To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to update the victims charter. [38916]

We hope to publish a new victims charter later this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to respond to the first report from the Home Affairs Select Committee on the private security industry (HC, 1994–95, 17). [33915]

The Government are studying in detail the recommendations of the Select Committee and will issue a substantive response as soon as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library a copy of the transfer directives and any subsequent order made under the Mental Health Act 1983 section 47(1) in March 1992 in respect of Mr. Stephen Laudat, together with any relevant medical correspondence. [39342]

Medical reports recommending the transfer of a prisoner to hospital under the Mental Health Act 1983 are confidential and may not be placed in the Library. Information concerning the circumstances of Mr. Laudat's transfer to hospital is given in the report of the independent inquiry into the circumstances of the killing of Mr. Brian Bennett by Mr. Laudat. A transfer and restriction direction authorising Mr. Laudat's removal from HMP Wandsworth to the interim secure unit at Hackney hospital under sections 47 and 49 of the 1983 Act was issued on 19 March 1992.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those police authorities which are currently contracted to the computer firm Cambridge Neurodynamics Ltd. for its automatic fingerprinting recognition system; and if he will make a statement. [39036]

I know of no police authority which has entered into a direct contractual relationship with Cambridge Neurodynamics Ltd. for automatic fingerprint recognition facilities; but I understand that CNL does provide such facilities to South Yorkshire police under the terms of a sub-contract.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to ensure that tapes from CCTVs installed in public places and which show members of the public in embarrassing or compromising positions are not sold on to commercial organisations for use in films or videos. [38906]

Access to, and control of, images recorded by closed circuit television is a matter for the operator's of such systems to regulate. The Government strongly recommend that all CCTV operators adopt codes of practice suitable to their systems covering such matters as tape access and the use to which the images are put. Advice on developing such codes of practice is contained in the Home Office guidance booklet "CCTV—Looking Out For You", a copy of which is in the Library. Approximately 20,000 copies of the booklet have now been distributed.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many life sentenced prisoners released on licence in the period 1990 to 1994 were subsequently recalled. [38632]

Provisional data show that there were 485 life sentence prisoners released on licence between 1990 and 1994 inclusive; of whom 35 had their licence revoked and were subsequently returned to prison.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment has been made by his Department of the match between the numbers of women's refuges and trends in the levels of domestic violence. [38468]

The official and ministerial groups on domestic violence are currently examining the extent of refuge provision. The underlying trends in domestic violence are particularly hard to ascertain due to the hidden nature of the crime. For this reason, measures are also being considered to improve the quality of the statistical information available on the level of domestic violence.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many interpreters are offered at women's refuges; in what regions they are offered; and what languages they speak. [38473]

Information on the number of interpreters at women's refuges is not recorded centrally, and is a matter for individual refuges.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what (a) medical facilities and (b) advice facilities are available at women's refuges. [38465]

I have been asked to reply.Occupants of women's refuges are entitled to the same range of medical facilities as any other member of the public who registers with a general practitioner. The range of advice facilities available varies considerably, depending to a large extent on the particular problems of the users of the refuge.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list the nationality of (a) men and (b) women who were being held in each prison in England and Wales as at 15 October for immigration offences; [38377](2) if he will list the number of

Responsibility for these matters has been delegated to the temporary 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 when he expects agreement to be reached between Government Departments on the commitment to produce a confiscation order for the proceeds of crimes from counterfeit goods; and if he will make a statement. [34663]

Such agreement has now been reached and I shall be bringing forward an order shortly which will add a number of counterfeiting and copyright offences to schedule 4 to the Criminal Justice Act 1988 thereby enabling a confiscation order to be made by magistrates courts.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration is being given to extending throughout the United Kingdom in the 2001 census the questions on Gaelic previously asked in Scotland in earlier censuses. [38310]

I have been asked to reply.The case for including questions in the 2001 census will be considered in 1998 on grounds of usefulness and acceptability to the public. Consultations with major users of census data are already underway. The Government's proposals will be published in a White Paper and the final selection will be subject to parliamentary approval. Far more questions are proposed than can be included. The burden on the public needs to be kept to a minimum.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what procedures are in place to look after child victims of domestic violence and keep them away from their violent parents. [38467]

