To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many (a) proceedings were commenced to repossess homes and (b) homes were repossessed in (i) Darlington and (ii) each county in northern England in each year since 1990. [33783]

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 him to reply direct.

To ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, as representing the House of Commons Commission what was the cause of the House of Commons Fees Office computer breakdown; how many (a) staff, and (b) right hon. and hon. Members did not receive their June salaries on the correct date; when the fault was rectified and payments made; and if he will make a statement.

I understand that the failure to make June salary payments on time was caused by operator procedural error in the Fees Office in producing the relevant disc for clearance by bankers automated clearing service, and not by a computer breakdown. The error affected 644 hon. Members, but did not affect any staff.Non-payment was identified on Monday 3 July and remedial action was taken immediately to credit hon. Members' accounts on 5 July. Investigations are currently being held within the Fees Office and I am assured that all possible steps are being taken to prevent a repetition of the error, which the Fees Office greatly regrets.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what policies his Department has to reduce the number of road accidents involving police patrol vehicles. [32923]

Action by police forces to reduce the number of police vehicle accidents is an operational matter for individual chief officers of police, but the incidence of such accidents is closely monitored by Her Majesty's inspectorate of constabulary, HMIC. We are working with HMIC and the traffic committee of the Association of Chief Police Officers to find ways in which to achieve a reduction.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what investigations his Department makes into the prior driving convictions of police officers involved in road traffic accidents while driving police vehicles. [32924]

None. Consideration of police officers' driving records, and investigations relating to driving offences and convictions which occurred after entry to the police service, are the responsibility of individual chief officers of police.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advice he gives to chief constables and deputy chief constables in permitting police officers to return to driving police vehicles after they have caused a fatal accident due to careless driving while carrying out police duties. [32926]

All decisions on the allocations of police driving duties, including action taken following an accident, are a matter for individual chief officers.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the cost of the police operation at the book signings held at (a) Hatchards, Piccadilly on 12 June, (b) Harrods on 13 June, (c) W. H. Smith, Holborn on 14 June and (d) Selfridges, Oxford street, on 14 June; and if any contribution towards costs is to be made by the book publishers. [33283]

It is a long-standing practice not to reveal the costs of security operations.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the change in asylum seekers to the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, in 1994; what has been the change in such applications in (a) Denmark, (b) Finland, (c) Germany, (d) Norway and (e) Sweden; and if he will make a statement. [33152]

[holding answer 10 July 1995]: The available information on asylum applications in western European countries for 1993 and 1994 is given in the table. The number of applications for asylum in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, rose from 22,400 in 1993 to 32,800 in 1994, an increase of 45 per cent.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children aged under 16 years have held shotgun certificates in each of the past five years. [33245]

[holding answer 10 July 1995]: The information requested is not held centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many recorded crimes involved the use of (a) replica firearms and (b) reactivated firearms in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [33248]

[holding answer 10 July 1995]: The available information relates to recorded notifiable offences in which imitation firearms, including replicas, were used.

Notifiable offences recorded by the police in England and Wales where an imitation firearm was reported to have been used:

• 1989: 365
• 1990: 420
• 1991: 481
• 1992: 419
• 1993: 411

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 3 July, Official Report, column 29, when the advertisements aimed at recruiting 30,000 special constables were first placed;' when the first responses were received; and how many have thus far been recruited. [33242]

[holding answer 10 July 1995]: A pilot exercise was undertaken in the Granada region in April 1994, and the campaign was launched nationally in October. Advertisements first appeared on television and in the local press on 27 October 1994 and there was an immediate response. In the first two days —27 and 28 October —1,839 inquiries were received and more than 38,500 inquiries have been made to date. Feedback from police forces on the number of special constables recruited as a result of the advertising is incomplete and we are currently considering what steps need to be taken to improve our information. I shall write again as soon as I have the numbers.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will publish a report on the progress of his Department's drugs prevention initiative. [34125]

We are today publishing the drugs prevention initiative's fifth annual progress report, which records encouraging progress in developing a range of drugs prevention work in various local communities in the nine months from 1 July 1994 to 31 March 1995. As part of "Tackling Drugs Together", the Government's new drugs strategy, the drugs prevention initiative is now expanding its operations in England for a further four years. I have placed a copy of the report in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 18 April, Official Report, column 92, what percentage of the total prison population was judged to be mentally ill in each of the past 10 years; and of these what percentage (a) had been diagnosed as mentally ill before arrest, (b) had been homeless before arrest, (c) was imprisoned for serious offences, (d) was subject to the care programme approach and (e) was sent to private hospitals. [31222]

[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 was the total cost of the local inquiry, established in 1981 pursuant to section 32 of the Police Act 1964, to investigate the Brixton disorders; how long the inquiry took from being established to reporting; and what criteria persuaded the then Home Secretary to appoint such an inquiry. [33294]

