To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what was the number of cases coming to trial in the Crown court, acquittals and convictions in 1994, and in that part of 1995 for which figures are now available. [8479]

The question concerns a specific operational matter on which the chief executive of the Court Service is best placed to provide an answer and I have accordingly asked the chief executive to reply direct.

To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee if he has considered an application for an exhibition relating to NatWest's "Face 2 Face with Finance" scheme to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall from 19 February to 23 February. [8090]

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 19 February to Friday 23 February 1996.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the comments by Sir Peter de la Billiere on the suspension of low flying in the Gulf war for the future operational needs of low flying; what are the consequences for low flying training; and if he will make a statement. [9483]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for South Shields (Dr. Clark) on 15 January 1996, Official Report, columns 423–24.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to investigate allegations of torture regarding soldiers of the Royal Welch Fusiliers serving in Bosnia. [9395]

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Newport, West on 15 January 1996, Official Report, column 425–26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if soldiers from the Royal Welch Fusiliers will give oral evidence to the war crimes tribunal at The Hague regarding allegations of torture in Bosnia. [9394]

As part of its investigation into the detention of UN personnel by Bosnian Serb forces, the UN war crimes tribunal proposes to interview a representative group of soldiers from 1st Battalion, Royal Welch Fusiliers who were among those taken hostage in May 1995.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what guidance he intends to issue to (a) Departments, (b) executive agencies, (d) non-departmental bodies and (d) outside bodies and arms-length organisations which he has responsibility for, or an interest in, regarding the implementation of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995; and if he will make a statement. [9224]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on 15 January by my hon. Friend the Minister for Social Security and Disabled People, Official Report, columns 417–18. I will ensure that my Department and any bodies for which it is responsible will be made aware of their responsibilities under the Act.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what measures have been taken by the British military authorities in Cyprus to control the behaviour of British military personnel towards the local population when off duty. [9392]

British Forces Cyprus attaches great importance to the maintenance of the very good existing relations with the local population. With this in mind, all service personnel and their dependents are briefed on the expected standards of conduct on arrival in Cyprus. The message is reiterated in routine and other orders and the Commander, British Forces Cyprus, regularly reminds his subordinate commanders that they have a responsibility to ensure that service personnel behave in an exemplary manner both on and off duty.This is reinforced by a number of selective restrictions which exclude service men from potential trouble spots. The tourist strips in Limassol and Larnaca are subject to a I am curfew for service personnel, and individual premises elsewhere may be placed out of bounds. In addition, the Ayia Napa area remains out of bounds in the wake of the death of Louise Jensen in September 1994. The penalties for the infringement of these rules range from a fine to the sending home of the individual concerned to the UK.Many disturbances in Cyprus involving groups of local youths are unconnected with the British military presence, with service personnel occasionally suffering unprovoked attacks. The restrictions applied are, therefore, as much to protect UK military personnel as for other reasons. Analysis shows that British Forces Cyprus has a good record for discipline, with a relatively small number of serious disciplinary incidents.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress is being made in the international discussions aimed at outlawing the use of landmines. [9385]

The first resumed session of the UN weaponry convention review conference is taking place this week in Geneva. The purpose of this conference is to strengthen protocol II to the convention, which governs the use of mines in armed conflict. We are working hard to achieve international agreement on effective measures to reduce the dangers to civilian from the indiscriminate use of anti-personnel mines.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has received on the stability of the geological base on which Devonport dockyard is built; and if he will make a statement. [9381]

Site investigations, including borehole surveys, and desk studies have been carried out to verify that the nature of the underlying geology is suitable to support the development of nuclear submarine refitting facilities at Devonport royal dockyard. The surveys confirmed that the rock underlying the site will form a suitable foundation for the proposed nuclear installations. No significant geological problems have been encountered on site to date.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the public expenditure implications of the Trident missile submarine refit at Devonport beyond those specified in the successful tender documents submitted by Devonport Management Ltd. [9380]

Negotiations on the design and build of facilities for refitting Vanguard class submarines at Devonport are proceeding and it would not be appropriate to speculate about details, including cost, while negotiations are under way.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action he intends to take to ensure the highest safety standards are enforced in the future refitting of Trident submarines. [9358]

Refitting facilities for nuclear powered submarines are being designed and will be constructed to meet all necessary safety standards and are being monitored and regulated by both civilian and MOD authorities. The future operators of the nuclear powered submarine refitting facility will be required to demonstrate to these authorities the appropriate levels of safety standards in order to obtain a nuclear site licence and the necessary consent to operate the facility.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the progress of the negotiations with Devonport Management Ltd. over Trident refitting. [9357]

Negotiations on the design and build of the facilities for refitting Vanguard class and ultimately all nuclear powered submarines at Devonport are proceeding with the consortium forming Devonport Management Ltd. A decision on contract award is expected in the first part of this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions there have been formal and informal contacts with Rosyth royal dockyard on the Trident refit programme since July 1993; and who initiated each contact. [9355]

