To ask the Attorney-General what documents were given by the Law Officers' Departments to (a) the prosecuting authorities, (b) the defence counsel and (c) the judge in the recent appeal case of Ordtech; and if he will make a statement. [14206]

The Ordtech case is a matter falling within the scope of Sir Richard Scott's inquiry. The Government do not propose to comment on such matters until it has considered Sir Richard Scott's report.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many (a) pensioner households, (b) men aged over 65 years and (c) women aged over 60 years received a house renovation grant in the latest year for which figures are available. [13783]

The Department does not routinely collect information on the age and sex of applicants whose grant application is approved by local housing authorities. Reseach commissioned by the Department estimated, from data collected during 1990–91, the percentage of approvals in England for each type of grant under the current renovation grant system where the applicant was aged 60 or over. Applying these percentages would provide the following estimates for England in 1994, the last calendar year for which data are available:

		Estimates of approvals to applicants aged 60 or over
Type of grant	All approvals (mandatory and discretionary) Number (000s)	Percentage	Number (000s)
Renovation	40.3	48	19.3
Disabled facilties	23.7	71	16.8
Minor works assistance	32.5	88	28.6

Research data are not available for common parts grants and HMSO grants; the latter is provided to landlords only.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many pensioner households, men aged over 65 years and women aged over 60 years are currently on the house renovation grant waiting list. [13784]

No information is available. The Department does not routinely collect information from local authorities on the status of grant inquiries received by it.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to take account of care for the disabled when deciding the revenue support grant settlement for local authorities; and what estimate he has made of the cost to local authorities of meeting the specific needs of disabled people. [14204]

Funding of services for disabled people is provided for through the standard spending assessments for personal social services. In 1993–94, based on figures provided by local authorities, the net cost of providing social services for physically disabled adults aged under 65 was some £350 million. Expenditure on services for disabled children or elderly people cannot be extracted from the figures available: 1993–94 is the latest year for which we have outturn figures.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of whether the London borough of Brent's procurement of a computer system by its social services department complied with EC procurement rules. [14099]

None. The London borough of Brent is responsible for making its own decisions in awarding public procurement contracts.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidance his Department has given to the London borough of Brent as to competition policy. [14100]

My Department has issued guidance about compulsory competitive tendering to all local authorities specifically in Department circular 10/93.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what advice his Department has given to local authorities as to EEC Council directive 77/62/EEC, as amended by directive 88/295/EEC; and if he will list the local authorities to which such advice was given. [14102]

My Department gave advice to all local authorities in circular 46/78 about the provisions of directive 77/62/EEC. This circular was overtaken by circular 6/89, which gave similar advice about directive 88/295/EEC. Further advice was given to authorities in circular 7/90 about avoiding national discrimination in tender documents for supply contracts. These circulars were made available to county councils and district councils in England, London borough councils, the council of the Isle of Scilly, and the City of London.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of environmental problems caused by the closure of the British Coal pumping station at Ushaw Moor, Durham. [14515]

Ushaw Moor pumping station, now under the control of the Coal Authority, has not been closed. Pumping was temporarily suspended in October 1995, as part of a controlled test programme designed to obtain more information about groundwater flows in the area, and has since been resumed. The National Rivers Authority is monitoring the situation, and I understand that no environmental problems have been identified.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent discussions he has had and what plans he has to discuss with the Environmental Services Association its planning guidelines for waste management facilities. [14834]

My officials discussed the planning guidelines for waste management facilities produced by the Environmental Services Association with representatives of the association on Friday 26 January 1996. They also feature in on-going discussions between the Department and the association and others in connection with the Department's preparation of a planning policy guidance note on waste.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the organisations which have responded to the consultation paper on the development of a national waste classification scheme. [14494]

My Department has received more than 200 responses to the consultation paper. I am therefore writing to the hon. Member with a list of those organisations that have responded to date.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will publish the final system for the classification of waste substances. [14495]

The precise timing of the publication of the final waste classification scheme will depend on the responses to the second stage, which we are assessing. We are, in any case, committed to a third stage of consultation, which we expect to issue after the responses to this stage have been taken into account.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the organisations charged with the duty of determining the classification of different types of waste; and if there will be an appeals mechanism in respect of waste classification. [14496]

No organisation has been charged with the duty of determining the classification of different types of waste. However, the consultation paper issued on 15 December 1995 invited comments on the possibility of the Environmental Protection (Duty of Care) Regulations 1991 being amended to provide that waste is identified on the duty of care transfer note by reference to the classification system. The responsibility under the duty of care rests with the parties completing the transfer note and an appeals mechanism is not required.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what extra assistance his Department has the power to offer to Copeland borough council and Cumbria county council following the recent severe weather conditions. [14816]

My right hon. Friend has powers to establish a Bellwin scheme, under section 155 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, to provide emergency financial assistance to local authorities. Such schemes are established and resources provided where, as a consequence of an emergency, an authority would otherwise incur an undue financial burden in providing relief and carrying out immediate works to safeguard life or property, or to prevent suffering or severe inconvenience to affected communities.We have not, to date, received any request from either Copeland borough council or Cumbria county council for support under Bellwin for additional expenditure incurred as a consequence of the recent poor weather conditions. Were we to receive a request, we would, of course, consider it very carefully.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made on the review of the local government ombudsman service; and if he will make a statement. [15016]

The first stage of the review, in which the need for a local ombudsman service was examined, has been completed. On 30 November 1995, the reviewer— Sir Geoffrey Chipperfield—presented his report to my right hon. Friend and to the chairman of the Commission for Local Administration in England, and today I have arranged for copies of the report to be placed in the Library of the House.Sir Geoffrey has concluded that the present centralised investigation and review processes of the CLA would not be able to handle effectively the increasing volume of complaints, which he foresaw with the growth of citizens' awareness of their rights and remedies. He has proposed, therefore, a new complaints regime, under which each local authority would be statutorily obliged to operate its own local complaints system, involving both internal review and an external reviewer or adjudicator. The role of any independent, central body, such as the CLA, would be limited to the validation and monitoring of each local authority's system; such a body would not have any role to investigate specific complaints.We have carefully considered Sir Geoffrey's report and the CLA's representations on it. We recognise the importance of all local authorities having their own effective local complaints systems, although we are not persuaded of the need to seek legislation imposing a new statutory duty on local authorities to establish and maintain such systems. Nor do we believe that the case has been made that there is at present no continued need for the CLA's role as a wholly independent body to investigate complaints of maladministration.We have concluded, therefore, that we should proceed with the second stage of the review, which will focus particularly on the efficiency and effectiveness of the CLA's procedures as an investigatory body. I have today asked Andrew Whetnall, a senior official in my Department, to undertake this stage of the review. I propose that he should be assisted by the advisory group, including representatives of the local authority associations and citizens' advice bureaux, which we established for the first stage of the review. In parallel, I am inviting comments from local authorities and all interested parties on the wider issues raised in the review's first stage. In the light of these comments and the findings of the review's second stage, we intend to take our decisions on the CLA's future.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the top 10 companies that have been leading beneficiaries of export credits backing arms sales since 1979. [14866]

It has been the policy of successive Governments not to disclose information about commercial relations between the Export Credits Guarantee Department and individual companies unless the relevant parties have agreed to this.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what has been the largest sum put up by Her Majesty's Government as a financial guarantee or collateral in respect of securing an arms deal; in what year; and with what country the deal was concerned. [14461]

It has been the policy of successive Governments not to disclose details of individual contracts unless the relevant parties have agreed to this. I am therefore unable to provide the information which the hon. Member requests.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is his policy regarding the late payment of commercial debt. [14653]

The Government recognise the problems that late payment can cause for smaller firms and are committed to tackling the issue. In the 1994 White Paper, "Competitiveness-Helping Business to Win", the Government announced a number of practical measures to tackle late payment, including support for the development, by business of a British standard on prompt payment, improvements to court procedures for debt recovery and a requirement for public companies to disclose their payment policies. In addition, we are helping small businesses to improve their cash-flow management.I also announced to the House on 11 January 1996,

To ask the President of the Board of Trade between which dates Mr. Holmes was employed in the Department of Trade and Industry south-west regional office; and what was the nature of his work. [8924]

[holding answer 15 January 1996]: While he was not an employee of the DTI south-west regional office, Mr. Kenneth Holmes advised it on accountancy and financial issues on an external consultancy basis between 5 February 1991 and 15 April 1995.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 7 December, Official Report, column 335, when he expects to be able to report the findings of his Department's inquiries into the circumstances of the regional selective assistance for the Rom Data Corporation. [8924]

[holding answer 15 January 1996]: No DTI south-west regional office employees or former employees are known to have subsequently acted as directors or been otherwise employed by the Rom Data Corporation. However, Mr. Kenneth Holmes, who advised the regional office on regional selective assistance applications on a consultancy basis, became a director and chairman of the Rom Data Corporation.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what advice was received by the Department of Trade and Industry south-west regional office from other DTI regional offices regarding Mr. John Dawson. [8926]

[holding answer 15 January 1996]: None was sought or received.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he next expects the small business ministerial group to meet; and how frequently and on what dates it is expected to meet in the coming year. [14583]

The small business ministerial group will meet twice a year. The next meeting has been arranged for 1 July 1996.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the remit of his review of the small firms loan guarantee scheme. [14584]

The review of the small firms loan guarantee scheme rules was announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his November 1994 Budget statement with a view to making the scheme simpler and more attractive.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what system of monitoring he intends to establish to discover what level of use the regional supply network has had from (a) small and medium enterprises and (b) all businesses (i) in each region and (ii) in total. [14585]

A system of monitoring regional supply network usage has been in place since offices opened in April 1995. Quarterly monitoring information reports are obtained from each regional supply office. These include information on the number of businesses that ask the RSN to find suppliers, the number of suppliers who meet the requirements of purchasers and the number of businesses gaining contracts as a result of these inquiries. These figures are collected for each region and collated as national totals. Information on the size of businesses using the RSN services is not collected.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what amount has been paid to date in 1995–96 for the carrying out of ballots by trade unions. [14542]

[holding answer 9 February 1996]: During the financial year 1995–96, £831,938 has been authorised for payment to trade unions by the certification office by 31 January 1996 in respect of the statutory funds for trade union ballots scheme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he plans to introduce legislation to enable co-operation with the international criminal tribunals for (a) the former republic of Yugoslavia and (b) Rwanda; and if he will make a statement. [14308]

Legislation to enable the United Kingdom to surrender those indicted by the international criminal tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and for Rwanda will be presented to the Privy Council shortly.The UK has been co-operating informally with the international criminal tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda. We have made voluntary contributions of almost £450,000 to help fund the secondment of seven members of the police force and a military lawyer, and to buy computer and camera equipment. We have also provided a substantial quantity of information.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the future of UNRWA in the middle east peace process. [14554]