[holding answer 10 July 1995:] Home Office records show that disbursements of about £207,000, at 1981 prices, were made in association with the Scarman inquiry. They include administrative and legal costs, but do not include the staff costs of the secretariat of the inquiry or the costs of the Metropolitan police. The inquiry commenced in April 1981 and reported in November 1981. The factors that persuaded the then Home Secretary to establish the inquiry would have included the extent, seriousness and duration of the disturbances.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the hon. Member's letters dated 22 March, 24 April and 31 May concerning her constituent, Mr. D. B. Guisso. [33596]

[holding answer 10 July 1995]: I replied on 5 July.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what was the number of burglaries on farms and farm outbuildings in England and Wales for each of the past 10 years; [33138](2) what was the number of cases of thefts of produce from fields in England and Wales for each of the past 10 years; [33137](3) what was the number of cases of livestock theft in England and Wales for each of the past 10 years. [33136]

This information is not collected centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures are being taken to reduce burglaries from farms and farm outbuildings; and what reports his Department has produced. [33139]

Decisions about policing priorities are matters for chief officers of police. They attach a high priority to measures aimed at tackling burglary and many initiatives are successfully reducing the number of burglaries. There are, for instance, over 500 farm watch schemes across the country.The Home Office has no plans to produce a report on farm burglaries but will continue to support the police through its crime prevention training, publicity and research programmes.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to make it easier for prospective employers to check the criminal records of those seeking employment caring for vulnerable groups. [33222]

We will be setting out our proposals in a White Paper on new arrangements for access to criminal records, which is to be published later this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the charges made by the police for the registration of non-EC students and visitors for the (a) London, (b) Birmingham, (c) Manchester, (d) Cambridge and (e) Northumbria areas; and what service is provided in exchange for the charge. [33165]

The fee, which is set nationally, is £30. It covers the cost of administering the scheme.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of children, under the age of 16 years, charged with prostitution in each of the past five years. [33104]

As detailed information on the number of persons charged is not collected centrally, cautioning and court data are given in the table:

Total number of females aged 10 to under 16 years cautioned and prosecuted for prostitution offences under Section 1 of the Street Offences Act 19591 1989–1993
Age	1989	1990	1991	1992	1993
England and Wales
10	—	—	—	1	—
11	—	—	—	—	—
12	—	2	4	2	—
13	3	3	5	1	5
14	9	14	10	7	33
15	38	22	40	51	40
10–15	50	41	59	62	78
All ages	15,498	14,646	14,005	13,102	11,520
1 Common prostitute loitering or soliciting for the purposes of prostitution.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures he has taken to promote the United Nations convention on the rights of the child. [33105]

Copies of the convention were sent to local authorities, health authorities and major voluntary child care organisations in England and Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what considerations led his Department to decide not to provide any funding for the Europe against AIDS summer campaign 1995; and if he will make available funding for the 1996 and 1997 summer campaigns. [33099]

Ministers were originally approached to support the Europe against AIDS summer campaign in 1994. At that time, some Governments, including ours, decided that they did not wish their health promotion agencies to be involved in the work. The reasons included a view that the campaign image itself was inappropriate and that a range of domestically funded campaigns such as the travelsafe initiative and the Health Education Authority's summer travel campaigns were already in existence. The reasons underlying the decision remain the same.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will fund the establishment of primary health care centres at strategic locations to deal with out-of-work calls by patients for medical advice and assistance; and if he will make a statement. [32999]

We recently offered a package of proposals designed to encourage family doctors to organise together to provide their out-of-hours care. As part of this package, we offered to make available an extra £45 million to support general practitioners' out-of-hours services, including primary care centres. Discussions with the profession are continuing.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take action to ensure that general practitioner fundholders (a) hold regular meetings in public, (b) consult the public on their purchasing intentions, (c) submit their contracts to quality monitoring at least as rigorous as for health authorities and (d) establish relationships with community health councils comparable to those already existing with other purchasers and providers; and if he will make a statement. [33000]

The Accountability Framework for GP fundholding requires general practitioner fundholders to make their plans and performance reports available for public scrutiny by sending them to community health councils, making them available to patients at the practice and involving patients in service planning. GP fundholders are also required, as part of the process for monitoring and reviewing performance, to submit to the health authority an annual report of their performance including quality improvements achieved.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will withdraw his Department's decision to amend the funding formula for health authorities and implement a system of capitation-based funding for GP fundholding practices at the earliest opportunity; if he will base budget allocation on an equitable allocation of resources between the patients of fundholding and non-fundholding practices; and if he will make a statement. [33002]