Between July and September 1993, my Department corresponded regularly with the Rosyth royal dockyard management company about the decision to construct nuclear submarine refitting facilities at Devonport. Since then, there have been no formal discussions or negotiations with the company about the location at which Vanguard class submarines will be refitted. During the last year, the company wrote on two occasions indicating that Rosyth would be capable of accommodating Vanguard class refits should the Government wish to reconsider their decision. I wrote to the company in August to the effect that the Government have no such plans. No record is held of the number of informal contacts that Ministers or officials have had with representatives of the Rosyth royal dockyard management company since July 1993 nor of the topics of discussion.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much the Royal Ordnance paid his Department for the services of the Ministry of Defence police in (a) 1993–94 and (b) 1994–95; and if he will make a statement. [9376]

It is not the Department's practice to disclose commercially sensitive information.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Army ambulances were (a) used and (b) damaged or lost in (i) the Gulf conflict and (ii) in deployment with the United Nations in the former Yugoslavia. [9456]

Information regarding the number of Army ambulances used, damaged or lost during the Gulf conflict is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.The number of Army ambulances deployed to the former Yugoslavia in support of the United Nations fluctuated throughout the period, but the average number in theatre at any one time was 17 wheeled ambulances and 13 tracked ambulances. No ambulances were lost during the deployment. Information on the number damaged is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 9 January, Official Report, column 96, when he expects the study on the probability of a random mid-air collision to be completed. [9778]

The study should be completed by the end of this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the causes of the mid-air collision on 10 January involving two Tornado F3 fighters. [9693]

An RAF board of inquiry is investigating the cause of this accident. A copy of the summary of its findings will be placed in the Library of the House in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what (a) costs additional to those forecast and (b) delays in preparing the naval detention quarters are being incurred in connection with the closure of the Royal Marines school of music at Deal and the proposed move to Portsmouth; and if he will make a statement. [9681]

The contract now let for the conversion of the former RN detention quarters is at a cost of £505,000 compared with our original estimate of £450,000 contained in the consultative document. The conversion work is planned to be completed by mid-April, when the RMSM personnel return from their normal Easter leave.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many equerries are provided by his Department; and to whom they are allocated. [8682]

Five equerries are provided by my Department to the royal households. They are allocated as follows:

• HM The Queen
• HM The Queen Mother
• HRH The Duke of Edinburgh
• HRH The Prince of Wales
• HRH The Duke of York.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many days the royal yacht was used on official business in 1994–95. [8684]

In 1994, HMY Britannia was at sea for 164 days, of which 31 entailed royal duties, and 13 were devoted to trade promotion. In 1995, she was at sea for 156 days, of which 35 entailed royal duties, and 11 were devoted to trade promotion.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what steps he is taking and has taken to investigate Brown and Root's ability to oversee the refitting of Trident submarines; and when he will make a decision; [9356](2) if he will make a statement on the suitability of Brown and Root for Trident refitting work; [9353](3) what assessment he made of the records of the parent company in the United States in respect of contracts when considering the suitability of Brown and Root for Trident refitting work. [9354]

Brown and Root Ltd. is a UK-based company and is a member of the consortium forming Devonport Management Ltd., with which my Department is involved in contractual negotiations for the design and build of nuclear refitting facilities at Devonport. A decision on contract award is expected in the first part of this year. Steps have been, and will be, taken to ensure that any company ultimately contracted to undertake the work is both able and suitable to do so, including the provision of appropriate guarantees and assurances from parent companies where necessary.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the powers and authority of the Home Office controllers at Doncaster prison; what are their salaries; and if he will make a statement. [8056]

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 provide more robust cellular accommodation within the prison estate. [8256]

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 additional inmate places will be available for use by the end of 1996 at HMP Holloway. [8446]

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 for how long the mother and baby unit at Holloway prison has been closed; for what reason; when it is expected to be available for use again; and if he will make a statement. [9038]

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 inmates in Doncaster prison received some form of mental health care in each month since the prison opened. [8426]

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 is the daily average number of prison staff at Doncaster prison absent on sick leave, as a total number and as a percentage of the total prison's work force. [8425]

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 additional inmate places will be available for use by the end of 1996 at Doncaster prison. [8445]

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 is the (a) shortest, (b) longest and (c) average time during which inmates at HMP Holloway have been detained in a bodybelt or mechanical restraint since January 1990. [8443]

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 often the Home Office official at HMP Holloway responsible for the punishment of inmates has authorised the use of (a) bodybelts, (b) ankle straps, (c) handcuffs and (c) special segregation unit cells for each year since January 1990. [8423]

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 action the heads of all his Department's executive agencies are taking to protect pre-retirement courses from being abandoned in the event of such agencies seeking to make economies; and if he will make a statement. [9133]

Pre-retirement courses continue to be run for staff in the Home Office and its agencies, apart from the Prison Service, by the main Home Office. In the Prison Service courses are organised by the Prison Service college. There are no plans for any reductions in the number of courses.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidelines exist for police escorting slow-moving loads on motorways, with special reference to whether single police vehicles should drive in the inside lane behind the slow-moving vehicle. [9401]

