or its recommendation that the EC budget should grow to some five to seven per cent. of EC GDP to be compatible with monetary union. There is no provision in the Maastricht treaty for any such expansion of the EC budget and the Government remain committed to the firm ceilings on EC spending agreed at Edinburgh.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 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. [28519]

The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of parliamentary questions, which would have been answered directly by him or his Ministers prior to the establishment of executive agencies, are now referred to the chief executive of such an agency. [28501]

The chief executives of the four agencies responsible to the Chancellor of the Exchequer have delegated authority to reply to parliamentary questions on day-to-day operational matters within their responsibilities. Since October 1992, five questions to the Chancellor have been referred to chief executives for reply under these arrangements.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his reply of 9 June, Official Report, column 340, how many owners of chattels had been granted conditional exemption from inheritance tax as capital transfer tax in each year since 1987. [28851]

The numbers of owners are as follows:

• 1987: 35
• 1988: 51
• 1989: 44
• 1990: 41
• 1991: 69
• 1992: 73
• 1993: 55
• 1994: 63

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his reply of 9 June, Official Report, column 340, if he will place in the Library a copy of the register of conditionally exempt works of art. [28853]

The register of conditionally exempt works of art, which now has over 14,000 entries, was computerised in 1993. As the hon. Member may be aware, there are established guidelines on the acceptance of electronic data by the House of Commons Library. The feasibility of making the register available through the Library will be explored and I will write to the hon. Member in due course.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his reply of 9 June, Official Report, column 340, how many owners of chattels which have been granted conditional exemption from inheritance tax as capital transfer tax have allowed access in the latest 12 month period for which figures are available to members of the public wishing to view conditionally exempt works of art. [28849]

Records are not kept centrally of how many members of the public have exercised their rights to require owners of chattels conditionally exempt from inheritance tax or capital transfer tax to allow viewing of these works of art.

To ask the Chancellor of the

Year	Registrations at Halifax office	Deregistrations at Halifax office	Registrations in West Yorkshire	Deregistrations in West Yorkshire
1985	2,228	2,257	7,905	7,958
1986	2,254	2,329	8,299	8,862
1987	2,256	1,856	8,469	7,427
1988	2,634	2,110	10,274	7,946
1989	3,284	2,256	11,385	8,102
1990	2,646	2,318	10,013	8,245
1991	2,486	3,046	8,871	10,875
1992	2,147	2,652	8,302	9,967
1993	2,207	2,540	8,240	9,180
1994	1,891	2,443	7,373	8,621
19951	482	560	1,605	2,004
1 To end March.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if a person who is in receipt of incapacity benefit will be treated for tax purposes in exactly the same way as a person in receipt of retirement pension. [28979]

Both incapacity benefit and state retirement pension are taxable, except for incapacity benefit payable in the first 28 weeks of incapacity, and additional payments of both incapacity benefit and retirement pension payable to claimants with children. For most claimants, arrangements for collecting tax are broadly similar in both cases.

The Treasury publication, "Tax Ready Reckoner and Tax Reliefs", shows that applying the standard rate of VAT to new dwellings is estimated to raise £1,950 million in a full year in 1994–95. This figure makes no allowance for behavioural changes.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many businesses registered and deregistered for value added tax in (a) Batley and Spen and (b) west Yorkshire each year since 1983. [27710]

[holding answer 13 June 1995]: Customs does not have information concerning the number of businesses registered and deregistered in the Batley and Spen constituency. The local VAT office at Halifax covers, in addition to Halifax, the towns of Batley, Huddersfield, Wakefield, Morley, Todmorden and part of Bradford. The local VAT offices at Bradford, Doncaster, Halifax and Leeds cover the west Yorkshire area. They are able to provide only the number of registrations and deregistrations for VAT at the Halifax office and in west Yorkshire since 1985. These are in the following schedule.Traders who are in business and trading below the registrations threshold may choose to register for VAT, if they wish. This gives them the advantage of being able to reclaim VAT paid on goods and expenses in connection with their business. Above the threshold level registration is obligatory.The effect of the substantial increase in the registration threshold in both 1991 and 1993 provides an explanation for the net decrease in the number of registered businesses since 1991.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Inland Revenue will make available a provisional compliance cost assessment on the proposals set out in the consultation paper on the taxation of gilts and bonds. [29242]

My foreword to the Inland Revenue's consultation document makes clear that we are aiming for a major simplification of the current rules. This offers the prospect of substantial long-run compliance cost savings as well as wider efficiency gains. But the precise effects will depend on the details, a number of which have been expressly left open as matters for consultation.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has voted his shares either directly or by proxy in recent shareholder votes in Northern Electric; whether he supported the call for an emergency annual meeting; and what public statement he has made on whether Northern Electric is to accept the offer of Trafalgar House plc. [29774]

At no shareholder meeting have Treasury shares been voted. The Treasury was prepared to vote its shares in March in favour of the full cash alternative in reference to a combination of cash and Trafalgar House shares. Not to have so voted our shares would have meant acceptance by default of the latter option and would have involved, unacceptably, the Treasury taking a new stake in a private sector company. In the event, the Trafalgar House bid was withdrawn. The Government's usual policy is not to vote our shareholdings to intervene in the commercial activities of a privatised company but, in the circumstances of last March, we took account of the fact that Northern Electric had recommended acceptance of the Trafalgar House bid. Treasury Ministers have made no public statements on this matter.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which Minister in his Department is responsible for the fundamental expenditure review process; and how many such reviews have been approved so far by that Minister. [29740]

Secretaries of State in Departments have been conducting the reviews in co-operation with me. The Departments listed have produced final reports already, but the reviews were intended to look at long term spending patterns and follow-up work and implementation are continuing in most cases.

• Ministry of Defence
• Department of Trade and Industry
• Employment Department
• Department of Transport
• Urban spending by the Department of the Environment
• Home Office
• Lord Chancellor's Department
• Department for Education
• Department of National Heritage
• Department of Health
• Department of Social Security
• HM Treasury
• Customs and Excise
• Inland Revenue

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he proposes to meet the Securities Investment Board or the Personal Investment Authority to discuss the operation of the investor compensation scheme; and if he will make a statement; [29730](2) what information he has on the solvency of the investors compensation scheme set up under the Financial Services Act 1986; and if he will make a statement. [29729]

I meet senior figures from the Securities and Investments Board, the Personal Investment Authority and the investors compensation scheme to discuss matters of policy and interest from time to time. I recently met the chairman and chief executive of the ICS.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the hon. Member for Walsall, North will receive a reply to his letter of 6 April referred from the Department of Social Security regarding a constituent, reference 0595/38. [29669]

A reply was sent on 19 June.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures he proposes to take to ensure that holders of appropriate personal pensions can rely on these policies to provide benefits at least as generous as those provided by SERPS. [27602]

[holding answer 19 June 1995]: It would be inappropriate for the Government to guarantee the investment performance of a personal pension. However, the financial services regulators have rules designed to ensure that financial advisers are trained, competent and able to recommend only products which are suitable for the individual investor and whose risks are properly explained.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 4 May, Official Report, column 264, if he will provide comparable details on civil service early retirement packages on grounds of inefficiency. [29284]

[holding answer 19 June 1995]: 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 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 15 departures from the Treasury on inefficiency grounds in the past five financial years, 11 of which were during probation. No compensation was paid in any of these cases.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set out the terms of reference of the Treasury inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the sale of PowerGen and National Power stock in March; if he will name the official who is conducting this inquiry; if the completed inquiry report will be published in full; and if he will make a statement. [28841]

[holding answer 15 June 1995]: The stock exchange has suggested further examination into the circumstances surrounding the Genco2 share sale, including the dissemination of information between various parts of the public sector and between the public sector and the market. Sir Terence Burns has asked Mr. John Beastall, a senior Treasury official and former Treasury officer of accounts, to take this work forward and draft the Treasury response. He has been asked to examine in detail the events surrounding the share sale and the role of all the parties involved and any lessons to be learned for future share issues by public authorities. Once the work has been completed, the Permanent Secretary, Sir Terence Burns, will respond to the stock exchange and, the response will be published.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 20 June 1995. [27975]

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 20 June. [27976]

This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House I shall be having further meetings later today.

To ask the Prime Minister what contact he has had with President Clinton on plans for a visit to the United Kingdom. [27979]

I would welcome a further visit to the United Kingdom by President Clinton. We are discussing possible dates.

To ask the Prime Minister what steps he has taken to persuade the French Government not to resume nuclear testing and to oppose any proposals taken by them to do so. [29739]

We are in regular contact with the French Government, who are aware of our views.

To ask the Prime Minister if the intelligence sources referred to in the oral statement on BMARC by the President of the Board of Trade of 13 June, Official Report, columns 595–606, and dated at July and September 1988 used material from within the Astra group of companies. [29722]

It is not the Government's policy to comment on the sources of information contained in intelligence material.

To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 12 June to the hon. Member for Leeds, Central, (Mr. Fatchett) Official Report, column 373, if he will list the external lawyers who have been used to provide advice for witnesses to the Scott inquiry; and if external lawyers have been used at the request of witnesses of Departments or of the Treasury solicitors. [29764]

The Government will have no objection to publishing the names of external lawyers who have been used to provide advice for witnesses to the Scott inquiry at public expense after Sir Richard Scott's final report has been published and provision of such advice has been concluded. External advice is provided at public expense either where the witness concerned requests it and the departmental legal adviser considers this reasonable or where, after consultation with his departmental legal adviser of the Treasury Solicitor, it is agreed that such advice should be sought.

To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 24 February, to the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, Central, (Mr. Cousins) Official Report, column 353, if further evidence has been taken in private by Lord Justice Scott. [29155]

Sir Richard Scott continues to obtain evidence, both oral and written, as the need arises. I am advised by the inquiry that the last evidence taken at a private hearing was on 4 May 1995.

To ask the Prime Minister if the Cabinet Office has received any information on allegations that British companies had circumvented export control regulations or guidelines covering Iraq or Iran, which have not yet been passed on to Lord Justice Scott. [29151]

All information received by the Cabinet Office and identified as required by Sir Richard Scott's inquiry has been passed to the inquiry.

To ask the Prime Minister if he has instituted any change in the system of distribution of intelligence reports to Ministers and their appropriate officials as a result of the problems outlined by Baroness Thatcher in her evidence to the Scott inquiry. [29150]

A number of improvements have been made, of which details have been given to the Scott inquiry.

To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 12 June given to the hon. Member for Leeds, Central (Mr. Fatchett), Official Report, column 373, how many requests for legal assistance for witnesses to the Scott inquiry have been turned down as unreasonable; and if he will break down the costs to public funds between the costs in respect of (a) external lawyers and (b) the Treasury solicitors. [29763]

Witnesses to the Scott inquiry who wish to seek legal assistance at public expense must first seek the approval of their departmental legal adviser or the Treasury Solicitor's Department. Where necessary, the nature, scope, source and terms of such legal advice are discussed with the individual concerned. I am not aware of any case in which there was a disagreement over the provision of legal advice following such discussions. The information on legal costs is given in my answer to the hon. Member for Leeds, Central (Mr. Fatchett) today.

To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Bradford, West (Mr. Madden), Official Report, column 374, on leaks from the provisional draft report of Lord Justice Scott, who conducted the inquiry; what were the responses of those who were interviewed; and if he will publish the conclusions for the inquiry. [29519]

I have nothing further to add to my reply to the hon. Member for Bradford, West (Mr. Madden) on 12 June, Official Report, column 374.

To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 24 April, Official Report, column 344, if contractors who carry out basic checks are now obliged to require their employees and potential employees to disclose to them any information concerning any criminal record, including those which are spent and if he will make a statement. [29770]

Contractors are obliged only to carry out basic checks on employees or potential employees who will have access to Government assets. As part of a basic check, employees and potential employees are not required to disclose spent convictions. Contractors have a duty to request from their employees and potential employees, a completed criminal record declaration form. However, employees and potential employees do not have to return the form to their employer; if they prefer, they can pass it directly to the contracting Department or agency.In my answer of 24 April, I also referred to exceptional cases where, in the interests of national security, and with the agreement of the Cabinet Office, Office of Public Service and Science, extra inquiries are necessary in addition to those carried out for a basic check. Where these include a check against the national collection of criminal records, individuals are required to declare spent convictions, as permitted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975, and the rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Northern Ireland) Order 1978 (Exceptions) Order 1979. This information is available only to the contracting Department or agency and is not accessible by the contractor.

To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 12 June, Official Report, column 374, which treaty gives authority to the common fisheries policy, and which is subject to amendment at the 1996 inter-governmental conference; and if he will make it his policy to seek withdrawal from the common fisheries policy. [28923]

[holding answer 19 June]: Fisheries are part of the common agricultural policy governed by articles 38–47 of the EC treaty which will be reviewed as part of the 1996 intergovernmental conference. The detailed rules of the common fisheries policy are set out in the Council regulation 3760/92 which comes up for formal review in 2002. We have no plans for UK withdrawal from the common fisheries policy, but we are continuing to work for improvements in the appropriate fora.

To ask the Prime Minister when the royal household sought the advice of Her Majesty's Government on the appropriateness of a member of the royal family attending the Island games, Gibraltar, to be held in July. [28674]

[holding answer 19 June]: Official visits overseas by members of the royal family are made on the advice of the Government. The Princess Royal had hoped to attend the Island games in Gibraltar in July but, in the event, she was unable to do so.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department takes to monitor noise levels faced by residential properties located near to motorways. [28166]

This is an operational matter 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 list the sections of the British motorway network where noise levels exceed 68 db (A) at the facade of adjacent residential properties of which an increase of at least 1 db(A) is attributable to traffic on the new or improved motorway. [28167]

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the latest situation in the Government's planning for a theory test as part of the driving test; and what assistance and information is available for driving instructors to enable them to prepare for the change. [29361]

I refer the hon. Member to a reply I gave on 23 May, Official Report, columns 567–68.Driving instructors are being kept abreast of significant developments as they happen. The Driving Standards Agency, which will have overall responsibility for this new test, plans to publish, in early spring, a handbook for candidates and their instructors about the new driving theory test which will include the official bank of questions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what arrangements have been made for continued pathology support to the AAIB in the event of an alteration to the RAF Institute; and if he will make a statement. [29888]

The RAF Institute of Pathology and Tropical Medicine is to be disbanded, but the department of pathology is to be retained and co-located with the school of aviation medicine. They intend to continue to support the air accidents investigation branch in its accident investigation for the foreseeable future.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on how many occasions in the last five years the RAF Institute of Pathology and Tropical Medicine has assisted the AAIB in its investigations; and if he will list these occasions on a year-by-year basis. [29887]