The fair allocation of resources is a fundamental principle of budget setting in the national health service. This applies irrespective of whether practices are fundholding or not.Copies of EL(94)79, "Developing NHS purchasing and GP fundholding", EL(94)84, "General Practice Fundholding: guidance on setting budgets for 1995 –96" and FDL(94)68, "Revenue allocations 1995 –96" are available in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to increase the number of registered sick children's nurses training places and ensure that local plans for children's services within the national health service are effectively implemented; and if he will make a statement. [33001]

Training commissions for registered sick children's nurses have increased from 776 in 1989 –90 to 1,612 in 1993 –94 —an increase of 108 per cent. This indicates the commitment of health authorities and trusts to trained children's nurses.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the cost of employing consultants in connection with privatisation programmes in which his Department has been engaged since 1980. [33460]

No part of the Department of Health or its agencies has been privatised since 1980.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many contracts his Department has had with consultants; and what has been the total cost in each of the past five years. [33563]

The Department of Health and its agencies have spent the following amounts from running costs on consultancy.

• 1990 –91: £18,398.000
• 1991 –92: £24,258,000
• 1992 –93: £18,399,000
• 1993 –94: £15,933,037
• 1994 –95: £18,479,405

Information on the number of contracts the Department has had with consultants over the past five years could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will during the current revision of the Community Health Council Regulations ensure that CHCs are given the right to monitor those services provided on general practitioners' premises; and if he will make a statement. [33667]

We have no present plans to extend the statutory role of community health councils to monitor services provided on general practitioners' premises.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will fund centrally the cost of extensive funding for individual patients needing specialised care; and if he will make a statement. [33673]

It is generally for purchasing authorities to buy health care for their local residents. Central funding is, however, provided under the supra-regional service arrangements for a small number of services which, to be clinically effective, need to be concentrated in a limited number of centres.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give a breakdown of population in Tower Hamlets by the age groups up to four, five to 10, 11 to 16, 17 and 18, 19 to 21, 22 to 30, 31 to 60 –65 and 60 –65 and over by enumeration district. [33654]

The latest resident population estimates which are available relate to mid —1993. The figures for Tower Hamlets, which allow for under-enumeration in the census as well as for changes since 1991, are as follows:

Ages	Thousands
0–4	15.0
5–10	16.9
11–16	13.9
17–18	4.2
19–21	7.8
22–30	30.2
31–64/59	57.3
65/60+	24.3
All ages	169.6

A listing of the 'all ages' populations recorded in the 1991 Census for each of the 365 enumeration districts in Tower Hamlets will be placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many operations for the insertion of grommets and for dilation and curettage have been conducted by region for each year since 1992. [32114]

Information about the number of these operations will be placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the incidence of illegal employment of young children. [31799]

I am not aware of any significant evidence that the illegal employment of children is a widespread problem.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of nurses he estimates will receive a 3 per cent. pay award this year. [33162]

This is a matter for local negotiation. Nearly 80 per cent. of trusts who employ nurses have offered 3 per cent. or more. I fully expect the pattern of offers yet to come to be along similar lines.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many living human embryos are currently held in stock by licensees of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority; in how many of those cases the parent of those embryos is no longer known; if he will give a breakdown of the number of such embryos by their age in years since fertilisation; if he will indicate the maximum age beyond which storage of such embryos becomes illegal; how many such embryos will reach that age in each of the next three years for which figures are available; what means will be authorised for the killing of those embryos which are not used by that date; what plans he has to bring forward proposals for allowing the adoption of such living human embryos; and if he will make a statement. [33796]

Section 14(4) of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990, which came into force on 1 August 1991, states that embryos may be stored for a maximum of five years unless regulations provide for a shorter storage time or specify the circumstances in which they may be stored for a longer period. The statutory five-year period for those embryos in storage on 1 August 1991 ends on 31 July 1996.Information about the number of stored embryos is not collected by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority as a matter of routine. The number of embryos stored by individual licensed centres changes daily.The Government are fully aware of public concern about stored embryos. The authority has been asked by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health to make a report on the issues surrounding the statutory storage period for embryos. It is understood that some information on the number of such embryos is being collected in connection with that report. When the report is received, Ministers will consider whether any action by Government is necessary.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if it remains his policy that payments to women for their ova for use in research or in infertility treatment should not be allowed; [33794](2) what plans the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority has to review the ban on payment to women for their ova for use in research or infertility treatment; and if he will make a statement; [33795](3) if he will list the legal provisions which regulate payments to women for their ova for use in research or infertility treatment; and if he will make a statement. [33793]

Section 12(e) of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 states that no payment may be made for gametes or embryos except in accordance with directions. Section 23 authorises the giving of directions by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority.The direction issued in 1991 regularised the position which prevailed when the HFEA assumed its powers. It allows payment of up to £15 per donation or benefits in the form of free treatment or sterilisation.The authority is currently reviewing its policy regarding the payment of egg and sperm donors. It recently held a conference to discuss issues concerning payment. Licensed centres will be notified of any changes in policy as soon as the authority has considered the various arguments for and against payment.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will estimate the cost of employing consultants in connection with privatisation programmes in which his Department has been engaged since 1980. [33453]