The precise procedure adopted for the escorting of abnormal loads is an operational matter for chief officers of police. But guidelines on the escorting of abnormal loads on motorways are contained in the police service's "National Motorway Manual", which has been issued to forces by the traffic committee of the Association of Chief Police Officers.The guidelines advise that police vehicles should be positioned not less than 50 m to the rear of the load and occupy a complete lane. In normal circumstances the lane the police vehicle occupies will be determined by the width of the load. Loads which project into the second or middle lane will normally be followed by a police vehicle in that lane.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy that every woman who is not herself a British citizen but is or has been the wife of a British citizen who is the mother of a child by that husband and the child is a British citizen, will in all but the most exceptional circumstances, be granted a permanent right to abode in the United Kingdom; and if he will give the number of such mothers who have during the last 12 months been refused right of abode in the United Kingdom. [9315]

No. Each application for leave to remain as the wife of a British citizen is considered in the light of all the relevant circumstance. There are no separate statistics of the number of foreign wives, married to British husbands, with British children, who are refused leave to remain.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 18 December, Official Report, column 969, if he will specify the items of expenditure wrongly classified as hospitality in the original figure given for 1994–95. [9539]

The reclassification related solely to expenditure by the Fire Service College executive agency. The provisional figure given in my answer of 1 May at column 94, included the cost of meals and accommodation provided free of charge to visiting lecturers, auditors and contractors who would otherwise have included an element for these expenses in their invoices, and to candidates attending certain course selection interviews which should have been attributed to the costs of the course. The expenditure classified as hospitality should have been only that incurred on the business entertaining of the college's clients and potential clients.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what evidence he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the safety of (i) pepper spray and (ii) CS incapacitant. [9668]

The Home Office police scientific development branch has reviewed all the available information about the effects on human health of CS and of incapacitant products containing oleoresin capsicum. In addition, research commissioned by my right hon. and learned Friend has been undertaken into the possible carcinogenic effects of oleoresin capsicum's main incapacitating ingredient, capsaicin.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the reason for the suspension of trials in the west midlands on CS incapacitant. [9669]

West Midlands police is one of a number of forces due to participate in police trials of CS incapacitant for self-defence. The Association of Chief Police Officers announced last November that the trials would be delayed pending further work to ensure that the solvent used to disperse the CS irritant was the most appropriate, and to ensure that the advice to police officers and medical practitioners on the aftercare of people sprayed was the best available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what legal costs, arising from the Scott inquiry, have been incurred by the Department on behalf of current and past (a) civil servants and (b) advisers and secondees; [8749](2) what legal costs, arising from the Scott inquiry, have been incurred, on behalf of Ministers and ex-Ministers, by his Department; and if he will name the individuals concerned. [8751]

[holding answer 15 January 1996]: No legal costs have been incurred by my Department on behalf of Ministers, ex-Ministers, civil servants, former civil servants or other advisers or secondees of my Department in connection with the Scott inquiry. The cost of any advice in connection with the Scott inquiry given by Government lawyers as part of their normal duties cannot be quantified.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to sell the site of the former Ashford (Middlesex) remand centre as soon as possible. [8531]

[holding answer 16 January 1996]: 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 procedures were used by his Department in awarding contracts for the supply of mobile and car phones to his Department and its executive agencies; and which companies were involved in tendering for these contracts. [9750]

Mobile telephones, including car telephones, are procured after comparison of service providers' tariffs to meet individual requirements at best value for money. The companies which have supplied mobile telephones to my Department in the last three years are Advance Communications, British Telecommunications Mobile, Cellnet, Mercury One-2-One, Martin Dawes, Motorola, Orange, People's Phone, Securicor, Vodac, Vodafone and WaveTech.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what agreements his Department and its executive agencies have with companies for the provision of mobile and car phones; and if he will list the companies having these contracts, the duration of the contracts, the number of phones covered by each agreement and the cost to public funds of each agreement. [9749]

There are currently no agreements with companies for the provision of mobile and car telephones other than the contracts for the individual telephones.

To ask the Prime Minister what guidance he intends to issue to (a) Departments, (b) executive agencies, (c) non-departmental public bodies and (d) outside bodies and arm's-length organisation which he has responsibility for, or an interest in, regarding the implementation of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995; and if he will make a statement. [9217]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister for Social Security and Disabled People on 15 January, Official Report, column 417. I will ensure that my office and those bodies for which I am responsible are made aware of their responsibilities under the Act.

To ask the Prime Minister what was the amount of the civil list in 1994–95; what is the projected amount for 1995–96; and what is the current assessed surplus over actual expenditure. [8685]

As announced by my predecessor on 24 July 1990 Official Report, columns 299–300, and implemented by SI 1990/2018 of 12 October 1990, the provision of Her Majesty's civil list is £7.9 million in each year of the current 10-year settlement. Surplus provision in the early years is designed to cover shortfalls in the later ones.For details of the current surplus, I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Maryhill (Mrs. Fyfe) on 10 January,

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what legal costs, arising from the Scott inquiry, have been incurred by the Department on behalf of current and past (a) civil servants and (b) advisers and secondees; [8750](2) what legal costs, arising from the Scott inquiry, have been incurred, on behalf of Ministers and ex-Ministers, by his Department; and if he will name the individuals concerned. [8752]