I have been asked to reply.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement setting out the legal aid funds which have been made available to Mr. Peter Clowes at each stage of the legal proceedings leading to his conviction for matters relating to the collapse of the Barlow Clowes companies and his subsequent attempts to obtain parole; if he will specify at each of those stages the sums paid or liable to become payable to Ms Cherie Booth QC, or practices in which she has an interest; if he will identify those specific steps which have been taken by the Legal Aid Board to verify Mr. Clowes' claims to have insufficient financial resources to finance his own legal advice; and if he will make it his policy to ensure that public funds are not in future used to finance parole applications for convicted fraudsters. [39324]

Details of legal aid paid to lawyers acting on behalf of Mr. Peter Clowes at each stage of the legal proceedings leading to his conviction for matters relating to the collapse of the Barlow Clowes companies are shown in the table. No payments have yet been made in support of the judicial review proceedings taken out against the Parole Board's decision not to grant parole to Mr. Clowes. Our records indicate that none of these payments were made, or are liable to be made, to Ms Cherie Booth QC or practices in which she has an interest. The Legal Aid Board has had inquiries made into Mr. Clowes' statement of means and has granted civil legal aid on the basis of the information provided. Further investigations are being carried out by the Benefits Agency. Because of the confidentiality provisions of the Legal Aid Act 1988 I cannot disclose any details of the application. Nor can I comment on whether or not legal aid should be used to support similar applications in future as every application for legal aid has to be judged on its individual merits.

	Legal Aid including VAT £
Magistrates' court	47,521
Crown Court	2,527,663
Court of Appeal	35,843

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when Mr. Derek Campion Laffey, WPD reference M2/1124557, will be called to his appeal tribunal, date of appeal, 14 December 1993. [38517]

Mr. Laffey's appeal was received by the pensions appeal tribunals on 19 July 1995 and has been ready to be listed since 11 August. The appeal is expected to be heard at Leeds in March 1996.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when the Lord Chancellor's advisory committee on legal education and conduct intends to publish its fourth annual report. [39994]

The Lord Chancellor's advisory committee on legal education and conduct will publish its fourth annual report on Friday 27 October. Copies will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will make a statement about the salaries covered by the Ministerial and other Salaries Order. [39781]

During the debate on Members' salaries in November 1993, Official Report, 3 November 1993, column 457 I announced that, henceforth, the level of ministerial salaries should normally be increased by the same proportion as those of hon. Members, and that Ministers in the other place would receive the same increase, in cash terms, as their counterparts in this House receive from their combined ministerial and reduced parliamentary salaries.That arrangement will be applied this year, giving Ministers in this House an increase of 2.7 per cent. and Ministers in the other place the corresponding cash increase.The draft Ministerial and other Salaries Order to implement these changes from 1 January 1996 was laid in the House on Monday 23 October. The details are set out in the tables.In accordance with the resolution of 3 November 1993, the same percentage increase will be applied to the reduced parliamentary salary paid to Commons Ministers and paid office holders, increasing it from the current rate of 24,985 to £25,660 on 1 January 1996.

Ministers Salaries
	Current salary £	New salary £
Commons Ministers
Prime Minister	57,018	58,557
Cabinet Minister	42,834	43,991
Minister of State	30,307	31,125
Parliamentary Under Secretary	23,002	23,623
Attorney General	45,516	46,745
Solicitor General	37,321	38,329
Government Chief Whip	35,650	36,613
Government Deputy Chief Whip	30,307	31,125
Government Whip	19,502	20,029
Assistant Government Whip	19,502	20,029
Leader of the Opposition (actual)	37,495	38,507
Leader of the Opposition (nominal)	39,272	40,332
Opposition Chief Whip	30,307	31,125
Assistant Opposition Whip	19,502	20,029