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will publish the text of his Department's response to the European Commission's Green Paper on tourism. [32027]

I have placed copies of the response in the Libraries of both Houses.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will list (a) details of all overseas trips made by her or ministerial colleagues in her Department, paid for wholly or partly from public funds and (b) the purpose, destination and duration of such overseas trips, which officials accompanied her and the

Dates	Minister	Destination	Purpose	Number of officials1
1992
21 January	Right hon. Tim Renton MP	Madrid	Audience with King and Queen of Spain	1
6 February	Right hon. Tim Renton MP	Paris	Cultural visit	1
13 May-15 May	Robert Key MP	Greece—Rhodes	Council of Europe Conference of Sports Ministers	1
18 May	Right hon. David Mellor MP	Brussels	EU Culture Ministers Meeting	1
4 June	Robert Key MP	Luxembourg	EC Formal Council-Tourism Action Plan	1
14 June	Right hon. David Mellor MP	Malmo	England v. France World Cup	1
23 July-26 July	Robert Key MP	Barcelona	Olympic Games	1
31 July-1 August	Right hon. David Mellor MP	Barcelona	Olympic Games	1
5 August-6 August	Robert Key MP	Barcelona	Olympic Games	1
11 September	Robert Key MP	Seville	Expo '92	1
12 September-16 September	Robert Key MP	Madrid	Paralympics	1
15 October-16 October	Robert Key MP	Paris	Council of Europe Ministers Meeting	1
11 November-12 November	The Viscount Astor	Brussels	Culture Council	0
1993
19 February	Right hon. Peter Brooke MP	Paris	Visit Pavilion de L'Arsenal and Musee de Louvre	1
12 March-13 March	Robert Key MP	Madrid	Meeting of Offices of National Lottery	2
26 March	Robert Key MP	Brussels	Office opening ceremony of Antwerp European City of Culture '93	1
7 April-8 April	The Viscount Astor	New York	New York Landmark Preservation Foundation Lunch	0
21 April-22 April	The Viscount Astor	Copenhagen	EU Informal Culture Ministers meeting	0
15 May-17 May	Robert Key MP	Cannes	Film Festival	0
17-May	Right hon. Peter Brooke MP	Brussels	EU Culture Ministers Meeting	1
19 September-21 September	The Viscount Astor	Antwerp	EU Informal Cultural Affairs Committee meeting	1
22 September-23 September	Right hon. Peter Brooke MP	Paris	Opening Ceremony of BTA's Maison de la Grande Bretagne	1
22 September-23 September	Iain Sproat MP	Monte Carlo	International Olympic Committee	1
4 October-5 October	The Viscount Astor	Brussels	EU Audio-Visual Ministers Meeting	0
1994
4 January-8 January	Iain Sproat MP	USA	Tourism visit	1
19 February-22 February	Right hon. Peter Brooke MP	Norway	Winter Olympics	1
25 February-26 February	Lady Trumpington	Lisbon	Official Inauguration of Lisbon '94	1
30 March-3 April	Right hon. Peter Brooke MP	India	Cultural visit	1
4 April-10 April	Right hon. Peter Brooke MP	Japan	Cultural visit	1
17-June	Right hon. Peter Brooke MP	Luxembourg	EU Culture Council meeting	1
25 June-27 June	Iain Sproat MP	Vienna	Spanish Riding School	2
15 July-17 July	Lady Trumpington	Wurzburg	EU Informal Culture Council Meeting	1
18 August-19 August	Right hon. Stephen Dorrell MP	Canada	Commonwealth Games	1
23 August-27 August	Iain Sproat MP	Vancouver	Commonwealth Games	1
30 October-5 November	The Viscount Astor	Japan	World Conference of Tourism Ministers	1
10 November	Lady Trumpington	Brussels	EU Culture Council Meeting	1
22 November-23 November	Lady Trumpington	Lisbon	Culmination of Lisbon '94	0
1995
21 January-27 January	Iain Sproat MP	Australia	Australian Sports Academy	2
13 February-14 February	Right hon. Stephen Dorrell MP	Bordeaux	EU Informal Culture Ministers meeting	1
28 February	Right hon. Stephen Dorrell MP	Brussels	Meeting with European Commissioners	1
3 April	Right hon. Stephen Dorrell MP	Luxembourg	EU Culture Ministers meeting	1
3 April-4 April	Lady Trumpington	Luxembourg	EU Culture Council Meeting	1
10April-11 April	Lady Trumpington	Annecy	European Tourism Days	1
17 May	The Viscount Astor	Switzerland	European Incentive Business Travel Market	1
21 May-22 May	Right hon. Stephen Dorrell MP	Cannes	Film Festival	1
17 June-25 June	Iain Sproat MP	South Africa	Rugby World Cup	1
1 Where these details are not available, it has been assumed that one official was in accompaniment.

