To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when he expects to publish the new courts charter. [31322]

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

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the cost of compiling and publishing the new courts charters including consultancy fees. [31323]

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

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on the progress of the review of the organisation and management of civil enforcement agents. [32086]

The Lord Chancellor has considered carefully the responses to his public consultation paper on this subject and is now considering how the regulation, licensing and control of those who enforce judgments of the courts in England and Wales might best be effected so as to ensure that both debtors and creditors receive a proper, efficient and professional service. He is anxious that those parts of the established system which work well should be preserved, and will now undertake detailed consultation with the under sheriffs' and sheriffs' officers' associations and other relevant bodies in order to determine how best this might be achieved within a new statutory framework. He will announce the outcome of these deliberations by the end of the year.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has to amend the law on defamation. [30597]

The Government have announced a number of reforms to defamation law and procedure. On 16 December 1992, the Lord Chancellor announced that the Government would introduce a package of mainly procedural reforms, following recommendations made by a working party under the chairmanship of Lord Justice Neill. On 28 November 1994, he announced that there would be a new summary procedure to provide an inexpensive fast track for the disposal of straightforward claims, and on 14 May 1991 he announced that the defence of innocent dissemination would be extended to printers and others. The reforms will be introduced as soon as there is a suitable legislative opportunity.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has to extend the small claims courts' powers to cover consumers whose health has been prejudiced by food retailers. [30542]

Claims made by consumers who believe that their health has been prejudiced by food can already be dealt with in the small claims court, if the damages claimed do not exceed £1,000. No change in this limit is recommended by Lord Woolf.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is his policy following Lord Woolf's recommendation that the small claims limit should be increased to £3,000, on whether a full consultation should take place before a final decision on a new limit is made; and if he will make a statement. [30699]

Lord Woolf consulted widely in the preparation of his interim report. In view of this, the Lord Chancellor does not intend to undertake further public consultation on the question whether he should implement Lord Woolf s recommendation that the limit for small claims, other than those for personal injury, should be raised to £3,000. The power to make the necessary amendments rests with the County Court Rule Committee which, as part of its consideration of the matter, consults interested parties.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many shared residency orders under the Children Act 1989 have been granted to fathers when the order has been contested, for each year since 1989. [30514]

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

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many mothers have received custodial sentences for breaches of court contact orders in each year since 1989. [30513]

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

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if the definition of a state paper includes the manuscript notes by a Prime Minister of a speech delivered in the House of Commons. [30607]

As I said in reply to the hon. Member on 11 May 1995, Official Report, column 566, state papers are those which are created or acquired by Ministers, officials or other Crown servants by virtue of the office they hold under, or their service to, the Crown. Whether notes such as those referred to by the hon. Member fall into this category would depend on the circumstances in which they were made.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has to amend the Civil Evidence Bill to give effect to the Law Commission's recommendation on the admissibility of actuarial evidence, following the Lord Chancellor's announcement on 22 March. [30452]

A new clause giving effect to the Law Commission's recommendation on the admissibility of actuarial evidence was added to the Civil Evidence Bill at Committee stage in the House of Lords on 20 June.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what comparisons he has made between the pension arrangements for full-time immigration adjudicators and judicial office holders of a similar status; and what plans he has to amend these arrangements. [30463]

The Judicial Pensions and Retirement Act 1993, which came into force on 31 March 1995, established uniform pension arrangements for all full-time judicial office holders, including immigration adjudicators, appointed on or after that date. Immigration adjudicators in office before that date continue to be pensionable under their previous terms, which differ in some respects from those of most other judicial office holders, subject to an option to elect to join the new pension scheme. The accrual rate for pension benefits for immigration adjudicators who exercise their option to join the new scheme is twice that of their previous arrangements and therefore this option constitutes a significant potential enhancement to the pension terms they accepted on appointment. The Lord Chancellor has no plans to amend further the pension arrangements for immigration adjudicators.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 13 June, Official Report, column 474, what recent representations he has received on the subject of road rage; and if he will make a statement. [31522]

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn) on 23 June, Official Report, column 442.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what date he expects to introduce the proposed 20 per cent. efficiency saving into the Marine Safety Agency. [31096]

As the Marine Safety Agency's published 1995–96 business plan makes clear, the agency is already contributing towards the Department's efficiency gains target.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what has been the transport supplementary grant settlement for (a) south Yorkshire, (b) Humberside, (c) north Yorkshire and (d) west Yorkshire in each of the last 10 years. [31097]

Details of the total capital provision allocated to local authorities in these areas for roads and public transport in each of the last 10 years are given in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the safety of the proposed concrete motorway barriers on collision of cars and heavy goods vehicles; and if he will make a statement. [30641]

