To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Government intend to implement the recommendation in the ODA's fundamental expenditure review, paragraph 13.37, that the ODA should reduce further contributions to UNICEF and the United Nations Development Programme; and what account was taken of UNICEF's management review. [18339]

In autumn 1996 we shall be reviewing progress on reform in UN development agencies, including UNDP and UNICEF. This review will take account of evaluations such as UNICEF's management review.Meanwhile, we have just announced that our 1996 contributions to UNDP and UNICEF will be maintained at last year's levels.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance his Department has given to other countries who have suffered from military conflict in the clearance of land mines; and if he will make a statement. [18262]

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Blanau Gwent (Mr. Smith) on 19 February 1996 Official Report, column 24, as amended. A copy of the list of commitments has been placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action his Department is taking to ensure that personnel on its construction sites have construction skills certification scheme accreditation. [17436]

MOD-appointed contractors have specific health and safety responsibilities and are expected to comply with the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 1994.The competence of principal contractors is verified by a planning supervisor, a commercial appointment acting for the MOD. Verification of the accreditation of sub-contractors appointed by the principal contractor is the responsibility of the principal contractor concerned.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the relative risk to (a) employees confirmed to wheelchairs and (b) other employees in the event of a fire within a Ministry of Defence building following implementation of his Department's new regulations for placing employees confined to wheelchairs in protected areas. [18048]

My Department's arrangements for employees confined to wheelchairs follow building regulations and British standards which apply alike to Government Departments and the private sector. No departmental assessment was therefore necessary.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his Department's plans to introduce rooms specified for employees confined to wheelchairs in the event of a fire. [18044]

MOD complies with building regulations and British standards which apply equally to other Government Departments and the private sector. The Ministry is satisfied that as they stand these deal adequately with fireproof areas for the protection of all staff, including disabled people, and has no plans to introduce further measures.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the organisations (a) of disabled people and (b) representing disabled people his Department consulted before formulating its proposed regulations for evacuating disabled employees from Ministry of Defence buildings in the event of fire. [18043]

The Ministry's arrangements follow the regulations which apply alike to Government Departments and the private sector. The Ministry of Defence neither has, nor proposes to have, its own regulations for evacuating people from buildings in the event of fire.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the estimated cost of introducing fireproof rooms for employees confined to wheelchairs within his Department; and if the rooms will be introduced throughout his Department only in response to the number and distribution of employees already in employment that are confined to wheelchairs. [18045]

The need to protect all staff, including disabled people, in the event of fire is a fundamental part of building design embodied in the building regulations and British standards which apply to all MOD buildings. It cannot be presented as a separate cost. Specific local contingency plans are maintained to take account of the number and distribution of employees in wheelchairs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he plans to announce his implementation plan following the conclusion of the Dart report into the NAAFI; and if he will consult interested parties. [18511]

It is not the Government's intention to publish an implementation plan in regard to taking forward the recommendations of the Dart report into NAAFI. The plan, if it is to be successful, must be wholly owned and implemented by NAAFI's board of management.The steering group set up to advise Mr. Dart has accepted an implementation plan which will now need to be considered by the NAAFI Council. The NAAFI main board has been consulted in the development of the plan and accepted it in principle at their board meeting on 23 February 1996.As detailed work on the plan progresses consultations will be held with all relevant organisations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the homosexuality policy assessment team has completed its assessment; and if he will make a statement. [19206]

The homosexuality policy assessment team has, following an exhaustive and wide ranging consultation exercise involving personnel from all three services, together with staffs from overseas defence forces, now produced its report, copies which have today been placed in the Library of the House. The team's assessment is that any relaxation of the existing policy is likely to have a detrimental effect on operational effectiveness. For that reason, the Government will continue to support the existing policy of excluding homosexuals from the armed forces.The Ministry of Defence will shortly be submitting a paper of evidence, based on the team's report, to the Select Committee on the Armed Forces Bill to assist in its deliberations on the subject.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what actions he (a) has taken and (b) plans to take as a result of the recommendations of the Scott report. [16958]

I refer the hon. Member to the speech made by the President of the Board of Trade on 26 February, Official Report, columns 590–604.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what consultation he had with the Secretary to the Cabinet concerning the Government's response to the Scott inquiry; and where and when such consultations took place. [16603]

Successive Governments have not disclosed the nature or the specific sources of the advice they receive from the civil service.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what changes he plans to make to the rules on business appointments of former civil servants.[19075]