We support UNRWA's valuable work the Palestinian refugees in the middle east and remain one of its largest donors. UNRWA has an important role to play in the context of a final settlement of the refugee issue.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what powers NATO troops in Bosnia have to arrest individuals suspected of war crimes. [14738]

The North Atlantic Council has authorised IFOR to detain any individuals indicted by the tribunal with whom it comes into contact in the execution of its assigned tasks, and to transfer them to the tribunal. However, it is not part of IFOR's mandate to search for these individuals.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on which occasions in the last three years officials have vetoed draft EU legislation on the grounds that a fiche d'impact had not been correctly prepared. [13652]

The correct preparation of fiches d'impact is a very important part of our consideration of proposals for EC legislation. It is one of the factors taken into account when Ministers consider the United Kingdom's negotiating position on a particular proposal.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the total cost to public funds of the United Kingdom's participation in the work of the European Court of Human Rights and the European Court of Justice over the past three years for which figures are available. [14007]

I refer the hon. Member to the replies given to the hon. Member for Southend, East (Sir T. Taylor) by my right hon. and learned Friend the Attorney-General on 30 October 1995, Official Report, column 12, and my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on 7 November 1995, Official Report, column 697.These provide costs to public funds relating to decisions of the European Court of Justice and the European Court of Human Rights over a two year period from October 1993 to October 1995. These costs include counsels' fees, costs and damages. Wider costs, if any, arising from a particular decision are a matter for the relevant departmental Minister.The cost to public funds in respect of ECHR judgments for which figures are available including the remaining periods—February to October 1993 and October 1995 to February 1996—is £484,018.90.On costs to pubic funds for European Court of Justice judgments, and European Court of Human Rights counsels' fees for the two periods above, I shall write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when Her Majesty's Government intend to sign the protocols to the treaty of Rarotonga; and if he will make a statement. [14298]

We announced in October last year that we would sign the relevant protocols to the treaty of Rarotonga in the first half of 1996. A firm date has yet to be fixed. But preparations are in hand and we expect to sign in the near future.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the maximum number of warheads that the United States Government intend to deploy on each of their Trident D5 missiles to comply with the START II restrictions will affect the maximum number of warheads which the United Kingdom Government intend to deploy on each of their D5 missiles. [14291]

No.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received from the United Nations Special Commission on Iraq in regard to the loss reported on 30 January by the International Atomic Energy Agency of a high technology furnace ordered by Iraq for use in a centrifuge uranium enrichment plant in 1990. [14855]

We are not aware of any report form the IAEA relating to the loss of a high technology furnace ordered by Iraq for use in a centrifuge uranium enrichment plant.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list those magistrates courts that have been closed in each county in England and Wales since 1990; and if he will make a statement. [14275]

Decisions to close magistrates courts are made by the local magistrates courts committee. The Lord Chancellor is involved only when there is an appeal by a local authority against a proposed closure. Information on magistrates court closures where there has not been an appeal is not collected centrally.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department (1) what recent assessment he has made of the (a) effectiveness, (b) speed of delivery and (c) independence of the Solicitors Complaints Bureau; [13899](2) what assessment he has made of the balance between solicitors, officials and lay people on an adjudication committee of the Solicitors Complaints Bureau; and if he will make it his policy to increase the number of lay people. [13892]

None. These are matters for the Law Society, which has responsibility for maintaining standards of conduct among solicitors.However, the Government have established the legal services ombudsman to provide an independent check on the complaints handling procedures of the General Council of the Bar and the Council for Licensed Conveyancers, as well as the SCB. Both in his reports in individual cases, and in his annual report to the Lord Chancellor, which is laid before Parliament, the ombudsman highlights areas of concern and makes recommendations to the professional bodies for improvements in their arrangements for investigating complaints.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many cases the legal ombudsman has (a) accepted and (b) finalised in 1995; and what is the average time between (a) and (b). [13889]

In 1995 the legal services ombudsman (a) accepted 1,436 cases for investigation and (b) finalised and issued reports in 1,041 cases. The average time between (a) and (b) in 1995 was six and a half months.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many appeals by port-of-entry applicants for asylum were determined; and how many of such appeals succeeded wholly or in part in the last two years for which figures are available. [14490]

Over half the 2,440 appeals determined by adjudicators in 1994 had been made by people who had applied for asylum at ports of entry. Table 8.3 of the Home Office statistical bulletin, issue 15/95, provides the available information on the outcomes of asylum appeals to adjudicators and the tribunal. A copy of this publication is available in the Library. Figures for 1995 are not yet available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list all cases where spare computer capacity has been sold to other Departments since 1987, giving the Department and value of each contract. [14088]

There are no records of spare computer capacity in my Department having been sold to other Departments since 1987.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which of his Department's administrative manuals and internal guidance are now made public; and which remain private. [14031]

The following manuals and guidance are now made public:

• Manuals and guidance issued by the United Kingdom Passport Agency.
• The Immigration Service complaints handbook.
• The Immigration and Nationality Department complaints staff instruction.
• 74 handouts issued to trainee immigration officers.

Home Office Criminal Statistics:

• Volume I Counting Rules for Notifiable Offence.
• Volume II Codes for classifying the offence.
• Manual on achieving the transfer of data on court ppearances direct from the magistrates' courts computer systems to the Home Office.

Guidance for magistrates' court staff on how to produce accurate statistics for the Home Office from the ICL, EQUIS and UNISYS systems. Data interchange user guides for ICL, EQUIS and UNISYS systems.

Crown Court Statistics Data Interchange Guide.

The National Strategy for Police Information Systems.

Fire Service College:

• Safety Management Policy.
• Environment Policy.
• Quality Policy.
• Training Performance Indicators.