The cost of legal services charged by the Treasury Solicitor's Department together with accounts settled to date from public funds for the provision of external legal services incurred on behalf of Ministers, ex-Ministers, civil servants and former civil servants of my Department in connection with the Scott inquiry is £318,165.46. No legal costs have been incurred on behalf of other advisers and secondees. The cost of any legal advice in connection with the Scott inquiry given by Government lawyers as part of their normal duties cannot be quantified.It is not the Government's policy to identify the individuals who have received legal advice either directly or indirectly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Government of Germany concerning the possible release by the German authorities of Hafez Dalkamoni. [9403]

None. Any decision concerning the release of a national of a third country from a German prison is solely a matter for the German authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what discussions have taken place with the British Council about its withdrawal from countries overseas as a result of the proposed reductions in the aid budget. [9603](2) what assessment he has made of the effect on the British Council's overseas activities of the reductions proposed in the autumn statement. [9602]

Preliminary discussions have taken place with the British Council about the possible effects of the 1995 Budget settlement. The council is preparing detailed proposals which will be discussed further with the FCO, diplomatic wing, and the ODA.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has evaluated in respect of alleged mass killings by Turkish troops of the Kurds; and if he will make a statement. [9695]

I have seen no reports on the mass killings by Turkish troops. I am aware of photographs which recent newspaper articles have alleged to show Turkish soldiers posing with the mutilated bodies of Kurds. I understand that the Turkish ambassador in London has sent copies of the photographs to Ankara for investigation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the current total of all ivory notified to his Department as held in Hong Kong; and on what date it was last assessed. [8884]

The aggregate total declared quantity shown on commercial ivory possession licences in Hong Kong was 307 tonnes on 31 December 1995.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the current number of licensed ivory traders in Hong Kong; and what was the number on 26 February 1992. [8900]

There were 821 possession licences held by commercial ivory stock-holders in Hong Kong on 31 December 1995. The number was 963 on 26 February 1992.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the confiscation of ivory by the Hong Kong authorities since 25 February 1992; and what prosecutions for illegal export have occurred during that period. [8902]

Since 25 February 1992, the Hong Kong authorities have seized a total of 909.6 kg of ivory. There were three prosecutions for illegal export during the period.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the current tradeable ivory stock held in Hong Kong; and to which countries ivory has been exported since 7 July 1990. [8898]

The aggregate total declared quantity shown on commercial ivory possession licences in Hong Kong was 307 tonnes on 31 December 1995. No commercial exports of ivory have been authorised by the Hong Kong authorities since 7 July 1990 except for pre-convention specimens to the United Kingdom and the United States of America.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many spot checks on ivory-holding premises were carried out by the Hong Kong authorities in each year since 1991. [8899]

The number of checks carried out by the Hong Kong authorities on ivory-holding premises in each year since 1991 are as follows:

Year	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995
Number of checks	220	319	320	807	284

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on licenses issued by the Hong Kong authorities for the export of ivory since 1991. [8901]

No commercial exports of ivory have been authorised since 1991 except for nine licences to export pre-convention specimens to the United Kingdom and USA.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the total cost of modifications and decoration in the British embassy in Moscow during 1994–95; what was the figure for the previous financial year; and what was the total cost in respect of manpower and materials associated with the proposed additions to the banqueting hall in 1994. [8908]

The total cost of modifications and decoration at the British embassy in Moscow in 1994–95 was £431,000, including £377,000 on re-organisation of the visa section. In 1993–94, the cost of modifications and decoration totalled £760,000. This included £540,000 for a complete refurbishment of the run-down—outhoused—commercial office and £215,000 for the installation of new security gates at all embassy entrances.There is no banqueting hall as such. Formal dinners are held in the dining room of the ambassador's house and official functions in the reception room there. No additions to either room were proposed or carried out in 1994. The reception room was redecorated in 1994 at a total cost, including manpower and materials, of £28,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the items from endangered species seized by the Hong Kong authorities in each year since 1992; and how many prosecutions arose from such seizures. [8905]

Since 1992, the Hong Kong authorities have seized a wide variety of specimens of endangered species. Details of seizures will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses. During the same period, there were 1,239 prosecutions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what costs his Department and executive agencies have incurred as a result of withdrawing from contracts under which mobile phones are provided; and if he will list the companies concerned. [9757]

Within this current financial year, 11 mobile phones have been withdrawn from service at an estimated total cost of £750 for contractual disconnection charges. The companies involved were Cellcom Ltd. (seven), British Telecom Mobile Communications (two) and VODAC Ltd. (two) Most disconnections result from obsolete or damaged equipment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what agreements his Department and its executive agencies have with companies for the provision of mobile and car phones; and if he will list the companies having these contracts, the duration of the contracts, the number of phones covered by each agreement and the cost to public funds of each agreement. [9755]

Service contracts of 12 months duration have been awarded to the following companies:

• VODAC Ltd.
• VODACOM Ltd.
• British Telecom Mobile Communications
• Motorola Telco Ltd.
• Cellular One Ltd.
• Direct Mobile Communications Ltd.
• DVH Communications Ltd.