Ministers Salaries
	Current salary £	New salary £
Speaker (actual)	42,834	43,991
Speaker (nominal)	44,943	46,156
Chairman of Ways and Means	30,307	31,125
First Deputy Chairman of Ways and Means	26,636	27,355
Second Deputy Chairman of Ways and Means	26,636	27,355
Lord Ministers
Cabinet Minister	55,329	57,161
Minister of State	48,835	50,328
Parliamentary Under Secretary	41,065	42,361
Lord Chancellor	Apr-96	Apr-96
Lord Advocate	55,409	57,241
Government Chief Whip	48,835	50,328
Government Deputy Chief Whip	41,065	42,361
Government Whip	37,111	38,313
Leader of the Opposition	41,065	42,361
Opposition Chief Whip	37,111	38,313
Chairman of Committees	48,835	50,328
Principal Deputy Chairman of Committees	44,856	46,349
Minister in neither House
Solicitor General (Scotland)	47,697	48,985
Parliamentary Salaries
Member of Parliament	33,189	34,085
Reduced Parliamentary Salary	24,985	25,660

1. The Speaker has opted to take the salary of a Cabinet Minister in the House of Commons;The Lord Chancellor's Salary is set separately by Section 3 of the Ministerial and other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991.Mr. Blair declined the 4.7 per cent. increase on 1 January 1995.

To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee how many bicycle racks are provided in the Norman Shaw South building for hon. Members and people working in the Norman Shaw North and Norman Shaw South buildings. [39225]

Fifteen.

To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee how many hon. Members and members of the staff of the House work in the Norman Shaw North and Norman Shaw South buildings. [39224]

One hundred and thirty-eight hon. Members and 37 staff of the House work in these two buildings.

To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will provide in respect of his plan for pay delegation submitted to the Treasury (a) a description of the staff in each bargaining unit covered by the plan, distinguishing staff in headquarters functions, agencies and agency candidates, and in other identifiable business units and (b) proposals for trade union recognition in each bargaining unit and the negotiating machinery to be put in place in each bargaining unit. [38283]

The Privy Council Office pay delegation plan submitted to the Treasury covers all staff of the Department, which is a single bargaining unit. All staff are employed in the discharge of headquarters functions; there are no agencies, agency candidates or other identifiable business units. The plan does not envisage trade union recognition for pay bargaining purposes. The Department, which has only 38 staff, is predominantly non-unionised. In these circumstances, given the numbers involved, trade union recognition would be inappropriate. It is, however, proposed to arrange for the election of staff representatives.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the tax-free limit of £30,000 as termination payment for loss of office compensation by employees remains in force; and what plans he has to alter these arrangements. [37069]

The exemption from tax for the first £30,000 of payments made to an individual as compensation for loss of employment, remains in force where the conditions laid down in sections 148 and 188 of the Taxes Act are met.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the ratios which determine the division of public expenditure on health care, education and housing between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland; and how these have changed in the last five years. [37998]

The division of public expenditure provision on health care, education and housing in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is determined by the respective Secretaries of State. An analysis of general government expenditure on these and other services can be found in the "Statistical Supplement to the Financial Statement and Budget Report 1995–96".

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what was United Kingdom taxation as a proportion of gross domestic product in 1994; and what was the figure for other European Union countries; [38819](2) what was United Kingdom public expenditure as a percentage of gross domestic product in 1994; and what was the figure in other OECD countries; [38825](3) what was United Kingdom taxation as a proportion of gross domestic product in 1994; and what was the figure in other OECD countries; [38827](4) what was United Kingdom public expenditure as a proportion of gross domestic product in 1994; and what was the figure for other European Union countries. [38818]

Figures for UK public expenditure and taxation are available in "CSO Financial Statistics", and GDP figures are available in "Economic Trends". Figures for other EU and OECD countries can be found in the OECD "Economic Outlook" of June 1995. All publications are available in the House of Commons Library.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the average interest rate for loans to business; and what are the comparable figures for the Group of Seven leading industrial nations. [38828]