Prison Service Standing Order 5—communications.

Instructions to Governors 82/94—Victim Helpline.

Procedures for Open Government.

Guidance setting out the circumstances in which requests for privileged access to closed records may be granted.It is not possible to list the administrative manuals and internal guidance used in the Home Office which remain private, because there is no comprehensive list of these. However work is in hand in assessing whether more of this material could be made available in future. Current plans include the release of new guidance now being prepared on applying the 1951 United Nations convention on the status of refugees.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many jobs have been advertised in each grade in his Department during the last three months for which records are available; and how many people have applied for such job. [13824]

The following information relates to those posts advertised in the Home Office, including its agencies, other than posts advertised by prison establishments. Information about the latter could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Grade	Number of posts	Applications
Grade 5	1	152
Grade 7	1	17
Grade 7	1	31
Senior Executive Officer	1	20
Higher Executive Officer	3	62
Executive Officer	1	75
Administrative Officer	15	99
Administrative Assistant	40	175
Administrative Assistant	1	23
Administrative Assistant	2	45
Administrative Assistant	1	10
Administrative Assistant	2	10
Administrative Assistant (casuals)	269	1,058
Typist	1	4
Typist	2	6
Chaplain	1	2
Chaplains	1	11
Catering Manager	1	9
Medical Officer	1	7
Medical Officer	1	9
Support Grade	1	25
Support Grade	2	18
Scientists	3	83
Stores Attendant	2	33

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on which occasions in the last three years officials have vetoed draft, EC legislation on the grounds that a fiche d'imapct had not been correctly prepared. [13651]

The correct preparation of fiches d'impact is a very important part of our consideration of proposals for European Community legislation. It is one of the factors taken into account when Ministers consider the United Kingdom's negotiating position on a particular proposal.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the relative cost, at the latest estimate, of keeping a prisoner in (a) secure prison establishments and (b) open prisons and related establishments. [14002]

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 aid and assistance his Department proposes to give to the Refugee Council's appeal, "Haven't They Suffered Enough"; and if he will make a statement. [14244]

We have no plans to provide assistance to the appeal.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidelines his Department issues on provision of accommodation for asylum seekers and refugees (a) to landlords and (b) to other bodies; and if he will make a statement. [14246]

No guidelines on such matters are issued by the Home Office.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations his Department has received regarding the quality of meals provided by Securicor at Wood Green Crown court; and what response his Department has made. [14582]

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 times during each of the last three years police officers have travelled abroad as part of their duties in connection with the Duchess of York and her family. [14813]

For security reasons, it is not the practice to give details of the measures taken to protect the Duchess of York and her family.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library copies of all home country reports currently available; if he will undertake to place in the Library all such reports relating to countries designated as safe; and if he will place in the Library the home country report on Pakistan used by a Home Office presenting officer at an immigration appeal hearing in Leeds during 1995. [14120]

[holding answer 8 February 1996]: Two country assessments—on Ghana and on Nigeria—have been completed and have been placed in the Library. Assessments on other countries, including Pakistan, are in preparation and will also be placed in the Library when they have been finalised.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will ask Lord Justice Scott to disclose the names of journalists to be briefed and the dates of briefings in relation to the forthcoming report and the progress of the inquiry. [14269]

I have no plans to do so.

To ask the Prime Minister what guidance he is giving retiring members or former members of his Administration or hon. Members in respect of their accepting directorships in privatised rail companies. [14144]

From the start of the current session of Parliament, Ministers who leave office will be expected to ask the independent advisory committee on business appointments about any appointment outside Government which they wish to take up within two years.

To ask the Prime Minister what is the average of the pay increases recommended by the Senior Salaries Review Body in the past year. [14617]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Uxbridge (Sir M. Shersby) on 8 February, Official Report, columns 294–96.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what criteria are used when deciding if crash barriers should be installed. [13033]

The criteria for the provision of crash barriers are contained in the Highway Agency's departmental standard TD 19/85. "Safety Fences and Barriers" and TD 32/93 "Wire Rope Safety Fences". Copies are lodged in the Libraries.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he next plans to meet representatives of the regional rail users consultative committees to discuss disabled persons' access to (a) railway stations and (b) trains. [13038]

My right hon. Friend meets members of the Rail Users' Consultative Committee from time to time to discuss a range of issues.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he next plans to meet the Rail Regulator to discuss disabled persons' access to the rail network. [13043]

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he next plans to meet the Rail Regulator to discuss disabled persons' access to the rail network. [13045]

The Secretary of State meets the Rail Regulator on a regular basis to discuss all aspects of Rail Transport. His next meeting will be on Thursday 22 February.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he next plans to meet the Civil Aviation Authority to discuss disabled persons' access to, and safety on, air transport. [13046]

I have no plans to do so.The Civil Aviation Authority is represented on the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee— DPTAC—working group on airports and on the Access to the Skies Committee.Both these committees, on which my Department is also represented, are concerned with disabled persons' access to, and safety on, air transport.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received about the delayed start of the A540 Ormskirk bypass. [13040]

I met a delegation from Ormskirk in September 1995. I visited Ormskirk and the bypass route in October 1995. I answered a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Southport (Mr. Banks) on 9 January. Following the review of the trunk road programme, the Ormskirk bypass remains in the main programme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had recently with local authorities regarding infrastructure improvements on the Gospel Oak to Barking line. [13042]

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to increase the level of investment in public transport. [13044]