Operating costs for the current financial year in respect of 217 phones, including call charges and monthly line rental/airtime totalled £83,200.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what procedures were used by his Department in awarding contracts for the supply of mobile and car phones to his Department and its executive agencies; and which companies were involved in tendering for these contracts. [9756]

Service contracts are awarded to companies submitting the most competitive bid and offering the best value for money. The following companies have variously been involved:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many extra people will now have their nursing home costs paid (a) entirely and (b) in part as a result of raising the thresholds to (i) £10,000 and (ii) £16,000; what is the cost of each category to the Treasury; how many people will have their care costs paid in full as a result of raising the capital threshold from £3,000 to £10,000; and what is the cost to the Treasury. [8696]

Around 50,000 people in residential care and nursing homes are expected to benefit from the increases in the capital thresholds. The estimated cost of the increases is around £60 million. All residents, whether placed in residential care or nursing homes by a local authority, or in receipt of income support to pay towards their care costs, have to contribute out of income as well as capital, so the number of those having their care costs paid in full is negligible.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will consider involving parents in the preparation of future leaflets produced to warn of the adverse effects of vaccinations along the lines of the co-operative scheme established in the United States. [8702]

The design of all immunisation and promotional materials by the Health Education Authority is informed by qualitative and quantitative research into parents' needs and concerns. At the developmental stage, qualitative research is undertaken to determine parents' perceptions of individual diseases and immunisations. Draft materials are then pre-tested with parents and modified to improve clarity and understanding.In addition, quantitative tracking studies monitor awareness of promotional activity and materials, as well as which sources of information are most used and considered to be most useful by parents of young children. This research is also used to assess the information given to them by health workers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the incidences of Crohn's disease in relation to vaccinations. [8648]

Considerable research has already been conducted around the world and convincing links between immunisation and Crohn's disease have not been demonstrated.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to establish a compensation fund for victims of the adverse effects of vaccines along the lines of the scheme in place in the United States. [8701]

None. Compensation for alleged vaccine damage is a matter that should be determined by the courts. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security administers the Vaccine Damage Payment Act 1979. Payments made under the Act are not compensation but are intended to ease the present and future burdens of those suffering from vaccine damage and their families.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will establish a public inquiry into cases of adverse effects of the administration of immunisation against measles and rubella. [8703]

The Department has undertaken rigorous evaluation of the measles/rubella campaign, including the analysis of reports of suspected adverse reactions. This analysis concluded that measles/rubella vaccine was very safe and this conclusion was supported by two independent committees of clinical experts: the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, which advises the Department of Health, and the Committee on Safety of Medicines, which advises the Licensing Authority regarding the safety of vaccines. Details of adverse reactions have been published in "Current Problems in Pharmacovigilance", a copy of which is in the Library. This publication is sent to all doctors, pharmacists, dentists and coroners who are then free to comment publicly on the data. In view of this action and the very low reporting rate of suspected adverse reactions, there is no need for a public inquiry.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action heads of his Department's executive agencies are taking to safeguard the provision of pre-retirement courses in the event of such agencies seeking to make economies; and if he will make a statement. [9149]

The Department provides a range of counselling, "life planning", career management and employee assistance courses to those staff in the Department's executive agencies who have successfully applied under the Department's voluntary early retirement or voluntary severance schemes. The contract for these services is funded centrally by the Department.Pre-retirement courses for staff approaching normal retirement age are not funded by the Department centrally and provision for them must be considered by individual agencies as part of their forward planning exercises.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the impact of the national lottery on raising funds to support the development and operation of the hospice movement and hospices; what plans he has to ensure the financial security of hospices; and if he will make a statement. [9281]

There is as yet no conclusive evidence concerning the impact of the national lottery on the fund-raising activities of voluntary hospices. The National Council for Hospice and Specialist Palliative Care Services and the National Association of Hospice Fund-raisers, are continuing to keep this under review. Three hospices in England have, however, benefited from the national lottery fund.To help promote hospices' financial security, Government funding for hospices and specialist palliative care services has, since 1994–95, been built into health authorities' general allocations and health authorities have been encouraged to enter into three year rolling contracts for the purchase of specialist palliative care services.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is in relation to the supply of incontinence pads to those who require them because of disability; what plans he has to review these arrangements; and if he will make a statement. [9212]

The organisation of continence services in England and the matter in which they are delivered, including the provision of continence pads, are matters for district health authorities and hospital and community trusts. They are under a general obligation to provide these services where the need exists and in the light of their resources and priorities.National health service responsibilities for meeting continuing health care needs, which include the provision of community health services such as the supply of continence pads, are set out in circular HSG (95) 8, copies of which are available in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dentists in each family health services authority have withdrawn from the NHS in each year since 1992. [9503]

This information will be placed in the Library. At 30 September 1995, there were 15,951 dentists on the lists of family health services authorities in England, the highest September figure ever.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what forecast has been made by Her Majesty's Government of the proportion of new and recent marriages that are likely to end in divorce; and what previous estimates have been made. [9601]

An estimate has recently been made of the proportion of marriages which would end in divorce if divorce and death rates each remained at the average level recorded throughout 1993 and 1994. On this basis, 41 per cent. of marriages in England and Wales would end in divorce. Earlier estimates based on 1979–80 and 1987 rates remaining constant were 34 and 37 per cent. respectively. The latest estimate, together with associated commentary and technical explanation, is due to be published by HMSO in mid-March in an article in "Population Trends, 83", copies of which will be placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients are currently receiving chemotherapy in Newcastle general hospital; how many were turned away from the hospital during the first two weeks in January 1996 owing to the scarcity of beds and; if he will make a statement. [9670]