Specific data on average interest rates for loans to businesses are not generally available. However, a Bank of England report, in the February 1993 "Quarterly Bulletin", showed that lending to small firms was largely related to money market rates. It is likely that lending to larger firms is also predominantly money market rate-related, although fixed rate finance has become more popular in recent years. Money market rates will therefore provide a broad guide to the general trend in interest rates on loans to businesses.Data on comparable money market rates for the G7 countries can be found in "International Financial Statistics" published by the IMF.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what considerations led his Department to cease publishing the monthly tax and prices index; and if he will make a statement. [39042]

Publication of the tax and prices index has not been discontinued. Data can be found in tables 5 and 6 of "Retail Prices Index", CSO monthly Business Monitor MM23. There are also available from the Central Statistical Office on request.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the entitlements for 1995–96 resulting from the carry forward of underspends allowed under the new end-year flexibility scheme for structural funds relating to the 1994 to 1999 programme period. [39964]

A new end-year flexibility scheme has been introduced to allow Departments to match the level of public expenditure provision in their own programmes to the flow of EU receipts in any particular year. For the new structural funds programme period which started in 1994 and runs until 1999, the eligible Departments will be able to carry forward into the following year underspends on all their expenditure relating to the European regional development fund, the European social fund, and the European agricultural guidance and guarantee fund—objective 5b. A list of entitlements for 1995–96, totalling £191,594,000, is shown in the following table.

Entitlements for 1995–96 resulting from the carryforward of underspends relating to the 1994–99 Structural Funds Programme Period
Department	£ Thousands
Department of Trade and Industry	1,500
Department of the Environment	16,328
Department for Education and Employment	139,887
Welsh Office	10,000
Scottish Office	23,879
Total structural funds	191,594

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 19 July, Official Report, column 1256, on what date Customs and Excise delivered the public interest immunity certificates in the Ordtec case to the Scott inquiry. [38260]

[holding answer 24 October 1995]: Copies of the public interest immunity certificates were sent to the inquiry on 18 July 1995 and the associated bundle of documents, as prepared for the Court of Appeal, was provided to the inquiry by the 20 July 1995.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will reduce the rate of VAT on women's necessary hygienic products. [38771]

[holding answer 24 October 1995]: I cannot anticipate my right hon. and learned Friend's Budget statement.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received on the application of VAT to sanitary towels and tampons. [38770]

[holding answer 24 October 1995]: Treasury Ministers receive a small number of representations from hon. Members and the public on this subject from time to time.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to reduce the present duty levels on spirits to equalise the tax treatment of spirits and the tax treatment of other alcoholic drinks. [39144]

[holding answer 24 October 1995]: Each year prior to making his Budget decisions the Chancellor of the Exchequer reviews the levels of taxation on alcoholic beverages including spirits. Consideration is given to a wide range of social, economic and health factors as well as the revenue effect.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what strategy the ODA has for combating the spread of HIV/AIDS in developing countries. [37750]

ODA's strategy for combating the spread of HIV/AIDS was set out in a speech by my right hon. and noble Friend the Minister for Overseas Development, on 26 April 1994; copies of her speech will be placed in the Libraries of the House. In summary, our goal is to help people in developing countries avoid HIV infection and, if they are infected, better cope with the miseries it causes, in a way that is sustainable and makes use of all available resources. Since 1987, we have learnt about the need for a multisectoral response to HIV/AIDS and the need to provide better care for people with HIV, as well as prevent their infection.We provide assistance through bilateral and multilateral channels. We involve NGOs as well as Governments, often incorporating lessons learnt through pilot projects and research. We support the establishment of the new joint and co-sponsored UN programme on HIV/AIDS.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department has taken following the Fay report to recover money lost by the Crown Agents as a result of their association with companies controlled by the Barclay brothers; and if he will make a statement. [38372]

As noted in annexe IV to the statement by the Government on the report of the Fay committee of inquiry on the Crown Agents on 1 December 1977, House of Commons paper 49 of Session 1977–78, the Crown Agents, acting in accordance with a general directive from the then Minister of Overseas Development and on advice from professional advisers, sold the relevant debts for £3 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what losses were made at (a) actual and (b) 1995 prices by the Crown Agents as a result of their investments with Barclay Hotels. [38373]