Funding for public transport was given priority in allocating the Department's resources in the last public expenditure round, and we are pressing forward with the policies we have announced for privatising and deregulating the transport market, so giving the private sector the chance to respond to passengers' demands for efficient, modern transport services.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the first results of his Department's safe town initiative will be available. [13047]

The initiative will be closely monitored by the Transport Research Laboratory in conjunction with Gloucester city and county councils to ensure the maximum road safety benefits are obtained. Although full results will not be available until some time after the project is completed in 2001, interim results relating to some of the measures should become available in two to three years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when consultation work will start on the modernisation of the west coast main line. [14252]

Railtrack consulted extensively with local authorities and other parties during the feasibility study. Railtrack continues to communicate with, and inform, those people likely to be affected by the modernisation and will be considering their views at each stage of the modernisation project.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many rail vehicles are being prevented from entering service awaiting completion of Railtrack's safety procedure; what is the total value of these vehicles; and what charge is being made by Railtrack for their safety assessment. [14487]

Railtrack has advised me that it is not preventing any rail vehicle from entering service. I understand that the relevant safety work is being carried out by the train manufacturers and operators, who are preparing their own safety assessments. Railtrack is working with the manufacturers and operators in accepting these safety assessments. Railtrack does not charge for the acceptance procedure.Railtrack has appointed a panel of independent experts to review the safety appraisal process for new rolling stock, and to recommend areas for improvement while safeguarding safety.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on (a) the progress of the implementation of the second EC directive on driver licensing and (b) how the Driving Standards Agency intends to comply with the directive with regard to large goods vehicles. [14434]

Work on preparation of the regulations and the operational arrangements to implement the directive is in hand. Last November, the Driving Standards Agency wrote to some 600 interested parties announcing the detailed plans for implementing the directive with regard to driving tests for large goods vehicles, and I have arranged for a copy of that letter to be placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what resources he intends to make available to the Driving Standards Agency for compliance with the second EC directive on driver licensing by July 1996. [14437]

The Driving Standards Agency is an on vote non-statutory trading body whose expenditure is fully recovered by the income it receives in fees and charges. Its resources are planned in accordance with expected levels of demand for tests within unit cost targets at agreed service levels. The agency's business plan for 1996–97 is in preparation and will be deposited in the House Libraries, when completed, in accordance with our usual practice.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many large goods vehicle driving tests were conducted by delegated examiners in each of the last three years; and what were the results of those tests; [14433](2) if he will list the number of delegated driving examiners employed on large goods vehicle tests by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the arrangements in place for the supervision of such examinations by the Driving Standards Agency. [14438]

The Secretary of State for Transport has not appointed any delegated driving examiners to undertake large goods vehicle tests.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many heavy goods vehicles were (a) inspected and (b) found defective in the last year for which figures are available. [14489]

I have asked the Chief Executive of the Vehicle Inspectorate Executive Agency to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the maximum driving hours within which HGV drivers must operate in the United Kingdom. [14521]

Drivers of HGVs over 3.5 tonnes, with the exception of vehicles used for certain purposes, are subject to European Union rules on drivers' hour. They may drive for not more than 90 hours in any fortnight, 56 hours between weekly rest periods, and nine hours between daily rest periods, extendable to 10 hours twice a week. They must also take a break of at least 45 minutes for every four and a half hours of driving.Certain categories of HGV which are exempt from the EU rules are subject to United Kingdom national rules on drivers' hours which restrict daily driving to 10 hours and daily duty to 11 hours.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the risk assessment of the operational aspects of the duties of the senior examiner (approved driving instructor) grade within his Department to be completed; and if he intends to place a copy of the results in the Library. [14435]

The working practices of supervising examiners—approved driving instructor—are covered by several existing generic risk assessments. I will have these placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when funds from his Department will be released to enable Humberside county council and its successor authorities to construct phase 3 of the Peakes parkway; and if he will make a statement. [14325]

My Department is supporting stage 3 of the Peakes parkway with a supplementary credit approval of £2.55 million in 1995–96. This has enabled Humberside country council to carry out works in advance of the main contract. North East Lincolnshire district council has been allocated funds of £1 million to continue work on the scheme 1996–97. It is expected that this will enable the start to be made on the main contract. Subject to satisfactory progress, we expect to continue support for the scheme until its completion.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which of his Department's administrative manuals and internal guidance are now made public; and which remain private. [14025]

My Department is reviewing its manuals and guidance. The aim is to make information available to staff and the public in a clear and accessible form. Material may be kept private for security, commercial or legal reasons. The following material is either published by the Department or may be seen on request:

Central Transport Group

• "PSV Operators Licensing Handbook";
• "Local Bus Service Registrations";
• "A Guide to London Local Services Licensing";
• "Guidance to Customers on Management of Research Projects";
• "Strategy Document";
• "Intellectual Property Rights";
• "Building to the Transport Road Network";
• "Guidance to Using Call-off Contracts";
• "Tachograph Centre Manual";
• "Tachograph Calibration Manual";
• "Code of Practice for Traffic Area Offices";
• "Goods Vehicle Operating Licensing-London A Guide for Operators";
• "Goods Vehicle Operating Licensing—A Guide for Making Representation";
• "Goods Vehicle Operating Licensing—Guide for Maintaining Roadworthiness";
• "Goods Vehicles—Customer Service Guide";
• "Buses—Customer Service Guide";
• "Traffic Policy and the Environment";
• "Performance Management, Development and Appraisal— Guidance Pack";
• "Brussels: An Officials Guide";
• "Parliamentary Questions: A General Guide".

