To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what communication he has received from (a) the Commission of the European Community and (b) the Government of any of its member states concerning those matters of common interest listed in article K1 of the treaty on European Union; what proposals he has received for conventions under the provisions of article K3 2(c); and what (i) material and (ii) information he has published relating thereto. [8254]

The Commission, which has a limited right of initiative under article K3(2) of the treaty on European union, has issued three communications to the Council of Ministers concerning matters of common interest under article K1. These related to immigration and asylum policies, a European Union action plan to combat drugs and the possible application of article K9 of the treaty. The Commission has also submitted proposals for a Council decision establishing the convention on the crossing of the external frontiers of the member states and for a convention on the protection of the Communities' financial interests.Member states enjoy the right to initiate action in all the areas of common interest listed in article K1 and regularly make proposals for specific measures or projects in the Justice and Home Affairs Council and its associated working groups. The Council of Ministers has adopted conventions on simplified extradition procedures, fraud, Europol and the customs information system. Draft instruments currently under negotiation by the member states include: the convention on external frontiers and the associated convention on the European information system; a second stage convention on simplified extradition procedures; and a convention on mutual recognition of driving disqualifications.Any proposal or communication from the Commission to the Council of Ministers is deposited in Parliament. In accordance with the procedures for scrutiny of European Community documents, the Government publish an explanatory memorandum for each document deposited. Proposals arising from intergovernmental co-operation on justice and home affairs under title VI of the treaty are subject to the separate arrangements for Parliamentary scrutiny of work which apply to that title.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will make a statement on the additional entitlements of European nationals to bring relatives into the EU and the UK in consequence of the Surinder Singh judgment in the European Court; and if he will publish a booklet explaining the situation; [8521]

Nationals of the other member states of the European Economic Area are free to come to the United Kingdom with their close family members to exercise rights conferred under the provisions of the treaty of Rome relating to the free movement of workers and rights of residence.Those rights were not affected by the Surinder Singh judgment, delivered by the European Court of Justice in July 1992. The effect of that judgment is that where a British citizen returns to the United Kingdom after exercising treaty rights in an economic capacity in another member state, his or her third-country national spouse and other close family members are entitled to enter and reside in the United Kingdom under European Community law.In giving effect to the judgment, we require that the British citizen must have exercised substantive treaty rights in another member state, normally for a period of at least six months, as a worker or in another economically active capacity; those who resided abroad as tourists or students, for example, do not qualify. The primary purpose rule does not apply but the application is refused if the marriage is one of convenience. If the marriage ends in divorce, or if the British citizen goes abroad, the third-country spouse will no longer have a right to reside here under European Community law.Since the judgment was delivered, we have received 73 applications based on it, of which 59 have been granted.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what drafts of the Europol convention concerning the establishment and powers of a European police office were (a) published by Her Majesty's Government and (b) sent to police authorities or their representative organisations; what outline (i) proposals and (ii) drafts were sent to select committees of both Houses of Parliament; when the convention was signed and by whom on behalf of the United Kingdom; and which drafts were considered at ministerial meetings and on what occasions. [8303]

[holding answer 9 January 1996]: The final text of the Europol convention was published, and laid before Parliament, on 8 December last year. Drafts of the convention were not public documents and therefore were not published nor made generally available. The police service were closely consulted throughout the negotiation of the convention through police representative organisations.An explanatory note on the draft convention was submitted on 22 February 1994. Supplementary explanatory notes, with revised drafts of the convention, were provided on 17 November 1994 and on 31 May 1995. The final text of the convention, together with an accompanying explanatory note, was forwarded on 28 July last year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the South Yorkshire constabulary charge for the police safe scheme and similar services. [8415]

I understand that South Yorkshire police do not charge for the keyholder list services which they provide.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list by month since Doncaster prison was opened the number of people detained under immigration powers and held at the prison, indicating from what countries the detainees originally came. [8053]

Responsibility for this matter 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 (1) how many prisoners were transferred from Doncaster prison in each month since it has been opened, indicating the reason for the transfer in each case, and the name of the prison to which the transfer was made; [8051](2) how many prisoners were transferred to Doncaster prison in each month since it has been opened, indicating the reason for the transfer in each case, and the name of the prison to which the transfer was made. [8052]

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 (1) what has been the average occupancy at Winson Green prison in each of the last five years; [7954](2) what has been the average prison officer establishment at Winson Green prison in each of the last five years. [7955]

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 what has been the total cost of running Winson Green prison in each of the last five years at (a) actual prices and (b) current prices; and what are the budgets for 1995–96 and 1996–97. [7956]

Responsibility for this matter 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 what consultations are undertaken before appointments are made to local probation committees. [7951]

