To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what occasions certificates under section 27 of the Data Protection Act 1984 were signed by members of his Department; for how long each certificate was valid; and in what circumstances taxation records may be used for the purpose of safeguarding national security. [5342]

No such certificates have been issued.No circumstances have so far been identified in which taxation records may be used for the purpose of safeguarding national security.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many civil service personnel in the Inland Revenue department are located in (a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) Northern Ireland. [5104]

(a) 50,510, (b) 4,391, (c) 6,253 and (d) 1,179 respectively on 1 November 1995, the most recent date for which figures are available.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Treasury personnel are located in (a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland, (d) Northern Ireland. [5109]

All 1,049 Treasury staff, as at 1 November, excluding those on loan or secondment to other Government Departments or the private sector, are located in England.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what evaluation he has made of the likely impact of the increase of duty on diesel fuel in his Budget statement on (a) the prices of bus transport to consumers and (b) the frequency of local bus services. [5305]

Bus operators are able to claim a rebate on the majority of their diesel duty payments. Depending on the price paid for diesel the actual duty element is likely to represent less than 20 per cent. of the total VAT-exclusive price. Prior to the Budget net duty payments represented around 3 per cent. of total costs for bus operators: this will rise to around 3.5 to 4 per cent. post-Budget. The effect of these cost increases on fares and frequency of bus services will depend on the decisions of individual operators.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people were registered unemployed in the month of August in (1) Scarborough and Whitby, (2) Torquay, (3) Weston-super-Mare, (4) Bournemouth, (5) Brighton, (6) Eastbourne, (7) Newquay, (8) Ramsgate, (9) Margate, (10) Southend-on-Sea, (11) Clacton, (12) Great Yarmouth, (13) Barmouth, (14) Pwlleheli, (15) Llandudno, (16) Rhyl, (17) Prestatyn, (18) Southport, (19) Lytham St. Annes, (20) Fleetwood, (21) Morecambe, (22) Skegness, (23) Cleethorpes, (24) Minehead, (25) Worthing, (26) Bridlington, (27) Bognor Regis, (28) Torbay, (29) Polperro, (30) Brixham, (31) Falmouth, (32) St. Ives, (33 Ilfracombe, (34) Burnham-on-Sea, (35) Weymouth and (36) Herne bay in the years 1987 to 1995 inclusive. [5193]

Information on the numbers of people claimant unemployed in local area can be obtained from the Nomis database accessed by the House of Commons Library.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what VAT regulations apply to the Motability scheme; and to what extent these differ from the regulations applying to the commercial sector (a) before and (b) after August. [5094]

The VAT Act 1994, schedule 8 group 12, items 14 and 15, allows zero-rating for the leasing of unused motor vehicles for a period of not less than three years to disabled people who are in receipt of the mobility component of the disability living allowance, and for the first sale of those vehicles after the end of the leasing period. Neither of these zero rates are restricted to supplies by Motability. Any car-leasing business whose sales consist predominantly of the provision of vehicles in these circumstances may take advantage of these zero rates, although to date only Motability has done so.Motor dealers have always been able to buy back ex-lease cars from Motability free of VAT. In August, however, the VAT regulations governing the sale of second-hand motor vehicles changed. This has potential repercussions both for Motability and for the second-hand car market generally and so Customs and Excise will shortly be entering into discussions with all the interested parties.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much his Department spent on official hospitality in 1994–95 and the financial year to date; and what is the 1995–96 projected budget for official hospitality. [5582]

Expenditure by Her Majesty's Treasury on official hospitality in 1994–95 was £84,249 and in year 1995–96 to 30 November, £53,665. The projected budget for 1995–96 is £92,000.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the number and percentage of taxpayers in (a) the United Kingdom, (b) Wales and (c) Mid-Glamorgan who pay at (i) 25 per cent. rate and (ii) 40 per cent. rates of tax; and what will be the change on the numbers paying at these rates following the Budget. [5427]