Coastguard Agency:

• "United Kingdom Maritime Search and Rescue Handbook";
• "Oil Spill Clean-Up of the Coastline—Technical Manual".

Highways Agency:

• "Trunk Road Maintenance Manual Vols 1–3";
• "Routine Maintenance Management System";
• "Manual of Contract Documents for Highways Work";
• "Design Manual for Roads and Bridges".

Vehicle Certification Agency:

• "Type Approval Handbook";
• "A Guide to European Whole Vehicle Approval".

Vehicle Inspectorate:

• "MOT Inspection Manual";
• "HGV Inspection Manual";
• "PSV Inspection Manual";
• "Motorcycle Inspection Manual";
• "Guidance Notes for Plating Goods vehicles";
• "How Safe is Your Motorcycle?";
• "Categorisation of Defects";
• "HGV Inspection Manual Amplification Notes";
• "PSV Inspection Manual Amplification Notes";
• "MOT Vehicle Test Regulations 1981";
• "MOT Vehicle Testing Guide—4th Edition";
• "How Safe is Your Car?";
• "Vehicle Safety Recalls Response rate Bulletin—January 1993";
• "Guide to Maintaining Roadworthiness";
• "Guide to ADR";
• "Guide to TIR";
• "MOT Inspection Manual Private Bus Testing";
• "MOT Inspection Checklist";
• "PSV Certificate Manual".

VIDEOS

• "MOT Testing—Cars and Light Goods Vehicles";
• "MOT Testing—Motorcycles";
• "Diesel Testing".

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action is being taken to enforce the requirement to net open loads of sugar beet in heavy goods vehicles on public roads. [14449]

The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations require loads carried on vehicles to be secured at all times so that neither danger nor nuisance is likely to be caused by reason of the load falling from the vehicle. These requirements are amplified in the Department's code of practice on load security which advises that loose loads should be covered. The requirements are enforced by the police and the vehicle inspectorate as part of their general duties.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list for each agency within his Department the date of completion of the risk assessments required (a) by the display screen equipment regulations and (b) by the workplace regulations. [14436]

Where major programmes of risk assessment have been completed or have a planned completion date that is given in the table. However, the requirement to undertake risk assessments is ongoing, for example, where there are changes in staff and in the workplace, as shown in the table.

Agency	(a) Display screen equipment	(b) Workplace regulations
Driver and Vehicle Licensing agency	April 1995	HQ completed October 1995; local office network to be completed by May 1996
Driving Standards Agency	Ongoing	Ongoing
Highways Agency	To be completed by March 1996	Inspections completed by January 1996
Marine Safety Agency	September 1995	September 1995
The Coastguard Agency	Ongoing	Ongoing
Transport Research Laboratory	August 1993	February 1996

Agency	(a) Display screen equipment	(b) Workplace regulations
Vehicle Certification Agency	January 1993	November 1995
Vehicle Inspectorate	To be completed by December 1996	To be completed by December 1996

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list by traffic area office the dates on which the risk assessment required by the display screen equipment regulations was carried out. [14441]

Information is not readily available on the exact dates of the initiation or completion of the risk assessments. But assessments of workstations already in place before the regulations came into force were carried out during 1994 and 1995 in all offices except the South Eastern and Metropolitan office, where the assessment is expected to be completed shortly.Assessments of new workstations normally take place as and when the latter are installed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many jobs have been advertised in each grade in his Department during the last three months for which records are available; and how many people have applied for each such job. [13826]

Details of the number of jobs advertised in each grade in the Department and its agencies in the last three months—November and December 1995 and January 1996—are set out in the following table.

Central transport group figures
Grade	Number of jobs advertised in the last 3 months i.e. November 1995, December 1995 and January 1996	Number of applicants who applied
Estates surveyor	1	166
Administrative officer	6	170
	1	159
	1	43
Administrative	3	64
assistant	1	56
	1	12
Total	14	670

Executive agency figures
Agency/Grade	Number of jobs advertised in the last 3 months i.e. November 1995, December 1995 and January 1996	Number of applicants who applied
Coastguard (TCA)
Chief Coastguard (Grade 5 level)	1	closing date 16/2/92-not in a position to say how many applications there have been.
Grade 6 level	1	Same as above.
Coastguard Officer	6	50

Executive agency figures
Agency/Grade	Number of jobs advertised in the last 3 months i.e. November 1995, December 1995 and January 1996	Number of applicants who applied
Administrative Assistant	1	71—closing date 12/2/96.
Driving Standards Agency (DSA)
IT Programme Manager (Grade 7 level)	1	25
Communications Manager (SEO level)	1	44
Communications Executive (HEO level)	1	59
Support Grade Band 2	1	25
Driver Vehicle & Licensing Agency (DVLA) Administrative Officer	3	8
Administrative Officer (Inquiry)	1	13
Administrative	2	8
Assistant	2	14
	4	9
	of which two jobs were re-advertised.	of which 304 applicants (to date) applied when the 2 remaining posts were re-advertised.
Highways Agency (HA)
Senior Information Officer	3	37
Information Officer	2	98
Marine Safety Agency (MSA)
Administrative Officer	1	18
Administrative	3	20
Assistant	2	11—closing date 9/2/96.
Transport Research Laboratory (TRL)
Senior Scientific Officer	1	17
Higher Scientific Officer	1	19
Scientific Officer	2	84
Assistant Scientific Officer	1	11
Support Grade Band 2	1	2
Vehicle Inspectorate (VI)
Senior Professional & Technology Officer	1	25
Higher Professional & Technology Officer	1	6
Professional Technology Officer	3	12
Support Grade Band 2	1	3
Vehicle Certification Agency	None advertised.	—
Total	48	993