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

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the most recent estimate of the number of small businesses in the United Kingdom. [32192]

In order more clearly to evaluate the needs of small and medium-sized businesses, detailed research has been undertaken fully to understand the number and size of businesses in the UK. The research was the first to draw on the new official business register, the interdepartmental business register, as well as on estimates of self-employment.Figures released today show that there were 3.6 million businesses in the UK in 1993–800,000 more than estimated by previous research. The vast majority of them are small—99 per cent. have under 100 employees. The new figures confirm the huge increase in the number of small businesses—an extra 1.2 million—since 1979.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what action was taken or requested at the Council of Telecommunication Ministers meeting in the week beginning 12 June to adopt a declaration limiting the application of the directive on standards of television transmission. [30242]

No action was taken at the Telecommunications Council on 13 June in respect of a declaration on the draft directive on television standards.In the course of that meeting of the Telecommunications Council, Commissioner Bangemann made a brief oral presentation on a number of amendments to the draft directive adopted only that day by the European Parliament. Following a brief discussion in which a number of concerns were voiced by the United Kingdom and Germany, the question of the Council's response to the Parliament's amendments was deferred for further consideration in the Committee of Permanent Representatives.In the course of a subsequent preliminary meeting at official level, the presidency raised the question of whether UK and German concerns might, separately, be met by way of declaration by the Council, to which the Commission might be associated. These proposals are now being considered by member states, and by the Council legal service.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the expected capital spending figure for his Department for 1994–95; and what is the latest budget figure. [30874]

[holding answer 28 June 1995]: The estimated outturn for 1994–95 for trade and industry public sector capital expenditure is £1,297 million. This includes central Government's own capital expenditure, and the capital expenditure of local authorities and public corporations. As explained in paragraph 1.9 of Cm 2821, no departmental breakdown of capital spending by local authorities is available for 1995–96. Excluding local authority spending, planned public sector capital expenditure for 1995–96 is £1,120 million. These figures are consistent with those shown in table 1.7 of Cm 2821.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what steps he has taken to assess the environmental effects of the use of pseudo oil-based drill muds by oil companies. [29935]

Before any pseudo oil-based drill mud can be used it must be tested for its environmental effects in line with agreed Paris Commission protocols. On satisfactory completion of these laboratory tests, the POBM will be given provisional approval for use offshore. Samples will be requested from cuttings piles and the area around the piles to assess the POBM' s actual behaviour in the sea. If performance in these offshore tests is not acceptable, the provisional approval may be withdrawn.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish the report of the internal investigation carried out at Dounreay into the causes and effects of the explosion on 10 May 1977; and if he will publish the conclusion of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority study into a final solution for the disposal of the intermediate-level waste disposal shaft. [29795]

Details of the internal investigation carried out at Dounreay into the explosion in the intermediate-level waste disposal shaft in 1977 have been supplied to the relevant regulatory and advisory bodies. These include Her Majesty's industrial pollution inspectorate, the Health and Safety Executive's nuclear installations inspectorate, the Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment and the Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee. UKAEA is required by HMIPI and the NII to investigate the options for the future management of the shaft and its contents, and the time scales for their implementation. The results of this investigation, together with details relating to the 1977 incident, will be presented to COMARE and RWMAC and information will be made public.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the effect of the Government's monetary and exchange rate policies since (a) 1979 and (b) 1988 on the import share of the United Kingdom market for manufactures. [29439]

My Department has made no assessment of the specific factors listed.The import share of UK manufactures was increased from 27 per cent. in 1979 to 36 per cent. in 1988 and to around 40 per cent. in 1993; although it should be noted that the definition of manufacturing is not consistent between 1993 and earlier years. The rising share of imports in the UK market for manufactures reflect a number of influences, including the increasing specialisation of world production.The 1979, 1988 and 1993 figures are not directly comparable because of changes in the definition of manufacturing.The figure for 1993 excludes division 23—coke, refined petroleum products and nuclear fuel. These industries are included in the SIC(92) definition of manufacturing but are excluded from the SIC(80) definition and so have been excluded from these tables to improve comparability.The extraction and preparation of metalliferous ores were included in the SIC(80) definition of manufacturing, but excluded from the SIC(92) definition. Import penetration for the extraction and preparation of metalliferous ores fell sharply between 1979 and 1985— the latest year for which figures agree available. This means that the 1979 figure for manufactures is possibly overstated when compared to the 1988 and 1993 figures.The extraction of minerals was also included in the SIC(80) definition of manufacturing, but excluded from the SIC92) definition. Import penetration figures fell slightly between 1979 and 1988.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the total value of United Kingdom exports for each quarter of each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [31146]

Detailed information is regularly published by the Central Statistical Office in the "Monthly Review of External Trade Statistics" which is available in the Library of the House. The value of United Kingdom exports in the first quarter of 1995 was 42 per cent. higher than three years earlier, and 17 per cent. higher than in the first quarter of 1994.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what proportion of the United Kingdom's total (a) exports and (b) imports was conducted with other member states of the European Community in the period 1990 to 1993; and what were the equivalent figures for each of the other 11 members of the European Community during the 1990 to 1993 period. [31115]

The data requested are in the table.