It is not possible to provide a reliable breakdown below United Kingdom level for 1996–97, either before or after the Budget. The latest available information covers 1993–94 and is given in the table.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the value of the rebate from the European Union for each of the years since it was negotiated. [5499]

The value of the United Kingdom's abatement for the financial years 1985–86 to 1994–95, along with the Government's latest estimate for the year 1995–96, is set out in the table.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if tax exemption of compensation for those who were wrongly advised to (a) opt out, (b) transfer from and (c) not join an occupational pension scheme extends to those who were similarly advised in respect of SERPS; and if he will make a statement. [5441]

The Securities and Investments Board is currently carrying out research into past sales of personal pensions for contracting out of SERPS. SIB is due to publish the results of this research early next year and it would not be appropriate to anticipate SIB' s recommendations.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to revise the electricity licence exemptions regime, in the light of the planned liberalisation of the electricity supply market in 1998. [6301]

The electricity industry and the Director General of the Electricity Supply are working towards full supply competition on 1 April 1998, bringing choice of supplier for all customers. As part of that process, we need to review the exemptions to the electricity licence regime.I want to examine the scope for promoting competition in electricity generation and supply by reducing the regulatory burden placed on small generators, own generators, and small suppliers, while taking account of the interests of customers.We have today issued a consultation paper which seeks the views of all interested parties by 22 January 1996. I propose to announce my preliminary conclusions in February 1996. Copies of the consultation paper have been placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what account his Department takes of human rights of abuses, with special reference to the Karen people, in the provision of assistance to British investors in Burma. [5119]

My Department's efforts have focused primarily on making United Kingdom companies aware of trade opportunities that exist in Burma, rather than investment. We continue to adopt a cautious approach with regard to investment in Burma.We remain acutely concerned about the continued abuse of human rights in Burma, including against the Karen and other ethnic groups. We and other EU partners have made it clear to the ruling military regime that normalisation of our relations depends on progress in key areas, including human rights.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what activities his Department has (a) undertaken and (b) will be undertaking to assist British investment in Burma from November 1995 to February 1996. [5118]

During the period November 1995–February 1996, my Department will continue to provide information relating to investment issues in Burma and the associated risks. We held a trade awareness seminar, "An Introduction to Burma," at the London chamber of commerce on 5 December 1995. This will be followed by a trade mission to Burma from 26 February to 1 March 1996. However, both events are focused primarily on the trade opportunities that may exist for British companies, rather than investment where we continue to take a cautious line.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much his Department spent on official hospitality in 1994–95 and the financial year to date; and what is the 1995–96 projected budget for official hospitality. [5578]

The cost of hospitality for my Department, including agencies, was £712,309 in 1994–95. Figures for this financial year up to 30 November are £411,047.The projected budget for 1995–96 is £734,657.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade on what occasions certificates under section 27 of the Data Protection Act 1984 were signed by a member of his Department; for how long each certificate was valid; and in what circumstances personal details held by his Department can be used for the purpose of safeguarding national security. [5336]

Inquiries completed in the time available indicate that no exemptions under section 27 of the Data Protection Act 1984 have been signed by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade in the period since the reply by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Industry and Energy, 15 April 1993, Official Report, column 707. If my further inquiries reveal that exemptions have been authorised during that period I will respond further to the hon. Member. In accordance with section 27 of the Act, a certificate may be signed by the President if an exemption is required for the purpose of safeguarding national security. Such a certificate is conclusive evidence of the fact that exemption is, or at any time was, required.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many staff in his Department worked in other Departments before June 1995; and if he will list the departments. [4818]

A total of 1,735 members of my staff worked in other Departments before June 1995. The cost of listing the individual Departments in which these staff worked could be provided only at disproportionate expense.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what discussions he has had with his international counterparts about the possibility of joint action being taken to regulate the content of material disseminated via the Internet. [5474]