Details are set out in the table. Total travel and subsistence costs for Ministers and accompanying private secretaries were £15,807.57 in 1993 –94; £46,125.09 in 1994 –95; and £4,760.84, so far, in 1995 –96. Figures for 1992 –93 are not available.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total amount of (a) income tax (b) capital

	Income tax		1Capital gains tax		Inheritance tax		1Corporation tax
	At 1995 Ql prices2	As a percentage of general government receipts	At 1995 Ql prices2	As a percentage of general government receipts	At 1995 Ql prices2	As a percentage of general government receipts	At 1995 Ql prices2	As a percentage of general government receipts
1985–86	55,120	23.3	1,420	0.6	1,370	0.6	16,690	7.1
1968–87	58,270	24.1	1,610	0.7	1,500	0.6	20,430	8.5
1987–88	59,500	23.6	1,980	0.8	1,550	0.6	22,610	9
1988–89	58,510	22.7	3,130	1.2	1,440	0.6	24,970	9.7
1989–90	61,440	23.5	2,330	0.9	1,550	0.6	27,060	10.4
1990–91	64,420	25.3	2,160	0.8	1,470	0.6	25,050	9.8
1991–92	63,060	25.9	1,250	0.5	1,420	0.6	20,030	8.2
1992–93	59,870	25.5	1,040	0.4	1,280	0.5	16,640	7.1
1993–94	59,810	25.3	730	0.3	1,360	0.6	15,230	6.5
1994–95	63,370	25.3	930	0.4	1,420	0.6	19,500	7.8
1 Tax on capital gains realised by companies is included in corporation tax.
2 Using the GDP deflator at market prices adjusted for the abolition of domestic rates.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the number of seizures of alcohol intended for re-sale in the United Kingdom for each of the last three years at (a) Dover, (b) Folkestone, (c) Portsmouth, (d) Southampton and (e) in total; and what was the estimated value of the seizures. [32732]

Seizures of Alcohol by Customs and Excise
Financial year	1992–93		1993–94		1994–95
Collection	Number	Revenue value £	Number	Revenue value £	Number	Revenue value £
South East England Collection	30	32,042	64	180,584	182	465,793
Southern England Collection	96	5,543	84	102,390	97	164,525
Whole Country	1,473	238,494	1,340	922,666	1,398	2,171,213

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the Health and Safety Executive has reported on the Forth rail bridge. [31794]

The assessment is continuing.

Number of HGVs involved in injury road accidents, by severity and gross weight: GB 1990–1994
	1990			1991			1992			1993			1994
	Fatal	Serious	Slight	Fatal	Serious	Slight	Fatal	Serious	Slight	Fatal	Serious	Slight	Fatal	Serious	Slight
HGV
3500–7500 kg	206	1,041	3,481	177	900	3,277	172	826	3,132	119	732	3,166	109	676	2,763
7501–16999 kg	171	673	2,161	114	491	1,839	94	449	1,606	88	383	1,496	56	331	1,315
17000 plus kg	523	2,045	6,223	544	1,865	6,027	580	1,801	5,837	474	1,710	6,247	468	1,917	6,931
Total	900	3,759	11,865	836	3,256	11,143	846	3,076	10,574	681	2,825	10,910	633	2,924	11,009

[holging answer 4 July 1995]: The information is in the table:

This information is retained by Customs on a collection basis rather than port by port. There are two collections involved, south-east England collection, covering Dover and Folkestone and southern England collection, covering Southampton and Portsmouth. The number and revenue value of seizures of alcohol from both the European Union and third countries for the financial years 1992 –93, 1993 –94 and 1994 –95 are given in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give the number of trucks over 7.5 tonnes involved in (a) fatal crashes and (b) serious injuries in each of the past five years. [33599]

Estimates based on available information to 1994 are shown in the table. Information for vehicles other than heavy goods vehicles within these weight bands is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will give the number of prosecutions and convictions in each of the past five years for (a) mechanical faults and (b) hours offences in magistrates courts and sheriff courts in Scotland; [33602](2) how many

The information as contained within the Home Office and Scottish Office statistical records is in the tables:

	Vehicle or part in dangerous or defective condition1 Magistrates (England and Wales)		Work record and employment Offences2 Magistrates
Court Action	Prosecutions	Convictions	Prosecutions	Convictions
1984	146,547	133,410	25,310	20,447
1985	131,903	120,004	26,320	21,312
1986	121,226	108,577	29,866	23,201
1987	97,396	82,035	23,456	18,348
1988	101,808	84,407	27,074	20,658
1989	97,351	79,701	34,955	26,621
1990	89,419	70,838	35,324	26,497
1991	91,809	69,650	36,609	27,022
1992	93,504	67,793	34,114	24,284
1993	87,354	62,336	28,445	19,712
1 These offences broadly represent offences under the Road Vehicle (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986. The offences are: defective brakes; defective steering gear; defective tyres; using a vehicle in a dangerous condition; other offences relating to vehicles in a dangerous or defective condition.
2 These figures relate to the drivers' hours and tachograph offences. The specific offences covered area: driver/employer failing to keep or produce proper records or to install and use recording equipment; failing to observe limits on hours or driving and duty, or rest requirements; other work record and employment offences (except falsification offences).

