To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has to ensure that his Department identifies the size of its suppliers by the number of their employees. [15600]

The Department intends to carry out a survey of its existing suppliers by the end of February and, thereafter, to ask potential new suppliers if they will provide information about the number of employees.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list the number of occasions on which the former Wakefield Crown court building has been used for (a) judicial and (b) other purposes since its formal closure. [16052]

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 Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will cause to be printed on the face of statutory instruments as an addition to the explanatory note the relevant compliance cost assessment where it is no greater than 10 per cent. of the length of the instrument itself. [15580]

I have been asked to reply.The Government require a compliance cost assessment to accompany all statutory instruments having an impact on business, charities and voluntary organisations when they are presented to Parliament and for the explanatory note to contain a note that an assessment is available and where it can be obtained. I am satisfied that this is sufficient to ensure that compliance cost assessments on statutory instruments are generally available.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans she has to encourage the establishment of a national collection of contemporary accounts on film and tape of people's memories, attitudes and experiences. [16382]

This is an important idea. I am taking it forward. I have written to organisations with major holdings of such material to ask what material of this kind currently exists and for their views on the scope for establishing a national collection.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what obligation the Inland Revenue has to provide taxpayers with (a) a copy of its charter and (b) a copy of its (i) working manual and (ii) other documents describing taxpayers' rights and expectations of service standards with particular reference to the valuation of premises for business rates. [15443]

The valuation of premises for business rates is carried out by the Valuation Office, an executive agency of the Inland Revenue. It has produced a charter standard statement, copies of which are available free of charge at the reception area in all its offices. In addition, a copy of the charter is sent to all taxpayers at the commencement of correspondence.The charter describes taxpayers' rights, sets out the standard of service they can expect and how to complain if they are dissatisfied.Working manuals are available to the public under the open government initiative. The Valuation Office has produced a leaflet entitled "Open Government", again freely available, which sets out details of how information can be obtained.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 15 January, column 418, on pension splitting and divorce, if he will set out the basis of his calculation of the cost of pension splitting to unfunded public services schemes in 1997. [11042]

If pensions were split with the scheme member's ex-spouse taking a transfer value out, this would bring forward pensions benefit costs and reduce future liabilities. The potential net costs to unfunded public service schemes given in the earlier answer relate to this change. They assume splitting of accrued pension rights equally and payment of a transfer value from the scheme at the time of divorce in all new divorce cases involving current, but not former, employees who are members of these schemes. They also assume divorce rates by age derived from information for the three years 1991 to 1993. The figures take no account of administration costs.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate for the winter months this year and last year of (a) income to the Treasury from VAT on domestic fuel and (b) expenditure on cold weather payments. [15375]

[holding answer 19 February 1996]: Estimated income from VAT on domestic fuel was about £700 million during the period October 1994 to March 1995. The figure for this winter is not yet available.So far this winter, 7.3 million cold weather payments totalling more than £62 million have been made.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer who is on the working party on financial management; how often it will meet; when its first meeting will be; and what is its remit. [15593]

The private sector-led group includes representatives of small firms organisations, accountancy bodies, banks and academia. The first meeting was held on 12 February and the group will meet as and when required in order to fulfil its remit. The group is considering whether it can identify ways of improving financial management in small firms.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what conclusions his Department has come to with regard to the financial management certificate following the consultation period. [15594]

Almost all the respondents were of the view that financial management within small firms was a significant problem, but a majority of small firms' representatives expressed concerns that a financial management certificate could impose an additional burden on small businesses. There was, however, considerable support for the idea of having a working group to look at other solutions to the problem, and this has been set up.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the submissions his Department received on a financial management certificate. [15595]

I have arranged for respondents to the consultation document to be contacted for their agreement to the publication of their replies.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated value of exports by business enterprises located in Cornwall on the basis of figures compiled by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise; and if he will make a statement. [15612]

The location of the business enterprise making an export is not held by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise; only the address registered for VAT purposes is available, which may be at a different location within the UK. Consequently, regional analyses of the trade statistics are not produced, and information relating to the value of exports by business enterprises located in Cornwall is not available.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to ensure that his Department identifies the size of its suppliers by the number of their employees. [15604]

The Treasury follows the good procurement practice laid down in the White Paper "Setting New Standards", Cm 2840, published in May 1995. The aim should always be to award contracts to the supplier who will provide the best value for money for any purchase.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 20 Tuesday. [14735]

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 20 February. [14736]

This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House I shall be having further meetings later today.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will change Her Majesty's Government's policy of not commenting on detailed matters concerning individual defence exports. [14905]

[holding answer 16 February 1996]: I refer the hon. Member to the statement made in the House by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade on 15 February 1996, Official Report, columns 1139–44.

