To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will detail the amount of travel claims at constant prices in his Department in (a) 1993–94 and (b) 1994–95 broken down by (i) public transport, (ii) car mileage allowance and (iii) bicycle allowance. [32215]

This information is not available in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Plymouth, Sutton (Mr. Streeter) on 26 June, Official Report, column 462, if he will make a national breakdown as between the Department of the Environment and the Welsh Office of the staff employed in the planning inspectorate, effective on 1 April (a) 1994 and (b) 1995. [32444]

The planning inspectorate is an executive agency jointly funded by the Department of the Environment and the Welsh Office. The national breakdown of full-time equivalent staff employed by the planning inspectorate was:

	1 April 1994	1 April 1995
England	580	563
Wales	25	21

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will detail the amount of travel claims at constant prices in his Department in (a) 1993–94 and (b) 1994–95 broken down by (i) public transport, (ii) car mileage allowance and (iii) bicycle allowance. [32170]

The Lord Chancellor's Department spent £7,162,000 in 1993–94 and £6,991,000 in 1994–95 on travel and subsistence, both figures at 1993–94 prices. The cost of travel claims alone and the type of transport used could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what are the numbers of magistrates appointed from each ward in Newport, Gwent, in each of the past five years; and what are their perceived political loyalties. [32102]

The number of magistrates appointed from each ward in Newport in each of the last five years and their stated political affiliation is as follows:

Year	Ward	Number	Politics
1990	Caerleon	1	Labour
	Rogerstone	1	Labour
	The Graig	1	Conservative
	Outside borough	1	Labour
1991	Alt-yr-yn	1	Labour
1992	Alt-yr-yn	1	Labour
	The Graig	1	Liberal Democrat
1993	Alt-yr-yn	2	Labour
	Llanwern	1	Labour
	Outside borough	1	Labour
1994	Caerleon	1	Labour
		1	Conservative
	Langstone	1	Labour
	Ringland	1	Labour
	Rogerstone	2	Labour
	The Graig	1	Liberal Democrat
	Outside borough	1	Uncomitted

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if there will be a full period of public consultation before the small claims court limit is increased; and if he will make a statement. [32526]

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 if he will review the libel law to provide printers with the defence of innocent dissemination. [32390]

The Government have already decided that the defence of innocent dissemination should be available to printers, and will introduce legislation as soon as there is a suitable opportunity.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 4 July. [30992]

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 4 July 1995. [30993]

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

To ask the Prime Minister what is his policy towards the adoption of a single currency outside the rules of the European Union by countries wishing to do so. [32369]

The EC treaty now provides the institutional framework for the adoption of a single currency. It would not be legally permissible for any member states to adopt a single currency otherwise than in accordance with this framework if that prevented or fettered the discharge by the Community institutions of their functions in accordance with the treaty.The United Kingdom's protocol, annexed to the EC treaty, means that the United Kingdom shall not be committed to move to the third stage of economic and monetary union without a separate decision to do so by its Government and Parliament.

To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his statement on the EU Cannes summit of 28 June, (1) when he plans to bring forward legislation to ratify the chemical weapons convention. [32155](2) on what grounds he signed a statement calling for the chemical weapons convention to enter into force without delay. [32156]

The Government remain fully committed to the chemical weapons conventions. Primary legislation is required to implement the convention in the UK and to enable UK ratification. Work is going ahead on the preparation of the necessary legislation. It is the intention of my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade in the coming weeks to publish a bill in draft for consultation with a view to introducing it as soon as parliamentary time permits.

To ask the Prime Minister, if he will state the rules governing the making of announcements relating to party business in, or using the facilities of No. 10 Downing Street. [31987]

[holding answer 30 June 1995]: Ministers under this and previous Administrations have been allowed—at their own or party expense—to make use of No. 10 Downing street for party business, except for certain purposes during general elections.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will detail the amount of travel claims at constant prices in his Department in (a) 1993–94 and (b) 1994–95 broken down by (i) public transport, (ii) car mileage allowance and (iii) bicycle allowance. [32168]

The Department's computerised travel claims payment systems do not record information according to the categories requested. The cost of deriving this information from manual records would be disproportionate.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list all former heads of state of foreign countries who currently have permission to reside in the United Kingdom; and what privileges and status are accorded to each; [32518](2) how many former heads of state of foreign countries or members of their family are currently awaiting decisions on their domiciliary status in the United Kingdom. [32521]

This information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. In any event, it is not our normal practice to disclose information about the immigration status of individuals.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current status of ex-King Constantine of Greece in the United Kingdom; and what privileges and precedence are accorded to him and his family. [32519]