This is a matter for the Freeman Group of Hospitals national health service trust, which manages chemotherapy treatment on the Newcastle general hospital site. The hon. Member may wish to contact Mr. Leonard Barron, chairman of the trust for details.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will instruct the NHS executive to investigate medical staffing in NHS trusts. [9906]

The national health service executive takes advice on staffing from the advisory group on medical education, training and staffing. The number of doctors in higher specialist training in each specialty is planned through the specialist workforce advisory group, to ensure that there are sufficient trained candidates to fill consultant posts in the future.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what would be (a) the annual cost and (b) the current charges if prescription charges had been raised in line with price inflation since 1979. [8962]

The loss of income to the national health service if the prescription charge had been raised in line with the GDP deflator index would be about £260 million per year. This calculation is based on a comparison with charge income in 1994–95.The standard prescription charge per item would be £0.51.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what was the number of operations for cataracts undertaken in each of the last five years by the NHS; [9193](2) what is the estimated annual cost to the NHS of cataract eye disease; [9191](3) what is the incidence of cataract eye disease in England, Wales and Scotland. [9192]

The number of eye lens operations, which are mainly for cataracts, undertaken in England in the last five years is shown in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to improve the information and training offered to general practitioners in diagnosing meningitis; and if he will make a statement. [8760]

The chief medical officer issued advice on meningococcal infection in his update letter of October—CMO update 7—which is sent to all doctors, copies of which are available in the Library. In this letter, doctors were reminded of the seasonal increase in meningococcal infection, were given advice on the early diagnosis of suspected cases and on the need for antibiotic treatment and urgent referral to hospital. The letter follows on from previous reminders which have been sent to general practitioners in the past. Additionally, articles in medical journals continually emphasise to doctors advice similar to that issued by the chief medical officer.The training received by GP trainees during their vocational training year covers infectious diseases. This is supplemented and developed further through the inclusion of infectious diseases in continuing medical education programmes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what information is made available on a nationwide basis to parents in care of infants of the symptoms of meningococcal disease and the procedures that should be adopted once the symptoms have been observed; and what plans he has to increase the information made available during an outbreak of 'flu; [8893](2) what steps his Department is currently taking to inform the public of the symptoms of meningitis and the procedures that should be adopted at the outset of such symptoms; [8896](3) the leaflet produced by the Department on meningitis was first made available; and in what manner the leaflet has been distributed. [8894]

Health visitors provide new parents with the Health Education Authority's leaflet "A Guide to Childhood Immunisations", which includes advice on recognising meningitis. In February 1994, new public information leaflets on meningitis and septicaemia were sent to all general practitioners to be made available to the public. Copies of both leaflets are available in the Library. Supplies of the leaflet were provided to the National Meningitis Trust and Meningitis Research. Leaflets have also been distributed to college students and there was a further wider distribution to students in September 1995. The Department of Health also provides funding to the National Meningitis Trust to support its valuable information and support work. The trust is active in raising public awareness immediately before, and during, the winter peak. Advice on recognising meningitis can be found in the Health Education Authority's "Birth to Five" book which is issued to all first-time parents. The Department of Health also contributes to the many newspaper articles and television and radio programmes that appear during the winter peak.

To ask the Secretary of State for health what procedures are currently in place to inform staff working in nurseries, playgroups and schools of the symptoms of meningitis and the procedures that should be adopted once the symptoms have been observed; and if his Department plans to update these procedures. [8895]

This is a matter for local arrangement by the local consultant in communicable disease control. Revised guidelines for outbreak management of meningococcal infection, prepared by the meningococcal working party of the Public Health Laboratory Service, were published in the "Communicable Disease Report" vol. 5, No. 13 in December, copies of which are available in the Library. The guidance has been sent to all public health physicians including consultants in communicable disease control and includes advice on notifying nurseries, playgroups and schools.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what procedures were used by his Department in awarding contracts for the supply of mobile and car phones to his Department and its executive agencies; and which companies were involved in tendering for these contracts. [9753]

In September 1993, the Department invited, via an advertisement in the EC Journal, tenders for the supply of minor items of telecommunications equipment which included mobile telephones. Full open tendering procedures were followed. The companies which tendered were:

• Vodafone
• Mercury Communications
• Rocom
• Martin Dawes
• BT (Cellnet)
• Interconnect
• Phillips
• Securicor
• Pennine Telecoms Ltd
• Motorola.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what agreements his Department and its executive agencies have with companies for the provision of mobile and car phones; and if he will list the companies having these contracts, the duration of the contracts, the number of phones covered by each agreement and the cost to public funds of each agreement. [9752]

A contract of three years with a possible one-year extension was awarded to Vodafone from 1 April 1994 for the supply of mobile and car phones. For each mobile phone ordered, a one-year agreement applies—thereafter 90 days notice is required to terminate individual mobile phone agreements. Since April 1994 approximately 200 mobiles have been issued at a rental cost of £60,000—£300 per unit per annum. In addition, there are the call charges at £30,000, which average about £150 per unit per annum.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what costs his Department and executive agencies have incurred as a result of withdrawing from contracts under which mobile phones are provided; and if he will list the companies concerned. [9754]