	Offences under the Construction and Use Regulations and Lighting		Motor Vehicle Records of Work Offences, including tachograph offences
	Regulations Sheriff (Scotland)		Sheriff
Court Action	Prosecutions	Convictions	Prosecutions	Convictions
1989	6,126	5,343	1,800	1,525
1990	5,629	4,818	1,971	1,649
1991	5,119	4,284	2,115	1,774
1992	4,772	4,551	2,519	2,070
1993	3,844	3,068	1,866	1,534

Information on offences in Scotland before 1989 is not immediately available. I will write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many inquiries there have been under the Transport and Works Act 1992 procedures; and in each case how long they have taken. [33535]

Two inquiries have been completed: the River Usk Barrage Order, which took 14 weeks, and the East London Line Extension rder, which took seven weeks. A third inquiry, into the Greater Manchester (LRTS) (Airport Extension) Order, is in progress and is expected to take nine weeks.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if the Government remain in principle in favour of an intermediate station on the channel tunnel rail link at Stratford. [33533]

The Government have an open mind on this question. They will reach a decision on whether there should be an intermediate station at Stratford in the light, inter alia, of the bids from the consortia bidding to construct the channel tunnel rail link.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will repeal sections 157 to 159 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 to ensure that road traffic users are not charged for treatment following accidents. [33661]

These sections of the Road Traffic Act are the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Health.I understand that there are no plans to repeal them.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the protection of residential and leisure travel facilities on the rail network for employees and former employees of the National Freight company, Freightliner, the British Rail hotel group and other existing and former subsidiary companies of British Rail, who currently enjoy such rights. [33678]

The Government have given a clear assurance that residential and leisure travel facilities for those employees and former employees of the railway industry who currently enjoy such rights will be safeguarded.Contracts of employment provide the protection for such entitlements as a condition of service. Franchised rail service operators will be obliged, through the terms of the contracts that they will have with the franchising director, to provide travel facilities on their services for entitled staff.The benefits and obligations of agreements which the British Railways Board has with the employers of such staff will be transferred to a company, Rail Staff Travel Ltd., specifically established for the purpose of maintaining residential and leisure travel facilities to all those entitled.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many flight landings and take-offs there have been at Heathrow airport between the hours of midnight and 6 am since 1 January. [32858]

Flight movements are monitored during the night quota period, 11.30 pm to 6 am. From 1 January to 1 July there were 2,862 movements, including exemptions and dispensations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what is his estimate of the proportion of Railtrack's current access charges that reflects the cost of depreciation and the amount in pounds that this represents; and if he will give his estimate by train operating unit for the current financial year; [32686](2) what is the intended relationship between depreciation of Railtrack's assets as measured by the modern equivalent asset value convention and future replacement expenditure plans; and if he will place in the Library the written guidance given to Railtrack on that relationship. [32682]

Railtrack's access charges are subject to the approval of the rail regulator. The way in which they were set is explained in the policy statements on charges he issued earlier this year.It is not possible to disaggregate the amount allowed in access charges for asset renewals between train operating companies.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his estimate for the financial years 1994 –95 and 1995 –96 of the proportion of total subsidy to the train operating companies returning to Railtrack as track access charges, and the amount of pounds that this represents. [32683]

Grant from the franchising director to the train operating companies in respect of services provided in 1994 –95 was £1,748 million. It is estimated that the grant will be £1,610 million in 1995 –96. This represents just one of the sources of revenue with which train operating companies cover their costs, including track access charges levied by Railtrack.Track access charges levied by Railtrack in 1994 –95 were £1,923 million. Final access charges for 1995 –96 have yet to be approved.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what categories of asset have been excluded from valuation under the modern equivalent asset valuation convention employed in determining depreciation costs for Railtrack; and what is the current market value of those assets. [32684]

The estimate of current cost depreciation used by the rail regulator when he set Railtrack's access charges took account of the accounting policies adopted by the British Railways Board. These policies are set out in BR's published accounts for 1993 –94.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the maximum tailback, resulting from the resurfacing of the M5 between junctions 16 and 18; what steps he is taking to shorten it; and on what grounds the planned timing of these roadworks was decided. [31851]

[holding answer 30 June 1995]: This is an operational matter for the Highways Agency.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his estimate of the cost of replacing a typical semaphore signalling system with a replacement system with the same service capability, allowing for any differences both in the quality of the output and in operating costs. [32681]