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with the Department of Health about repealing section 157 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 (a) in total and (b) for pensioners only. [14307]

None. This is a matter for which the Secretary of State for Health has policy responsibility.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on which occasions in the last three years officials have vetoed draft EC legislation on the grounds that a fiche d'impact had not been correctly prepared. [13650]

The correct preparation of fiches d'impact is a very important part of our consideration of proposals for EC legislation. It is one of the factors taken into account when Ministers consider the United Kingdom's negotiating position on a particular proposal.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to speed up the installation of traffic lights at roundabouts at appropriate locations; and if he will make a statement. [13223]

It is for the highway authority concerned to decide whether to instal traffic signals at particular roundabouts, normally for reasons of safety or capacity.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what were the results of the roadside survey of illegal operators undertaken by the Vehicle Inspectorate in October 1995. [15167]

The preliminary results of the survey indicate that, of the total heavy goods vehicle mileage travelled in Great Britain, around 1.6 per cent. is by vehicles operated without an operator's licence where one should be held. The survey also indicate that vehicles operating without a licence are disproportionately likely to have roadworthiness defects and to be involved in other traffic offences such as drivers' hours and driver licensing offences. A number of more minor operator licensing offences were also found, for example involving vehicles operating outside the terms of the licence of their operator. A detailed report on the survey will be published shortly, once all the figures have been fully checked.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what extra assistance his Department has the power to offer to Copeland borough council and Cumbria county council following the recent severe weather conditions. [14817]

The winter maintenance of local authority roads is funded through revenue support grant. Emergency assistance to local authorities is covered by the Bellwin scheme, which may be activated by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment under powers in section 155 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what is his estimate of the costs arising from the provisions of the Street Works (Sharing of Costs of Works) Regulations 1992 to (a) gas, (b) electricity, (c) water and sewerage and (d) telecommunications industries associated with the planned rapid transit schemes known as (i) Docklands light railway extension, (ii) Rochdale to Manchester/Oldham extension to Metrolink, (iii) Reading bus lane construction and (iv) Greater Nottingham rapid transit; and if he will make a statement; [14627](2) what estimate he has made of the costs to

The regulations provide for the utilities to bear 18 per cent. of the allowable costs of diversionary works, the remaining 82 per cent. being borne by the promoter. Estimates of scheme costs, including diversionary works costs, are a matter for the promoter in the first instance.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many written parliamentary questions were passed for answer to executive agencies and non-governmental departments in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [14991]

The information requested is a matter of public record.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he next plans to meet representatives of the Disabled Persons' Transport Advisory Committee to discuss access to public transport. [13031]

My Department has regular meetings with the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee to discuss a wide range of issues relating to the transport needs of disabled people. I will be seeing the Chairman on the day of the June quarterly meeting.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 4 December, Official Report, column 57, in what circumstances he is able to release official files other than at the appropriate time under the procedures and criteria set down by the Public Records Office. [13032]

My Department may grant "privileged" access to official files earlier than their normal review date. The decision to give such access, and the conditions which are imposed with it, are at the discretion of the Department, in line with the criteria set down by the Public Records Office.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what considerations led Her Majesty's Customs and Excise to begin to collect VAT on computer equipment for the blind and partially sighted; and if he will publish the directive ordering the change. [14526]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Great Grimsby (Mr. Mitchell) on 31 January 1996, Official Report, column 754.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the amount of money held in trust (a) in the United Kingdom and (b) outside the United Kingdom by United Kingdom residents. [14260]

The information requested is not available.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the cost of tax relief provided to the proposed housing investment trusts in the first full year; and how many properties he anticipates will be made available for rent under the scheme in a full year. [14258]

We estimate the cost of tax relief in the first full year to be negligible. We have made no estimate of the number of properties that will be made available for rent through housing investment trusts. That will depend on how promoters and prospective investors respond to the new opportunity.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his most recent estimate of the loss of revenue from cross-channel shopping; if he will make a statement on his underlying assumptions in formulating this estimate; and what estimate he has made of the number of cross-channel trips made annually for the primary purpose of avoiding excise duties. [14261]

Her Majesty's Customs and Excise's latest estimate of the loss of revenue cross channel shopping is as follows:

Total revenue losses
£ million
	12 Months to June 1995
	Excise duty	VAT	Total
Alcoholic drinks	160	60	220
Tobacco products	120	30	150
Total	280	90	370

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans his Department has to seek to raise the limit on the value of public supply contracts in excess of which EC directive 77/62/EEC as amended by 88/295/EEC applies. [14103]

Council directive 77/62/EEC, as subsequently amended, on the award of public supply contracts, has been replaced by Council directive 93/36/EEC. The Commission has proposed a marginal increase to align the threshold at which the directive applies with the multilateral Government procurement agreement under the World Trade Organisation that came into effect on 1 January 1996. My Department has no plans to seek a further increase but will wish to consider an impact assessment being undertaken for the Commission.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many jobs have been advertised in each grade in his Department during the last three months for which records are available; and how many people have applied for each such job. [13836]

In the period from November 1995 to January 1996 there were two advertisements to recruit staff. One is to fill the post of head of internal audit, which may be filled at grade 5, 6 or 7 and the application process is currently on-going. The other was to fill economic adviser posts in a number of departments, including two Treasury grade 7 economist posts, for which there were 33 applications.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the capital cost provided by the Bank of England toward the funding of the EMI, in total and annually including projected contributions to 2000; and if this will be refunded if a European central bank is created but Britain does not participate in a single currency. [13439]