No costs have been incurred by the Department as a result of withdrawing from the contract with Vodafone as it is still in place.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to increase funding support for research into alternatives to live vaccines. [8700]

The main agency through which the Government support medical and clinical research is the Medical Research Council. The MRC is an independent body which receives its grant-in-aid from the office of my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade. The MRC gives high priority to research relevant to developing new and improved vaccines against diseases. A proportion of this is relevant to developing alternatives to live vaccines.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will place in the Library the briefing notes prepared by United Kingdom representatives in Brussels for the Coreper deliberations on the import of furs from animals caught in leg-hold traps in countries outside the European Union. [8698]

It would not be appropriate for such papers to be placed in the Library. The papers are internal documents whose disclosure might harm the frankness and candour of internal discussion.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his latest assessment of the impact of local government reorganisation on the provision of services for disabled people; what guidelines he (a) has issued, and (b) intends to issue, to unitary authorities on the provision of services for and to disabled people; what arrangements he intends to put in place to ensure the continuation of services which are currently provided across the new local government authority boundaries; and if he will make a statement. [9238]

All new unitary authorities will be responsible for deciding how their statutory responsibilities for personal social services can best be discharged. On 12 May 1995 the Department of Health issued an advice document to all local authorities entitled "Social Services: Maintaining Standards in A Changing World", under cover of a local authority social services letter (95)5. Copies of the advice document are available in the Library. It draws attention to the special features of social services which the new authorities will need to consider if they are to deliver those services effectively to people who need them.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment on which date he expects to receive the final proposals of the Local Government Commission in respect of the county of Essex; and when he expects to announce his decisions arising from the report. [9326]

The Local Government Commission published its final report for all its reviews of individual districts on 19 December 1995. Interested parties have until 13 February to make representations; we aim to announce our decisions soon after that date.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidance he intends to issue to local authorities about the implementation of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995; and if he will make a statement. [9245]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Minister for Social Security and Disabled People on Monday 15 January 1996, Official Report, column 417.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment in what circumstances it is possible to hold the general election of all councillors for proposed unitary authorities at a time other than the normal scheduled date in May. [9325]

It is possible by means of a structural change order to hold elections in other months. This is consequential upon the structural change. However, it is our policy not to have local elections other than at the normal time in May. Local authorities do not receive full powers to plan for change until the elections and we believe that, given the importance of proper preparation, there should be the full 11 months between the elections and reorganisation. In addition, because the May elections could be cancelled only by means of the structural change order, the result would be two sets of elections in the one year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the latest date upon which parliamentary approval would be required for those orders giving effect to the proposals of the Local Government Commission in respect of the county of Essex to permit the holding in May 1996, of the general election of all councillors for the proposed unitary authorities. [9327]

I refer the hon. Member to my answer to the hon. member for Littleborough and Saddleworth (Mr. Davies) on 11 January 1996, Official Report, column 288.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to require water companies to provide financial and other information to the National Rivers Authority relating to the costs of implementing activity plans drawn up by the National Rivers Authority. [9691]

No. It is for the Director General of Water Services to secure that those appointed as water and sewerage undertakers are able to finance the proper carrying out of the functions of such undertakers. Accordingly, water and sewerage undertakers provide financial and other information to the director general including in respect of obligations arising from requirements imposed or to he imposed by the National Rivers Authority and in future the Environment Agency. As regards any requirement to provide information to the agency, the Government's view was set out in another place during the passage of the Environment Act 1995, Official Report, 31 January 1995, column 1376, including in respect of the potential implications of such a requirement for the Environment Agency in carrying out its duties under section 39 of that Act.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list, for each authority in England, the education standard spending assessment for 1995–96 and the provisional education standard spending assessment for 1996–97. [9689]

The information has been placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish figures showing the number of (a) fatal and (b) serious reportable accidents, gathered by the mines inspectorate, covering (i) direct and (ii) contract employees of each of the coal companies operating deep mines which were previously publicly owned, in those months in 1995 for which figures are available; and if he will publish equivalent figures for 1994 [9775]

Information for individual mines is not produced. Statistics for the industry are published as an aggregate figure in the Health and Safety Commission's annual report. Those for the period from January 1994 to March 1995 are included in the 1993–94 and 1994–95 statistics. Copies of the commission's annual reports have been placed in the House Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information, and at what intervals, is required to be provided to the Health and Safety Executive regarding serious injuries occurring in private coal companies. [9717]

The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1985—RIDDOR—require the manager of the mine to notify the Health and Safety Executive forthwith in the event of an accident at work to any employee or member of the public resulting in a fatality or major injury or if there is a dangerous occurrence. Accidents at work to employees resulting in an absence of more than three days must be reported within seven days. Cases of occupational disease specified in the schedule to the regulations must be reported as soon as an employer receives notification from a doctor.Incidents must be reported on an approved report form published by HSE. The information required includes details of the employer concerned, the premises where the incident occurred, the injured person and the nature of their injuries, and a description of the accident.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will require private coal companies to publish, at regular intervals, detailed statistics relating to the number and types of serious reportable accidents, sustained by (a) directly employed and (b) contract workers. [9776]