The nature of the Internet means that measures to control the content of disseminated material are difficult to devise, although normal national laws apply just as much to the Internet as to other media. Before any action to regulate the Internet specifically could be contemplated, either national or international, it would be vital to have a clear view of precisely what measures would be effective. My Department, the Home Office and others are monitoring the development of the Internet, and assessing the feasibility of various measures, including self-regulation. We also compare notes with other Governments as appropriate.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what estimate he has made of the cost to the industry of the practice of the cloning of mobile telephones; [5473](2) what measures his Department is taking to combat the cloning of mobile telephones; [5524](3) what plans he has to amend the Telecomunications Act 1984 in order to outlaw the cloning of mobile telephones. [5471]

On 24 October, Official Report, column 549, I announced the recommendations of the industry and Government study group on mobile telephone fraud. One of the main recommendations was that the Government should consider extending the range of offences under section 42 of the Telecommunications Act 1984 so that it would cover the possession or supply of equipment capable of use in the course of or in connection with the current section 42 offence of dishonestly obtaining telecommunication services with intent to avoid payment. I am considering this recommendation carefully.Figures regarding the cost to the industry of the practice of cloning mobile telephones are not held by my Department. The mobile telecommunications industry did provide some estimates for the overall scale of mobile telephone phone fraud as part of its contribution to the work of the industry and Government study group mobile telephone fraud. These have been reproduced in the briefing paper, which has been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps are being taken to regulate the electronic mail services to protect (a) British commercial interests and (b) the consumer. [5459]

Electronic mail is an important example of the new services which are increasingly available as the information society develops. The effective exploitation of these services and opportunities is important for the competitiveness of British business. My Department monitors developments in this area to assess whether there is any need for action to protect consumers or the interests of companies.There are several groups helping to develop electronic mail services with which the Department is in contact.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps he has taken to implement the 1994 timeshare directive. [4845]

I plan to initiate a consultation exercise on the implementation of the timeshare directive in the near future.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what steps he is taking to prevent foam-filled furniture which does not comply with the 1988 regulations being imported into the United Kingdom; [4844](2) if he will launch an advertising campaign to publicise the exemption from the provisions of the Furniture and furnishings Fire Safety Regulations of upholstered furniture manufactured before 1990; [4842](3) what measures his Department will take to deter second-hand furniture dealers from illegally selling foam-filled furniture. [4843]

Day-to-day responsibility for enforcing a wide range of consumer safety legislation, including the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988, as amended, rests with local authority trading standard departments under a statutory duty set out under the Consumer Protection Act 1987. Trading standards departments have all the necessary powers to act against importers and second-hand traders who supply furniture that does not comply with the regulations. Since 1990 these departments have initiated 274 cases against suppliers of illegal furniture and have been involved in nearly 1,500 enforcement actions. There continues to be a high level of enforcement activity which my Department fully supports. The penalties for non-compliance with the furniture regulations are a £5,000 fine, a maximum of six months in prison or both, for each offence.Following the making of this legislation my Department publicised detailed guidance for all suppliers of domestic upholstered furniture, setting out the requirements of the regulations in simple terms and explaining the penalties for failure to comply. The Department also published a guidance booklet for consumers explaining the new requirements and emphasising the precautions that should continue to be taken to reduce household furniture fires. Typically, more than 1,500 copies of this guide are circulated throughout the country each month by the Department and local authority trading standards departments. I believe these measures are sufficient to acquaint consumers with the requirements of the regulations and the dangers of unsafe furniture.In the year the furniture regulations were made nearly 5,000 fires involving furniture killed 247 people. Since 1988 these numbers have fallen dramatically, with 146 people killed in 3,746 fires in 1993. My Department believes that the regulations will continue to play a major part in helping to further reduce these numbers.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade which countries outside the European Union have minimum wage legislation. [3894]