I have made no such estimate. It would be for Railtrack to decide whether such a comparison were necessary.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals were put forward by the United Kingdom to the United Nations conference on land mine clearance in Geneva, on 5 to 7 July; and if he will make a statement on the outcome of the meeting. [33059]

[holding answer 10 July 1995]: The proposals made by the United Kingdom include:

strengthening of the 1981 UN weaponry convention, particularly its protocol II on the use of land mines;

the introduction of measures to complement a strengthened weaponry convention, in particular the UK-US proposal for an anti-personal land mine control programme;

improved co-ordination of international support for mine clearance programmes; and

the promotion of research into mine detection techniques.

The meeting was a pledging conference and raised more than US $20 million for the UN voluntary trust fund for assistance in mine clearance.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what advice he is giving to United Kingdom citizens in respect of visits to Sri Lanka; and if he will make a statement. [33354]

[holding answer 10 June 1995]: The current travel advice for Sri Lanka is as follows:

Peace talks between Sri Lankan Government and the Tamil Tigers broke down on 19 April. There has been subsequent fighting in the north and east. Do not visit these areas. The south and centre, including all the main tourist areas and the cultural triangle, remain for the most part unaffected. There was an attempted major car bomb attack, almost certainly by the LTTE, near the arrivals terminal of Katunayake airport late on 5 June, followed by a threat of further attacks on KIA. Security at the airport and elsewhere has been greatly increased. This may result in delays. The recent small bomb explosions in Colombo were not thought to target foreign visitors but exercise caution in public places as there is a risk of further bomb attacks. Visitors may contact the British High Commission in Colombo, tel 437336, fax 430308, for further information.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consideration has been given by Her Majesty's Government to rejoining UNESCO; and what plans he has for the United Kingdom to rejoin during 1995. [33704]

We are continuing to keep this issue under review.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the report from the Home Office immigration officer at Becket house on Miss O. A. Bamgbose was received by the entry clearance officer in Lagos, Nigeria. [33597]

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will cause the ordinance of 18 May 1990 concerning Ascension Island to be amended to add to the categories of people exempt from entry permit requirements those EU citizens awaiting onward travel to St. Helena and similarly on their return. [33538]

Immigration legislation on Ascension Island is the responsibility of the Governor of St. Helena. There are no plans to instruct the Governor to amend existing legislation.

To ask the Prime Minister how many staff in his Department or its agencies have (a) declared any company shareholdings they hold or (b) been advised to dispose of shareholdings in the last five years, including the companies concerned. [33428]

For these purposes my office is part of the Cabinet Office, Office of Public Service. I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service and Science on 10 July.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will transfer responsibility for the approval of the disposal of disused oil platforms at sea from the Department of Trade and Industry to the Department of the Environment, the Welsh Office and the Scottish Office. [31692]

No. The Department of Trade and Industry consults relevant Government Departments on all abandonment proposals.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 11 July. [32188]

to ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 11 July. [32189]

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 the salary of the Deputy Prime Minister. [33684]

The Ministerial salary of the First Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister is £42,834, in addition to his reduced parliamentary salary.

To ask the Prime Minister which Cabinet sub-committees the Deputy Prime Minister has been asked to chair. [33685]

The First Secretary of State and Deputy Prime Minister will be chairing a number of Cabinet committees. The revised composition and terms of reference of such committees will be published shortly.

To ask the Prime Minister how many civil servants are employed in the Deputy Prime Minister's Department. [33686]

The First Secretary of State and Deputy Prime Minister is supported by the Cabinet Office (Office of Public Service). The competitiveness and deregulation division of DTI transferred to the Cabinet Office on 5 July and the Office of Science and Technology transferred to DTI on the same day. The transfers are still being finalised but the total number of civil servants in the Office of Public Service is likely to be about 1,000.

To ask the Prime Minister, if he will list the responsibilities and terms of reference of the Deputy Prime Minister, the number of staff for which he is responsible, the location of his office and that of his staff and the proposed budget of his office. [33792]

The First Secretary of State and Deputy Prime Minister will assist generally and have specific responsibility for the competitiveness agenda, the working of Government and the presentation of policies. He will chair a number of Cabinet committees and will be an ex-officio member of Cabinet committees generally. He will have ministerial responsibility for the Cabinet Office (Office of Public Service). His office is located in the Cabinet Office, 70 Whitehall. The total budget of the Cabinet Office (Office of Public Service), including those functions transferred from the DTI, will be approximately £80 million.

To ask the Prime Minister, what are the (a) parliamentary and (b) other duties of the Deputy Prime Minister [33683]

The First Secretary of State and Deputy Prime Minister will answer in Parliament for the responsibilities of the Cabinet Office (Office of Public Service), and undertake any other parliamentary duties as appropriate. On his duties more generally, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given today to the hon. Member for Pembroke (Mr. Ainger).

To ask the Prime Minister if he will estimate the cost of employing consultants in connection with privatisation programmes in which his Department has been engaged since 1980. [33462]

None.

To ask the Prime Minister how many post cards he has received from the national post card campaign for breast cancer launched on 7 June. [33784]

I have received a number of representations in connection with this campaign.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to improve road safety in Scotland; and if he will make a statement. [30959]

Good progress has already been made towards achieving the Government's target of reducing casualties by one third by 2000, compared with the 1981 –85 average. At the end of 1993, total casualties had fallen by 17 per cent. and fatal and serious casualties were 46 per cent. less. The Scottish Office is taking forward a number of road safety initiatives covering engineering, education, publicity and enforcement, which are designed to make further contributions towards achievement of the Government's target. These include measures to reduce vehicle speeds, to encourage more responsible driving and to lessen the accident risk to vulnerable road users.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the terms on which a Scottish Enterprise employee was given leave of absence to become director of international marketing for Health Care International in Clydebank; and when the employee subsequently left HCI. [31346]

The terms of employment of individual members of their staff are an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise. I have asked the chairman to reply to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland 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. [31031]

[holding answer 29 June 1995:] The Scottish Office has conducted extensive investigation and is satisfied that the allegations made against the Department by the Channel 4 "Dispatches" programme are unsubstantiated.The investigation by Strathclyde police into matters arising from the programme is not yet concluded.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the current percentage rate of tariff rebate subsidy for cars and passengers on (a) northbound voyages and (b) southbound voyages between Orkney, Shetland and the Scottish mainland on P&O Scottish Ferries; and if he will indicate what changes have taken place in subsidy rates since 30 April. [32689]

[holding answer 5 July 1995]: There have been no changes in passenger and accompanied car subsidy rates since 30 April 1995. The table sets out the rates that have applied since 1 April 1995, and the previous subsidy rates that applied up 31 March 1995.

Percentage
	Subsidy rates for southbound voyages (island related traffic)		Subsidy rates for northbound voyages (mainland related traffic)
	From 1 April 1995	Up to 31 March 1995	From 1 April 1995	Up to 31March 1995
Adults and Children	58.0	63.0	47.0	30.5
Students, Pensioners and Disabled	76.0	58.0	47.0	30.5
Accompanied Cars	58.0	63.0	47.0	30.5

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish the current grade structure and remuneration of the Procurator Fiscal Service. [32663]

The current grades and salary ranges in the Procurator Fiscal Service are:

	Minimum £	Maximum £
Legal Grades
3	52,704	62,817
4	45,278	54,815
5	36,739	54,815
Senior Depute/Lower Level PF	26,418	45,078
Senior Legal Assistant	25,281	44,136
Legal Assistant	18,185	22,983
Administrative Grades
Senior Executive Officer	19,215	25,289
Higher Executive Officer/Higher Precognition Officer	15,363	20,634
Precognition Officer	11,914	18,639
Executive Officer	11,208	16,496
Administrative Officer	8,778	12,174
Administrative Assistant	6,928	10,279
Typing Grades
Chief Typing Manager	14,579	20,913
Typing Manager	12,880	16,504
Personal Secretary	9,287	12,592
Typist	7,247	10,279
Support Grades	.
Support Grade Band I	9,621	11,323

	Minimum £	Maximum £
Support Grade Band II	8,602	10,227

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the current establishment of the Crown Office; and how many posts are vacant. [32664]

The current establishment of the Crown Office is 136.5 and there is one administrative vacancy.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the current terms of engagement and remuneration of advocates depute. [32665]

Advocates depute are commissioned by the Lord Advocate and generally serve for a period of about three years. The salary of the home advocate depute is £45,956 and of the other 12 advocates depute £42,384.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list by region the number of primary and secondary schools providing temporary classroom accommodation. [33298]

The information requested is not collected centrally.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will place in the library a copy of the advice he received from the Joint Nature Conservation Committee on offshore blocks 106/3, 106/4, 106/8, 106/9, 106/24, 106/25, and 106/30A. [33790]

Consultation with the Joint Nature Conservation Committee over blocks to be offered in the 16th round of offshore oil and gas licensing took place on the understanding that the information provided would be treated in confidence. This is our established practice with regard to blocks offered for licensing.I can inform the hon. Member, however, that JNCC did not object to the inclusion of blocks 106/3, 106/4, 106/8, 106/9, 106/24, 106/25 and 106/30a in the 16th round offer and also agreed the licence conditions attached to these blocks to protect the environmental sensitivities in the areas concerned.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the specific conditions to protect the environment on blocks 106/3, 106/4, 106/8, 106/9, 106/24, 106/25 and 106/30A licensed in the 16th offshore licensing round. [33791]