It is not our normal practice to disclose information about an individual's immigration status.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) men and (b) women aged from 18 to 21 years were serving a prison sentence of 10 years or more on 19 June. [31704]

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 how many women were classified as category A prisoners in prisons in England and Wales on 19 June. [31277]

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 places in special secure units in prisons in England and Wales and the number of inmates being held in such units as of 19 June. [31278]

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 April, Official Report, column 92, if he will give a breakdown of the ethnic backgrounds of prisoners transferred to hospitals under sections 47 and 48 of the Mental Health Act 1983 in each of the last 10 years. [31218]

[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 what representations he has received on the certification by the British Board of Film Classification of the recent video showing deaths by execution; and if he will make a statement. [31725]

My right hon. and learned Friend has received two letters from members of the public concerned that the video "Executions" has received a certificate from the British Board of Film Classification.The Government are aware of the public concern about this film. However, the British Board of Film Classification is an independent body and the Government have no powers to influence its classification decisions. Before awarding a classification certificate, the BBFC is required to take into account any harm which a video work might cause through the manner in which the work deals with, among other things, violent or horrific behaviour or incidents. I understand that this particular work was viewed by the full board of the BBFC, who concluded that it was appropriate to grant it an "18" certificate.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many voluntary sector organisations his Department has (a) paid grants to or (b) entered into contracts with in (i) 1993–94 and (ii) 1994–95; and what was the total value of these grants and contracts. [31308]

In 1993–94 the Home Office paid grants to approximately 900 voluntary organisations and entered into contracts with seven. In 1994–95, grants were paid to approximately 200 organisations and contracts entered into with six. The fall in the number of organisations receiving grants directly from the Home Office reflects changes in the methods for paying certain grants between 1993–94 and 1994–95.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) what is his estimate of the number of properties regularly operating as hotels in England with fewer than six bed spaces; [32028](2) how many hotels in England have more than six bed spaces. [32029]

There are no figures on the number of bed spaces in hotels and similar establishments. However, the database of all serviced accommodation stock known to the English tourist board shows a total of 15,000 establishments with six bedrooms or less, and a further 14,250 with more than six bedrooms.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what representations he has received from the Association of Independent Radio Contractors about the concentrations of radio ownership in major urban areas. [31945]

I met representatives of the AIRC on 28 June and discussed a number of issues. The issue of ownership in urban areas was specifically raised by AIRC at a meeting with Lord Astor on 16 March.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what is the Government's policy on the revised television without frontiers directive. [31954]

The Commission's proposal for a new directive to amend the television without frontiers dDirective (89/552/EEC) was communicated to the Council on 14 June and is under consideration in a Council working group of officials. My Department will shortly be seeking the views of the UK industry on the proposals; and on explanatory memorandum will be provided in the usual way.I have made it clear on a number of occasions that, while the Government welcome many of the changes to the 1989 directive proposed by the Commission, we are strongly opposed to the proposed changes to the quota regime on programme content. And so are most of our partners.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what has been the change in the level of ITV's spending on programming over the last five years in real terms. [31918]

For ITV networked programmes the ITV network centre spending budgets for each of the years 1993–95, expressed in real terms at 1995 prices, deflated by HM Treasury GDP market prices deflator of 27 June 1995, were:

• 1993: £539.8 million
• 1994: £544.2 million
• 1995: £552 million (provisional)

Comparable figures for 1991 and 1992 are not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate costs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) in how many cases the district auditor has prepared a section 20(3) report in respect of the health service; and in each case what is the name of the body concerned, the reason a report was prepared and the date on which she received it; [28240](2) pursuant to her answer of 24 May

Reports issued under section 20(3) of the 1990 Act are not definitive analyses and are not intended for publication. Examination of such reports is required to establish the legal position in each case and any necessary disclosure is achieved by notation of the appropriate statutory accounts.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what criteria are used for selecting new members of the pay review body; [30429](2) what are the criteria for selection of the chair of the pay review body; and what plans she has to change them. [30430]

Both chairman and members of the two review bodies covering national health service staff are appointed by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on the advice of Ministers.In making the appointments, Ministers look for relevant background experience, for the ability to analyse the issues coming before the review body, and for the capacity to form independent judgments on those issues.The procedures may need to be reviewed in the light of the Government's decisions on the Nolan committee's recommendations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research her Department has carried out into counselling versus antidepressants in primary care; with what findings; and if she will make a statement. [31505]

There is no research currently being undertaken by the Department's policy research programme—formerly the centrally commissioned programme.The national health service research and development programme includes two current projects in its health technology assessment programme, which has identified counselling in primary care as a priority area. One compares the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of counselling, cognitive behavioural therapy, and usual treatment by the general practitioner for patients with depression and mixed anxiety and depression. The second is to establish the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of counselling in primary care for patients with chronic depression and anxiety.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the number of (a) pregnancies among teenage girls, (b) births to unmarried mothers and (c) abortions performed in (i) York, (ii) North Yorkshire, (iii) Yorkshire and Humberside and (iv) England in each year since 1979. [31602]

The number of conceptions to women aged under 20 and the total number of live births outside marriage are shown in the table. The data are given for each year from 1979 to the most recent year for which information is available—1991 for conceptions and 1993 for births. Conception statistics by county and county district are not readily available before 1989, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.The number of abortions by regional health authority of termination are published in the OPCS Series AB 6–19 and in the OPCS Monitor AB95/1 for 1993; copies of which are available in the Library. For reasons of confidentiality, abortion data by area of termination are published only down to RHA level.

	Area of residence at time of birth or abortion
Year	England	Yorkshire and Humberside	North Yorkshire	York county district
a) Conceptions to women under 201
1979	113,574	12,991	n/a	n/a
1980	110,326	12,541	n/a	n/a
1981	108,202	12,073	n/a	n/a
1982	106,865	12,229	n/a	n/a
1983	105,374	11,959	n/a	n/a
1984	110,966	12,646	n/a	n/a
1985	111,991	13,143	n/a	n/a
1986	111,446	13,364	n/a	n/a
1987	115,671	13,679	n/a	n/a
1988	113,345	13,488	n/a	n/a
1989	110,409	13,370	1,173	241
1990	108,037	13,022	1,193	240
1991	96,843	11,907	1,072	201
b) All live births outside marriage
1979	66,056	7,087	575	163
1980	73,413	8,067	635	195
1981	76,916	8,434	640	183
1982	85,188	9,396	747	209
1983	94,022	10,491	840	240
1984	104,404	11,694	939	255
1985	119,235	13,350	1,103	302
1986	133,477	15,141	1,180	324

	Area of residence at time of birth or abortion
Year	England	Yorkshire and Humberside	North Yorkshire	York county district
1987	149,556	16,691	1,353	384
1988	167,179	18,593	1,575	421
1989	175,027	19,357	1,682	453
1990	188,548	21,098	1,816	507
1991	198,938	22,014	1,880	485
1992	202,425	22,587	1,990	482
1993	203,581	22,238	1,992	475
1 Includes pregnancies which resulted in either a maternity at which one or more live or stillbirths occurred or a termination of pregnancy by abortion under the 1967 Act. Pregnancies which led to spontaneous abortion are not included.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many voluntary sector organisations her Department has (a) paid grants to or (b) entered into contracts with in (i) 1993–94 and (ii) 1994–95; and what was the total value of these grants and contracts. [31309]

The Department makes a large number of grants to voluntary organisations, the main channel being the section 64 general scheme. For details of grants given in 1993–94 and 1994–95 I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Clwyd, South-West (Mr. Jones) on 20 June at column 205.The Department does not normally enter into contractual arrangements for services with voluntary organisations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what further plans she has to reschedule temazepam; and if she will make a statement; [31382](2) what are the criteria which she applies to reschedule drug substances under the terms of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971; how temazepam relates to these criteria; and if she will make a statement. [31394]

No rescheduling may occur under the 1991 Act except after consultation with, or on the recommendation of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs; and the council is required to have regard to misused drugs which are having, or appear to them capable of having, harmful effects sufficient to constitute a social problem. The council has recommended that temazepam should be controlled under schedule 3 of the relevant regulations rather than schedule 4. The Government's careful consideration of this recommendation is continuing.My right hon. Friend the Lord President of the Council announced on 10 May at column

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the economic impact on the independent nursing sector of referrals by North Yorkshire county council to nursing homes owned by that council; [31674](2) what percentage of referrals by North Yorkshire county council are to council-owned nursing homes; [31676](3) what representations she has received from the independent nursing sector on referrals by North Yorkshire county council to homes owned by that council. [31666]

Local authorities may own residential care homes but not nursing homes. I have received representations from my hon. Friend about this matter.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the number of nursing homes providing specialist care in North Yorkshire owned (a) privately and (b) by the county council. [31673]

Centrally held data on nursing home provision relates to health authority and not local authority areas. In 1993–94 there were 138 registered homes within the North Yorkshire health district. The table gives number of beds by specialisation.