To ask the Prime Minister how many nominations for honours have been received in the latest six month period for which figures are available compared with the last six months before the increased publicity was given to the system for public nomination. [16082]

In the last six months of 1995, 4,316 nominations were received. Statistics for the period leading up to my statement in march 1993 were not kept.

To ask the Prime Minister what were in each year from 1979 to 1994, in real terms, (a) the running costs of his private offices, separately identifying expenditure on staff and (b) the running costs of the Department. [15358]

[holding answer 15 February 1996]: Information on expenditure by my office is not available on a consistent basis for the years between 1979–80 and 1985–86. Expenditure since 1986–87, at 1994–95 prices is as follows:

£ million
	Total expenditure	Staff costs	Other costs
1986–87	7.471	2.514	4.957
1987–88	7.744	2.520	5.224
1988–89	8.780	2.551	6.229
1989–90	9.603	2.703	6.900
1990–91	9.536	2.386	7.150
1991–92	9.454	2.488	6.966
1992–93	10.344	3.043	7.301
1993–94	9.395	3.331	6.064
1994–951	7.671	3.217	4.454

Information on the running costs of the Cabinet Office is given in the annual report of the "Cabinet Office, Privy Council Office and Parliament", a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many foreign diplomats have been expelled from the United Kingdom since 1979 for carrying out nuclear technology procurement activities which were incompatible with their status. [15960]

There have been no such expulsions of diplomats. However, one diplomatic mission was asked to terminate the functions of two locally-engaged members of staff for carrying out nuclear technology procurement activities. A further individual, a diplomat, was excluded from the UK. Since 1979, a total of 66 diplomats have been expelled from the UK.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Leyton (Mr. Cohen) of 21 November, Official Report, column 69, what further developments have occurred in respect of the inquiry into the death of Jonathon Moyle. [15964]

The investigation by the Chilean authorities into the death of Mr. Moyle is continuing.The inquest being conducted by HM coroner for Exeter and East Devon has not been finalised.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will indicate the size and the purpose of each contract between the diplomatic wing and management consultants for the year 1994–95 referred to in his answer to the hon. Member for Darlington (Mr. Milburn) of 12 July 1995, Official Report, column 590. [15093]

[holding answer 19 February 1996]: In the answer to the hon. Member for Darlington (Mr. Milburn) of 12 July 1995, there was a printing error which distorted the figures. A correction was issued on 17 July 1995.The total cost of contracts with management consultants for the year 1994–95 was £76,887.The table sets out the size and purpose of each contract.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's policy in respect of the unification of the Korean peninsular; and if he will make a statement. [15680]

The reunification of the Korean peninsula can be achieved only through meaningful dialogue between North and South Korea. We encourage such dialogue at every opportunity.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those items destroyed to date by the UN-supervised programme in Iraq, in accordance with UN Security Council resolution 687 which contained technology originating in the United Kingdom. [15996]

The United Nations Special Commission and the International Atomic Energy Agency have reported on items destroyed from time to time in their periodic reports to the Security Council, copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House, but they do not release information on the origin of those items.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what has been the total cost incurred to date on the construction skills certification scheme including (a) the setting-up costs, (b) advertising and promotional expenditure and (c) day-to-day administrative costs; [15391](2) how many operatives have to date registered under the construction skills certification scheme; and what percentage this represents of all those employed in the construction industry and eligible to register. [15392]

Although my Department supports the objectives of the scheme, it has no responsibility for its administration or costs.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now provide figures for 1994 equivalent to those provided in respect of 1991 and 1993 in his answer of 19 July 1995, Official Report, columns 1414–16. [15389]

Estimates for numbers and proportions of owner-occupiers by age and household type in England in 1994–95 are now available and are given in the table. They are on a consistent basis with the earlier figures and exclude households which entered owner-occupation through purchase as a sitting tenant from a local authority.The proportions are drawn from the survey of English housing and are subject to sampling variability, as is the number of owner-occupiers based on them. Sampling variability is especially high for groups where the number of households are small and this is likely to cause some of the variation between age groups. These comments apply also to the figures for 1993–94 given in the earlier answer.

All households, and owner-occupiers excluding those who entered owner occupation by purchase as a sitting tenant from a local authority, by household type and age of head of household 1994–95
England
	Total households1	Owner occupiers
	Thousands	Thousands2	Percentages3
Married couple
Under 25	165	88	53
25 to 29	646	472	73
30 to 34	1,047	792	76
35 to 39	1,110	837	75
40 to 44	1,128	859	76
45 to 49	1,265	980	77
50 to 54	1,027	770	75
55 and over	4,031	2,744	68
Total	10,421	7,546	72
Cohabiting couple
Under 25	232	91	39
25 to 29	332	206	62
30 to 34	257	163	63
35 to 39	158	93	58
40 to 44	113	77	68

All households, and owner-occupiers excluding those who entered owner occupation by purchase as a sitting tenant from a local authority, by household type and age of head of household 1994–95
England
	Total households1	Owner occupiers
	Thousands	Thousands2	Percentages3
45 to 49	92	59	65
50 to 54	53	30	56
55 and over	94	53	56
Total	1,332	781	59
Lone parent with dependent children
Under 25	135	4	3
25 to 29	209	23	11
30 to 34	226	66	29
35 to 39	190	67	35
40 to 44	150	67	45
45 to 49	105	60	57
50 to 54	40	24	59
55 and over	23	7	30
Total	1,076	314	29
Other multi-person
Under 25	95	13	14
25 to 29	142	43	30
30 to 34	109	61	56
35 to 39	79	47	59
40 to 44	98	50	51
45 to 49	136	77	57
50 to 54	130	57	44
55 and over	666	339	51
Total	1,455	654	45
One person
Under 25	220	48	22
25 to 29	436	243	56
30 to 34	414	273	66
35 to 39	290	180	62
40 to 44	261	142	54
45 to 49	294	152	52
50 to 54	275	139	50
55 and over	3,346	1,527	46
Total	5,536	2,690	49

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what was the valuation of potential surplus land in respect of each water company at the time of privatisation; [15289](2) what assumed proceeds, from the disposal of surplus land, were taken into account when original price limits were set in respect of each water company. [15290]

Details for individual companies are commercially confidential. However, the total assumed proceeds which were included in the initial K setting process were some £300 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what were the actual proceeds, by water company, from the disposal of surplus land which were notified to the Director General of Water Services at the time of the 1994 periodic review. [15291]

Details for individual companies are commercially confidential. However, the actual proceeds taken into account in the periodic review were some £96 million less than that assumed in the initial K setting process.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will list by water company those disposals of surplus land for which approval has been sought under licence condition K of their instrument of appointment since 1992 which have had a value exceeding (a) £500,000, (b) £1 million and (c) £2 million or more; [15288](2) if he will list, by water company, the number of transfers of land to associated companies for which approval has been sought under licence condition K since 1992 which have had a value

This is a matter for the Director General of Water Services. Details of disposals by customer service committee area are published each year in the Director General of Water Services' annual report, copies of which are held in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to require Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution to publish the levels of (a) chlorine and (b) dioxin emissions from all incinerators. [15654]

All incinerators under the control of Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution—HMIP—are required to meet emission limits for hydrochloric acid and dioxins from 1 December 1996. Monitoring results supplied to HMIP are normally placed on public registers. Monitoring information already obtained for dioxin emissions from municipal waste incinerators was published by HMIP on 25 September 1995.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what research his Department is conducting into the emissions of (a) dioxins and (b) chlorine from incinerators; and at what cost. [15656]

Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution has funded a review of dioxin emissions to air, including those from incinerators, at a cost of £65,000 plus VAT. The resulting report was published on 25 September 1995, and placed in the House of Commons Library.HMIP has recently commissioned further research, at a cost of &£43,500 plus VAT, on dioxin releases to water and land. This work will cover industrial sources, including incinerators, and non-industrial sources, and is expected to be completed during the last quarter of 1996.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average rent in (a) privately rented, (b) housing association and council dwellings in (i) Leicester, (ii) Bradford, (iii) Normanton, (iv) Christchurch, (v) Birmingham, (vi) Sheffield, (vii) Stockport, (viii) Basildon, (ix) Leicestershire, (x) Southport, (xi) Norfolk, (xii) Chester, (xiii) Cirencester and Tewkesbury, (xiv) Swindon, (xv) Skipton and Ripon, (xvi) Blackpool, (xvii) Gloucester, (xviii) Cardiff and (xix) Scarborough. [15619]

Average weekly local authority and housing association rents at March 1994, the latest date for which figures are available for local authorities and housing associations, are in the table. Figures are available only for local authority districts or groups of districts, e.g., counties, regions, etc.

£ per week
	Local authority1	Housing association2
Leicester	29.16	34.03
Bradford	29.04	33.01
Christchurch	not applicable	38.96
Birmingham	33.52	34.01
Sheffield	26.55	37.53
Stockport	26.54	34.93
Basildon	35.66	40.35
Leicestershire	28.55	35.56
Norfolk	29.88	39.19
Chester	25.44	40.80
Cotswold (Cirencester)	39.70	38.74
Tewkesbury	33.67	39.58
Thamesdown (Swindon)	30.54	38.73
Craven (Skipton)	31.92	37.61
Blackpool	28.35	36.48
Gloucester	37.83	40.92
Scarborough	29.75	39.72

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are his targets for phasing out HCFCs over the next 25 years. [15653]

The Government's targets for phasing out the consumption of HCFCs—production plus imports minus exports—reflect the requirements of EC regulation 3093/94 on substances that deplete the ozone layer. HCFC consumption in the EU was frozen, by 1 January 1995, at 2.6 per cent. of CFC consumption plus total HCFC consumption in 1989. Thereafter, HCFC consumption will be reduced from this amount as follows:

• by 2004: 35 per cent. Reduction
• by 2007: 60 per cent. reduction
• by 2010: 80 per cent. reduction
• by 2013: 95 per cent. reduction
• by 2015: phaseout

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimates have been made of the costs to the environment (a) by way of reduced thermal efficiency of heating systems and (b) in respect of pollution levels arising from the withdrawal of the home energy efficiency grant scheme. [15447]

We remain committed to the home energy efficiency scheme—HEES—which will continue to help make the homes of people in the greatest need warmer and more energy efficient. Grants are towards the cost of basic energy efficiency measures, and so do not affect the thermal efficiency of heating systems. Reduced fuel consumption, and thus lower carbon emissions, are among the benefits of the scheme.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment on what date he now plans to lay the orders for the reorganisation of local government in Devon. [15555]

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment to the hon. Member for Hereford (Sir C. Shepherd) on 13 February, Official Report, column 482–83.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the levels of production of methyl bromide in each year since 1991. [15652]

The UK does not produce methyl bromide.The United Nations environment programme has estimated that, in 1992, global sales of methyl bromide were about 75,625 tonnes.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from organisations seeking legislation to introduce pond protection orders to assist the conservation of ponds as wildlife habitats; and if he will make a statement. [15435]

I understand that my Department has received one representation in recent years.Ponds have an important part to play as a habitat for wildlife. A survey published in 1994 showed that the number of ponds in Great Britain declined between 1984 and 1990, but that there was some evidence of new ponds being created more recently for farming and wildlife reasons. My Department is commissioning further research to look at more recent trends and to make a qualitative assessment of the national pond resource. The results should be available next year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to undertake a compliance cost assessment for the establishment of the new United Kingdom Environment Agency. [15587]

[holding answer 19 February 1996]: A compliance cost assessment for the establishment of the new environment agencies was prepared for the Environment Bill in 1995, as explained in the explanatory and financial memorandum to the Bill. I have today sent a copy of the assessment to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 13 February, Official Report, when the consultation process will (a) begin and (b) end. [16038]

The Wildlife Bill introduced by my hon. Friend the Member for Gillingham (Mr. Couchman) contains provision to extend the powers of the court to make restoration orders. It would not be appropriate for the Government to carry out consultations on their own proposals while the Bill is before Parliament.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what meetings his Department has had with organisations representing small firms since May 1995 to review the scope for simplifying the tendering procedure. [15683]

My Department was represented at a meeting chaired by Treasury with small firm representatives on 27 November 1995, which explored the scope for simplification.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the outcome of his Department's review of measures taken to facilitate small firms' access to appropriate areas of Government procurement. [15684]

My Department's new computerised procurement order system will be used to identify suppliers by size as part of the supplier base analysis programme promoted by the White Paper "Setting New Standards". The Department's new procurement guide will also highlight its support for the DTI policy on promoting the use of small and medium enterprises.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what actions his Department has taken to improve awareness amongst procurement staff of the potential benefits and pitfalls of purchasing from small and medium-sized enterprises. [15682]

My Department has published details on the perceived advantages of using small firms in its purchasing guide, which has been issued to all its main procurement branches.A representative of the Department of Trade and Industry small firms unit has also recently given a presentation on small and medium enterprises to DoE procurement staff.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress his Department has made regarding establishing a contact point with responsibility for liaison with relevant business support organisations and taking forward SME-related public procurement initiatives. [15640]

This Department's contact point is identified in the DTI booklet "Tendering for Government Contracts".

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what work his Department has done to develop best practice on publication of departmental procurement guidance material relevant to small and medium-sized enterprise needs. [15681]

The DTI booklet "Think Big, Buy Small" has been advertised in procurement circulars which are distributed throughout my Department.Members of my Department's procurement staff also recently took part in the filming of a forthcoming DTI video, which will promote the small firms initiative.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to ensure that his Department identifies the size of its suppliers by the number of their employees. [15597]

This Department is developing an IT procurement order processing system with reporting packages that will be the basis of fuller management information on all its suppliers. That system will be available from this autumn.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list each regulatory body for which he is responsible indicating for each the percentage of business people on the board. [15740]

My right hon. Friend currently appoints board members to three regulatory bodies: the Health and Safety Commission, the National Rivers Authority and the Environment Agency.The Health and Safety at Work etc., Act 1974 states that the Health and Safety Commission shall consist of a chairman and not less than six, and not more than nine, members, and that as to three of those members—30 per cent. of the full board—the Secretary of State shall consult organisations representing employers. The board is currently at full strength.Some 58 per cent. of the present members of the National Rivers Authority and 50 per cent. of the present members of the Environment Agency have past or present business interests, but they have been appointed in a personal capacity and not to represent those interests. The National Rivers Authority will cease operations on 31 March 1996.My right hon. Friend also appoints the Director General of Water Services. He is supported by the Office of Water Services, a non-ministerial Government Department which does not have an appointed board.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if the Thames groundwater pumping scheme was included in the privatisation of Thames Water. [15874]