The majority of probation committee members are magistrates, elected by their benches. Where committees choose to co-opt members of the local community it is for them to decide how to do so: many committees place public advertisements to attract people with suitable interests and experience. Where committees co-opt members of local authorities, as they are required to do in metropolitan areas and may decide to do elsewhere, they should consult the authorities concerned about the appointments.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how local probation committees are accountable to their communities. [7948]

Local probation committees are responsible to their communities through the management of services: by the publication of Her Majesty's inspection reports, annual reports and by an obligation under national standards to liaise closely with local communities.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he plans to implement the recommendation of Her Majesty's chief inspector of prisons into the women's prison at Risley in respect of the women's health care centre. [8176]

Responsibility for this matter 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 what plans he has to discourage the practice of allocating women to wings of male prisons. [8257]

Responsibility for this matter 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 how many people lost eligibility for compensation in respect of the death of a relative under the 1994 criminal injuries compensation scheme when the CICB scheme was re-introduced; and what has been the saving to public funds. [8161]

The eligibility of a claimant for compensation can be determined only by reference to the individual circumstances of the case in the light of the relevant scheme. In the great majority of cases where an application was made in respect of a fatal case under the former tariff scheme, the claimants' eligibility for payment had not been determined when that scheme was withdrawn.Information on numbers of applications for fatal awards under the tariff scheme, the relationship between the applicant and the victim in those cases, and payments made, was contained in answers given to the hon. Member for Cardiff, South and Penarth (Mr. Michael) on 28 November 1995,

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many additional inmate places he expects will be available for use by the end of 1996 at Her Majesty's prison New Hall, Wakefield. [8329]

Responsibility for this matter 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 (1) if he will list those prisons which have made probation staff redundant over the last year; and if he will make a statement; [7387](2) if he will make a statement in respect of those prisons which have reduced

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 what criteria he will use for determining whether an upheaval has taken place in a country for the purposes of determining whether asylum seekers claiming after entry into the United Kingdom should qualify for income support; and which countries he assesses to be currently undergoing such an upheaval. [7400]

My right hon. and learned Friend will notify the Benefits Agency if a country undergoes a fundamental change in circumstances such that people are not normally being required to return to it for the time being. Each upheaval will be separately assessed and a judgment made as to whether people should be required to return. This assessment will be based on the latest available relevant information from a wide range of sources.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what web site his Department maintains on the Internet; what information is provided there; how often it is updated; what is the address; and if he or his Department answers questions and supplies additional information through the Internet. [7570]

My Department does not maintain its own World Wide Web site on the Internet, but uses (a) the electronic news distribution service of the Central Office of Information for the publication of press releases on the web, and (b) the web site known as the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency Government information service, maintained by CCTA—the Government centre for information systems—for other information. My Department does not yet have its wwn home page, but has four separate presences on the web as follows:

(a) Press release

(address-http://www.coi.gov.uk/coi/depts/GHO/GHO.html)

(b) Research & Statistics Department, for publication of statistics which are also published in conventional form

address-http://www.open.gov.uk/home_off/rsdhome.htm)

(c) United Kingdom Passport Agency, for general information about passports and passport offices

(address-http://www.open.gov.uk/ukpass/ukpass.htm)

(d) Immigration & Nationality Department, for general information about immigration and nationality

(address-http://www.open.gov.uk/coi/ind.htm).

Press releases and statistics are published as they are published on paper. Information from the United Kingdom Passport Agency and the immigration and nationality department is updated as necessary. Neither I nor my Department at present uses the Internet for answering questions or supplying additional information.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prison service staff were employed, by category and in total in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [7369]

Responsibility for this matter 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 to be able to answer the hon. Member for Lewisham, East's letters of 19 July, 2 October and 1 November on behalf of Mr. Clive Bromfield. [6921]

Responsibility for this matter 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 if he will list the awards made to charities in Worcestershire from national lottery funds; and what is the size of the grant and total project cost in each case. [6132]

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for National Heritage on 9 January 1996, Official Report, column 61. This includes details of the grants given by the National Lottery Charities Board to charities and voluntary groups based in Worcestershire.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what delegations have been made in 1995 under the Civil Service (Management Functions) Act 1992; to whom those delegations were made; and what were the main conditions that were attached to them. [8645]

The table lists delegations made under the Civil Service (Management Functions) Act 1992 since the last report to Parliament, Official Report, 11 January 1995, col. 140. In some cases, for staff appointed by statutory office holders, Ministers were statutorily required to give consent to terms and conditions of service. For such staff, delegation has been effected by waiving that requirement, subject to the conditions attached to the delegation.