Percentage of EU members visible trade with other EU members 1990–1993
	Imports per cent.	Exports per cent.
UK	50	55
France	65	62
Belgian-Luxembourg	71	75
Netherlands	58	75
Germany	54	53
Italy	58	57
Ireland	69	73
Denmark	54	53
Greece	62	62
Portugal	72	75
Spain	60	65

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he made of the number of jobs which could be created by the disposal of North sea oil platforms and rigs (a) in the Atlantic ocean and (b) on dry land, when deciding to give permission to Shell UK to dispose of the Brent Spar. [30720]

The proposal to dispose of the Brent Spar in deep water is the best practicable environmental option.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what information his Department holds on the trading relationship in M739 Al and M131 fuses by Licentec AG of Zug, Switzerland and Iran since 1987; [30605](2) what information his Department holds on the trading relationship in military goods with Iran since 1984 of the companies Forex, Expal and Maarsu. [30537]

It is not for my Department to comment on overseas companies' trading relations with third countries.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate has been made of the cost of each flight to the United States by the RAF from Brize Norton; and how many of these flights, on average, take place each year. [30629]

There are on average 102 return VC10 trooping flights to the United States from Brize Norton each year. The estimated average cost of each flight is £30,600 each way.In addition, there are in excess of 150 exercise flights to various parts of the United States which are undertaken by both VC10 and Tristar aircraft. Figures for the average cost of these flights are not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current estimate of the timetable for the proposed construction programme at the Devonport nuclear refit yard; and if he will make a statement. [30627]

The future nuclear refitting facilities at Devonport are planned to be ready in time for the Trident refit programme around the turn of the century.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the development of laser weapon programs in (a) China, (b) France, (c) Russia, (d) Israel and (e) Germany. [31203]

This is a matter for the countries concerned.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the revenue received from the selling of Royal Navy surplus equipment in each of the last three years. [31371]

The revenue received from the sale of Royal Navy surplus equipment in each of the last three years is as follows:

	£ million
1992–93	24.6
1993–94	33.4
1994–95	36.2

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his policy concerning the transportation of nuclear warheads through the Irish sea. [29940]

Nuclear weapons can be transported by sea, but as a matter of long-standing policy we do not comment on the routes used.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has held with representatives of local authorities along the Welsh coast concerning the use of the Irish sea for the transportation of nuclear warheads. [29938]

My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Defence has had no such discussions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contingency plans exist for dealing with an accident involving nuclear warheads transported through the Irish sea. [29939]

The Ministry of Defence has contingency plans to deal with a wide range of possible accidents involving the transportation of nuclear warheads, including an accident at sea.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Trident nuclear warheads were transported by sea from Portsmouth to Coulport between 4 and 7 June. [31108]

As a matter of long-standing policy, we do not comment on the presence of nuclear warheads at any particular place or time.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his policy for the transportation of Trident nuclear warheads carried by sea from Portsmouth to Coulport; and if he will make a statement. [31109]

Nuclear weapons can be transported by sea, but as a matter of long-standing policy we do not comment on the routes used.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future of Royal Naval air station, Portland. [31111]

A consultative document on the proposal to close the Royal Naval air station, Portland, was issued on 17 October 1994 and the consultation period ended on 16 December 1994. A number of representations were received during this period, and these are being carefully evaluated before we reach any final decision. I hope to be able to make an announcement shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for which Royal Navy gallantry awards Merchant Navy personnel are eligible. [31535]

Merchant Navy personnel are eligible for the Victoria Cross, the Distinguished Service Cross and mentions in dispatches.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if Merchant Navy personnel were eligible for Royal Navy gallantry awards other than the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal and the Distinguished Service Order before the practices of awarding the CGM and DSO for gallantry were abandoned. [31537]

Merchant Navy personnel were eligible for the Victoria Cross, the Distinguished Service Cross, the Distinguished Service Medal and mentions in dispatches before the new regulations governing operational gallantry awards came into force.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if Merchant Navy personnel are eligible for the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross. [31534]