The former Thames water authority's west Berkshire groundwater scheme, which includes assets such as pumping stations was transferred from the authority to the National Rivers Authority in accordance with an agreement made under schedule 2 to the Water Act 1989, which was approved by my right hon. Friend the then Secretary of State for the Environment on 31 August 1989.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what financial support will be available towards local housing authorities' expenditure on private sector housing renewal following enactment of the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Bill. [16385]

Clauses 91 and 134 of the Bill authorise the Secretary of State to make contributions to local housing authorities towards expenditure incurred by them under part I and clause 127 of the Bill.Resources will continue to be distributed to local housing authorities in England as part of their annual housing investment programme allocation. However, from 1 April 1997, the allocations for private sector renewal and disabled facilities grants will be made as two separate allocations.Disabled facilities grants will continue to be supported through specified capital grant to reimburse 60 per cent. actual eligible expenditure. A guideline allocation will be notified to local authorities and a supplementary credit approval up to the guideline allocation will also be provided.All other expenditure under these provisions will be supported by a specific capital grant to reimburse 60 per cent. of expenditure up to a cash limit notified to each authority.The Exchequer support for eligible expenditure incurred up to 31 March 1997 will be paid under the present arrangements.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the current financial, management and policy review of English nature. [16386]

In response to the Government's requirement that all executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies be subjected to regular and detailed scrutiny at least every five years, my Department is conducting a financial management and policy review of English Nature.The review will draw on work which has already been done on the study into the possible merger between English Nature and the Countryside Commission, the results of which were announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 7 October 1994. The current review will encompass English Nature's organisation and structure; general and financial management; and systems of financial control. The scope for further contractorisation of English Nature's work will be specifically addressed by the review.The review is due to be completed by mid-June 1996.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the Environment Agency's proposals for the membership of its regional environment protection advisory committees. [16387]

The agency has submitted, under section 12 of the Environment Act 1995, membership schemes for its regional environment protection advisory committees in England. At the same time, it has brought the schemes to the attention of persons likely to be interested in them, who may make representations or objections about the schemes to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment by 4 March. Any representations and objections received will be taken into account before a decision is taken on whether to approve the schemes.The agency has also submitted a scheme for its Welsh region to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.Copies of the schemes have been placed in the Library of the House. The schemes include descriptions of bodies or persons with an interest in the agency's activities. Once schemes are approved, individual appointments are made by the agency itself after consultation.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are his policies for publishing environmental statistics. [16455]

My Department publishes a wide range of environmental statistics every year, primarily in the annual "Digest of Environmental Statistics", the next edition of which is to be published in May. This is to be supplemented in 1996 by a new booklet giving key facts in graphical and tabular form, which we hope will be particularly useful for those wanting a pocket-sized summary and for schools. Key information from the digest is also to be made available through the Internet for the first time later this year.A more limited set of statistical information was given in the "Sustainable Development Strategy", published in 1994. It is planned that this will be updated in 1997, five years on from the earth summit held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. In the meantime, the Government continue to publish annual White Papers reporting progress with the strategy. The next is due in March this year.A new report, presenting a preliminary set of "Indicators of Sustainable Development for the United Kingdom" will also be published in March. This follows a commitment given in the "Sustainable Development Strategy" to publish a set of indicators within two years. The United Kingdom will, we believe, be one of the first countries in the world to publish such indicators. The indicators will be the subject of consultation and development, and will be updated on a regular basis, probably every two years.The new Environment Agency is to publish early in April 1996 a summary of the state of the environment in England and Wales. This will be made available through the Internet.In addition to the more technical "Digest of Environmental Statistics", my Department also published, in 1992, the first edition of a compendium statistical report "The UK Environment", aimed at schools and colleges. This was successful and we had planned to update it in 1997. However, in view of the wide range of statistical publications planned in the next few years which I have described, I have decided that it would be better to devote our resources to producing a special edition of "UK Environment" in 1999 to mark the beginning of the new millennium. My Department will discuss with the environment agencies what contribution they might make to the preparation of this report.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals the Mental Welfare Commission has made to him for changing the conditions under which electro-convulsive therapy is administered. [15420]

My right hon. Friend has received no such proposals from the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has for changes in the law about the control of electro-convulsive therapy treatment. [15421]

[holding answer 19 February 1996]: My right hon. Friend has no immediate plans to change the law relating to electro-convulsive therapy. Consideration is, however, being given to the report of the Scottish Law Commission on incapable adults, which covers this subject.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received regarding the desirability of two doctors being required to authorise electro-convulsive therapy treatment. [15418]

[holding answer 19 February 1996]: My right hon. Friend has received a number of representations from members of the public, local authorities and Members of Parliament that a second medical opinion should be obtained in any case where electro-convulsive therapy is proposed as part of a patient's treatment plan.The report from the Scottish Law Commission on incapable adults, which we are presently considering, also bears on this subject.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what procedures are followed where a change is made to the conditions under which electro-convulsive therapy treatment is administered in Scottish hospitals. [15419]

[holding answer 19 February 1996]: In such circumstances, guidance would normally be issued by the Scottish Office.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to ensure that his Department identifies the size of its suppliers by the number of their employees. [15609]

From 1 April 1996 the Scottish Office intends to record this information on its computer payment system. This facility is not available at present, but information is currently being recorded in preparation for the system becoming operational.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list each regulatory agency for which he is responsible indicating for each the percentage of business people on the board. [15734]

The Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency and the Scottish Agricultural Science Agency are two of my right hon. Friend's executive agencies which carry out regulatory activities on his behalf. Neither agency has any non-executive directors.Among the non-departmental public bodies for which my right hon. Friend is responsible, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, which becomes fully operational from 1 April 1996, has regulatory functions relating to environmental protection and Scottish Natural Heritage has powers in relation to the protection of Scotland's natural heritage. Of the 12 board members of SEPA, three are from the business sector and one from the farming sector. Of the 12 board members of SNH, four represent the farming sector and one manages a zoological park.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to close down the Scottish Schools Equipment and Research Centre. [16051]

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many patients in Scotland have contracted hepatitis C virus as a result of NHS blood or plasma transfusions. [16087]

A UK-wide "look back" exercise was announced in January 1995 with a view to tracing, counselling and, where appropriate, treating those who may have been exposed to the hepatitis C virus through blood donated before the introduction of testing in September 1991. The best current estimate is that there are around 350 individuals in Scotland infected in this way. It is not possible to give a more precise figure until work on this complex exercise has been completed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of his Department's expenditure on newspapers and magazines in (a) 1993–94, (b) 1994–95 and (c) 1995–96, to date; and if he will list the publications purchased for the latest year for which information is available. [11412]

[holding answer 30 Janaury 1996]: Details of the total cost of newspapers and magazines purchased by the Scottish Office library and information service are as follows:

• 1993–94: £186,461
• 1994–95: £186,210
• 1995–96: £109,497 (to end January)

The Department purchaser or obtains free of charge a wide range of newspapers and periodical publications. A list of their titles has been placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list each regulatory body for which he is responsible indicating for each the percentage of business people on the board. [15733]

One appointment is made to the board of the Environment Agency which does not assume executive functions until 1 April 1996. That person's occupation is shown as retired.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will list the total number of dwellings completed by (a) local authorities, (b) housing associations, (c) development corporations and (d) other public authorities, in each local authority area in Wales in each year since 1979; [15070](2) if he will list the total number of dwellings started by

In view of the large number of statistics requested, I shall place a copy of the relevant tables in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many payments were made in Wales in 1994–95 under the arable area payments scheme of between (a) £0 and £5,000, (b) £5,001 and £10,000, (c) £10,001 and £15,000, (d) £15,001 and £20,000, (e) £20,001 and £25,000 (f) £25,001 and £50,000, (g) £50,001 and £75,000, (h) £75,001 and £100,000, (i) £100,001 and £150,000 and (j) £150,001 and over. [15323]

The information requested is as follows:

Payment band	Number of payments
£0–£5,000	2,088
£5,001–£10,000	144
£10,001–£15,000	79
£15,001–£20,000	21
£20,001–£25,000	32
£25,001–£50,000	4
£50,001–£75,000	1
£75,001–£100,000

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many payments he expects to be made in Wales in 1995–96 under the arable area payments scheme of between (a) £0 and £5,000, (b) £5,001 and £10,000, (c) £10,001 and £15,000, (d) £15,001 and £20,000, (e) £20,001 and £25,000, (f) £25,001 and £50,000, (g) £50,001 and £75,000, (h) £75,001 and £100,000, (i) £100,001 and £150,000, (j) £150,001 and £200,000, (k) £200,001 and £250,000 and (l) £250,001 and over. [15324]

Figures for 1995–96 are not yet available, but I do not expect the number and distribution of payments to change significantly from 1994–95.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many payments (a) were made in Wales in 1994–95 and (b) he expects to be made on 1995–96 for set-aside between (i) £0 and £5,000 (ii) £5,001 and £10,000, (iii) £10,001 and £15,000, (iv) £15,001 and £20,000, (v) £20,001 and £25,000 and (vi) over £25,001. [15339]

The information requested is as follows:

	Number of payments
Payment band	1994–95	1995–96 (Estimate)
£0–£5,000	331	342
£5,001–£10,000	32	44
£10,001–£15,000	6	10
£15,001–£20,000	3	1
£20,001–£25,000	1	1
£25,000+	0	1

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the policy of the European Commission in respect of the proposed nature reserve site east of the River Usk. [15576]

In relation to the loss of the Cardiff bay site of special scientific interest, the European Commission has accepted that the proposed Uskmouth-Goldcliff nature reserve will provide measures, which in addition to management plans for 31 estuaries in the United Kingdom, meet the requirements of article 6(4) of directive 79/0409/EEC on the protection of birds.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if the intended management agreements on the proposed nature reserve east of the River Usk are binding in perpetuity in the event of future transfers of ownership. [15574]

The Land Authority for Wales will secure any management agreements in accordance with the Perpetuities and Accumulations Act 1964, and such agreements will be registered and binding on the present owners and successors in title.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to ensure that his Department identifies the size of its suppliers by the number of their employees. [15602]

My Department already requests that suppliers identify their number of employees on submission of their tenders.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will set up an independent inquiry into the accounts, financial viability and geographical boundaries of the South and East Wales Ambulance NHS trust. [16194]

No.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the resignation of the chairman of the South and East Wales Ambulance NHS trust with effect from 15 February; and what the current financial position is as regards its contracts with (a) Powys health authority, (b) South Glamorgan health authority and (c) Gwent health authority. [16195]

A copy of the announcement I made on the 15 February has been placed in the Library of the House. Contracts between the trust and its purchasers are a matter for them.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the change in unit labour costs for each year since 1979 in (a) the United Kingdom, (b) the United States of America, (c) Japan, (d) Germany, (e) France, (f) Italy, (g) the Netherlands and (h) Sweden. [11820]

The information requested is shown in the table.The figures are affected by short-term exchange rate movements which can bear no relation to the strength of economic fundamentals.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will supply information about British exports to (a) Portugal, (b) Thailand, (c) Greece, (d)

Value of United Kingdom visible exports
£ million, current prices
	Portugal		Thailand		Greece		Cyprus		Singapore
Section/Description	1971–80	1981–90	1971–80	1981–90	1971–80	1981–90	1971–80	1981–90	1971–80	1981–90
0 Food and live animals	57.7	160.4	25.2	62.7	55.2	197.1	55.5	178.3	49.2	137.2
1 Beverages and tobacco	21.6	147.3	10.5	176.1	44.8	311.5	32.3	78.6	49.5	338.7
2 Crude materials, inedible, except fuels	87.7	220.8	4.7	25.8	75.6	142.3	3.7	11.3	4.8	36.6
3 Mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials	120.8	694.2	4.0	10.7	36.1	225.9	8.5	20.5	13.6	39.6
4 Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes	3.1	2.6	1.0	1.0	1.1	1.7	0.6	1.3	2.7	3.3
5 Chemicals and related products not elsewhere specified	294.4	864.5	122.5	461.9	187.8	671.3	55.8	174.8	280.8	976.0
6 Manufactured goods classified chiefly by material	431.6	806.2	80.7	292.5	289.7	867.2	134.8	305.9	275.8	889.0
7 Machinery and transport equipment	1,041.5	2,575.8	283.7	920.5	748.9	1,524.4	335.1	473.6	883.8	2,562.1
8 Miscellaneous manufactured articles	133.1	424.4	33.0	109.2	94.2	460.6	54.2	188.1	165.8	823.9
9 Commodities and transactions not elsewhere classified	21.2	53.3	24.4	64.1	21.0	58.7	22.1	40.3	60.1	190.5
Totals	2,212.8	5,949.5	621.8	2,124.5	1,554.4	4,460.6	702.5	1,472.7	1,786.0	5,996.9

To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what was the contribution of food and drink wholesale and retail distribution to the gross domestic product of the United Kingdom in 1995 (a) in cash and (b) as a percentage of gross domestic product; [15327](2) what was the contribution of the food and drink industry in total to the gross domestic product of the United Kingdom in 1995

The information is provided in the table.(3) what was the contribution of catering to the gross domestic product of the United Kingdom in 1995

The detailed information required to answer these questions is compiled only every five years. Latest available information is for 1990 and is published in the United Kingdom national accounts Central Statistical Office methodological paper No.1 "The measurement of output in the estimation of GDP", which is available in the Library of the House. Data for 1995 are not expected to be available before 1998.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the contribution of food and drink manufacturing to the gross domestic product of the United kingdom in 1995 (a) in cash and (b) as a percentage of gross domestic product. [15326]

The latest available information is for 1994 and shows the contribution to GDP by food and drink manufacturing to be £16,749 million, 2.9 per cent. of total GDP. Information for 1995 will not be available until August 1996. It will be published in table 2.3 of the United Kingdom national accounts "The Blue Book", which is available in the Library of the House.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list each regulatory body for which he is responsible indicating for each the percentage of business people on the board. [15741]

The Office of Fair Trading, Office of Electricity Regulation, Office of Gas Supply and Office of Telecommunications are independent non-ministerial Government Departments. Statute creates the posts of director general and provides for him/her to have an office. There are no boards of management.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 6 February, Official Report, columns 141–44, if he will list in each case (a) the value of the offer and (b) the name of the firm and the constituency in which it is located. [15626]

Information on accepted offers of regional selective assistance, over £75,000, is published in "Labour Market Trends", formerly the "Employment Gazette". This is given on the basis of travel-to-work areas.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what investigation has been carried out by his Department's export control organisation into the sale of equipment and technology to Iraq by the Astra company since 1985. [15965]

The activities of Astra, insofar as they relate to the sale of equipment and technology to Iraq since 1985, are covered in Sir Richard Scott's report. The Trade and Industry Committee is examining the DTI's role in granting export licences to BMARC, a subsidiary of Astra Holdings plc from May 1988, for the export of naval guns to Singapore. BMARC was known as Astra Defence Systems Ltd. between June 1989 and April 1991. My Department has carried out investigations in order to assist both these inquiries.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what are the last figures for (a) United Kingdom and (b) EU average (i) inflation, (ii) industrial production and (iii) trade outside the EU. [11059]

Data on UK and EU average inflation is regularly published by Central Statistical Office in its retail prices index first release. Indices of industrial production for the UK and EU average are regularly published in the OECD main economic indicators. Information on UK and EU trade outside the EU is regularly published by Eurostat in "External Trade", monthly statistics. Copies of all three publications are available in the Library of the House.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the trade balance for each EU country with the rest of the EU. [11061]

The information requested is provided in the table:

EU Countries visible trade balance1 with the rest of the EU 1994
	£ billion
Belgium/Luxembourg	10.1
Denmark	1.7
France	-4.3
Germany	10.1
Greece	-5.7
Ireland	5.1
Italy	4.5
Netherlands	24.7
Portugal	-3.7
Spain	-4.4
UK	-4.6

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the name of the applicant in respect of each piece of correspondence dealt with by his Department on export licensing dated 6 April 1988. [15719]

Information is not held in this form.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 6 February, Official Report, columns 146–47, what assessment he has made of whether the proposed sale of part of the nuclear power generation industry complies with EC rules; and if he will make a statement on the extent of Govnerment subsidy in respect of the sale of the nuclear power generation industry. [16209]

The proposed sale of part of the nuclear power generation industry will comply with EC rules. It is not the Government's intention to pay subsidy to British Energy plc.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what liabilities the Government propose that British Energy carry for reprocessing waste; and if he will make a statement. [16193]

The Government have made it clear that in the restructuring of the nuclear generators liabilities will follow assets. British Energy will therefore carry those liabilities associated with its assets.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 12 February, Official Report, column 404, when he expects to announce the results of his review into the small firms loan guarantee scheme. [15687]

I expect to be able to make an announcement shortly.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the benefits to small and medium-sized enterprises from the first meeting of the small business ministerial group. [15679]

The first meeting of the small business ministerial group took place on Monday 30 October 1995. The group has already met its initial objective of providing a forum for co-ordinated and cohesive policy to help small firms.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to ensure that his Department identifies the size of its suppliers by the number of their employees. [15610]

The Department's standard form requesting tenders or quotations for routine purchases includes a "Statement of Size of Organisation", which asks for details on the number of employees and annual turnover.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 5 February, Official Report, column 17, how many press officers worked, and how much of the budget was spent, on small business issues for each year listed. [15635]

As fostering the creation and development of small and medium-sized businesses is one of the objectives of the DTI, it follows that a proportion of most departmental press officers' time is spent on small business issues.It is not possible to disaggregate the centrally managed budgets to show spend on small business issues separately.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade on which occasions in the last three years officials have vetoed draft EC legislation on the ground that a fiche d'impact had not been correctly prepared. [13647]

[holding answer 9 February 1996]: 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 UK's negotiating position on a particular proposal.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of Britain's contribution to the Bosnian implementation force operation are reservists. [14579]

[holding answer 9 February 1996]: Some 3.6 per cent. of Britain's contribution to the IFOR operation are reservists.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what basis the amount that the Royal Ordnance paid his Department for the services of the Ministry of Defence police is classified as commercially sensitive information; and if he will make a statement. [15212]

[Pursuant to his reply 17 January 1996, Official Report, column 580]: The financial aspects of contractual arrangements concerning the supply of goods or services to or from my Department are regarded as commercially confidential. Details of the amounts paid by Royal Ordnance plc for the services of the Ministry of Defence police are no exception.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements his Department makes to monitor offset agreements and ensure compliance. [15947]

Companies with offset obligations are required to submit reports to my Department every six months, detailing relevant contracts awarded to UK defence industry during the reporting period. A full audit of these reports is conducted in order to establish the validity of the claims and to ensure that the companies are complying with the terms and conditions of their offset commitment.