List of delegations made in 1995 under The Civil Service (Management Functions) Act 1992
Delegation	Nature of delegation	Recipients	Main conditions
1. Delegation	Authority to	Ministers in	(i) The
of pay and	determine pay	charge of	recipient must
Certain	and certain	departments	continue to
conditions of	pay-related	for the	comply with
service.	conditions of	following	certain sections
	service of civil	organisations:	of the Civil
	servants below	Child Support	Service
	the new Senior	Agency	Management
	Civil Service.	Government	Code.
	The pay and	Communications	(ii) Changes
	Certain	Headquarters,	made to terms
	pay-related	Highways	and conditions
	conditions of	Agency,	must provide
	service of	Historic	value for
	Agency Chief	Scotland,	money and be
	Executives are	Intervention	made in a way
	also excluded	Board for	which does not
	from the scope	Agricultural	jeopardise
	of the	Produce	essential public
	delegations.	Meat Hygiene	expenditure
		Service	safeguards.
		Paymaster
		Service
		Children's
		Schools (North
		West Europe)
		War Pensions
		Agency

Previous service—wide delegations extended to other organisations in 1995
Delegation	Recipients
1. Travel; Overseas Accountable Entertainment Allowance; relocation expenses; rent for key staff who occupy government owned residential properties; boarding school allowance.	Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service Health and Safety Executive Health and Safety Commission (in respect of staff appointed by Health and Safety Executive)
2. Rent for key staff who occupy government owned residential properties; boarding school allowance.	Central Statistical Office

To ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, representing the House of Commons Commission, what consideration the House of Commons Commission has given to the proposal of the Information Committee regarding the name of the House Library Department; and if he will make a statement. [7985]

At its last meeting, the Commission considered a proposal to change the name of the Department of the House of Commons Library to that of the House of Commons Library and Research Department. After careful consideration, and taking account of the advice of the Information Committee and of the high reputation of the House of Commons Library, the Commission decided against the change in name.

To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee if he has considered an application for an exhibition relating to "Schizophrenia-Fear, Fact or Fiction" to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall. [8555]

I understand that, under procedures agreed by the Administration Committee, arrangements have been made for the exhibition to be held in the Upper Waiting Hall from Monday 25 March to Friday 29 March 1996.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has made it a condition of any applications for privatisation, ownership or operation of the docklands light railway that (a) fare levels are the same as for London Underground Ltd., (b) it will remain part of the London public transport zone scheme, (c) zone-period passes will remain valid at London fare levels and (d) the pensioners'pass scheme will continue for this line. [8249]

The Government's policy is that the docklands light railway will continue to participate in the London public transport zone scheme and to participate in the joint through-ticketing arrangements, including Travelcard, when its operations and management are franchised to a private sector operator later this year. Passengers should therefore, as now, be able to use the full range of London-wide tickets on the DLR at the same prices as on London Underground. The DLR currently sets its own fares for DLR-only journeys and this will also continue after franchising. The DLR takes part in the London boroughs concessionary travel scheme and offers pensioners and others free travel, as on London Underground. Our policy is that this should continue, subject to funds continuing to be available from the boroughs.

Docklands Light Railway 1992–93 to 1995–96
		1992–93	1993–94	1994–95	11995–96
(a)	the number of train miles in service	0.69 million	0.65 million	1.05 million	1.24 million
(b)	the number of passenger miles travelled	20 million	24 million	37 million	46 million
(c)	(i) the operating cost per train mile	£28.0	£29.3	£23.2	£18.1
	(ii) the operating cost per passenger mile	£0.95	£0.79	£0.62	£0.48
(d)	the subsidy per passenger mile	£0.77	£0.60	£0.43	£0.27
(e)	the percentage of non-capital costs received from passengers and London pooled income.	23 per cent.	24 per cent.	30 per cent.	42 per cent.
1 Estimate outturn figures

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the capital investment, at constant prices, including additional costs arising from adjustment to control or signalling systems, for each phase of construction of the docklands light railway and the estimated cost of its extension to Lewisham together with the contributions to that capital expenditure not originating from public funds, stating their respective sources. [8248]

The capital cost of the docklands light railway, at constant 1995 prices is as follows:

• Initial railway: £90 million
• Extension to Bank and upgrading: £295 million
• Extension to Beckton: £280 million
• Resignalling/improvements: £56 million
• Prime contract: £30 million
• Total: £751 million

Olympia and York made a contribution of £95 million at 1995 prices to the Bank extension and Canary Wharf station. The extension of the DLR to Lewisham will be built as a joint venture under the Government's private finance initiative at a cost of over £100 million. The amount of private sector investment will be established following the tendering exercise now under way.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the last date on which orders must be placed for the establishment of new unitary authorities so that elections can take place on 2 May. [8625]

There is no strict requirement to lay a structural change order by a particular date. However, where there is to be reorganisation, it is our

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give for each year of the operation of the docklands light railway, (a) the number of train miles in service, (b) the number of passenger miles travelled, (c) the cost (i) per train mile and (ii) per passenger mile of all costs other than capital for construction, (d) the subsidy per passenger mile and (e) the percentage of non-capital costs received from passengers and London pooled income. [8250]