No.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the practices of awarding the Distinguished Service Medal, the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal and the Distinguished Service Order for gallantry were abandoned; and who was consulted during the development of these changes. [31536]

A joint service review of operational gallantry awards was undertaken during 1993.A number of people were consulted during the course of this review including the Tri-Service Review Body, consisting of a number of senior service personnel of general rank and equivalent and a civilian, the principal personnel officers and the chiefs of staff and the Secretary of State for Defence.The recommendations were then seen and approved by the Prime Minister before being passed to the Committee on the Grant of Honours Decorations and Medals, who, in turn, submitted the recommendations to the Queen for her approval.The Queen's formal approval was obtained on 6 September 1993 and the new regulations came into force from that date.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has anything to add to his answer of 19 January 1994, Official Report, column 627, in regard to departmental knowledge of the trading relationship between Royal Ordnance and Chartered Chemical Industries Pte Ltd. of Singapore. [30519]

DTI computerised records from 1992 do not show any export licences for which Royal Ordnance was the consignor and Chartered Chemical Industries Pte Ltd. the consignee but, in the course of recent researches, it has come to light that Singapore Technologies—the parent company of Chartered Chemical Industries Pte Ltd.—was, on occasion, a consignee of exports from Royal Ordnance.I would also take the opportunity to refer to a written answer given on the same day,

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the visa-free travel arrangements which exist between the United Kingdom and other nations; and which of these arrangements are being repealed. [31531]

I will arrange for my hon. Friend to receive a substantive reply from the migration and visa department as soon as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what reason the provisions in the 1978 treaty between the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates which provide for movement without visa between the two nations is being annulled; and when the change will come into effect. [31529]

The 1978 understanding between the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates facilitating travel between the respective countries is not being annulled.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the decision on the abolition of visa-free travel between the United Kingdom and United Arab Emirates was taken; and what consultations have taken place with the British business group of Dubai and the northern emirates. [31622]

No decision has been taken to abolish visa-free travel between the UK and the United Arab Emirates.The British business group of Dubai and the northern emirates has not been consulted about the existing mutual waiver of the visa requirement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth if he will make it his policy to support the continued existence of UNCTAD. [31084]

I have been asked to reply.The UK has consistently supported and will continue to support those of UNCTAD's activities which make a positive contribution to trade and development. But the world, and its international institutions, has changed since UNCTAD was established in 1964 and UNCTAD must change too. This has been recognised by its members who, at the last Trade and Development Board, agreed that the ninth conference, which is scheduled to be held in 1996, will consider the future role of UNCTAD. At its recent meeting in Halifax, the countries of the G7 also reaffirmed their commitment to change. The UK welcomes this opportunity for constructive reform and looks forward to achieving a satisfactory outcome.

To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to visit Kent. [29838]

I will be making a visit to Kent shortly.

To ask the Prime Minister how much time was spent discussing the ecological sustainability of the world economy at the Group of Seven summit in the current year. [29934]

Sustainable development and safeguarding the environment formed an important part of our discussions at the Halifax summit. I refer the hon. Gentleman in particular to paragraphs 25, 26 and 31–33 of the G7 communiqué, which I have placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Prime Minister what is the current limit on the maximum amount of members of the Government, including whips and members of the House of Lords, who are entitled to ministerial salaries; what plans he has to change this; and if he will make a statement. [31391]

The Ministerial and other Salaries Act 1975 limits the number of salaries that may be paid to Government office holders to 110. I have no plans to change this.

To ask the Prime Minister in what circumstances visits overseas by former Prime Ministers are paid for from the public purse; if he will publish a table showing such visits since 1970; and if he will make a statement. [31392]

As for anyone else, visits overseas by former Prime Minister are paid for from public funds only when it is in the public interest to do so.Information about any such visits is not held centrally and is available only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Prime Minister how many Conservative hon. Members have received knighthoods since 1979; and if he will list their names; and what are the criteria for the political services on which such awards are based. [31519]

Some 122 Conservative hon. Members have received knighthoods since 1979. The names of the recipients have been published in the London Gazette. It is not the practice to reveal details of the criteria on which such awards are based.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 29 June. [30057]

This morning, I presided at a meeting of the Cabinet and 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 Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how the research councils will be responding to the recommendations from the technology foresight initiative; and if he will make a statement. [31495]

The research councils have been working very hard to develop a response to the technology foresight recommendations and I have today placed copies of their response in the Libraries of both Houses. This is an excellent document which shows how well the councils are getting on with implementing foresight already. I recommend that others should follow their good example.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what was the pupil to teacher ratio in January for each local education authority and for England as a whole in (a) the primary sector, (b) the secondary sector and (c) overall. [31426]

The provisional pupil-teacher ratios within maintained primary and secondary schools in England in January 1995 were 22.9 and 16.5 respectively. The provisional overall pupil-teacher ratio was 18.3. Information at local education authority level will be available in the autumn.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the expected capital spending figure for his Department for 1994–95; and what is the latest budget figure. [30884]

[holding answer 28 June 1995]: The Employment Department group capital expenditure figure for 1994–95 which is consistent with the published Statistical Supplements, Cm 2821, is £84 million. The final outturn figure to be published in the group's appropriation accounts is likely to total around £109 million. The budget figure for 1995–96 is £117 million.

To ask the right hon. Member for Berwick upon Tweed, representing the House of Commons Commission, what complaints he has received about (a) the Security Offices Mess Room, Norman Shaw Building and (b) the Palm Court Mess concerning rats, mice, cockroaches and general conditions of the rooms. [31267]

There has been no recent complaints to the authorities of the Houses about pests in either the Norman Shaw buildings or the Palm Court mess area. A specialist pest control firm is under contract to make regular inspections in these areas and to deal with any vermin. I have asked the Director of Works to write to the hon. Member with more detailed information.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to which countries condoms have been sent as part of the aid programme since 1990. [31006]

The United Kingdom aid programme has provided condoms to the following countries since 1990: Angola, the Gambia, India, Kenya, Namibia, Pakistan, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. In addition, our contributions to the United Nations Population Fund—UNFPA—and the International Planned Parenthood Federation support the provision of condoms within the country programmes of these organisations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make arrangements for the United Kingdom representatives on the council of the Global Environment Facility to publish an annual report setting out (a) the main activities and plans of the GEF each year, (b) the users to which United Kingdom Government money has been put by the GEF and (c) the voting record of the United Kingdom in decision making about GEF plans. [29933]

The Global Environment Facility is required to produce an annual report, which the GEF council has to approve. We expect such reports to include information on GEF activities, including the use of financial resources and the results of any votes. However, we expect votes to be rare as the GEF aims to take decisions by consensus. Copies of the reports will be placed in both Libraries of the House. The first annual report is expected to be available towards the end of 1995.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many appeals have been lodged by businesses in the north-west region in the last 12 months; how long it has taken to resolve each appeal; and what estimate he has made as to whether appeals will be resolved more quickly in future; [30509](2) how many appeals are currently lodged with the district valuers office in Rochdale; and what is the waiting time for appeals to that office to be heard. [30508]

Some 42,838 proposals to alter the non-domestic rating lists have been received in the last 12 months in the north-west region of the Valuation Office agency. As at 31 May 1995, a total of 35,263 non-domestic rating appeals, including some made more than 12 months ago, were outstanding in the north-west region, and 2,277 at the Rochdale office.We expect that the vast majority of proposals received by the end of March this year will have been cleared by the end of 1995–96. Later appeals against the 1990 list will be settled as soon as possible thereafter. It is still too early to tell how many appeals against the 1995 list are likely to be received, and at what rate; and therefore, how quickly they are likely to be resolved.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many council tax appeals lodged (a) before and (b) since 30 November 1993 have still to be determined by Aylesbury valuation office; and what target he has set for determinations to be completed. [30799]

As at the end of May, 423 of the appeals lodged before 30 November 1993 at the Valuation Office agency at Aylesbury, and 1,838 of those lodged after that date remain to be determined. All but a handful of the first category are expected to be settled by the summer. As regards the second, the VOA would expect appeals made prior to 1 April 1995 to be resolved no later than 31 March 1996. Its target is to clear subsequent appeals, in co-operation with the valuation tribunals, within 12 months of receipt. Priority will be given to clearing cases in order of receipt.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many letters his Department has received on the subject of the standard spending assessment for Northumberland as it affects education funding; and how many replies have been sent. [31198]

My Department has received and replied to over 3,500 letters in the past year on this issue.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures he will take to cap councillors' expenses in excess of inflation in the county of Kent. [31206]

We no longer specify financial limits on the overall amounts that local authorities can spend on councillors' remuneration allowances. We continue to specify ceilings on councillors' travel and subsistence allowances, and where any payments exceed those ceilings that is a matter for the district auditor.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take action to require manufacturers to supply the public with more information about the ingredients of detergents. [29930]

The proposed eco-labelling scheme for detergents will amplify and reinforce the information provided on labels on detergent packaging. As the Government's response to the 16th report of the Royal Commission on environmental pollution made clear, the Government will keep under review the need for any further guidance. My Department is encouraging consumer groups to discuss with the Soap and Detergent Industry Association their concerns about labelling.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment what plans he has to amend the rules for treatment of direct service organisation redundancy costs for tender evaluation and accounting purposes under compulsory competitive tendering of local authority services. [31863]

In August 1994, my Department issued a consultation paper inviting comments on possible changes to the way in which DSO redundancy costs should be handled for evaluation and accounting purposes under compulsory competitive tendering.The consultation paper proposed a number of ground rules: first, that the redundancy costs of any proposed reduction in DSO staff should be chargeable to the DSO revenue account—the date and point for this would be the time of notification to contractors of those eligible for transfer in the event of the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 applying to the contract; secondly, that any further DSO redundancies made in the course of carrying out the work would be treated in accordance with the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy code of practice for compulsory competition; and, thirdly, the consultation paper also proposed that where there was no revenue account in existence—which is currently the case, for example, with the white collar CCT—all prospective redundancy costs should be added to the DSO tender price for evaluation purposes.A number of responses were received. Broadly speaking, private contractors supported the proposed rules, while local authorities supported the rules to an extent but resisted the proposal that redundancy costs incurred in advance of the establishment of a revenue account should invariably be added to the DSO bid. The Audit Commission supported the local authority view.I have today written to the trade and local authority associations informing them of my conclusions. I have decided, first, that all costs relating to DSO redundancies should appear on the face of DSO accounts with an accompanying explanation, in accordance with current accounting practice. Redundancies during the course of the agreement between an authority and a DSO should be charged to the DSO revenue account, irrespective of whether those redundancies are triggered by the client side or the DSO management.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will consider new planning regulation guidelines to assist existing shopping centres to compete with new supermarket developments. [31329]

I will be issuing a draft revised version of planning policy guidance note 6 "Town Centres and Retail Developments" for consultation before the summer recess.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the selection of a chief executive for the proposed Environment Agency. [32195]

The Environment Agency advisory committee, chaired by Lord De Ramsey, has chosen Mr. Ed Gallagher, currently chief executive of the National Rivers Authority, to be the Environment Agency's first chief executive. Mr. Gallagher was selected following an open competition. Subject to enactment of the Environment Bill, he is expected to be appointed chief executive by the agency when it is established later this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much was spent by local authorities in England and Wales on renovation grants; and what percentage was spent by each authority on providing facilities for people with disabilities in privately owned houses, for the last five years for which figures are available. [29904]

[holding answer 22 June 1995]: Information about house renovation grants for England and for Wales is shown in the quarterly publication "Housing and Construction Statistics". Figures for the last five years appear in table 2.17 of the issues listed in the table. Copies of these publications are in the Library.

Year	Issue
1990–1991	December 1993, Part 2
1991–19941	December 1994, Part 2
1 Data for the third and fourth quarters of 1994 are provisional.

A table has been placed in the Library giving figures of the percentage of grant spent on providing facilities for people with disabilities in privately owned houses, for each local authority area in England for the last five years.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will direct the Local Government Commission for England to carry out its new district reviews. [32275]

I have today directed the Local Government Commission to carry out reviews of the 21 districts which I listed in my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Exeter (Sir J. Hannam) on 22 June 1995, Official Report, column 353. I have also directed the commission to have regard to revised policy and procedure guidance. I am placing copies of the guidance in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales by how much Government spending has changed in 1994–95 as a result of the private finance initiative; what is the estimated effect in 1995–96; how many jobs are to be created by schemes approved to date under the initiative and how many have been lost as a consequence in the public sector; and what is the forecast of transfer of employment from public to private sector over the last five years because of the initiative. [30827]

[holding answer 28 June 1995]: The Department's spending was not changed in 1994–95 as a result of approvals of private finance initiative—PHI—schemes costing over £1 million. Information on schemes costing less than £1 million is not collected centrally. For 1995–96, spending on the PFI is expected to be £250,000. Information on the number of public and private sector jobs affected by the PFI is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many schemes and to what value have been approved in 1994–95 under the private finance initiative; what are the estimates for the current financial year; how many schemes are currently being considered and at what value; for how long have they been considered and how many have been in the assessment process for over (a) six months and (b) 12 months; and what was the average length of time taken to assess schemes so far approved. [30826]

[holding answer 28 June 1995]: No schemes costing over £1 million were approved in 1994–95. Information on schemes costing less than £1 million is not collected. Under the latest plans in 1995–96, up to five schemes with a total capital cost of around £80 million are likely to be approved. Twenty-six potential schemes with a total capital cost of more than £700 million are being considered. Of these, nine have been in the assessment process for more than six months and 17 have been in the assessment process for more than 12 months.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the Acts with reference to the pertinent clauses, which grant him responsibilities, powers of duties in relation to (a) local government, (b) industrial development, (c) employment and training, (d) Welsh language, arts and recreation, (e) transport, (f) environmental services, (g) relations with the EU, (h) agriculture and (i) health and personal social services. [29941]

The Welsh Office was established in 1964. Since that date, the main Acts under which the Secretary of State has been granted responsibilities, powers or duties and for which in Wales the Secretary of State for Wales is responsible in relation to (a) local government, (b) industrial development, (c) employment and training, (d) Welsh language, arts and recreation, (e) transport, (f) environmental services, (g) relations with Europe, (h) agriculture and (i) health and personal social services are given in the following list.With regard to the pertinent clauses, this information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will consider extending the Theatres Act 1968 so that minors could be prevented from witnessing material considered to be of an adult nature; and if he will make a statement. [30859]

We do not believe it would be appropriate to amend the Theatres Act 1968 in the way described.Age classifications awarded to films and videos remain appropriate for each subsequent showing because of the unchanging recorded image. Each theatre performance is, however, unique because it is "live". As a result, different productions and performances of the same play may vary according to artistic interpretation, making a classification system unworkable.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action his Department has taken to follow up allegations made in January in relation to the illegal and unauthorised production, export and arrangement of sale of electro-shock weapons and equipment; what legal action has been and is being undertaken in consequence of such investigations; and if he will make a statement. [31030]

Electric shock weapons are covered by section 5(1)(b) of the Firearms Act 1968, as amended, which prohibits the unauthorised possession, manufacture, purchase, acquisition, transfer and sale of any weapon of whatever description designed or adapted for the discharge of any noxious liquid, gas or other thing.Following the allegations made in January, my Department has reviewed the terms of all authorities which are currently on issue to companies in England and Wales under section 5(1)(b) of the 1968 Act. There is no company which has authority to possess electric shock weapons.Police investigations and the prosecution of alleged offences are matters for chief officers of police and for my right hon. and learned Friend the Attorney-General. The control of exports is a matter for my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) women and (b) men are currently imprisoned as a result of conviction for (i) murder and (ii) manslaughter; and how many of these offences in each case related to the killing of a partner of the opposite sex. [31270]

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 if he will publish a breakdown of the length of custodial sentences imposed on (a) men and (b) women currently in prison who were convicted for manslaughter of a partner of the opposite sex. [31272]

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, pursuant to his answer of 26 June, Official Report, column 488, when the report arising from the interview on 5 February with the sponsor of Mrs. Quereshi Bibi—Ref. BV 100/25109—was sent to his office; when it was sent to the post in Islamabad; what recommendation was made; when a decision is to be made on Mrs. Quereshi Bibi's application; and if he will make a statement. [31608]

Papers were sent from the immigration office at Leeds-Bradford airport to the entry clearance officer in Islamabad on 23 February and 7 April No recommendation was made. The decision on the application is a matter for the entry clearance officer.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to reply to the letter dated 6 April from the hon. member for Worsley regarding his constituent Mrs. Ava Fielden. [30617]

[holding answer 26 June 1995]: I replied to the hon. Member yesterday.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 18 April, Official Report, columns 92–94, if he will give a regional breakdown of the numbers of prisoners transferred to hospitals under sections 47 and 48 of the Mental Health Act 1983 in each of the last 10 years. [31217]

[holding answer 27 June 1995]: 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, pursuant to his answer of 18 May, Official Report, columns 369–70, (1) what confirmatory evidence was sought by the Charity Commissioner's investigators that documents relative to their inquiry into whether the Foundation for Business Responsibilities had been used as a vehicle for political donations were stolen during burglaries at the offices of the foundation; [30952](2) what were the addresses and dates of the series of thefts which limited the Charity Commissioner's ability to determine conclusively whether the Foundation for Business Responsibilities was used as a vehicle for political donations; [30951](3) what confirmatory evidence was sought by the Charity Commissioner's investigators that thefts from the offices of the Foundation for Business Responsibilities had

The Charity Commission investigators sought and received confirmation from the police that a break-in at 40 Doughty street, London WC1, which resulted in the theft of records belonging to the Foundation for Business Responsibilities, was reported to them as having taken place between 29 and 30 April 1993. The Charity Commission did not seek other evidence to confirm that the break-in had occurred.There was no means of obtaining independent confirmation as to the actual records taken.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what provisions exist for British citizens employed on the CERN project and whose children were born in Switzerland between 1 January 1983 and 20 December 1994 to ensure that their grandchildren acquire British nationality if they too are born abroad; how many children were born with a reduced right of United Kingdom citizenship for their children; how many families have children with differing citizenship as a result of the exemption given to CERN under the 1984 designation order; what consideration was given to allowing all children born to British employees of CERN the opportunity of claiming full United Kingdom citizenship rights; and if he will make a statement. [30798]

No special provision applies to employees of CERN unless they are on secondment from the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council—PPARC, formerly the Science and Engineering Research Council, SERC. Service under SERC was designated under section 2(3) of the British Nationality Act 1981 on 21 December 1984. The effect of this designation is that any children born abroad after that date to British employees of SERC or PPARC become British citizens "otherwise than by descent" and may transmit their British citizenship to a second generation born abroad. The Home Office does not keep records of the numbers of children born in Switzerland who are affected by this designation since the transmission of citizenship to and from them is a matter of law requiring no official intervention. There is no provision in the 1981 Act for designations to have retrospective effect, nor is there any discretionary power in the Act to vary a person's status from "by descent" to "otherwise than by descent".

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what checks are made, and by whom, on the condition and status of overseas domestic workers while they are in the United Kingdom. [31102]

Detailed checks that the conditions of the overseas domestic worker scheme are met are carried out by the entry clearance officer before arrival. On arrival, the immigration officer must be satisfied that the domestic worker intends to leave the United Kingdom within the period of leave granted. Where the employer is here on a longer-term basis and the domestic worker applies for an extension of stay, the Department needs to be satisfied that the conditions of the scheme, including adequate maintenance and accommodation, continue to be met.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had in the last year to improve the status and rights of overseas domestic workers in the United Kingdom. [31104]

A review of the arrangements for overseas domestic workers was undertaken last year, resulting in the changes announced on 9 December 1994, Official Report, columns 379–80. Officials also recently met two organisations who speak on behalf of overseas domestic workers.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) visas and (b) work permits have been granted to overseas domestic workers for entry and work in the United Kingdom in each of the last three years. [31103]

Comprehensive figures for the number of overseas domestic workers granted entry clearance visas are not kept centrally. However, arrangements are being made to obtain some figures for the period 1 January to 30 June 1995 which I will let the hon. Member have when they become available. Work permits are not issued to overseas domestic workers.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to allow all retail outlets to pay out small winnings to pools customers and give promoters the opportunity to establish a pool based on sporting events on any day of the week. [30533]

I am currently reviewing the scope for further deregulation of the pools as part of the deregulation initiative. My officials are consulting with the Pools Promoters Association and have just received a further letter from it elaborating its proposals, including the proposals referred to by the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many new cellular vehicles are required for the court escort contracts still to be let; and at what cost to the Prison Service; [29962]

Responsibility for these matters 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 system the Prison Service has in place to monitor the standards of maintenance and general safety of the cellular vehicles used by Group 4 and Securicor; [29964](2) what is the annual cost to the Prison Service of monitoring the standards of maintenance and general safety of the cellular vehicles used by Group 4 and Securicor; [29966]

Responsibility for these matters 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 plans will be put into operation during the next business year to reduce suicides in prisons in England and Wales. [29953]

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 will be the cost of providing additional razor wire security to the perimeters of category C prisons. [29954]

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 if he will list the prisons in London which hold foreign nationals on (a) drugs offences and (b) immigration offences. [29544]

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 is the number of prison farms in England and Wales. [59540]

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

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if prisons must purchase food and produce from prison farms from within their prison food budget expenditure; and if he will make a statement. [29559]

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 Chancellor of the Exchequer how many civil servants in his department or its agencies are presently working on matters related to the Scott inquiry; if dedicated units have been established; and what is the estimated cost to date of civil servants dealing with matters relating to the Scott inquiry. [30293]

[holding answer 22 June 1995]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply which my right hon. Friend the Paymaster General gave him on 18 May 1994, Official Report, columns 481–82. Costs incurred by the Treasury since then have been very small.There are presently six staff of HM Customs and Excise dedicated to working on matters related to the Scott inquiry. The total staffing cost of the Department's Scott liaison unit is now estimated to be around £612,000 to date. This figure does not include the personal costs of current and former Customs and Excise officials who have been asked to give written and/or oral evidence to the Scott inquiry.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 21 March, Official Report, column 108, if he will list those occasions since the start of the current parliamentary year when (a) he and (b) the Chief Secretary did not give prior warning to hon. Members of visits to their constituencies. [30751]

[holding answer 26 June 1995]: My right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary and I are not aware of any occasions during the current Session when we have visited hon. Members' constituencies on departmental business without giving them prior warning.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the recent Council meeting of the Economic and Finance Ministers of the European Union. [30935]