	Number
Mental illness	453
People with learning disabilities	—
Maternity	—
Physically disabled	360
Alcohol and drug misuse	7
Other	3,850
Total number of beds	4,670

Local authorities do not own nursing homes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will place a copy of the Bridge consultancy report in the Library; and if she will make a statement. [31700]

This is a report commissioned by Gloucestershire social services. I understand that it is not a public document, but my hon. Friend may wish to approach the director of social services for Gloucestershire.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to monitor further expenditure on private health care facilities by NHS hospital trusts. [31841]

Expenditure on health care purchased by national health service trusts from non-NHS providers is already monitored through financial returns.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidelines have been issued on the use of private health care and facilities by NHS hospital trusts. [31840]

National health service trusts are free to buy in services from other providers, whether in the public or private sector, where they can benefit their patients by doing so.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the costs incurred by local authorities in referring people to local authority-owned homes. [31675]

The available information is of gross expenditure by local authorities on residential accommodation for elderly or mentally ill people in local authority run establishments, which in 1993–94 is provisionally estimated to have amounted to £894 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish the annual report and accounts of the Medicines Control Agency. [32851]

I have received the report and copies have today been laid before both Houses of Parliament in accordance with the requirements of section 5(2) and 5(3) of the Exchequer and Audit Departments Act 1921.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what was the total number of (a) scientific and (b) administrative staff employed by the National Blood Service for each month during the last year. [32025](2) what was the total number of

These are matters for the National Blood Authority.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance she offers to purchasers on breast and cervical screening services for women over 45 years. [32024]

The breast screening programme invites all women aged between 50 and 64 for three-yearly screening. Women aged 65 and over can ask to be screened every three years. Women aged under 50 who do not have breast symptoms cannot at present have routine breast screening by mammography.The cervical screening programme invites all women between the ages of 20 to 64 for cervical cancer screening at least every five years. Women aged 65 and over who have not had clear smears within the previous 10 years should be invited for cervical cancer screening.A substantial amount of quality guidance is issued by the Department and the NHS national screening co-ordinating team on a number of issues. These include the age range of women to be included in each screening programme, management of the process and quality standards to be achieved. These are reviewed constantly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will detail the amount of travel claims at constant prices in her Department in (a) 1993–94 and (b) 1994–95 broken down by (i) public transport (ii) car mileage allowance and (iii) bicycle allowance. [32181]

Information is not available in the form requested. The amount of claims for travel within the United Kingdom in the Department is shown in the table at constant prices. The Department does not provide bicycle allowances.

	1993–94 £	1994–95 £
Rail and air travel	1,925,861	1,596,171
Other public transport (including car mileage)	1,581,820	1,572,110

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions have taken place between her Department and the Southampton University Hospitals Trust regarding the suspension of consultants on full pay. [32336]

None. Suspension is a matter between employer and employee.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what guidance she has given to hospital trusts on the procedures and time to be taken for the reinstatement of consultants suspended on full pay following the completion of successful appeals against suspension for alleged medical malpractice or misconduct; [32339](2) what guidance she has given to hospital trusts on the minimum time which should be taken to complete inquiries in cases where consultants are suspended for alleged medical malpractice or misconduct. [32337]

Guidance on suspension procedures was issued in circular HSG(94)49 to national health service trusts on 31 October 1994, copies of which are available in the Library.The guidance stipulates no minimum period during which inquiries are to be completed. While decisions on the procedures to be followed for reinstatement rest with the employing authority, the guidance contains an indicative timetable which is strongly recommended to NHS employers for incorporation into any local procedures that they may draw up in consultation with their staff. The guidelines state that every attempt should be made to conclude the investigation and, where appropriate, the subsequent disciplinary process as speedily as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the total cost of salaries paid to consultants suspended on full pay in each of the past five years. [32338]

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the cost in real terms to the NHS of the prescriptions for drugs to alleviate the symptoms of asthma in the year since 1990–91. [32216]

The available information is shown in the table.

The net ingredient cost in actual and real terms of drugs used in the treatment of asthma, 1991–92, 1992–93 and 1993–94
England
Period	Net ingredient cost (£ millions)	Net ingredient cost at 1991–92 prices using the GDP deflator (£ millions)
1991–92	270.6	270.6
1992–93	312.5	300.5
1993–94	357.6	333.7

1. Drugs as defined by the British National Formulary section 3.1 (bronchodilators), 3.2 (corticosteroids) and 3.3 (cromoglycate and related therapy). Some of these drugs may have been prescribed for conditions other than asthma.2. The information was obtained from the prescription cost analysis system which is based on a full analysis of all prescriptions dispensed in England by community pharmacists and appliance contractors, dispensing doctors and prescriptions submitted by prescribing doctors for items personally administered. It excludes items dispensed by hospital pharmacies.3. The net ingredient cost refers to the cost of the drug before discounts and does not include any dispensing costs or fees.4. The Treasury GDP deflator has been used.5. Statistically comparative data for 1990–91 are not held. Data for 1994–95 are not yet available.

To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will detail the amount of travel claims at constant prices in his Department in (a) 1993–94 and (b) 1994–95 broken down by (i) public transport, (ii) car mileage allowance and (iii) bicycle allowance.

The amounts claimed in the Privy Council Office, at current prices, were as follows:

	(a) 1993–94 £	(b) 1994–95 £
(i) Public transport	824	1,156
(ii) Car mileage	nil	11,104
(iii) Bicycle	nil	nil
1 Reflects claims arising from staff using cars during industrial action on the railways.

These figures include claims by the staff of the central drugs co-ordination unit, created within the Privy Council Office in January 1994.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what has been the help given from the United Kingdom know-how fund to Albania: in each of the last three years. [31368]

The know-how fund has financed projects in the following sectors in Albania; agriculture, finance, health, local government, education and the fire service. New activities this year include assistance to the mass privatisation programme and to small and medium-sized enterprises. Expenditure has been:

• 1992–93: £38,000
• 1993–94: £360,000
• 1994–95: £720,000

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many voluntary sector organisations his Department has (a) paid grants to or (b) entered into contracts with in (i) 1993–94 and (ii) 1994–95; and what was the total value of these grants and contracts. [31310]

The ODA allocated £158,449,755 to 220 UK non-governmental organisations in 1993–94. The figures for 1994–95 are not yet available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will set out the existing disparities between the European Community's development co-operation policy (a) in general and (b) in respect of evaluation of projects and programmes and those of the United Kingdom; and whether the working group has published comparisons between policies and priorities of all member states and those of the community. [31596]

The aims for Community development cooperation set out in the Maastricht treaty are consistent with those of the UK.Since Maastricht, further measures have been taken to enhance policy and operational coordination between the EC and member states. Joint guidelines have been agreed for a number of sectors—family planning, health, AIDS, education, food security—and a pilot exercise launched in selected countries to enhance operational coordinationThe evaluation methodology employed by the European Commission addresses the same issues as the UK's. The main difference is the greater emphasis in UK evaluation studies on examining the cost-effectiveness and on rating the success of projects and the programmes. For further details on this issue I refer the hon. Member to the Foreign Affairs Committee's First Report Session 1994–95 on Monitoring of the European Community Aid Programme and the Government's response to this, Cm2870.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department intends to contribute to the fund established by the makers of the film "The Dying Rooms" for the support of children abandoned in Chinese state orphanages. [32017]

We have made no contribution to this fund.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on implications of the recent information obtained on the treatment of abandoned children in China for his Department's funding of the IPPF and UNIFA. [32080]

[holding answer 3 July 1995]: The United Nations Population Fund and the International Planned Parenthood Federation will be asked about the implications of recent information obtained on the treatment of abandoned children in China.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will undertake research into the links between Chinese population control policy and the situation of abandoned children in China; [32081](2) if he will make an assessment of the links between the Chinese population control policy and the imbalance of the sexes in China. [32082]

[holding answers 3 July 1995]: We shall continue to seek information on China's population policies and the consequences of their implementation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on the use of repeated visits by population control officials and volunteers to Chinese women with illegal pregnancies or separation of them from their families to exert psychological pressure on them to accept abortion. [32083]

[holding answer 3 July 1995]: We continue to receive reports alleging abuses of reproductive rights in China.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what information he has regarding the Chinese Family Planning Association and IPPF involvement in house visits and family planning courses in China; [32084](2) what information he has regarding UNFPA involvement in funding, training for or participation in house visits and family planning courses in China. [32085]

[holding answers 3 July 1995]: We understand from the International Planned Parenthood Federation that members of the China Family Planning Association do make home visits. These visits are designed to inform people of the choices of family planning methods available and provide information on how they can better access reproductive health care services. The CFPA also undertakes training courses to enable people to make informed choices about childbearing. The IPPF has provided vehicles and audio-visual equipment to the CFPA.The United Nations Population Fund does not fund or provide training for home visits. Its training programmes focus on contraceptive choice, interpersonal counselling and informed consent.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what changes have occurred in (a) domestic investments, (b) foreign investments, (c) exports, (d) imports, (e) child mortality, (f) participation in education, (g) interest rates and (h) wage

	Year	Year	Year
	1991	1994 (estimate)
	US$ million	US$ million
Exports	1,786	1,870
Imports	1,700	1,630
	1991	1994
	Percentage GDP	Percentage GDP
Gross domestic investment of which private sector	25	23
	20	18
	1991	1994
	US$ million	US$ million
Foreign investment (approvals by Zimbabwe investment centre)	250	660
	1990	1991	1995
Interest rate (90-day money market rate)	15 per cent.	35 per cent.	32 per cent.
	1989	1992
	Z$	Z$
Wages (average annual earnings)
average excluding agriculture	6,700	11,107
agriculture	1,809	2,063
	1980–85	1989–92
Education—gross enrolment ration1 (Percentage of school age population) Primary	135	117
Secondary	42	48
	1980–85	1987–92
Child mortality (per 1,000 live births)	80	47
1 Includes those attending above the relevant school age.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much in £ sterling terms Britain will contribute to the eighth European development fund; over which financial years those contributions will be made; and what will be Britain's percentage share of the total contributions made to the European development fund. [32612]

Our commitment to the eighth European development fund will be for 1.63 becu, equivalent to approximately £1.36 billion at current exchange rates. Funds will be drawn down over the period 1999–2000 to 2003–4. We shall be the third largest contributor to EDF VIII, providing 12.7 per cent. of member state contributions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much in £ sterling terms Britain will contribute to the seventh levels since the introduction of the Zimbabwe structural adjustment programme; and if he will make a statement on the United Kingdom's policy towards the next structural adjustment programme. [31846]

We shall continue to support Zimbabwe's economic reform programme as an essential means to economic recovery, providing good progress is maintained. In concert with the World bank and International Monetary Fund we recognise the importance of helping to protect vulnerable groups during this transition; we therefore give priority to protecting the social sectors in our aid programme.The latest available figures from World Bank/IMF sources are as follows:European development fund; over which financial years those contributions will be made; and what Britain's percentage share will be of the total contributions made to the European development fund. [32611]

Our commitment to the seventh European development fund is for 1.79 becu. The cost in sterling terms will depend on the timing of draw down. At the present exchange rate it is equivalent to approximately £1.5 billion. Funds will be drawn down over the period 1994–95 to 1998–99. We are the third largest contributor to EDF VII, providing 16.37 per cent. of member state contributions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 19 June, Official Report, column 16, regarding the national overview of land resources in Indonesia, if any of the project staff trained under the project were (a) stationed in East Timor or (b) responsible for reviewing the land resources and land use of East Timor. [31876]

[holding answer 30 June 1995]: The Indonesian project staff were attached to the department of transmigration in Jakarta. None were stationed in East Timor. Project staff, working with the UK consultants, reviewed the land resources and land use of the whole archipelago, including East Timor.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 19 June, Official Report, columns 16–17, regarding the regional physical planning, map improvement and training project in Indonesia, if the project covered East Timor; and if officials who attended the training (a) in Indonesia and (b) in the United Kingdom included officials employed by the authorities in East Timor. [31877]

	Public transport1		Car mileage allowance2		Bicycle allowance3
	1993–94 £	1994–95 £	1993–94 £	1994–95 £	1993–94 £	1994–95 £
Crown Prosecution Service	930,295	1,031,401	2,033,162	2,090,518	—	—
Treasury Solicitor's Department	23,177	22,719	—	5,441	0	0
Government Property Lawyers	37,075	41,138	6,742	3,033	0	0
Serious Fraud Office4	216,356	259,150	—	—	0	0
Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers	39,434	19,576	—	540	0	0
1 All qualifying forms of transport other than private vehicles.
2 Payment for 1993–94 in TSD and LSLO, and for 1993–94 and 1994–95 in SFO, included in "public transport" figures.
3 Any payments in the CPS included in "public transport" figures.
4 1994–95 amount provisional.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will detail the amount of travel claims at constant prices in his Department in (a) 1993–94 and (b) 1994–95 broken down by (i) public transport, (ii) car mileage allowance and (iii) bicycle allowance. [32178]

The information requested at constant 1993–94 prices is as follows:

	1993–94 £	1994–95 £
Public transport	868,988	723,320
Car mileage allowance and bicycle allowance1	69,161	56,662
Total	938,149	788,982
1 Records of bicycle allowance payments are not maintained separately.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 18 April, Official Report, column 37, if he will review the custody controls in relation to the Central Gilts Office accounts in order to reduce the risk of misappropriation or misdescription of gilt edge securities registered at the Bank of England. [31524]

[holding answer 30 June 1995]: The project included East Timor and local training courses were carried out for officials from Government Departments there. Officials employed by Government Departments in East Timor were not among the people trained in the UK.