The following table sets out the relevant statistics on the docklands light railway from 1 April 1992, when the Secretary of State for the Environment took on responsibility for the railway:policy that there should be full elections to the future unitary authority the year before the transfer of responsibilities. As a result, given the requirements governing the publication of the notice of election in the Local Elections (Principal Areas) Rules 1986 along the administrative needs of the returning officer, we consider that an order should be made not less than two months before the date of the election to which it relates.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 11 January. [8138]

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 11 January. [8139]

I have been asked to reply. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister is in Paris representing Her Majesty's Government at the commemorative service for the late President Mitterrand.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the regulators, indicating their dates of appointment, period of tenure, salary, including any performance-related element, and their previous employment prior to employment with salary plus bonuses, where these are (a) known and (b) in the public domain. [8121]

The information is shown in the table:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 18 December, Official Report, column 839, of whom inquiries were made to investigate the reports about Hawk aircraft flying over East Timor and by whom; and what criteria were applied to judge the validity of the information. [8011]

Various inquiries were made of confidential sources, which it would not be proper to disclose. As I said in my answer on 18 December 1995, Official Report, column 839, we have looked into the reports about Hawk aircraft over East Timor but have found no evidence to substantiate them.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if answers sent to hon. Members in reply to parliamentary questions by the head of executive agencies in his Department are (a) seen, (b) approved and (c) amended by him before they are sent; and if he will identify such letters to which amendments by him have been made in 1994–95. [7831]

Parliamentary questions are passed to the head of an executive agency for reply when the matter is one delegated to him or her under the agency framework document. The relevant Minister may see a copy of the reply before it is sent, but would not normally intervene in operational matters. Records are not kept of any amendments by Ministers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent steps the Govnerment have taken to secure the release of the European hostages in Kashmir. [7941]

We are co-operating closely in Delhi, Srinagar and capitals with the Indian and other Governments concerned, and continue to work for the safe and early release of Paul Wells, Keith Mangan and the other hostages. All Governments involved, the relatives, and a number of interested groups in the region have appealed for the immediate and safe release of the hostages.We keep in close touch with the families and give factual briefing also to the constituency Member of Parliament involved.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his latest discussions with the Indian Govnerment regarding the case of Harjit Singh. [8177]

We remain in touch with the Indian authorities about the case of Harjit Singh. The latest court hearing was on 28 November, when the judge ordered an inquiry by the Central Bureau of Intelligence. We await its outcome.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list all committees which members of his Department assist or serve upon which discuss military co-operation between Britain and France as part of their remit. [8281]

Military co-operation between Britain and France is discussed in the following committees: the Franco-British Joint Commission on Nuclear Doctrine and Policy; the Franco-British Euro Air Group steering group and working group; and the UK-France political/military working group. There are also a number of multilateral groups which discuss multilateral military co-operation.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department in what circumstances an individual earning £18,000 per year and renting out a property would qualify for legal aid. [7798]

An applicant will satisfy financial qualifications for legal aid if disposable income and capital fall within the statutory requirements. Disposable income and capital is that which is left from total income and capital after certain allowances have been deducted. Non-contributory civil legal aid as available if an individual's disposable income and capital are below £2,425 and £3,000 respectively. If disposable income falls between £2,425 and £7,187, or £7,920 for personal injury cases, respectively, an individual will have to pay a contribution. If disposable income and capital are above the upper limits then an individual will he outside the scheme. In criminal cases an applicant will receive non-contributory legal aid if weekly disposable income and capital is below £47 and £3,000 respectively. A contribution will be required if weekly disposable income and capital is above those limits. There are no upper limits in criminal legal aid.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list the criteria for eligibility for legal aid. [7799]

The financial eligibility criteria for both civil and criminal legal aid are set out in my answer today to the hon. Member's question about the circumstances in which an individual earning £18,000 per year and renting out property would qualify for legal aid.In civil cases, the applicant must also satisfy the Legal Aid Board that he or she has reasonable grounds for taking, defending or being a party to proceedings, and that it is reasonable in the particular circumstances of the case for legal aid to be granted. These tests must be met throughout the time that the case is legally aided.In criminal cases, the court must also be satisfied that it is in the interests of justice that the applicant should have legal representation. In deciding whether it is the interests of justice, the court must take several factors into account, including whether the charge against the defendant is so serious that he or she may be imprisoned or lose his job if convicted or whether there is a substantial point of law to be considered in the case.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what steps a member of the public can take to ensure that a fraudulent claim for legal aid is properly investigated. [7800]

Members of the public can write to the Legal Aid Board if they have any evidence or suspicion that a fraudulent claim has been made for civil legal aid or for green form advice and assistance. The board will investigate any allegations of fraud. Allegations of false declaration of means by an assisted person are referred to the Benefits Agency to investigate further. If the allegations are substantiated, the Legal Aid Board revokes the legal aid certificate and the assisted person is liable to pay all costs incurred. Certain cases may be referred to the police who will consider prosecution under section 39 of the Legal Aid Act 1988.Members of the public who have evidence of a fraudulent claim for criminal legal aid should write to the relevant court. The courts investigate allegations of fraudulent claims and refer substantiated allegations to the police.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what progress has been made by the interdepartmental working party on marriage. [9473]

The interdepartmental working party on marriage is working on a summary of its findings so far. It hopes to hold a seminar for interested service providers and researchers in February or March this year to discuss these findings before finalising them. The working party is grateful to all those groups who have responded so fully and promptly to its questionnaire.The working party has given a preliminary indication of the types of initiatives at which it believes resources may need to be targeted. These are:

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to review the case for a statutory right to interest on overdue commercial debt; and what form that review will take. [9378]

The 1994 White Paper "Competitiveness—Helping Business to Win"—Cm 2563—announced a package of measures which the Government would introduce to tackle late payment. It also committed the Government to review the case for statutory interest

"if there has not been a significant improvement within the next two years".

There have been some signs of improving payment times in the UK, but late payment continues to be of concern to a number of small firms. Therefore, even though the package of measures now largely in place has not been so for long enough to have had an impact on late payment, I have decided to look again at the arguments for and against statutory interest. The review will be in the context of my wider consideration of how the problem of late payment can best be addressed. I have today invited relevant submissions from representative bodies who responded to the public consultation in November 1993. The submission will be considered alongside research and survey evidence. The outcome of the review will be published in the summer.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if there will be a revision of the areas eligible for grant from the EU structural funds under objective 2. [9379]

The European Commission has been reviewing the current list of areas, but is not committed to revising it. The Government's view is that revision would not be in the national interest.I am glad to say that, at an informal meeting of EU Ministers which I attended in Madrid on 1 December, there was general consensus on the part of member states in favour of "complete continuity" between the current list of areas, which expires at the end of 1996, and the list for the period 1997–99.A formal decision from the Commission is expected during the coming weeks.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what criteria are used in checking end-use certification of arms sales; and what information the Government publish on this matter. [7689]

[holding answer 10 January 1996]: Appropriate documentation to provide evidence of end-use must be supplied in support of applications for individual licences to export arms and military equipment. If the consignee is an overseas Government, the applicant must provide a copy of the official order or the appropriate parts of the contract. In respect of small arms, requirements vary according to the country of destination: for many countries the applicant provides appropriate import certification from the authorities in the importing country. In all other cases, specific end-use undertakings have to be provided in a prescribed format and on the end-user's headed notepaper. The information in the supporting documentation is assessed by the Department of Trade and Industry export control organisation, and by other Government Departments from which the DTI takes advice in considering the application. The Government give guidance on the type of supporting documentation which must be supplied, the circumstances in which they are required, the information they need to contain and the format in which they must be supplied.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what action he has taken on the European ban on arms exports to Nigeria; and how this applies to (a) dual use goods and (b) existing contracts. [7688]

[holding answer 10 January 1996]: In common with arms embargoes against other countries, the embargo against Nigeria is enforced by means of the export licensing regime operated by the Department of Trade and Industry. Any licence applications which may be made in respect of embargoed goods to the relevant destinations are considered in light of the terms of the embargo in question. The embargo against Nigeria includes all military, security and paramilitary goods and arms, ammunition and related material which is listed in schedule 1, part III, group 1 of the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994. The embargo does not include other categories of goods which are controlled under that order, although such goods remain under strict licensing control. Nor does it extend to existing contracts for defence equipment for which individual licences have been issued.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make it his policy to reject all further licences for the sale of arms to Nigeria; and if he will make a statement. [6939]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Streatham (Mr. Hill) on 12 December 1995, Official Report, columns 599–600.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the amounts of money paid or committed in respect of projects in each of the member states of the European Union under the Interreg programme for each available year since its inception. [7038]

[holding answer 20 December 1995]: I have information about amounts of money committed in respect of projects only in the UK. Interreg grants so committed have been as follows:

• 1991: £3.7 million
• 1992: £8.2 million
• 1993: £17.3 million
• 1994: £6.7 million
• 1995: £1.5 million

Total allocations of Interreg II A grants for 1994–99 are as follows:

	Ecu million
UK	109.4
France	246
Germany	402.2
Italy	347.4
Spain	564.7
Netherlands	69.1
Belgium	82
Luxembourg	3.5
Republic of Ireland	133.5
Denmark	17.7
Portugal	339.7
Greece	595
Sweden	39.5
Finland	43.7
Austria	42.7

For Interreg I, the amounts are not available to me.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement in respect of the retention of existing quotas relating to the ceramic industry. [6937]

The Commission is about to report to member states on the operation and future of the EC's quotas on certain imports from China, including ceramicware. The Government will consider the report once it is available.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has made to the Ministry of Defence regarding contracts for (a) army field ambulances and (b) non-military vehicles for use in Germany. [7141]

My Department keeps in close touch with the Ministry of Defence on major procurement programmes, including the two mentioned by the hon. Gentleman. Our objective is to ensure that the industrial implications of purchasing decisions are taken fully into account.The Government are committed, however, to full and open competition for defence contracts and final decisions on particular contracts will quite rightly be based primarily on value for money and operational considerations.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what definition he uses of harm to the public when deciding whether to make a direction under section 32 of the Companies Act 1985. [6682]

No definition of harm to the public is used when considering whether to make a direction under section 32 of the Companies Act. I assess each case on its merits, taking into account the circumstances.When deciding such cases, I consider whether there are reasons for thinking, or evidence indicating, that the public would be likely to suffer harm as a result of the name. There must be evidence of harm or of the likelihood of harm; mere speculative harm would not be enough. I also take care to consider the likely impact of a direction on a company's business.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received recently about manufacturing investment in (a) the United Kingdom and (b) the north west region. [7649]

I and other DTI Ministers regularly receive representations about manufacturing industry and manufacturing investment. For example, in the north-west, my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade discussed issues facing manufacturers at a meeting with the Consortium of Lancashire Aerospace on 24 November. He has also recently received representations on behalf of the automotive sector in the north west.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the effect of (a) 1p, (b) 2p, (c) 3p and (d) 5p increase on the cost of (i) first-class and (ii) second-class stamps on firms with under (1) 100, (2) 50, (3) 20 and (4) 10 employees. [7554]

None. It is for the Post Office to assess the detailed impact of any changes in letter tariff rates on its customers and on mail traffic volumes. The impact on companies of higher postal charges will depend on the nature of their business rather than on the number of employees. An increase of 1p on first and second-class letter tariffs equates to a 0.008 per cent. increase in the retail prices index. By international standards, UK letter tariffs represent very good value for money both in terms of cost and of quality of service. Royal Mail's letter tariffs last increased in November 1993 and the Post Office is committed to maintaining the present rates until March 1996, the longest period of stability since the 1960s.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he expects to make an announcement about the future of the Insolvency Agency. [7755]

I expect to make an announcement about the future of the Insolvency Service at the end of January 1996.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many construction industry related companies have failed in each of the last five years. [8262]

The following table shows company insolvencies, including partnerships, for the construction industry in England and Wales, 1990–94.

Company Insolvencies: construction industry
(England and Wales)
Year	Number
1990	2,445
1991	3,373
1992	3,830
1993	3,189
1994	2,401

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost of chauffeur-driven cars used by his Department was in each of the past five years. [5852]

The available information is shown in the table. Information for financial years 1990–91 to 1992–93 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what were the management costs of national health service trusts in England for the financial year 1994–95; and if he will make a statement. [8455]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Blackpool, South (Mr. Hawkins) on 4 December 1995, Official Report, column 37.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 24 November 1995, Official Report, column 336, if he will provide a breakdown of NHS contracts by (a) type and (b) region. [3330]

[pursuant to his reply, 14 December 1995, c. 804]: I regret that my previous reply is incorrect. It should read as follows:The numbers of national health service contracts, by regional health authority, for the years 1993–94, 1994–95 and 1995–96 are shown in the tables. The information available on contracts by type is contained in the "Review of Contracting" for 1994–95, copies of which are available in the Library.

Total number of contracts
Regional health authorities	1993–94	1994–95
Northern	181	146
Yorkshire	146	148
Trent	246	279
East Anglia	116	157
North West Thames	310	345
North East Thames	255	247
South West Thames	435	476
Wessex	238	206
Oxford	174	186
South Western	115	237
West Midlands	724	606
Mersey	82	79
North Western	659	271
South East Thames	301	122
Total	3,982	3,505

Total number of contracts
Regions	1995–96
North and Western	365
West Midlands	744
Trent	342
Anglia and Oxford	311
South Western	375
South Thames	544
North Thames	753
Northern and Yorkshire	303
Total	3,737

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what meetings he has had with opponents of the closure of the accident and emergency department of Edgware general hospital; if he has completed reconsideration of the proposals to close the Department; and if he will make a statement. [8000]

My right hon. Friend has discussed the issue on a number of occasions with interested parties. Most recently he met two deputations on 13 December 1995. I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Harrow, East (Mr. Dykes) on 19 December 1995, Official Report, column 1140.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many representations he has received opposing the closure of the accident and emergency department of Edgware general hospital. [8003]

Approximately 5,000 such representations have been received, mostly pre-printed postcards.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what factors have led to the retention of the social work qualification for probation officers following its abolition in England and Wales; and what proposals he has to bring Northern Ireland into line with England and Wales. [8305]

There is no statutory requirement in Northern Ireland for probation officers to hold a social work qualification. However, it has been a policy of the Probation Board for Northern Ireland, for many years now, to recruit only those with such a qualification. Developments in England and Wales, following abolition of the social work qualification, will be watched closely. Any proposal to change the current Northern Ireland arrangements will be made in accordance with the particular needs and circumstances of Northern Ireland.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the total number of second level registered nurses; and how many are currently undertaking training to convert to first level registration. [8335]

[holding answer 10 January 1996]: The total number of second level registered nurses is not held centrally. This information is available on the database of the United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting situated at 23 Portland place, London. The total number of second level registered nurses currently at 31 December 1995 undertaking training to convert to first level registration is 331.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the prior options study of the Northern Ireland Government purchasing service was completed; and what has been the outcome of the study. [9377]

On 7 March 1995 my right hon. Friend the Member for Westminster, North (Sir J. Wheeler) announced that the functions of the Government purchasing service of the Department of Finance and Personnel would be subject to a prior options study. That study is now complete and I have concluded that the functions should be undertaken in future by a new next steps agency. It is my intention to begin preparations for the launch of such an agency so that it might begin operation from 1 April 1996. I am satisfied that will ensure continuous improvement through partnership with suppliers to deliver long-term benefits for Northern Ireland and improve competitiveness in the market place.I also believe that the agency, in time, might prove suitable for privatisation, and I intend to look again at this possibility in due course. In the interim, there are a range of services associated with the work of the proposed agency which could be contracted out and steps will now be taken to market test these activities.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he has taken to increase efficiency in the Government's activities. [7085]

We have already reduced the cost of Government by more than £500 million a year. Provision for the running costs of civil departments for 1998–99 is more than 12 per cent. lower than this year.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to increase investment in the economy of the United Kingdom. [7086]

Industry is expanding capacity as needed. In the third quarter of 1995, manufacturing investment was 12 per cent. up on a year earlier, and 21 per cent. higher than at the end of 1993. This shows that we have created the right climate for investment.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to meet representatives of the Confederation of British Industry to discuss investment in British industry. [7098]

My right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer regularly meets representatives from the Confederation of British Industry to discuss a range of issues.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the economic position of the United Kingdom in relation to competitor countries. [7088]

The UK is well placed in relation to competitor countries, with healthy growth, low inflation, sound public finances, falling unemployment, a competitive exchange rate and rising investment.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the United Kingdom's economic performance relative to that of other Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries. [7097]

In its 1995 survey of the UK economy, the OECD said that the UK was "among the pace setters" in its supply side reforms, adding that

"the sweeping structural reforms launched in the 1980s are yielding dividends in a more flexible, competitive and less inflation-prone economy",

which grew faster than the OECD average in both 1993 and 1994, and is forecast to have done so again in 1995.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on his policies to encourage saving. [7089]

The Government believe in encouraging saving and rewarding thrift. That is why we reduced the rate of tax on savings income from 25 per cent. to 20 per cent. for basic rate taxpayers in the recent Budget, benefiting 14 million savers who are basic rate taxpayers. This builds on our successful schemes such as PEPs and TESSAs and reinforces the benefit to savers from the best inflation record for almost 50 years.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he had received following the December figures on inflation and interest rates. [7090]

We have received a number of representations welcoming lower interest rates and the best performance on inflation for almost 50 years.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on interest rates. [7094]

Interest rates were cut by ¼ per cent. to 6½ per cent. on 13 December. This cut in rates was appropriate and fully consistent with meeting the inflation target of 2½ per cent. or less.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he is taking to combat fraud. [7091]

The Government attach a high priority to tackling all types of fraud and abuse. The measures we have introduced to combat social security fraud arc already saving the taxpayer over £1 billion a year, expected to reach £2.5 billion a year by 1998–99. Customs and Excise is strengthening its intelligence and investigation activities, including over 200 more staff over the next three years, while Inland Revenue attaches similar priority to tackling fraud. In addition, the Treasury has recently issued its annual letter on fraud within Government Departments, so that managers throughout Government will be aware of fraud risks, and will be able to strengthen systems to counter those risks.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of tax revenue is raised through (a) direct taxes and (b) value added tax; and what were the percentages raised through these taxes in 1979. [7092]

The shares of direct taxes and VAT in total taxes and national insurance contributions were 55 per cent. and 18 per cent., respectively, in financial year 1994–95. Comparable figures for 1979–80 were 56 per cent. and 12 per cent.The share of income tax has fallen from 29 per cent. to 27 per cent. over the same period.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received on the Budget. [7093]

As usual, my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer received a large number of representations in the run-up to the Budget and he has also received a number since he made his Budget statement in November.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of pensioners have savings or investment income. [7095]

Around three-quarters of pensioners now have some investment income.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he has taken to reduce wasteful Government spending. [7096]

We have sharply reduced civil service running costs. We have undertaken fundamental expenditure reviews and senior management reviews of nearly all major Departments. All Departments are required to produce annual plans to show how they will improve efficiency by market testing, contracting out and other means and all next steps agencies are set specific efficiency targets.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what level of growth is forecast in the economy of the south-west region by the end of 1996. [7099]

The Government do not produce regional economic forecasts. However, gross domestic product for the UK as a whole is forecast to grow by 3 per cent. in 1996.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what impacts his Budget announcements will have on small businesses. [7102]

The Budget will encourage growth in output and jobs in small firms.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost to British banking and industry of the conversion to a single currency; and who will bear the cost. [7103]

The Government have not made a firm estimate of the transitional costs to banks and industry, associated with the change to a single currency, that would be incurred if the United Kingdom participated in the third stage of economic and monetary union. Such costs would be met by those affected, and they would be among the factors that would need to be taken into account, at the appropriate time, when the Government make their assessment of whether it is in the United Kingdom's interest to join a move to the third stage of economic and monetary union.Under protocol 11 of the EC treaty, the United Kingdom will not be obliged or committed to move to the third stage of economic and monetary union without a separate decision to do so by the Government and Parliament. We will agree to take part in a single currency only if it is in our interests to do so, given the circumstances at the time.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he estimates will be the additional revenues arising from sales of premium ciders and the change in duty on cider levy and strength greater of 7.5 per cent. alcohol. [7104]

The Financial Statement and Budget Report showed that the duty increase on very strong ciders is estimated to raise £10 million in its first full year, over and above what would be gained from increasing the duty in line with inflation.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what priority he attaches to cutting public spending as a proportion of gross domestic product. [7105]

The Government are determined to reduce the share that they take of national output below 40 per cent. and we are on track to do so.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect of the Budget on the poorest 10 per cent. of the population. [7101]

All income tax payers will gain from income tax cuts in the Budget. Pensioners and others on low incomes will gain from rising benefits, mostly uprated by 3.9 per cent. from April, or 3 per cent. for income-related benefits. All households stand to gain from our sound economic policies, which have already cut unemployment by over 700,000 since 1992.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to encourage more farmers to adopt organic methods of cultivation. [7716]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Cannock and Burntwood (Dr. Wright) on 6 July 1995, Official Report, column 365.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what number of suspected BSE cases were notified during the past 12 weeks. [7990]

[holding answer 9 January 1996]: The number of suspected BSE cases notified and placed under restriction in the 12 weeks from 26 September 1995 to 19 December 1995 was 3,996.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if answers sent to hon. Members in reply to parliamentary questions by the head of executive agencies in his Department are (a) seen, (b) approved and (c) amended by him before they are sent; and if he will identify such letters to which amendments by him have been made in 1994–95. [7836]

Parliamentary questions are passed to the head of an executive agency for reply when the matter is one delegated to him or her under the agency framework document. The relevant Minister may see a copy of the reply before it is sent, but would not normally intervene in operational matters. As far as I am aware, no replies have been changed by Ministers in this Department in the period in question.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received from marine heritage organisations concerning EU regulations and consequential United Kingdom legislation requiring owners of sound, seaworthy and hand built traditional wooden vessels used for fishing to be destroyed, or rendered incapable of use on water or being disposed of to any private person or body for uses other than fishing, under any scheme of registration as a condition of receiving de-commissioning grant; and what replies he has sent. [8216]

I have recently received representations from the following organisations with regard to the decommissioning of traditional wooden fishing vessels:

• The 4+ Fishing Boat Association of the British Isles
• The Colne Smack Preservation Society
• The Historic Warship Preservation Society

In replying to all these bodies, I have made it clear that it is a requirement of Council regulation 3699/93 that decommissioned vessels are permanently excluded from fishing in Community waters. Experience has shown that it is only by requiring vessels to be made permanently unseaworthy that we can guarantee meeting our obligations. It is also a requirement that vessels of less than 25 gross registered tonnes have to be scrapped to qualify for Community aid. Nevertheless, I am always willing to consider any suggestions an applicant may make for alternatives to scrapping which provide the same degree of certainty in protecting public expenditure.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will provide a breakdown of administration costs incurred to date and forecast for the future on PFI work. [5721]

[holding answer 14 December 1995]: Quantifiable administration costs incurred to date on PFI amount to some £20,000 annually. Forecast future costs are broadly similar.