No.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what further steps he is taking to ensure that only Confederation of Registered Gas Installers—approved gas engineers carry out work on gas appliances. [7924]

The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1994 require that gas installation businesses carrying out gas work in domestic or commercial premises must be registered with a body approved by the Health and Safety Executive. Currently, the approved body for this purpose is the Council for Registered Gas Installers. This legal requirement is being reinforced in the HSE's current national publicity campaign about the dangers of gas-related carbon monoxide poisoning.On 1 December 1995, the HSE published new criteria against which it will consider and approve organisations to operate a statutory registration scheme for gas installation businesses. These criteria introduce a specific requirement on bodies so approved to publicise regularly the need for the public to use only registered installation businesses to undertake gas work. An approved body must operate within criteria prescribed by the HSE.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what will be the effect of the change in the estimated level of Government financial support for 1996–97, on (a) local government expenditure and (b) local government taxation. [8891]

The overall level of aggregate external finance—that is the total central Government support for English local authorities—will increase by £960 million—2.8 per cent.—in 1996–97. This increase in AEF is to support the Government's view of the appropriate level of revenue spending for local authorities in England—total standard spending, which is £44.9 billion in 1996–97; an increase of 3.3 per cent.Local authorities are however, subject to capping, free to set their budgets at the level they consider appropriate. The actual level of local authority expenditure will therefore depend on local decisions. If English local authorities increase their spending in line with the increase in TSS, average council taxes in England would increase by between 5 and 6 per cent. in 1996–97. The pessimistic view of local authority behaviour taken in my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer's "Financial Statement and Budget Report", imply that council tax levels will rise by 8 per cent. on average next year.Local authority funding in Wales is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many licences he has issued for the sale of elephant ivory since 17 October 1990. [8897]

Since 17 October 1990, my Department has issued 138 individual licences allowing the sale of items made from, or containing, ivory, in accordance with the EC convention on international trade in endangered species.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment which TECs included funding for business start-up (a) grants and (b) training in their last single regeneration budget bid; and which of these bids were successful. [9195]

Information in the form requested is not available. The kind of support provided for business start-up activity in SRB challenge fund bids is determined by local partnerships to reflect the needs of their localities. Challenge fund grant is made available by the Government to help meet the costs of these locally determined initiatives.In rounds 1 and 2 of the challenge fund, a total of 25 training and enterprise councils took the lead in 39 successful bids that included funding for business start-up. Over their lifetime, these schemes are expected to provide 36,000 new business starts and to receive £140 million in challenge fund support. The TECs concerned are:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what value he places on the number of butterflies as an indicator group of the state of biodiversity of species; [9297](2) what proposals he has to monitor the number of rare and common butterflies; and what new proposals he has to establish new butterfly conservation areas; [9298](3) his Department will respond to the biodiversity steering group's recent published report; [9299](4) what proposals he has to honour the United Kingdom's commitments made at the Rio de Janeiro earth summit in regard to butterfly and moth conservation. [9300]

The United Kingdom was one of the first countries to produce a national biodiversity plan when "Biodiversity: The UK Action Plan" was published in January 1994.The biodiversity steering group, chaired by my Department, with members drawn from all sectors, published its findings on 13 December 1995. "Biodiversity: The UK Steering Group Report", identifies 25 butterfly and 122 moth species whose populations should be monitored where practicable. The report includes costed action plans for seven of the butterflies and three of the moths and recommends that costed action plans for a further three butterflies and 50 moths be produced within three years. The Government expect to publish their response to the report in the spring of 1996.On 8 January, two further candidate special areas of conservation for the conservation of the marsh fritillary butterfly were submitted to the European Commission. In all six candidate SACs for this species have been notified to the European Commission. Butterflies will be one of the groups of species used in the preliminary package of UK indicators of sustainable development which my Department will publish in the early spring of 1996.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent discussions he has had with local authorities about more effective planning controls for car boot sales. [9622]

There is a general planning permission to use land for car boot sales for up to 14 occasions in any period of 12 months. If there is a real and specific threat to amenity or the environment however, a local planning authority may withdraw this right and require a planning application for such use. We have no plans to change this position and have not recently discussed the issue with local authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the future of tenants' choice. [10524]

Part IV of the Housing Act 1988 introduced the tenants' choice scheme in 1989. The scheme has been overtaken by other more effective initiatives which meet its objectives of improving housing management performance and providing local authority tenants with opportunities to change their landlords. Better services and more tenant control are being delivered through right to manage and tenant consultation on housing management compulsory competitive tendering. Change of landlord can be achieved through large-scale voluntary transfers, and the new estates renewal challenge fund.The tenants' choice scheme no longer serves a useful purpose and the forthcoming Housing Bill will include provisions to repeal the legislation in England and Wales.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the full year yield of restricting income tax relief available at the 40 per cent. marginal rate to (a) £2,000, (b) £3,000, (c) £4,000, (d) £6,000 and (e) £8,000, (i) including and (ii) excluding profit-related pay, giving in each case the number of people affected. [7064]