Article 16 of the protocol on the statute of the European Monetary Institute, annexed to the EC treaty, provides for member states' central banks to make contributions towards the capital resources of the EMI. The Bank of England has contributed 94.5 million ecu—equivalent to £74.7 million at the time—towards the capital of the EMI. The Bank of England made its contributions to the EMI from its own resources and its share of the EMI's capital is one of its own assets.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to publish a suppliers charter to ensure that (a) all suppliers and (b) small and medium enterprises have the opportunity to compete for the provision of goods and services in open competition. [14586]

The Treasury follows the good customer practice for Government relationships with suppliers. This is set out on page 41 of the White Paper "Setting New Standards, A Strategy for Government Procurement", published by HMSO in May 1995.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the annual limits below which no tax is paid on contributions for (a) employers' contributions and (b) employees' contributions to (i) executive pension plans, (ii) personal pension plans and (iii) small self-administered pension schemes. [14667]

In occupational pension schemes, which includes executive pension plans and small self-administered pension schemes, employee members may annually contribute up to 15 per cent. of their salary with tax relief. There is no specific limit on employer contributions, but they should not exceed the amount required to provide the benefits promised by the scheme.In personal pension plans, employee members may annually pay a percentage of their salary as follows:

Age of member on first day of tax year	Maximum percentage of salary payable
35 or less	17.5
36–45	20
46–50	25
51–55	30
56–60	35
61–74	40

These annual limits for personal pension schemes may be increased by unused contributions relief from past tax years. Any employer contributions to personal pensions must, when aggregate with the employee's contribution fall within the above limits.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to ensure that a present purchaser of Her Majesty's Government's bonds with a redemption date after 1999 will receive payment in pound sterling. [13615]

The presidency conclusion from the European Council on 15 to 16 December 1995 in Madrid state that, on the assumption that the third stage of EMU starts on 1 January 1999, in participating member states,

"by 1 January 2002 at the latest, public debt denominated in the former national currencies will be redeemable only in the single currency".

To ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, representing the House of Commons Commission what new proposals he has to improve facilities for visitors to the House. [13049]

On 12 July 1994, the House approved a recommendation from the Catering Committee that the area currently occupied by the Westminster Hall cafeteria should be converted into a visitors' centre.

To ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, representing the House of Commons Commission which company holds the cleaning contract in respect of common areas, kitchens and men's and women's lavatories, and rooms other than Members and Members' staff rooms, at 7 Millbank; when it commenced; when it will terminate; what is its value; and if it was awarded by competitive tender. [14467]

The cleaning contract for the parliamentary estate, including 7 Millbank is held by ISS London Ltd. The contract commenced in August 1992 and will terminate in August 1997. The value of the contract is subject to commercial confidentiality, but the annual cost of contract cleaning at 7 Millbank, excluding the rooms of Members and their staff, is £190,000. The contract was awarded by competitive tender.

To ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, representing the House of Commons Commission, how many jobs have been advertised in each grade in each Department of the House during the last three months for which records are available; and how many people have been applied for each such job. [13894]

In the three months ending 31 January 1996 details of recruitment exercises held to fill vacancies in Departments of the House, together with the number of applicants for each, are as follows:

Vacancy	Department	Number of applications
Legal Assistant (Grade 8–10)	Clerk's	48
Secretary (Grade 3)	Serjeant at Arms	33
Network Planning Officer (Grade 7)	Serjeant at Arms	24
Doorkeeper (Grade 12)	Serjeant at Arms	1,002
Word Processing Assistant (Grade 13)	Official Report	66
Foreman (DELI)	Parliamentary Works Directorate	6
Fitter (DEL3)	Parliamentary Works Directorate	18
Storekeeper (DEL4)	Parliamentary Works Directorate	14
Craft Auxiliary (DEL6)	Parliamentary Works Directorate	5
Heating Attendant (DEL6)	Parliamentary Works Directorate	19
Assistant Financial Controller (Grade 10)	Refreshment	13
Income Control Clerk (Grade 13)	Refreshment	5

Vacancy	Department	Number of applications
Food and Beverage Control Clerk (Grade 13)	Refreshment	14
Chefs (7 vacancies)	Refreshment	28

To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee if he will assess the advantages of allowing live media use of Westminster Hall. [13054]

The authorities controlling Westminster Hall have already agreed that permission may be granted to film interviews in the Hall before 9.30 am on sitting Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, and during recesses.Filming is also permitted in any of the six interview rooms off the Hall, and in the Jubilee Room.

To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee what are the rules governing the use of photocopiers owned and maintained by the House authorities; what assessment he has made of the extent to which photocopiers are being used to excess; and what measures are being pursued to prevent such abuses. [13051]

Photocopiers owned and maintained by the House are intended for use by hon. Members in connection with their parliamentary duties. They are not intended to be used for work in connection with hon. Members' party political or non-parliamentary work outside Parliament. Detailed guidance on their use is given in a notice adjacent to each photocopier.As a result of a recent study into control systems to prevent abuse of photocopying facilities, the Administration Committee approved a trial of overprinted photocopy paper in 7 Millbank, to run from the return of the House from the Christmas adjournment, until its rise for the Easter adjournment. The results will then be considered in order to establish what effect the introduction of this paper has had on consumption, and will enable the Committee to decide on any further action.

To ask the Chairman of the Catering Committee what plans he has to upgrade catering facilities for visitors to the Palace of Westminster. [13052]

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave on 15 January, Official Report, column 350.