I have today placed in the Libraries of both Houses, for consultation, the proposed text of the revised rules for civil servants. The substantive changes give effect to the recommendations of the Nolan committee on standards in public life by bringing special advisers within the system and by allowing the Prime Minister's advisory committee on business appointments to publicly announce the reasons for its decisions and to advise a civil servant that the acceptance of a particular appointment is inappropriate. We intend that the revised rules will come into effect on 1 April 1996 and will finalise the necessary amendments to the civil service management code in consultation with the Council of Civil Service Unions.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what further measures he proposes to take to protect the United Kingdom coastline against oil pollution from merchant ships; and if he will make a statement. [17596]

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport and I are already taking forward relevant recommendations of the Donaldson report following the Braer accident as announced in the Government response to that report. In addition, we shall be working together with our right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Wales and for Scotland and our right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in looking at the lessons to be learnt from the Sea Empress incident.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what research he has commissioned to establish the correlation between household income and domestic water bills based on (a) an unmeasured and (b) a measured charging basis; [18155](2) what research he has evaluated from the Director General of Water Services relating to information supplied by water and sewage undertakers, in respect of the correlation between household income and domestic water and sewerage bills based on

My Department and Ofwat jointly commissioned a report, "The Social Impact of Water Metering" from W. S. Atkins Planning and Management Consultants, which was published in August 1992. In addition, the Office of Water Services commissioned a report from the Institute for Fiscal Studies, "The Distributional Effects of Different Methods of Charging Households for Water and Sewerage Services." That report was published in August 1993. Copies of both reports are in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what parties are now involved in discussions on the future of Battersea power station; and if he will make a statement. [18087]

Discussions are continuing between Wandsworth council, English Heritage and the owners on a master plan for the whole Battersea power station site. The Government would like to see the future development of this important site on the River Thames resolved as soon as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what action he will take in response to the House of Lords European Communities Select Committee fourth report, HL31 of Session 1995–96, with regard to lead in drinking water; [18495](2) what action he plans in response to the conclusions of the House of Lords European Communities Select Committee fourth report, HL31 of Session 1995–96, in respect of the dosing of drinking water with chemicals; [18499](3) what assessment he has made of the conclusion of the House of Lords European Communities Select Committee fourth report, HL31 of Session 1995–96, in respect of the urgency with which the problems of removing lead from drinking water have been approached; [18497](4) if he will implement a national strategy for the replacement of all domestic lead piping within a 15-year period. [18496]

My right hon. Friend is considering the report from the House of Lords Select Committee on the European Communities about Commission proposals for a revised drinking water directive, and will respond to it, including the recommendation for a national strategy, in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures he plans to remove lead from drinking water. [18498]

Water companies have installed treatment to reduce lead levels at consumers' taps. In addition they have programmes for replacing lead communication pipes. Lead levels in drinking water supplies are now lower than they have ever been.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 14 February, Official Report, column 76–77, if he will make it his policy to allow public access to information regarding the projected and actual capital receipts of water and sewerage companies from the sale of surplus land. [18213]

The Director General of Water Services has not since 1989 required water and sewerage companies to report projections of receipts from the sale of surplus land. Aggregate capital receipts from the sale of assets in the preceding financial year, including receipts from the sale of surplus land, are given in companies' annual reports.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what actions the Health and Safety Executive has taken in response to EC directive 92/58/EEC on safety signs in relation to United Kingdom brands of tampons; [18561](2) what action he is taking to ensure that tampons containing man-made fibre display a safety warning sign on the packets to comply with EC directive 92/58/EEC; [18558](3) if he will list the products which are required to comply with EC directive 92/58/EEC on safety signs. [18560]

The EC Safety Signs Directive 92/58/EEC was made under article 118A of the treaty of Rome. This article exclusively concerns health and safety requirements for the workplace. Article 1 of the directive specifically excludes signs used in the marketing of products, and therefore no action of the sort envisaged by the hon. Member is required.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions on EC directive 92/58/EEC on safety signs have been held (a) in the Council of Ministers and (b) with the Commission. [18564]

The European Commission first produced proposals in 1989 for a directive to replace an earlier, 1977, safety signs directive. A formal proposal to the Council of Ministers was published in early 1991, and common position was agreed by December of that year. The directive was then adopted by the Council of Ministers in June 1992.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has to improve environmental protection following the grounding of the Sea Empress. [18468]