As set out in annexe IV to the statement by the Government on the report of the Fay committee of inquiry on 1 December 1977, House of Commons paper 49 of Session 1977–78, the Crown Agents realised a loss on disposal of their interest in 1976 of £6.5 million—in 1995 prices, £24.7 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 4 July, Official Report, column 110, if he will outline the details of the reports his Department has received on alleged abuses of reproductive rights in China. [37615]

Table 1: Chairman and chief executive's remuneration—1994–95
£ Thousands
Health and Social Services Trust	Basic salary	Benefits	Chairman Performance related pay	Pensions contributions	Total
Eastern Board Area
Belfast City Hospital	19	0	0	0	19
Down and Lisburn	19	0	0	0	19
Eastern Ambulance	16	0	0	0	16
Greenpark	17	0	0	1	18
Mater Infirmorum Hospital	15	0	0	0	15
North Down and Ards Community	15	0	0	0	15
North and West Belfast Community	19	0	0	0	19
Royal Group of Hospitals	19	0	0	0	19

We have received reports from organisations and observers outside China of practices in some parts of China relating to forced abortion, punishment for evasion of family planning regulations and coercion to accept particular forms of contraception, including sterilisation. We continue to take every appropriate opportunity to express our deep concerns about these reports in our discussions with the Chinese Government.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on aid to Indonesia. [36884]

Our policy on aid to Indonesia remains as set out by my hon. Friend, the then Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in answer to the hon. Member for Croydon, North-West (Mr.Wicks) on 16 January, Official Report, column 296.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much has been spent on road repairs in Northern Ireland in each of the last three years; and what is the projected expenditure for this year. [37969]

The relevant expenditure figures are as follows:

Year	£ million
1992–93	40.8
1993–94	42.1
1994–95	44.5
1995–96	143.6
1 Estimated

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will itemise payments made in each NHS trust to (a) chairs, (b) non-executive directors, (c) chief executives and (d) board directors for 1993–94 and 1994–95, by region. [37944]

The information requested is set out on tables 1 and 2.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people were (a) killed and (b) injured in road accidents in the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [37967]

The information is as follows:

Persons killed	Persons injured	Serious	Slight
1990
185	11,576	1,993	9,583
1991
185	10,129	1,648	8,481

Persons killed	Persons injured	Serious	Slight
1992
150	11,114	1,841	9,273
1993
143	10,957	1,725	9,232
1994
157	11,937	1,648	10,289

The Government's target to reduce the total number of people killed and seriously injured on Northern Ireland's roads by one third by the year 2000 compared with the baseline 1981–85 average' is identified in the recently published road safety plan for Northern Ireland, to which the RUC is a signatory. This target has been universally accepted and is a focus for organisations and individuals involved in road safety.The current trend in deaths and serious injuries would indicate that this target is in line to be accomplished through a continuance of the multi-agency approach to road safety education and with the full support and determination of the community.The RUC will continue to provide a substantial, sustained and co-ordinated effort, involving road safety education and enforcement of more serious road traffic offences, to address accident causes and trends. Resources will be deployed towards a number of identified priority areas: speed, reckless/careless driving, drinking and driving, young drivers, pedestrians and child safety.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what has been the total costs incurred by the Department of the Environment (NI) in respect of public inquiries regarding Carrickfergus harbour, Country Antrim, to date; and if he will make a statement on the future development of Carrickfergus harbour, and adjacent land. [38721]

Information on the cost to the Department of the Environment (NI) of public inquiries regarding Carrickfergus harbour is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what considerations have led to the interval between the issue of prosecution directions by the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland in respect of George Finbar Ross and the decision regarding his extradition; and if he will make a statement. [38046]

Directions to prosecute George Finbar Ross were issued by the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland on 3 May 1995.Since that time, the question of seeking the extradition of Mr. Ross has been under active consideration. Crown Counsel has been requested to advise on a number of relevant matters. That advice is awaited.It is the practice of the relevant authorities not to give details of the actions being taken to secure the apprehension of wanted persons or the progress thereof. To do so could undermine the effectiveness of those actions.