This information can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many shops sell goods by weight (a) in metric units only and (b) in metric and other units; and what proportion this represents of (i) all shops and (ii) all goods sold. [4820]

Approximately 62,000 shops sell by weight. The Department has no information on the proportion of shops selling in metric units compared with the proportion selling in metric and other units.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what discussions he has had with the regulators of the gas and electricity industries over changes to the regulatory regime to take account of recent profit and dividend announcements; and if he will make a statement. [5678]

No such discussions have taken place. We believe the regulatory regime is working well.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received concerning the transfer of (a) personnel and (b) responsibilities from his Department's energy division to Scotland; and what plans he has to make such a transfer. [5112]

In addition to those representations made by the hon. Member for Banff and Buchan, I have received representations from Grampian regional council and the city of Aberdeen district council about the scope for transferring additional jobs and responsibilities to the Department of Trade and Industry's oil and gas office in Aberdeen. A review of the current staffing position is taking place and, once this is complete, I will meet with representatives of the councils.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list immediately the figures that determined the estimated funding of the (a) National Association of Citizens' Advice Bureaux, (b) National Consumer Council, (c) Gas Consumer Council, (d) Post Office Users National Council, (e) POAC, (f) Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, (g) DTI's consumer safety programme and (h) Central Rail Users Consultative Committee for each year from 1993–94 at 1995 prices, together with the percentage change (i) per annum and (ii) since 1993–94, including the 1996–97 figure following the November Budget statement. [5283]

[holding answer 12 December 1995]: The information in respect of the earlier years was provided in the reply which I gave to the hon. Member on 6 December 1995, Official Report, columns 290–91. I shall provide the figures for the 1996–97 allocations when they have been determined.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer to the right hon. Member for Derby, South, (Mrs. Beckett) Official Report, 5 December 1995, columns 154–56, what percentage of total shares and individually owned shares were represented by personal equity plans for the years referred to. [5636]

I have been asked to reply.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to the answer to the right hon. Member for Derby, South of 5 December, Official Report, columns 154–56, if he will state all holdings of personal equity plans with special reference to such holdings in the form of bonds, collective investments such as unit trusts or collective funds or directly held shares treated as individually owned shares. [5635]

I have been asked to reply.I refer the hon. Member to figure 4 of the publication "Share Ownership, A report on the Ownership of Shares at 31 December 1994", which is available in the House of Commons Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Enviornment how many rating appeals in England and Wales have been outstanding for more than one year; and what percentage they represent of the total number of rating proposals (a) submitted and still outstanding and (b) submitted in total. [4789]

A total of 35,877 appeals against the 1973, the 1990 and the 1995 rating lists have now been outstanding in England and Wales for more than one year. This represents 8.3 per cent, of all rating proposals still outstanding, and 0.6 per cent. of the total number of proposals received.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average length of time taken from the acknowledgement of a proposal to a valuation tribunal hearing date. [4790]

This information is not collected.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Enviornment what is the average cost of a valuation tribunal hearing per case in England and Wales. [4792]

Details of the costs of individual tribunal hearings are not held centrally. In 1994–95, expenditure on the tribunal service in England and Wales amounted to £11.6 million, and 807,500 appeals transmitted to valuation tribunals were cleared.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of valuation tribunal members are aged over 70 years. [4794]

This information is not held by my Department. However, no one who has attained the age of 72 years may be a member of a valuation tribunal.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to ensure that each case heard before valuation tribunals is presided over by a single paid chartered surveyor or lawyer who is an expert in property rating. [4788]

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to introduce a statutory time limit for the listing of a valuation tribunal hearing in respect of rating appeals. [4791]

None. Valuation tribunals are independent judicial bodies.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many hours training per annum valuation tribunal members receive and what is the average cost of training per tribunal member in England and Wales. [4793]