The Department of the Environment will continue to liaise closely with the statutory environmental protection and nature conservation agencies. The agencies are currently advising local authorities on the best means of ensuring environmental protection in the wake of the Sea Empress oil spill. That advice is being given on the basis of experience and on the findings and recommendations given by the ecological steering groups on the oil spill in Shetland after the grounding of the Braer in January 1993. The success of measures undertaken to protect the environment, and specifically wildlife and habitats, will be reviewed in the light of experience gained in dealing with the current incident.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has for the next phase of the rough sleepers initiative. [19135]

The rough sleepers initiative which has operated in central London since 1990 has been an outstanding example of co-operation between Government and voluntary organisations to bring effective help to people in the greatest need. This partnership to tackle the problems of people sleeping rough in central London has helped thousands of people to start a new life away from the streets, and has prevented many more from having to sleep rough. When the rough sleepers initiative began, voluntary sector agencies estimated that between 1,000 and 2,000 people were sleeping rough in central London. The numbers now sleeping rough in this area have fallen to around 270 on any one night. This is a tremendous achievement.By the end of this month, the Government will have invested over £180 million through the initiative, providing at least 3,300 permanent homes, 950 short-term hostel places, 700 places in flats and houses leased from the private sector for up to three years, an annual winter shelter programme of up to 400 beds—with further emergency beds available during episodes of particularly severe weather—and, importantly, year-round outreach and resettlement work to engage people sleeping rough and to support them in moving to new accommodation.The White Paper "Our Future Homes: Opportunity, Choice, Responsibilities", published in June 1995, confirmed that the Government would continue a programme to help people sleeping rough in central London beyond March 1996, and would also consider assisting the development of the rough sleepers initiative model in areas outside central London where rough sleeping could be demonstrated to be a major problem.In October 1995, the Government issued a consultation paper on future plans for the initiative. The paper invited views on a number of proposals for continuing the initiative in central London. It also asked local authorities outside central London to assess the extent of rough sleeping in their areas. 258 responses to the consultation document were received.Following analysis of those responses, I am publishing today a strategy paper, "Rough Sleepers Initiative, The Next Challenge", which sets out our plans for a third phase of the Initiative over the next three years. 1996–97 to 1998–99. The emphasis of the third phase will be on providing extra help for the hard core of people who have been sleeping rough for considerable periods of time, often because they suffer complex problems, such as mental ill health, alcohol or drug misuse, which require special care.My Department plans to make £73 million available over the next three years to fund the third phase of the rough sleepers initiative. In addition, we plan to make £25 million available over the same period in grants under section 73 of the Housing Act 1985 to voluntary sector agencies for the relief of homelessness.In central London, our plans for the third phase of the Initiative are to fund:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the total expenditure of his Department, its agencies and non-departmental public bodies on publicity for each of the years (a) 1979–80, (b) 1989–90, (c) 1991–92, (d) 1993–94, (e) 1994–95 and (f) 1995–96 (i) to date and (ii) as estimated for the whole year; what estimate he has made of such expenditure for 1996–97; and if he will break these figures down to indicate expenditure on (1) advertising and (2) press and public relations. [11396]

[holding answer 25 January 1996]: Paid publicity expenditure by my Department—excluding agencies and non-departmental public bodies—is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate the funding available for new rented housing association homes in 1996–97; if the expenditure levels in the 1993 autumn statement have been maintained for each local authority in Yorkshire and Humberside. [15485]

[holding answer 27 February 1996]: The 1996–97 funding allocations made by the Housing Corporation in Yorkshire and Humberside for the provision of new build rented housing by housing associations are as listed. The Housing Corporation's estimate of what the allocations may have been for 1996–97 if funding plans in the 1993 autumn statement had been maintained are also listed. These estimates can be only hypothetical since the actual allocations depend on a series of factors including the nature of the schemes submitted by housing associations, local housing needs, local authority involvement and value for money. In any one year, activity by housing associations in a particular authority area can vary according to the schemes proposed and approved.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans his Department has to review the current level of funding for research into Alzheimer's disease; and if he will make a statement. [17514]

The DTI's support of research into Alzheimer's disease is funded through the research councils from the science budget. The councils determine research priorities and review funding as part of their annual business planning process.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what criteria are used by the Medical Research Council to determine future research priorities; and if he will make a statement. [17513]

The Medical Research Council has a broad remit across all areas of research relevant to maintaining and improving human health. The following broad criteria underpin its strategy for determining priorities; degree of scientific opportunity; such as the scope for high-quality, productive research; the needs of society, including opportunity for improving quality of life and for wealth creation; and the need to maintain a reasonable balance of activity across key areas of MRC's remit, to co-ordinate with other funders and users and to promote interdisciplinarity and integration between basic and clinical research.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the total amount of grant investment incentives awarded to British environmental industries in (a) 1993, (b) 1994 and (c) 1995. [17598]

I refer to the answer given to the hon. Member for Camarthen (Mr. Williams) on 19 February 1996, Official Report, column 44. Grants made under schemes designed specifically to promote research and development in, or the takeup of, environment technologies totalled £2.6 million in the period 1 January 1993 to 31 December 1995.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to improve market access for British environmental technology companies; and if he will make a statement. [17595]

The Joint DTI-DOE environmental markets unit, which is the lead sponsor division in Government for the environmental industry, is working with the industry to assist it in identifying the factors that affect the industry's competitiveness and in developing a long-term strategy for improved performance.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations his Department has received on the sale of (a) Houghton main colliery and (b) Woolley colliery. [18432]

I am not aware of any recent representations to my Department about these sites.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the British Coal property sites remaining in public ownership, and their acreage. [18431]

This is a matter for British Coal.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will meet the trustees of the mineworkers and supervisors pension fund to assess their views before he has further negotiations with other parties interested in taking over the fund's management. [18664]

Negotiations with parties interested in acquiring the management of the funds of the coal pension schemes are a matter for British Coal and the trustees. As guarantor, my consent is required under the schemes' rules to the appointment of a new fund manager.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if the Government are seeking fresh bids for the management of the mineworkers and supervisors pension fund; and what is the estimated timetable. [18665]

This is a matter for British coal and the trustees. I understand that discussions between British Coal and the trustees are continuing.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what has been the cost to public funds to date of efforts to sell the mineworkers and supervisors pension fund; and who will meet these costs. [18666]

This is a matter for British Coal as the vendor of CINMan.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if the Government will now make it a condition of the sale of the mineworkers and supervisors pension fund business that the buyer keep the existing CINMan team. [18667]

It will be for the parties concerned to agree on the terms of any sale.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what has been his Department's involvement in the departure of the chief executive of CINMan; and who will fund his redundancy settlement. [18663]

My Department has been kept informed of British Coal's plans for the re-organisation of CINMan. As guarantor of the coal pensions schemes, I have a common interest with the coal pensioners in ensuring the proper and effective management of the pension funds. The terms of the settlement are a matter for the parties concerned.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what consultation he has had with the member of the European Commission responsible for regional development concerning the award of powers to member states to swap areas currently eligible for objective 2 status for new areas currently ineligible; and if he will make a statement. [18837]

My right hon. Friends and I, and the UK permanent representative to the European Communities, have repeatedly and consistently expressed to Commissioner Wulf-Maties our view that the present list of areas eligible for grants under objective 2 of the EC structural funds should remain unchanged. We have not suggested any swapping of areas.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on each of the payments made from the Drawmops—decommissioning and waste management operational programmes—fund since its inception. [18064]

The DTI has been funding United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority decommissioning and waste management work under the Drawmops programme since 1986—when the UKAEA was set up as a trading fund.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the Government's policy towards conditional access systems for digital broadcasting. [16372]

The Government published proposals for the regulation of conditional access systems for digital television on 15 January 1996. The Government consider it necessary to set out a clear regulatory framework for the new markets in digital television. Our proposals also meet our obligations under the recent television standards directive.In contrast with current analogue broadcasts, all digital broadcasts—terrestrial, satellite and cable—will require access to the viewer's television via decoding receiver "set-top box". These receivers or boxes will also implement any conditional access service, which ensures that only viewers having a valid contract with a broadcaster or multiplexor can receive and view their programmes. As such these conditional access points will be a gateway between all viewers and all broadcasters for every delivery mechanism. Regulation is designed to prevent any abuse of this "gatekeeping" role and to discourage anti-competitive behaviour. It is also important that those who will be investing in the new markets have a clear understanding of the regulatory framework at the outset, so that they can invest with confidence in these long-term ventures.Our proposals are designed to stimulate early development of digital television in the UK. They are based on the existing framework for telecommunications licensing. Licences would be issued by the DTI and enforced by the Office of Telecommunications, in close co-operation with the Independent Television Commission. Copies of our proposals have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if the United Kingdom has joined the Ariane 5 programme; and when its first launch is due to take place. [19205]