To ask the Attorney-General if he will detail the amount of travel claims at constant prices in his Department in (a) 1993–94 and (b) 1994– 95 broken down by (i) public transport, (ii) car mileage allowance and (iii) bicycle allowance. [32169]

The amount of travel claims made by staff in my Departments in 1994–95 prices is given in the table.

HM Government have no plans to ask the Bank of England to review its controls in relation to Central Gilts Office accounts. Placing the Bank under the duty of inquiring about the propriety of stock transactions would reduce the speed and efficiency of the settlement service and would therefore add to the costs of government funding. I remain of the view that the measures taken in the Pensions Bill provide effective safeguards for the security of scheme assets.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the cost to the Inland Revenue of paying for software on which licensing agreements cannot be traced; and if he will make a statement. [31647]

The Inland Revenue identified a small number of cases of equipment, due to be transferred to EDS, where there was insufficient documentary evidence to confirm that copies of software held have been fully licensed. The Department has agreed with the supplier a fee of less than £150,000, including VAT, to cover licenses for this software.To prevent recurrence improved procedures have been implemented in line with the requirement of the Inland Revenue IT security standards.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 20 June, Official Report, column 147–48, if the liability of the companies named in the answer has now ceased; how much money has been recovered to offset the total cost to the Treasury; and what companies remain to pursue; and if he will make a statement. [31728]

A substantial sum, including interest and costs was recovered in settlement of these proceedings to help offset the total cost of the ex gratia payment scheme, and consequently these actions have now been discontinued.A number of other companies and individuals remain parties to other proceedings commenced by the Government. It is not the Government's policy to comment on the detail of legal proceedings or settlements relating to the Barlow Clowes litigation, so as not to prejudice the outcome of continuing actions.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) when he now expects to publish the SIB/DSS report on the sale of appropriate personal pensions to those on low incomes; [32049](2) if he will publish the terms of reference of the SIB/DSS inquiry into the sale of appropriate personal pensions to those on low incomes. [32050]

The publication of this report is a matter for the Securities and Investments Board.

To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee (1) if he will make a statement on the reasons why hon. Members are currently restricted to three employee passes;(2) if he will issue a questionnaire to hon. Members to ascertain their views on the adequacy of three passes to allow employees access to their offices in order to carry out their duties;

On 30 January 1989 the House approved the Second Report of Session 1987–88 from the then Select Committee on House of Commons (Services), "Access to the Precincts of the House", which recommended that the number of Members' staff who may hold photo-passes be limited to three. It was not proposed that there should be a limit on the number of staff employed by an hon. Member.The decision to limit to three the number of photo-passes available to Members' staff was made in the light of pressure on all the House facilities; at that time, the figures showed that only 66 out of 650 Members held passes for more than the proposed limit.As the pressure on House facilities has not decreased in subsequent years, I do not propose to recommend any changes to the existing regulations.

To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee what is his policy on the use of combined heat and power in the House of Commons.

Wherever appropriate, the opportunity is always taken to incorporate energy efficiency measures into new works and maintenance projects on the parliamentary estate. A combined heat and power plant will be installed in the Norman Shaw buildings later this year at a cost of some £90,000. Projected annual savings worth £18,500 will give a payback period of less than five years. Studies are under way with a view to undertaking a similar scheme in the Palace of Westminster in 1997–98.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what objectives he has set for the chairmen of British Rail and Railtrack for 1995–96. [32849]

I have written to the chairmen, separately, setting their objectives. Copies of the letters have been placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will detail the amount of travel claims at constant prices in his Department in (a) 1993–94 and (b) 1994–95 broken down by (i) public transport, (ii) car mileage allowance and (iii) bicycle allowance. [32177]

This question could be answered only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has had in relation to the impact of the privatisation proposals for British Rail freight division on the decision-making timetable for a Euro-freight terminal in south Wales. [32394]

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales is in regular contact concerning proposals for rail freight terminals in south Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which police forces (a) took part and (b) did not take part in the survey on injury accidents involving vehicles fitted with bull bars; and what is the total population that each group covers. [32396]

The police forces which have taken part in the study are as follows:

Avon and Somerset

Personal Injury Road Accidents: 1994
	All Police Forces in Great Britain	All Police Forces Reporting Bull Bar Accidents
Accident distribution	All accidents	All accidents	All accidents involving a vehicle fitted with a bull bar	All pedestrian accidents involving a vehicle fitted with a bull bar
Fatal	3,326	1,936	22	6
Serious	39,286	21,551	219	34
Slight	191,489	97,180	815	49
All accidents	234,101	120,667	1,056	89
(Table revised 3/7/95 to include Hertfordshire).