Around £100,000 is provided annually from my Department's votes for training by the National Committee of Valuation Tribunals for the 2,500 members in England, and £12,000 by the Welsh Office for the 285 members in Wales. Other training is also arried out by the individual tribunals themselves. No information is collected on the number of hours training provided.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussion his Department has held with (a) the Tyne and Wear development corporation and (b) the city of Sunderland regarding the transfer and hand over of Tyne and Wear development corporation functions in preparation for 1997. [5121]

I discussed issues relating to the wind-up of the Tyne and Wear development corporation at the corporation's corporate plan meeting earlier this year.The Department has not held formal discussions with the city of Sunderland about the wind up of the urban development corporation in 1998.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he last received a report on the condition of Battersea power station; what assessment his Department has made of the current state of the building's fabric; and what applications have been received for demolition. [5313]

The Secretary of State for the Environment has received no reports on the condition of the building. The building is regularly inspected by English Heritage and was last inspected on 9 November 1995. I understand that the next visit is scheduled for 5 January next year. We have received no applications for demolition.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will place in the Library a copy of the district audit public interest report on the Brent Irish centre; and if he will issue guidance to the council on the status of this report. [5595]

This is not a matter for Government, but for the London borough of Brent and its appointed auditor. It is the council's responsibility to make copies of the report available, under section 18A of the Local Government Finance Act 1991. Sections 5 and 6 of the Local Government Act 1992 specify the follow-up action that Brent council must take.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the number of home owners who can expect to (a) be in negative equity and (b) to lose their homes through repossession in 1996; and if he will make a statement. [4862]

The Government do not make such forecasts. Homeowners will continue to benefit from the range of Government policies which have brought about sustainable falls in interest rates and have made home ownership more affordable than for many years.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action (a) has been taken and (b) is proposed by (i) Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution, (ii) the National Rivers Authority and (iii) the local waste regulation authority in respect of each dioxin hot spot. [5462]

Where dioxins are released all the agencies work together within the proper legal framework to protect the environment.

To ask the Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the compliance of the Security Service, GCHQ and the Intelligence Service with their obligations in respect of registration under the Data Protection Act 1984; if all personal data held by them are processed for the purpose of safeguarding national security; what external legal advice he has taken on whether registration of personal data is necessary; and if he will make a statement. [5314]

Under section 27 of the Data Protection Act 1984, personal data are exempt from the provisions of part II and sections 21 to 24 of the Act if the exemption is required for the purpose of safeguarding national security. Personal data are held and processed by the Security Service, GCHQ and the secret intelligence service in accordance with their respective functions set out in the Security Services Act 1989 and the Intelligence Services Act 1994. Such data are exempt from the relevant provisions of the Data Protection Act in order to safeguard national security.

To ask the Prime Minister how much his Department spent on official hospitality in 1994–95 and the financial year to date; and what is the 1995–96 projected budget for official hospitality. [5575]

The figure is £36,000 in 1994–95. No projection has yet been made of the outturn for 1995–96.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much has been spent on furnishing and decorating ministerial offices in his Department in each of the last three years. [5574]

Expenditure on furnishing and decorating ministerial offices in each of the last three years is included in the running cost expenditure of my Department, which is published in the annual report.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department spent on official hospitality in 1994–95 and the financial year to date; and what is the 1995–96 projected budget for official hospitality. [5588]

In 1994–95 the cost of hospitality, which is included in the running cost budget for this Department—Diplomatic Wing and ODA—was £7,680,934. The Natural Resources Institute, an agency of the ODA, spent £3,386; and Wilton Park, an agency of the diplomatic wing, spent £455.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what decisions the Government have taken about the United Kingdom's adherence to the European convention on human rights. [6004]

We have decided to renew for five years our acceptance of the two optional articles of the European convention on human rights which expires for the United Kingdom on 13 January 1996. Individuals will therefore continue to be able to bring cases under article 25—the right of individual petition—and the Government will continue to accept the jurisdiction of the European Court of Human Rights under Article 46. The United Kingdom first accepted these articles in 1966. They have both been renewed for consecutive periods of five years for the last 20 years.As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister informed the House on 7 December,