I am pleased to confirm that the UK has joined the Ariane 5 programme. The Government have committed £2.8 million to this project up to the year 2000. The European Space Agency plans to carry out the first launch of Ariane 5 on 15 May 1996 and its payload will be the four-satellite ESA science mission, "Cluster". UK industry contributed significantly to Ariane 4, which captured 60 per cent. of the world market for launching commercial satellites. This new programme will enable UK companies to transfer their skills and to pursue competitive opportunities well into the next century.UK companies and UK science have helped to make Ariane 4 a success story by supplying specialist systems and components for the launcher and for ground control. Until now, the UK Government have chosen not to contribute to the next generation, Ariane 5, which was originally designed to launch the European spaceplane Hermes. However, welcoming the fact that Ariane 5 has since been more clearly matched to the worldwide needs of customers wanting to launch the next generation of communication and scientific satellites, we agreed last year to reconsider that earlier decision. As a full member of Ariane 5, we can support this important collaborative endeavour and ensure access to cost effective and highly reliable launch services. This is of particular importance to the UK as we are Europe's largest users of space-derived services. In addition, I have asked the British national space centre to consider exploitation of other flexible launch systems appropriate to small payloads for specific experiments.My announcement coincides with confirmation today by ESA and the French space agency, CNES, of the start of prepartions for the first launch of Ariane 5.I would like to congratulate those UK companies who are already suppliers to Arianespace and anticipate that my announcement today will lead to further opportunities for them and for other UK companies. This is a fine example of Government and industry working in partnership.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many staff from (a) the main Department and (b) each of its agencies have expressed an interest in his Department's current voluntary early severance and redundancy scheme. [17467]

[holding answer 27 February 1996]: Several voluntary early retirement and severance schemes are currently in operation in that part of the Department that falls under gross running cost control. The total number of initial expressions of interest by staff in these schemes is approximately 1,600 but a significant proportion of these are likely to withdraw as the scheme progresses.I have asked the chief executives of the agencies within net running cost control—Companies House, the Patent Office and Radiocommunications Agency—to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth affairs what applications for export licenses have been reviewed by his Department, and rejected on the grounds that the application indicated a possible nuclear end use for the export, under the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1991 and Export of Goods (control) (Amendment No. 7) Order 1991. [18531]

We are responsible for advising on the foreign policy implications of any proposed export of controlled goods referred to it by the Department of Trade and Industry. All applications are considered on a case-by-case basis. Final decision on the granting of export licences are a matter for my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the proposals his Department has (a) made in the last five years and (b) proposes to make to the Council of Europe for changes in the text of articles of the European convention on human rights that specify protected rights. [17903]

We have made no proposals for any such changes within the last five years. Our present initiative relates to seeking improvements to the way in which the Strasbourg system works.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what derogations from the European convention on human rights have been advised to the Secretary-General of the Council of Europe since 1970 as a result of (a) war and (b) public emergency; [17904](2) which states have to date derogated from the European convention on human rights because of war or public emergency; and if he will show the date and cause of derogation. [17905]

The Secretary General of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg acts as depository for notifications made under the convention. In the time available, we have not been able to obtain from him the information about derogations by other states party. I shall write to the hon. Member.In respect of the United Kingdom, the only derogations made since 1970 relate to certain powers of detention of persons suspected of terrorist acts connected with the affairs of Northern Ireland. Each derogation supersedes its predecessor by revising the references to reflect current legislation. The last such was on 23 March 1989.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what instructions have been given to Her Majesty's embassy in Dublin in respect of advocacy of the union of Great Britain with Northern Ireland. [17906]

The embassy in Dublin is closely involved in explaining the Government's policies on Northern Ireland, including the Government's commitment to upholding the wish of a greater number of the people of Northern Ireland on the issue of whether they prefer to support the Union or a sovereign united Ireland.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) on what date HRH the Princess of Wales informed the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of her intention to make her most recent visit to Pakistan; [18879](2) if his Department was consulted by HRH the Princess of Wale before her departure on her most recent visit to Pakistan. [18878]

The Princess of Wales's household informed this Department on Thursday 15 February of her intention to make a private visit to Pakistan. We were not asked to express a view.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the application by Mr. Niaz Ahamed (ref: IMM/C8853) to join his wife in the United Kingdom was referred to his Department for inquires to be made in the United Kingdom; on what date the request was received by his Department; when he expects to make a recommendation; and if he will make a statement. [18469]

I will arrange for the migration and visa department correspondence unit to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he first consulted other Cabinet Ministers about the contents of the report of the Scott inquiry; and where and when such discussions took place and with whom. [16516]

[holding answer 22 February 1996]: It is not the practice to give details of ministerial meetings.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to paragraphs D1.27 and D1.28 of the Scott report, if he will list those matters relating to the work of his Department since 1979 classified as matters about which successive Administrations have refused to answer. [17420]

[holding answer 26 February 1996]: I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend, the President of the Board of Trade on 26 February, Official Report, Column 592.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his European counterparts regarding trade with South Africa and the reduction of trade barriers with that country. [16793]

[holding answer 26 February 1996]: Britain is in the lead in pressing for the liberalisation of trade between the EU and South Africa. South Africa responded positively to the EU's offer of June 1995 to negotiate a free trade area. We need to move forward on this urgently, with the goal of an agreement which will remove as many barriers to trade as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to discuss with his European counterparts the extension of the Lome convention to South African trade. [16794]

[holding answer 26 February 1996]: Negotiations on South Africa's accession to the Lome convention are underway. These do not cover trade, which is being pursued separately: South Africa has responded positively to the EU's offer to negotiate a free trade area as part of a wider bilateral agreement on trade and co-operation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which British representatives interviewed Hussein Kamel in Jordan and on what dates; and if the interview included questions on Mr. Kamel's involvement with Matrix Churchill. [17874]

[holding answer 28 February 1996]: As I made clear in my letter of 2 October 1995 to the hon. Member, any such contacts would, by their nature, be confidential.

To ask the Prime Minister what steps he will take as a result of the finding of the Scott inquiry that the letter written to the hon. Member referred to in paragraph D.4.43 concerning changes in the Government's policy on the supply of arms to Iraq was misleading. [16956]

I have been asked to reply.

To ask the Prime Minister what action he proposes in respect of Scott's recommendation, K8.8, that the refusal to answer parliamentary questions on sales of arms or defence-related equipment to other countries should be re-examined. [17054]

I have been asked to reply.As my right hon. Friend, the President of the Board of Trade made clear in his speech in the House on 26 February, the Government will be considering the extent to which information about overseas defence sales can be publicly disclosed. A background note on "Ministerial Accountability and the Release of Information on Defence Related Exports" has been placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Prime Minister if he accepts the observation contained in the Scott report, section K3.3, that the DTI should not continue to be the export licensing authority in respect of goods whose export is primarily the policy concern of some other Department; and if he will make a statement. [17867]

I have been asked to reply.Sir Richard Scott recommends that consideration should be given as to whether the DTI should continue to be the export licence authority for the good concerned. The Government accept this and propose to publish a consultation paper on export control legislation and procedures. We will reach decisions on particular issues in the light of comments received, in response to the consultation paper.

To ask the Prime Minister how many civil servants had direct sight of the Scott report as of 13 February. [15705]

[holding answer 16 February 1996]: I have been asked to reply.As of 13 February, only those required to assist the Government in preparing their response to the report, as agreed between the Government and the Scott inquiry.

To ask the Prime Minister what action he will take in response to the conclusion in section K4.1 of the Scott report that the role of Customs and Excise in policing and prosecuting export control offences is anomalous; and if he will make a statement. [17820]

[holding answer 27 February 1996]: I have been asked to reply.As my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade told the House in his speech during the debate on a motion for the adjournment of 26 February 1996,

To ask the Prime Minister if he will enumerate and detail the shortcomings of Government in relation to the Scott report to which he referred during Prime Minister's Question Time on 22 February. [17670]

[holding answer 27 February 1996]: I have been asked to reply.I refer the hon. Member to the speech made by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade on Monday 26 February,

To ask the Prime Minister when he plans to attend a meeting of the Scottish Grand Committee; how many officials will attend with him; how many of these will be press officers; and what estimate he has made of the total cost involved. [18571]

I have been asked to reply.My right hon. Friend expects to attend shortly. Details of officials and costs are not yet known.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will name the members of the Cabinet committee dealing with women's issues. [18251]

I have been asked to reply.I refer the hon. Member to the reply that my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for Edmonton (Dr. Twinn) on 18 July 1995,

To ask the Prime Minister if Her Majesty's Government will now make public details of the involvement of British companies in Iraq's (a) chemical, (b) nuclear and (c) biological and chemical warfare programmes as communicated to Her Majesty's Government by UNSCOM—the UN special commission on Iraq. [17322]

[holding answer 26 February 1996]: I have been asked to reply. UNSCOM has communicated to us in confidence the names of a number of British companies which may have been involved in supplying items found at sites associated with Iraqi programmes to develop weapons of mass destruction. UNSCOM does not make this information public, and it is important that we respect its confidence. UNSCOM considers that a high degree of confidentiality is essential to the successful performance of its work.Moreover, release of the names included in UNSCOM reports could unreasonably damage the reputation of British companies. It would be wrong to conclude without further analysis that companies whose names might appear in reports from UNSCOM have behaved wrongfully. Should any evidence of wrongdoing emerge, it will be investigated and, if appropriate, will be a matter for the courts.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the policies he presented to the Western European Union assembly in London on 23 February; and if he will place a copy of his speech in the Library. [18171]

I have been asked to reply.This Government's approach is set out in detail in a memorandum of 1 March 1995. Copies of this and of my right hon. Friend's speech to the WEU assembly have been deposited in the Libraries of both Houses.

To ask the Prime Minister on what dates between 1987 and 1990 he met officials from the Export Credits Guarantee Department; and if he will make a statement. [17708]

[holding answer 27 February 1996]: I have been asked to reply.Advice about policy on export credit cover would normally be given to my right hon. Friends, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury and the Chancellor of the Exchequer by Treasury officials. It is not possible, without disproportionate cost, to ascertain if, and on what dates, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister may have met ECGD officials between 1987 and 1990. It would, however, have been unusual for Ministers to receive advice on export credit policy from officials other than those in their own Departments.

To ask the secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to ensure that local organisations are able to reclaim from the polluter the cost of clean-up, after-care, research and monitoring; and if he will make a statement. [17660]

Compensation for cost incurred and economic loss suffered as a result of the oil pollution damage from the Sea Empress, including the costs of reasonable measures taken to prevent or minimise the damage, will be available from the shipowner's insurer and from the international oil pollution compensation fund, which is funded by levies on the oil industry. Temporary arrangements have been put in place to meet claims involving hardship.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his latest estimate of the number of sea birds affected by oil originating from the Sea Empress. [18092]

I have asked the chief executive of the Coastguard agency to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) sea birds and (b) other wildlife have been (i) killed and (ii) otherwise affected by oil originating from the Sea Empress. [18360]

[holding answer 1 March 1996]: I have asked the chief executive of the Coastguard Agency to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what arrangements he has made to provide compensation to fishermen affected by the oil spill in Pembrokeshire. [18063]

[holding answer 29 February 1996]: Compensation for cost incurred and economic loss suffered as a result of the oil pollution damage from the Sea Empress including the costs of reasonable measures taken to prevent or minimise the damage, will be available from the shipowner's insurer and from the international oil pollution compensation fund, which is funded by levies on the oil industry. As stated by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales yesterday, officials of relevant Government Departments have brokered an agreement which has enabled temporary arrangements to be put in place to meet claims involving hardship.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what provision has been made by the Rail Regulator to allow for boarding and alighting from trains by disabled passengers. [17939]

As required by the Railways Act 1993, the Rail Regulator has produced a code of practice on meeting the needs of disabled passengers which covers recommendations for the design of rolling stock and stations. All train and station operators are required to submit for the regulator's approval, a disabled persons protection policy, based on this code of practice.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what reviews have taken place in the system of allocating funds to local authorities through the transport policies and programmes processing the last five years. [18165]

The TPP system is constantly under review, in order to ensure that within the limits of public expenditure Government resources are targeted where they are most needed and where they give optimum value for money. The main changes that have taken place in the last five years are as follows:

• 1991–92
• Resources transferred from the Department of the Environment's revenue support grant (RSG) system to my Department's transport supplementary grant (TSG) system for the assessment, strengthening, and structural maintenance of bridges.
• Funds were earmarked for the first time in the local transport settlement for road safety schemes.
• 1992–93
• Further resources transferred from RSG for the structural maintenance of principal ("A") roads forming part of the primary route network.
• 1993–94
• Further resources transferred to TSG for structural maintenance of other principal local roads.
• 1994–95
• The package approach to funding local transport infrastructure was introduced.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what monitoring is undertaken by his Department of how those policies contained in the transport policies and programmes documents submitted to his Department by local highway authorities comply with the local authorities' appropriate development plans; [18163](2) what monitoring is undertaken by his Department of how those transport policies contained in the transport policies and programme documents submitted to his Department by local highway authorities comply with PPG13. [18162]

The guidance we issue to local authorities makes it clear that the proposals they include in their transport policies and programme submissions are expected to be consistent with local structure and development plans, and with the guidance set out in PPG 13. Staff in my Department and in the Government offices for the regions look for evidence of this consistency when they are assessing local authorities' annual submissions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the change in the level of pedestrian injuries which has resulted from the use of speed cameras. [18181]

National figures are not available. However, in the west London pilot area pedestrian casualties were reduced by 30 per cent.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many road accidents have occurred in the last five years for which figures are available where one driver involved was driving a passenger service vehicle and required spectacles or contact lenses; [18285]

This information is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on EU policy with regard to lorry drivers' eye tests without the use of spectacles. [18875]

Among the eyesight standards for drivers of lorries and buses set in the second EC directive on driving licences, which will come into force on 1 July 1996, is a requirement to meet an uncorrected acuity standard, that is, without glasses or contact lenses, of 0.05—equivalent to 3/60 on the Snellen scale. This differs from the regulations in force in the United Kingdom since 1983 only in being required of both eyes rather than one eye only.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reasons the general authority to the Rail Regulator issued under section 8 of the Railways Act 1993 prohibits him from granting licences to public sector operators other than subsidiaries of the British Railways Board; and if he will make a statement. [18486]

Both the Secretary of State and the regulator have statutory powers to grant licences under the Railways Act 1993. Decisions on the licensing of further public sector operators of passenger rail services can most appropriately be taken by the Secretary of State.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what basis compensation is paid to train operators for delays caused by engineering work not completed on schedule. [18485]

Train operators are paid compensation for overrunning engineering works through their track access performance regimes. These have been designed to ensure that, broadly, when action by Railtrack or its contractors causes disruption to services, passenger train operators should be able to recover from Railtrack liquidated damages reflecting a fair assessment of the economic losses which they have suffered.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures he is taking to write off the debts of Railtrack; and what are the amounts of money to be written off. [18759]

Railtrack has a mix of different debts. The majority—around £1.2 billion—is owed to the national loans fund and cannot pass into the private sector with Railtrack. It will therefore need to be replaced with appropriate direct borrowings. Section 106 of the Railways Act 1993 contains the power for doing this. Final decisions on Railtrack's debt and capital structure will be taken in due course.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many (a) men and (b) women have made (i) one, (ii) two, (iii) three and (iv) four or more claims for unemployment-related benefits in the three year periods ending with each year from 1985 to 1995 in Great Britain; and what proportion each represents of those eligible to make such claims. [16251]

The table shows the numbers of men and women in Great Britain making one, two, three, or more than three claims for unemployment-related benefits in each three-year period since 1982. No information is available on the total number of people who might be eligible to make such claims but do not do so.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many (a) men and (b) women have made (i) one, (ii) two, (iii) three, (iv) four and (v) five or more claims for unemployment-related benefits in each standard region of (1) England, (2) Wales and (3) Scotland since April 1992; and what proportion each represents of those eligible to make such claims. [16252]

The table shows the numbers of men and women in England, Wales and Scotland making one, two, three, four or more claims for unemployment-related benefits since April 1992. No information is available on the total number of people who might be eligible to make such claims but do not do so.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the redundancy rate per 1,000 employees for each broad occupational group using the data from the spring labour force survey from 1989 to 1995. [17796]

The information is given for people made redundant in the three months prior to their labour force survey interview in the spring quarters between 1991 and 1995. Data for 1989 and 1990 are not available on a comparable basis. The figures reflect the occupation in which people were last employed, or, for those people in paid employment, the occupation that they were in at the time of the interview.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many seasonal workers are employed in the United Kingdom leisure and entertainment industry in the most recent year for which figures are available. [17789]

The information requested is provided in the table.