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to ensure that heavy goods vehicles entering the United Kingdom from the European mainland meet the necessary safety of noxious emissions standards. [32443]

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his estimate of the total number of deaths and serious injuries involving bull bars in 1994, based on the evidence provided by certain police authorities. [32397]

The figures for accidents involving bull bars during 1994, based on the injury accident reports forms compiled by certain police authorities are as follows:

All vehicles, whether of UK or external origin, are the subject of roadside spot checks to ensure that they comply with emissions requirements. From 1 January 1996, in-service emissions requirements for heavy diesel engined vehicles in all member states will have to comply with the minimum standards laid down in directive 92/55/EEC. An increasing number of vehicles from member states are now being built to the more stringent requirements of directive 91/542/EEC, which came into effect on 1 October 1993.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many revisions have been made to the highway code booklet since 1965; and in which years. [32273]

The highway code has undergone four major revisions since 1965: in 1969, 1978, 1987 and 1993. Minor amendments have also been made from time to time throughout this period.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what claims have been made against Railtrack by Network SouthCentral in respect of damage to train sets and loss of passenger revenue in April and May as a result of the failure to maintain the track properly. [31867]

A claim has been received and is being considered by Railtrack.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the cost to Network SouthCentral in April and May of the additional wear to wheels and loss of passenger revenue as a result of the failure to maintain the track properly. [31865]

None. This is a commercial matter for the railway industry.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many train services in the Network SouthCentral region were delayed by more than five minutes in April and May as a result of the failure to maintain the track properly. [31866]

British Rail's performance statistics do not specify reasons for delays. However, I understand from BR that recent track maintenance problems had no noticeable effects on the punctuality of Network SouthCentral services during April and May.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list from the date of each agency's creation, by agency, the annual salary including performance pay and bonus payments of the chief executive. [31827]

There are eight agencies in the Department of Transport as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the number of non-UK nationals undertaking the driving test in the United Kingdom over the last two years. [31833]

This information is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research his Department has carried out the levels of water that can be contained on the decks of roll-on roll-off ferries without hindering the use of the lifeboats; and at what levels of water the use of lifeboats is impeded. [31437]

[holding answer 3 July 1995]: This is an operational matter for the Marine Safety Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether restrictions relating to night flights to and from (a) civil airports, (b) private airstrips, (c) military airfields and (d) heliports apply to police helicopters. [32395]

My right hon. Friend is responsible for certain noise mitigation measures, which include night flying restrictions, at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports only. At these airports, police helicopters are exempt from current restrictions on night movements. At all other airports, including heliports and private airstrips, the responsibility for noise mitigation lies with individual owners or operators. Restrictions on night flights may form part of any planning approval. These arrangements apply to civilian aerodromes; at military airfields the responsibility lies with the Ministry of Defence.

to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the current negotiations between the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates on a memorandum of understanding; and what assessment he has made of the effect on these of the imposition of an entry visa requirement upon United Arab Emirate citizens seeking to visit the United Kingdom. [32201]

Negotiations between the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates on a memorandum of understanding are making good progress. There is no connection with the EU Commission's proposal for a list of third countries, including the UAE, whose nationals would require a visa to enter any EU state.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from Britons resident in the United Arab Emirates about the possible termination by the United Kingdom of the agreement of the waiving of visa requirements for entry to the United Kingdom by nationals of the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Qatar; and if he will make a statement on the effect such termination will have on relations between the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates. [32206]

The chairman of the British Business Group Dubai and Northern Emirates wrote to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on 17 June about press reports regarding possible EU regulations affecting UAE nationals visiting Britain.Under article 100c of the treaty of Rome, the European Commission proposed in December 1993 a draft regulation establishing a list of 126 countries, including the UAE, Bahrain and Qatar, whose nationals would require a visa to enter any EU member state. The United Kingdom has registered its concern at the length of the proposed list. Discussions with the other member states and the Commission are continuing; the United Kingdom's aim is to ensure that the list takes account of current UK visa practice as far as possible.We have close and excellent relationships with the UAE. We do not anticipate that these would be unduly affected, should the UAE be placed on an EU common visa list.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British citizens are known to be living in the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Qatar. [32204]

The estimated numbers of British citizens living in the countries in question are as follows:

• United Arab Emirates: 18,500
• Bahrain: 6,330
• Qatar: 3,500

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what considerations make it impossible to continue into 1996 the reciprocal agreement between the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Qatar on abolition of entry visa requirements. [32205]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given earlier.