To ask the Secretary of Sate for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he intends to lay before the House the 1994 report by the independent monitor of refusal of entry clearance where there is no right of appeal. [6249]

Copies of Dame Elizabeth's 1994 report have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. I welcome the report, which confirms Dame Elizabeth's satisfaction with the decisions taken by the entry clearance officers in the overwhelming majority of the cases she monitored. We will consider carefully Dame Elizabeth's recommendations, some of which are already being implemented.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many (a) agencies and (b)non-departmental public bodies have been located in Stirling in the last two years; on what dates decisions were taken to set up those bodies in these locations; and if he will list those agencies and non-departmental public bodies which will locate in Stirling in the next 12 months. [2801]

None of the agencies for which my right hon. Friend is responsible have located in Stirling in the last two years and there are no plans for any to do so in the next 12 months.Of his non-departmental public bodies—NDPBs—the Red Deer Commission, which has its headquarters in Inverness, set up a small sub-office in Stirling in April 1995. The decision to do this was taken in the autumn of last year.Over the next 12 months the Scottish further education unit will move to Stirling and the headquarters of the new Scottish Environment Protection Agency will be located there. These decisions were made following a thorough assessment of a range of options, and taking account of the policy in "Scotland in the Union" (Cm 2225) to seek opportunities for dispersal of NDPBs from Edinburgh and Glasgow where it is operationally acceptable and financially attractive to do so. They were recommended to Ministers by the bodies concerned and were approved in June and October 1995 respectively. Plans to locate the Scottish children's reporter administration in Stirling are currently under consideration.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many assisted places are available for pupils in Scottish schools in the current session; and what is the average level of assistance. [3921]

Independent schools participating in the assisted places scheme in Scotland are each allocated an amount of fee remission grant for each school session, within which they may provide assistance to individual pupils, in accordance with the rules of the scheme. Some schools have yet to submit grant claims for the 1995–96 school session, so the information requested is not yet available. However, provisional figures indicate that just over 3,000 pupils are currently receiving assistance, at an estimated average cost of around £3,550 per pupil.I shall write to the hon. Member when the information she has requested is available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received regarding the diversification of Scottish export markets; and if he will make a statement. [5113]

I am delighted that the most recent figures show that Scotland's manufactured exports have grown in the last year by 23.6 per cent. to reach an all-time record of £14.3 billion, which is more than £40,000 per manufacturing employee. That is more than the United Kingdom as a whole and more than Japan.I am aware, however, that we could do even better. Scottish Trade International, the export arm of my Department recently took the lead in the production of an export development strategy for Scotland. This strategy, "The International Challenge" launched in September, sets out the steps that need to be taken to strengthen export support arrangements throughout Scotland. A key part of that strategy is a commitment to achieving greater diversification of Scotland's exporting industries. Special programmes will be devised to maximise exports from eight priority manufacturing and service sectors. The strategy also sets out priority markets where there are particular opportunities for Scottish companies.I have arranged for a copy of "the International Challenge" to be sent to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will allow the Inverclyde district council to take over the ownership and management of those houses in the Inverclyde district which, at the moment, are owned by Scottish Homes if the tenants indicate, by way of an independently controlled ballot, that it is their wish to become tenants of the council; and if he will make a statement. [4830]

Existing arrangements do not preclude local authorities from bidding for Scottish Homes stock. However, this would be allowed only in exceptional circumstances which do not compromise the objective of promoting diversity of choice in rented housing stock.My right hon. Friend announced on 30 November that he will consider this policy further in response to representations from the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities. His decision will be announced in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what changes are planned in the student support and tuition fee arrangements for Scottish domiciled students in session 1996–97. [6378]

I am publishing today the main rates of maintenance allowances payable under the students' allowances scheme and the postgraduate students' allowances scheme, including rates for those courses which do not attract student loans, together with the rates for the various supplementary allowances payable to both undergraduate and vocational postgraduate award holders.The support available to undergraduate students in 1996–97 through the main rates of maintenance grant and loan, taken together, will be 2.6 per cent. higher than in 1995–96, thus maintaining its value in real terms. Postgraduate maintenance grants and supplementary allowances will be increased by a similar amount.Tuition fees will continue to be reimbursed to institutions through the student support system on behalf of eligible students. The undergraduate rates will be the same as in 1995–96.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the study of Scottish Natural Heritage which was announced in May. [6421]

Ministers received the report of the study group in October and I will make arrangements for copies to be placed in the Library of the House.The Government have noted that since Scottish Natural Heritage was established in 1992 it has been asked to undertake a range of new initiatives. Amongst these have been implementation of the EC Habitats Directive, initiatives on biodiversity arising out of agreements reached at Rio and programmes commissioned by the Secretary of State for Scotland on the Cairngorms, Loch Lomond and environmental education. Taken together, this new work means that the balance of SNH's work has moved, from that envisaged by the Government when they published their plans for SNH in "The Way Ahead" in 1990. I have accepted the main proposal of the report of the study group that a new "The Way Ahead" should be prepared, taking account of changes in natural heritage priorities and levels of Government grant-in-aid likely to be available. I have asked Scottish Office and SNH officials to draft a new version of "The Way Ahead" to take us to the millennium. This will be published in the first half of next year. At that time we shall also announce our full response to the report.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the sums his Department has paid out for each financial year since 1979–80 to companies establishing in Scotland; if he will indicate the number and names of companies involved; and what proportion this represented of the total awards made under regional selective assistance. [1716]

[holding answer 23 November 1995]: Data are not collected in precisely this form. Data are, however, collected on regional selective assistance offered to overseas-owned firms—this will include some overseas-owned firms reinvesting in their existing operations in Scotland and will not include firms owned elsewhere in the United Kingdom which are starting or reinvesting operations in Scotland. Details on individual firms are affected by commercial confidentiality but the other data which the hon. Member seeks are given, for overseas-owned firms, in the table:

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many applications for regional selective assistance have been (a) rejected by his Department and (b) accepted for each financial year since 1979–80; and what proportion those rejected represent of the total number of applications received; [1718](2) how many offers of regional selective assistance were made to companies by his Department in each financial year since 1979–80; and how many of these were fully accepted by the companies involved. [1733]

[holding answer 23 November 1995]: The data which the hon. Member seeks are set out in the tables.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many jobs his Department estimates have been (a) safeguarded and (b) created in Scotland in each financial year since 1979–80 by payments made under regional selective assistance; [1725](2) how much money was paid to companies operating within each new town in Scotland in regional selective assistance for each year since 1979–80; and how many companies were in receipt of this assistance; [1732](3) if he will list

[holding answer 23 November 1995]: As regards money recouped from companies which had been in receipt of regional selective assistance, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 2 May 1995, Official Report, column 580.Statistics on regional selective assistance are not collected by reference to new town boundaries.The other information which the hon. Member seeks is set out in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many estates have killed (a) fewer than five, (b) six to 10, (c) 11 to 50, (d) 51 to 100, (e) 101 to 250, (f) 251 to 500 and (g) more than 500 red deer in each year from 1990 to 1995. [2077]

[holding answer 30 November 1995]: The information is set out in the table and has been supplied by the Red Deer Commission from its records.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if his Department followed the 1986 SACTRA recommendation in respect of the breaking down of large traffic schemes at the Balmoral Avenue junction. [2512]

In view of the scale and nature of the scheme proposed at the Balmoral Avenue junction, the SACTRA report is not considered to be relevant.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the number of (a) secondary and (b) primary schools broken down by (i) size and (ii) sex and indicating if they are controlled, maintained or voluntary school status in each of the education and library board areas in Northern Ireland. [4510]

The information is as follows: