To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will reply to the letter sent to him by the hon. Member for North-East Derbyshire on 19 January, reference GK/AB/190196. [19210]

I wrote to the hon. Member on 7 March 1996.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment on how many occasions in each of the past five years Ministers in his Department have passed (a) hon. Members' letters and (b) hon. Members' questions to agencies for response; and what this figure is as a percentage of the total number of letters and questions received. [19426]

The information requested on correspondence could be provided only at disproportionate cost.The number of parliamentary questions answered by the Department's agencies in each of the past five years and the percentage of questions that it represents is as follows:

year	Number of questions answered by Agencies	Total number of questions answered	Percentage answered by Agencies
1992	20	5,899	0.3
1993	3	3,750	0.08
1994	5	3,970	0.1
1995	9	3,614	0.2
1996	11	21,031	0.09
1This question required a written reply from all four agencies
2As at 1 March 1995.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many pages of guidance notes have been issued by (a) his Department, (b) regulatory authorities and (c) non-departmental public bodies in each of the last three years. [18645]

This information is not held centrally, and cannot be provided except at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what consultation was undertaken before the recent publication by the Health and Safety Commission of the leaflet entitled "Your rights when health and safety inspectors take enforcement action", and (a) which organisations were invited to respond, (b) how many responses were received and (c) what proportion favoured the need for the advice leaflet; [19518](2) what cost effective activity by business is promoted by the publication by the Health and Safety Commission of the advice leaflet "Your rights when health and safety inspectors take enforcement action"; and if he will make a statement. [19522]

The Health and Safety Commission's leaflet "Your rights when health and safety inspectors take enforcement action" publicises enforcement procedures drawn up by the commission to ensure the health and safety enforcement lines up with the principles in the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994. The Government accepted the recommendation of the deregulation task force in its first annual report for the widespread adoption of these principles, which were introduced to give business rights of representation before formal enforcement action is taken.In drawing up the procedures and the leaflet, the commission sought the views of local authorities, through the health and safety liaison committee, and of the deregulation task force. Heads of all Health and Safety Executive inspectorates were also consulted. All provided helpful comments.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recommendations from the deregulation unit were included in the recent publication by the Health and Safety Commission leaflet entitled "Your rights when health and safety inspectors take enforcement action". [19519]

Officials from the Cabinet Office deregulation unit and the Health and Safety Executive worked closely in drawing up this leaflet to ensure it followed the enforcement principles in the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the use of the publication "Your rights when health and safety inspectors take enforcement action" in maintaining and improving standards of health, safety and welfare of workers; and if he will make a statement. [19520]

The procedures set out in the leaflet follow the principles in the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994 which were designed to improve the fairness, transparency and consistency of enforcement action without jeopardising any necessary protection. The procedures do not weaken the protection afforded by the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. They do not affect inspectors' powers to take immediate enforcement action against business, or to require business to take immediate remedial action, in any case where it appears to inspectors to be necessary to take such action or impose such a requirement. The commission is monitoring how the procedures are working in practice and will report to me.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what the impact of the procedures set down in Health and Safety Commission leaflet "Your rights when health and safety inspectors take enforcement action" will be on the role of the workplace safety representative; and if he will make a statement. [19521]

The role of the workplace safety representative remains unchanged. Inspectors will continue to seek views from employees or their safety representatives and make suitable arrangements to provide them with information on the action required of business. Inspectors also now provide a copy of the commission's leaflet.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the (a) facilities management consortia, (b)private finance initiative bids, (c) management buy-out consortia, (d) contractorisation schemes and (e) market-testing schemes in his Department in respect of which (i) Capita Managed Services and (ii) Lusis Business Solutions are currently involved in bidding. [19912]

Neither of these companies are currently bidding for these contracts in the Department of the Environment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the (a) facilities management consortia, (b) private finance initiative bids, (c) management buy-out consortia, (d) contractorisation schemes and (e) market-testing schemes in his Department in respect of which (i) Capita Managed Services and (ii) Lusis Business Solutions are currently involved in bidding. [19908]

There are currently no examples of the companies named being involved in bidding for work in the Departments in Northern Ireland.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what mechanisms are being used by his Department to make payments under the EU special support programme for peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland. [20495]

Parliamentary approval for the making of payments under the EU special support programme for peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland has been sought in the spring supplementary estimates. Pending that approval, urgent expenditure for new services will be met by repayable advances from the civil Contingencies Fund.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what officials from the Treasury attended the Scottish Grand Committee meeting in Aberdeen on Monday 19 February; how many of these were press officers; and what was the total cost involved. [18570]

I attended the Scottish Grand Committee meeting in Aberdeen accompanied by a private secretary and a press officer.The total cost for their attendance was £555.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list all cases since 1987 where his Department has bought computer capacity from (a) other Departments and (b) the private sector, giving the value of each contract and the name of the private sector contractors. [19456]

The Treasury has not purchased any computer capacity from any Government Department or private sector company since 1987.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the average hourly earnings of (a) full-time and (b) part-time employees in each of the standard regions (i) including and (ii) excluding employees covered by national agreements. [19576]

Information available from the new earnings survey is provided in the following table.

New Earnings Survey 1995 (GB) Hourly earnings (excluding overtime) of employees on adult rates, whose pay for the survey period was not affected by absence
	Full-time Employees covered by national agreements:		Part-time Employees covered by national agreements:
	Included	Excluded	Included	Excluded
Standard Region	£	£	£	£
South East	9.77	9.84	6.32	5.80
East Anglia	7.49	7.26	5.10	4.75
South West	7.77	7.55	5.22	4.86
West Midlands	7.58	7.34	5.25	4.82
East Midlands	7.42	7.14	5.17	4.78
Yorkshire and Humberside	7.43	7.14	5.24	4.86
North West	7.81	7.59	5.47	4.95
North	7.35	7.08	5.08	4.69
Wales	7.41	7.06	5.09	4.61
Scotland	7.78	7.52	5.25	4.79

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the (a) facilities management consortia, (b) private finance initiative bids, (c) management buy-out consortia, (d) contractorisation schemes and (e) market-testing schemes in his Department in respect of which (i) Capita Managed Services and (ii) Lusis Business Solutions are currently involved in bidding. [19899]

The Treasury has no current dealings with Capita Management Services or Lusis Business Solutions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what percentage of school leavers have gone directly into higher education in each year since 1980. [19485]

Numbers of school leavers going directly into higher education are not collected centrally. However, the proportion of young people entering full-time higher education has more than doubled since 1980 as shown in the following list.

• Academic year beginning in:
• 1980: 13
• 1981: 13
• 1982: 13
• 1983: 13
• 1984: 14
• 1985: 14
• 1986: 14
• 1987: 15
• 1988: 15
• 1989: 17
• 1990: 19
• 1991: 23
• 1992: 28
• 1993: 30
• 1994: 31¹
• ¹Provisional.

Figures show the number of young—aged under 21 years—home domiciled initial entrants to higher education in Great Britain expressed as a percentage of the averaged 18 to 19-year-old population. Initial entrants are those entering a full-time course of higher education for the first time.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the budget for repairs and maintenance of school buildings in real terms in each year since 1979. [19448]

The following table shows in 1995 prices gross recurrent expenditure by local education authorities in England on repairs and maintenance from 1979–80 to 1994–95.

Repairs and maintenance of buildings fixed plant and grounds
1995 prices £000
1979–80	580,003
1980–81	599,060
1981–82	552,319
1982–83	581,652
1983–84	616,316
1984–85	598,008
1985–86	565,595
1986–87	616,805
1987–88	618,385

Repairs and maintenance of buildings fixed plant and grounds
1995 prices £000
1988–89	579,596
1989–90	631,736
1990–91	618,283
1991–92	625,818
1992–93	583,974
1993–94	527,906
1994–951	534,295
1 Provisional.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is her Department's estimate for the total parental contribution to higher education student maintenance awards. [19360]

[holding answer 7 March 1996]: The total assessed parental contribution to mandatory awards made by local education authorities in England and Wales for the academic year 1993–94, the latest year for which data are available, was £621 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list for (a) the schools which the Office of Standards in Education plan to inspect in the Don Valley constituency in the next 12 months, (b) the dates during which inspections are to be made, (c) the dates on which inspection contracts were approved and (d) the date by which Ofsted will report the outcome of the inspection. [19689]

This is a matter for Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools, who heads the Office for Standards in Education. I have asked Mr. Chris Woodhead to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list the (a) facilities management consortia, (b) private finance initiative bids, (c) management buy-out consortia, (d) contractorisation schemes and (e) market-testing schemes in her Department in respect of which (i) Capita Managed Services and (ii) Lusis Business Solutions are currently involved in bidding. [19913]

Capita Managed Services has recently submitted a tender to administer the teachers' superannuation scheme under the contractorisation process of the Teachers' Pensions Agency.Capita Managed Services and Lusis Business Solutions are not currently bidding for work in any of the other areas.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when (a) the Royal Air Force Harrier GR 7 which crashed on 20 February at Southorpe, near Peterborough, Lincolnshire, (b) the two RAF Tornados which collided on 10 January above the base at Coningsby, (c) the RAF Tornado which crashed on 11 January at RAF Bruggen, Germany and (d) the RAF Hawk trainer which crashed on take-off in February at RAF Valley, Anglesey last had a major service; by whom each was carried out; and if he will make a statement. [17914]

All RAF aircraft are maintained in accordance with the appropriate authorised servicing cycle and approved maintenance procedures.In addition to first and second line maintenance carried out at operating units by RAF tradesmen at 125, 250, 500 and 1,000 flying hours, RAF Tornado aircraft undergo a major service every 2,000 flying hours. This is carried out by the Maintenance Group Defence Agency at RAF St. Athan. Neither Tornado F3 ZE862 nor ZE166 had received their first major service, which would have become due at 2,000 flying hours. They had, however, been subject to appropriate levels of servicing in November 1995 and August 1995 respectively. Tornado GR1 ZD846's last major service was carried out in 1991, but it had been appropriately serviced in December 1995.RAF Hawk aircraft undergo a major service every 2,000 flying hours. Hawk XX164's last major service was performed in 1991 at RAF Abingdon. The aircraft has since then received regular servicing, most recently in January 1996 when minor maintenance was carried out by RAF tradesmen at RAF Valley.The design philosophy of the Harrier does not require it to undergo major servicing in the same way as the Tornado and Hawk. Harrier GR7 ZG476 completed a period of minor scheduled maintenance, the deepest servicing applicable to the Harrier GR7, at RAF Wittering in December 1995. This work was carried out by RAF tradesmen.The separate boards of inquiry into these aircraft losses are ongoing. A summary of the board's findings will be placed in the Library of the House in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the circumstances of the accident and involving a Royal Navy Harrier T 4N at RNAS Yeovilton on 27 June 1994; and if this accident is included in the accident rate figure for Royal Navy fixed-wing aircraft published in the 1995 edition of "UK Defence Statistics". [19759]

The circumstances of the accident are as follows. During the final stages of approach for landing, following a general flying practice sortie, the aircraft's rate of descent increased, causing it to land heavily. Subsequent investigation revealed that the aircraft had struck the leading edge of the runway with sufficient force to remove the main undercarriage. Fuller details are given in the "Military Aircraft Accident Summary", copies of which have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.I can confirm that this accident was included in the accident rate figures for Royal Navy fixed-wing aircraft published in the 1995 edition of "UK Defence Statistics".

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many armed forces personnel have been dismissed over the last five years for reasons regarding their sexuality. [19449]

During the period 1990–94, 309 service personnel left the armed forces for reasons of their sexual orientation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the (a) facilities management consortia, (b) private finance initiative bids, (c) management buy-out consortia, (d) contractorisation schemes and (e) market-testing schemes in his Department in respect of which (i) Capita Managed Services and (ii) Lusis Business Solutions are currently involved in bidding. [19914]

The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions the Arbau-Klaus railhead transfer equipment has been deployed outside the United Kingdom in conjunction with other equipment in the demountable rack offloading and pick-up system logistic supply chain. [19968]

The Arbau-Klaus railhead transfer equipment has been deployed in Germany since 1989. It carries out a range of mechanical handling functions and is regularly deployed with a variety of other systems within the demountable rack offloading and pick-up system—DROPS—logistic supply chain.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the Arbau-Klaus railhead transfer equipment has required modification for use as part of the demountable rack offloading and pick-up system logistic supply chain since purchased by his Department. [19969]

The Arbau-Klaus equipment has not required modification to meet the operational requirement. However, in the current financial year the Ministry of Defence has purchased a further complement of spreader frames to reflect the changed pattern of operational use. This option was provided for in the original contract.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the construction contract at Coulport and the role of Tarmac in respect of that contract. [19790]

A number of major construction contracts were placed in the 1980s to prepare the Royal Naval armament depot, Coulport, Scotland for the introduction into service of the Trident strategic weapon system. Two large contracts were awarded to Tarmac Construction Limited as main contractor. One was for the provision of access roads and dockside weapon handling facilities. The other, for which a final price remains to be agreed, was for warhead and missile storage facilities and warhead processing arrangements.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if military equipment made in the United Kingdom was sold to Argentina between May 1979 and May 1982. [18581]

Details of arms sales to Argentina since 1976 were given to the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee in November 1982. A copy of this—HC31-i—is available in the Library of the House. These figures indicate that, in fulfilment of contracts signed before 1979, two Lynx anti-submarine helicopters were delivered to Argentina in 1979, one type 42 destroyer was commissioned in November 1980 and some Sea Dart missiles were delivered up to 1981.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the decommissioned nuclear-powered vessels in the ownership of his Department, giving the location of each and the cost of any work undertaken on each vessel since decommissioning; and what are his plans for the disposal of these vessels. [19510]

The location of each nuclear-powered submarine that has left service is as follows, with the approximate costs, where available, of undertaking the defuelling, de-equipping and lay-up preparation—DDLP. In addition to DDLP costs, the average annual maintenance cost of storing a decommissioned nuclear-powered submarine afloat is some £50,000. A docking of each submarine is also carried out every 10 years at an approximate cost of £3 million per submarine. So far, only Dreadnought has undergone a 10-yearly docking. The policy for final disposal is still under consideration.

Submarine	Location	DDLP cost £ million
HMS Dreadnought	Rosyth	1—
HMS Warspite	Devonport	11.3
HMS Churchill	Rosyth	11.2
HMS Conqueror	Devonport	10.6
HMS Swiftsure	Rosyth	11.5
HMS Courageous	Devonport	10.8
HMS Revenge	Rosyth	18.7
HMS Valiant	Devonport	2—
HMS Resolution	Rosyth	2—
HMS Renown	Rosyth	2—
1 It is not possible to provide costs of the decommissioning of HMS Dreadnought, which was the first nuclear submarine to be withdrawn from service in 1982; the information, insofar as it may be available, could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
2 HMS Valiant, HMS Resolution and HMS Renown have not yet completed their DDLP.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much compensation has been paid since 1966 to the Australian Government or nationals by Her Majesty's Government in respect of claims by or on behalf of persons who suffered death or injury as a consequence of the United Kingdom's atomic weapons test programme in Australasia in the 1950s. [18880]

[holding answer 4 March 1996]: As announced to the House on 10 December 1993, Official Report, column 421, the Government agreed to make an ex gratia payment of £20 million to the Federal Government of Australia as a contribution to the cost of the further clean-up of the Maralinga site. A copy of the note giving effect to this agreement was placed in the Library of the House. The note also records that the Government of Australia indemnified the Government of the UK against claims from Australian nationals or residents. We understand, however, that since then the Australian Government have paid no compensation to anyone claiming to have been injured by radiation from the British nuclear test programme.

To ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, representing the House of Commons Commission what estimate he has made of the annual cost of the proposed reforms of the Welsh Grand Committee. [18467]

[holding answer 4 March 1996]: On the assumption that the Welsh Grand Committee meets four times in Wales during the financial year 1996–97, an estimate of £36,000 is forecast. This estimate includes travel, accommodation, communications, security and additional staff costs; but excludes any additional costs incurred by Government Departments. Full details will be given, in due course, in the next sessional return.

To ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, representing the House of Commons Commission what is the total estimated cost of maintaining the Deregulation Committee, broken down by office costs, staffing costs and printing costs. [18639]

[holding answer 7 March 1996]: It is not possible to give a total estimated cost of maintaining the Deregulation Committee.Currently the Committee has three full-time staff and three staff who also serve the European Legislation Committee. The Committee also receives assistance from the staff in the Committee Office providing general support for the work of Select Committees. Details of the staffing of the Committees are given in the sessional return. It is not possible to calculate office costs for individual Select Committees. The return for Session 1994–95 was published on 28 February as House of Commons Paper 132 of the current Session.The cost of printing the reports of the Committee was £2,070 in financial year 1994–95; and in the current year, to the end of December 1995, has been £29,337. The costs relate to publication of nine reports.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list all cases since 1987 where his Department has bought computer capacity from (a) other Departments and (b) the private sector, giving the value of each contract and the name of the private sector contactors. [19461]

My Department has not purchased any computer capacity, in the sense of buying time on someone else's computer, from other Government Departments or the private sector since 1987.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what role the deregulation unit had in the preparation of the recently published Health and Safety Commission leaflet entitled "Your rights when health and safety inspectors take enforcement action". [19575]

Officials from the Cabinet Office deregulation unit and the Health and Safety Executive worked together closely in drawing up this leaflet to ensure it followed the enforcement principles in the Deregulation and Contracting out Act 1994.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many staff are employed by the deregulation unit; what indicators are used to measure its performance; and what are its total annual manning costs. [19572]

Staffing numbers, staffing costs and performance measures were set out in the annual MINIS 95 return for the Department of Trade and Industry, as the unit was at that stage part of that Department. The return was published on 12 June 1995 and a copy placed in the Library of the House.The staff complement of the deregulation unit at January 1996 was 43.5.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) how many jobs have been lost in Her Majesty's Stationery Office in each year since 1990; [19776](2) what is the projected cost of redundancy payments for HMSO in 1996; [19777](3) what is the cost of redundancy payments within HMSO for each year since 1990; [19778](4) what estimate he has made of the change in the number of jobs in HMSO in 1996. [19791]

As these questions relate purely to operational matters, I have asked the chief executive of HMSO to reply direct to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to review the number of (a) contributions agencies and (b) benefits agencies in Scotland. [17106]

The Contributions Agency undertook an extensive analysis of its field operations business in 1993 and a review of the management structure in 1994, to increase efficiency and reduce costs, in line with the Government White Paper, "Continuity and change in the Civil Service".The recommendations of the reviews were subject to a feasibility study and then an extensive trial period in rural and urban areas during 1995.The proposed changes to the field operations structure will be implemented over a two to three-year period.Although the efficiency and running costs of the Contributions Agency are constantly under review, there are no proposals to undertake a further reorganisation.The Benefits Agency regularly reviews its estate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations he has received regarding the number of and access to contributions and benefits agencies. [17107]

The Contributions Agency has been in existence since 2 April 1991, details of inquiries made to the Secretary of State about access to, and the number of Contributions Agency offices are not available prior to 1 January 1995. Since 1 January 1995 the Secretary of State has received 17 direct inquiries on this subject; 16 written inquiries from hon. Members and one independent inquiry.The Benefits Agency could obtain this information only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what incentives he plans to introduce to encourage individuals to contribute to company pension schemes. [18850]

Measures to be introduced under the Pensions Act 1995 will enhance the security of occupational pension schemes, increasing pubic confidence in them. Members of occupational schemes contracted out of the state earnings-related pension scheme pay lower rates of national insurance contributions. Tax relief is given on individual contributions to occupational schemes, including additional voluntary contributions. Similarly, national insurance rebates and tax relief are available to employees in individually-arranged and group personal pension schemes. The Department of Social Security is developing a range of material explaining the benefits of planning early for retirement and providing pensions information in plain English for employers, the public and the pensions world.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the (a) facilities management consortia, (b) private finance initiative bids, (c) management buy-out consortia, (d) contractorisation schemes and (e) market-testing schemes in his Department in respect of which (i) Capita Managed Services and (ii) Lusis Business Solutions are currently involved in bidding. [19909]

Neither Capita Managed Services nor Lusis Business Solutions are part of any of the consortia bidding for any of this Department's facilities management, private finance initiative projects, management buy-outs, contractorisation schemes or market-testing schemes. It is possible that these companies may be employed by bidding consortia, but that is a matter for the consortia concerned.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list for those areas of (a) Greenock and (b) Port Glasgow within the parliamentary constituency of Greenock and Port Glasgow entitled to receive cold weather payments, the weather station used as the basis for calculations; in respect of how many days each area has received cold weather payments in winter 1995–96; what has been the total amount paid to date; and if he will make a statement. [18055]

The administration of the social fund is a matter for Peter Mathison, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security which weather stations are used as the basis of calculations for cold weather payments in the constituency of Perth and Kinross; for how many days each eligible area has received cold weather payments in winter 1995–96; and what has been the total amount paid. [19168]

The administration of the social fund is a matter for Mr. Peter Mathison, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what action is being taken by his Department to minimise the variations in monetary errors made in the award of income support by differing Benefits Agency offices. [18041]

The administration of income support is a matter for Peter Mathison, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list the (a) facilities management consortia, (b) private finance initiative bids, (c) management buy-out consortia, (d) contractorisation schemes and (e) market-testing schemes in his Department in respect of which (i) Capita Managed Services and (ii) Lusis Business Solutions are currently involved in bidding. [19906]

Neither company is currently bidding under any of (a) to (e).

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will take steps to eliminate age discrimination in respect of those aged over 50 in advertisements to recruit magistrates in Doncaster. [18823]

The intention of the advertisement is not to be discriminatory but the Lord Chancellor's advisory committees seek to maintain a balance on benches in terms of age. Of the 185 magistrates currently on the Doncaster bench, 73 per cent. are aged 50 and above.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list the number of justices of the peace aged (a) under 30, (b) 30 to 40, (c) 40 to 50, (d) 50 to 60, (e) 60 to 65 and (f) over 65 years of age for Doncaster magistrates court. [18822]

The figures are as follows:

	Number
(a) under 30	0
(b) 30 to 40	6
(c) 40 to 50	43
(d) 50 to 60	86
(e) 60 to 65	27
(f) over 65	23

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will amend section 8 of the Contempt of Court Act 1981 to allow research to be undertaken into the functioning of juries. [18777]

The royal commission on criminal justice recommended the amendment of section 8 of the Contempt of Court Act 1981 to enable research to be conducted into jurors' reasons for their verdicts. The Government are sympathetic to this recommendation and recognise the significant potential value of some forms of jury research. Consultation is currently taking place and the senior judiciary have been asked for their views.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the statistical probability of an eligible individual being called for jury service. [18773]

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 Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the level of co-operation between the Scottish arts council and the Northern Ireland arts council; what projects have been jointly funded in the last year; and what future joint projects are planned. [17109]

Regular meetings and discussions are held between the chairmen, chief executive and other senior staff, as appropriate, to discuss matters of common interest. In the last year the four UK Arts Councils and the Arts Council in the Republic of Ireland funded a five cities tour of poetry readings in December 1995, and the Scottish arts council and the arts council of Northern Ireland jointly commissioned from Piers Hellawell a musical composition for the Highland festival in June 1996.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many live births were registered in Scotland during 1995. [18861]

The provisional total of live births registered in Scotland in 1995 is £60,053.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what civil servants attended each meeting of the Scottish Grand Committee in the current parliamentary Session; what have been the total costs associated with their attendance on each occasion; and how many of them were from the Scottish information office; [18568](2) what civil servants he proposes should attend future meetings of the Scottish Grant Committee; what estimate he has made of the total cost involved; and how many of the officials and what amount of the costs relate to staff of the Scottish information office. [18569]

The number of officials attending meetings of the Scottish Grand Committee depends on the subjects for debate. In the current parliamentary Session an average of 15 departmental officials have attended each meeting. That number includes three officials from the Scottish Office information directorate and four ministerial private secretaries. As officials attending meetings do so as part of their normal duties no additional staff costs are incurred. There are of course travelling costs associated with each meetings.Attendance at future meetings will depend on the business to be handled and travelling costs on the venue but I expect the same pattern will continue.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many school children were excluded (a) permanently and (b) temporarily from schools in (i) Perth and Kinross district council area and (ii) Tayside regional council area in 1995. [19169]

Information on the number of school children excluded temporarily from schools is not available. The available information, consistent with that set out in the report on attendance and absence in Scottish schools, 1994–95, published by the adult unit of Her Majesty's inspectors of schools, is as follows.

	Number of pupils permanently excluded from schools in 1994–95	Number of half days of temporary exclusions from schools in 1994–95
Perth and Kinross	0	3,956
Tayside	0	20,702

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many racial incidents were reported in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in each educational authority in Scotland in 1995. [19170]

This information is not held centrally by the Scottish Office.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which education authorities in Scotland have specific programmes to deal directly with the incidence of racism in schools. [19171]

The management of schools is the responsibility of education authorities and head teachers. Information on which education authorities in Scotland have specific programmes to deal directly with the incidence of racism in schools is not held by the Scottish Office.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the (a) facilities management consortia, (b) private finance initiative bids, (c) management buy-out consortia, (d) contractorisation schemes and (e) market-testing schemes in his Department in respect of which (i) Capita Managed Services and (ii) Lusis Business Solutions are currently involved in bidding. [19900]

Neither of these companies is currently involved in biding for any of these schemes or initiatives within the Scottish Office.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are (a) the numbers employed in the education directorate of each of the new councils, (b) the numbers of schools for which each is responsible and (c) the ratio for each council of the numbers so employed to the number of schools for which it is responsible. [20383]

The information at present available is shown in the table. I am asking my officials to update these figures as soon as councils have finalised their staffing structures.

New Scottish Councils: numbers employed in educational directorates and numbers of schools
	Officers1	Schools2	Ratio
Aberdeen	16	95	1:6
Aberdeenshire	31	196	1:6
Angus	11	65	1:6
Borders	32	82	1:2.5
Clackmannan	8	29	1:3.5
Dumfries and Galloway	19	134	1:7
Dundee	14	65	1:4.5
East Lothian	21	48	1:2.2
East Renfrewshire	11	36	1:3
Edinburgh	63	158	1:2.5
Falkirk	17	67	1:4
Fife	45	192	1:4.2
Midlothian	10	51	1:5
Moray	16	64	1:4
Perth and Kinross	14	92	1:6.5
Renfrewshire	14	88	1:6

New Scottish Councils: numbers employed in educational directorates and numbers of schools
	Officers1	Schools2	Ratio
South Ayrshire	17	65	1:4
West Lothian	41	92	1:2.2
1 Officers comprise Director (Tier 1), Deputy/Assisted Director (Tier 2), Education Officer/Operations Manager (Tier 3) and Adviser/Quality Assessor/Development Officer (Tier 4).
2 Schools comprise secondary schools, primary schools special schools nursery schools.

1. Information from the following eleven councils is awaited: Argyll and Bute, East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, Glasgow, Highlands, Inverclyde, North Ayrshire, North Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire, Stirling and West Dunbartonshire.

New councils—special responsibility allowances (SRAs) and numbers of administrative staff earning in excess of £42,000
Council	Number of councillors	Number of SRAs	Cost	Cost per councillor	Number of staff earning in excess of £42,000
Aberdeen	50	28	251,095	5,022	17
Aberdeenshire1	47	9	84,565	1,799	19
Angus	26	25	184,800	7,108	28
Argyll and Bute	33	15	125,450	3,802	13
Scottish Borders	58	19	118,700	2,047	13
Clackmannan	12	10	75,660	6,305	14
Dumfries and Galloway	70	36	244,837	3,497	39
Dundee	36	24	200,000	5,556	32
East Ayrshire	30	17	143,500	4,783	27
East Dunbartonshire	26	16	161,000	6,192	24
East Lothian	18	16	138,500	7,694	11
East Renfrewshire	20	14	113,125	5,656	23
Edinburgh	58	55	405,450	6,991	54
Falkirk	36	25	231,275	6,424	35
Fife	92	50	395,200	4,296	74
Glasgow	83	58	396,500	4,777	65
Highlands	72	54	253,794	3,525	24
Inverclyde	20	15	196,950	9,847	18
Midlothian	15	14	125,625	8,375	11
Moray	18	15	159,375	8,854	8
North Ayrshire	29	27	242,874	8,096	21
North Lanarkshire	69	30	264,800	3,838	38
Perth and Kinross	32	22	201,000	6,300	16
Renfrewshire	40	17	126,209	3,155	29
South Ayrshire	25	18	161,700	6,468	24
South Lanarkshire	73	49	419,760	5,672	43
Stirling	22	22	135,625	6,165	12
West Dunbartonshire	22	12	120,250	5,466	13
West Lothian	27	22	250,125	9,264	19
1 Subject to further revision to reflect proposed area structures.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 19 February, Official Report, column 59, on what date he sought the view of local authorities on the future of the Welsh Economic Council; what other bodies he has consulted on the WEC's future; if he will give details; and if he will make a statement. [17349]

[holding answer 27 February 1996]: I consulted the local authorities on 20 November on their views on the future of the Welsh Economic Council. I also refer the hon. Member to my announcement in the House on 29 February, Official Report, columns 1024–98.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are (a) the number of councillors, (b) the number of special responsibility allowances being paid, (c) the total cost of these allowances, (d) the cost per councillor and (e) the number of administrative staff earning in excess of £42,000 in respect of each of the new local authorities. [20384]

The information, as supplied by the councils and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, is shown in the table:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he proposes to meet the new Flintshire county council to discuss repairs and improvements to new buildings. [18920]

My right hon. Friend has no such plans.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to meet the North Wales TEC to discuss the consequences of job losses at (a) Raytheon jets and (b) British Aerospace at Broughton, Clwyd. [18925]

My Department is keeping in close touch with the employment position in the aerospace industry in north-east Wales. I have no current plans to meet the local training and enterprise council.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the impact of the loss of development area status on those constituencies which have lost such status; and if he will make a statement. [18927]

Regional selective assistance is evaluated regularly. As my right hon. Friend the Minister for Industry and Energy told the Trade and Industry Committee on 18 October 1995, another evaluation is to start this year.In the meantime, the Welsh Office has been monitoring the volume of RSA applications. The introduction of the new map in August 1993 caused a rush of applications immediately prior to the expiry of the old map. This makes it difficult to identify trends at present. The Welsh Office will continue to monitor applications as this distortion becomes less important.In the travel-to-work areas all or part of which lost development area status in 1993, average unemployment in the 12 months to January 1996 was 20.4 per cent. below that in the 12 months to July 1993 compared with a fall of 18.3 per cent. in Wales as a whole.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will estimate the reductions in expenditure that will be made in each of the next 10 years as a result of the reorganisation of local government in Wales, on the basis of extrapolated past costs. [19284]

It is for councils to decide how much they spend. The level of savings from the reorganisation will depend on their decisions. My right hon. Friend will take this decision on the level of total standard spending for 1997–98 as part of the forthcoming public expenditure round.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 9 February, Official Report, column 395, if he will place a copy of his letter to the chairman of the Cardiff Bay development corporation in the Library. [19917]

This is a confidential communication with the chairman of the Cardiff Bay development corporation. It would not be appropriate for a copy to be placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the foreign currency borrowings by NHS trusts in Wales; and if he will list the dates on which his approval was (a) sought and (b) given for such borrowings. [19915]

My approval has not been sought by any NHS trust in Wales to engage in foreign currency borrowing.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the borrowings by NHS trusts in Wales from persons other than the Secretary of State; and what amounts are outstanding. [19837]

All loans taken out by NHS trusts in Wales have been obtained from the Exchequer. To facilitate short-term cash management, I have approved bank overdraft guarantees to enable the following trusts to borrow up to the amounts shown.

NHS Trust	Amount £
Llandough Hospital and Community	100,000
Bridgend and District	250,000
Gwynedd Community	100,000
Llanelli/Dinefwr	250,000
Glan Clwyd District General Hospital	100,000

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list all (a) facilities management consortia, (b) private finance initiative bids, (c) management buy-out consortia, (d) contractorisation schemes and (e) market-testing schemes in his Department in respect of which (i) Capita Managed Services and (ii) Lusis Business Solutions are currently involved in bidding. [19901]

Information about bidders for Welsh Office contracts is commercially confidential.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many applications he has received for total fundholding; in which health authority they are located; how many he has approved; what is the total annual fund budget in each case; and how many patients are on the lists of the practices concerned. [19916]

Eight proposals were received for projects to test the development of total purchasing by GP fundholders, of which four have been approved.Two projects, involving approximately 50,000 patients each, are in Gwent. Both the new Morgannwg and Dyfed health authority areas will include one project covering about 20,000 patients in each case.The purchasing budgets for these projects have not yet been set. These will be agreed between the health authorities and the fundholding practices involved.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to assist local authorities who have expended resources on the Sea Empress disaster clean-up and will not qualify for compensation from the existing industry compensation funds. [19786]

All local authorities involved in the clean-up operation are qualified to claim reimbursement of costs incurred form the ship's insurers and the International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund.

To ask the Attorney-General how many public interest immunity certificates are current in (a) civil cases and (b) criminal cases. [18810]

On the basis of the information available, which relates only to cases involving Government Departments, there are known to be (a) two civil cases¹ and (b) seven criminal cases currently before the courts in which public interest immunity certificates have been signed.

To ask the Attorney-General if he will list the (a) facilities management consortia, (b) private finance initiative bids, (c) management buy-out consortia, (d) contractorisation schemes and (e) market-testing schemes in his Department in respect of which (i) Capita Managed Services and (ii) Lusis Business Solutions are currently involved in bidding. [19902]

None.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many times and upon what subjects he has asked KPMG to undertake a study for his Department since 1 January 1995. [18816]

My Department has let four contracts centrally with KPMG for external consultancy since 1 January 1995. The subjects of these studies were:

• Study into the North American service sector;
• Study of outward investment;
• Post Office performance review—operational efficiency;
• National Grid Flotation—Share option and dividend issues.

In addition, one contract, for a job evaluation exercise, was let by the former executive agency, the National Engineering Laboratory.I have asked the chief executives of the existing agencies to reply separately.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade in what circumstances employers are required to notify his Department of proposed redundancies. [19970]

An employer proposing to dismiss as redundant 20 or more employees at one establishment within a period of 90 days or less is required, under section 193 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 as amended by the Collective Redundancies and Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) (Amendment) Regulations 1995, to notify the Secretary of State of that proposal in writing.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what information he possesses on the role of (a) Apremont S.A. Company of Panama, (b) Muiden Chemie Company of the Netherlands, (c) GEA Company, Remie Ltd. and Erber Ltd. of Italy, (d) SPEL Company of Portugal and (e) Banco Nazionale del Lavoro in facilitating the export of United Kingdom-origin military equipment to Iraq since 1985. [18535]

Muiden Chemie Company of the Netherlands and SPEL company of Portugal feature in chapter E7 of Sir Richard Scott's report. There is also a reference to the Atlanta, Georgia branch of the Banco Nazionale del Lavoro in paragraph A1.3 of the report. I understand that Sir Richard Scott intends to publish shortly on CD-ROM as many of the source documents for report as he considers necessary.So far as can be ascertained my Department has no further information concerning the role of the companies mentioned in the hon. Gentleman's question in facilitating the export of United Kingdom origin military equipment to Iraq.If the hon. Gentleman has any additional information suggesting that a breach of UK export controls has been committed, he should inform HM Customs.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what restrictions are placed on the levying of standing charges by companies supplying gas to domestic consumers. [19818]

In general, it will be for gas suppliers competing in the domestic market to make their own judgments as to standing charges and for customers to take them into account in their choice of supplier. Prospective suppliers operating in the south-west are generally offering standing charges lower than those of British Gas and two are offering a standing charge of zero.British Gas remains subject to a standing charge cap, equal in real terms to the level at privatisation.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what progress has been made on implementing the initiatives set out in the policy statement "Sport: Raising the Game". [20382]

Since the publication of the statement last July, the Department of National Heritage, the Department for Education and Employment, the Sports Council and other organisations have been working on the implementation of its initiatives. Already, significant progress has been made in a number of areas.In schools, a revised physical education curriculum with greater emphasis on team games was introduced in August 1995.The Department of Education and Employment is consulting on the inclusion of information on sporting aims, provision and achievements in annual reports and prospectuses, with a view to implementation from the 1996–97 academic year.The new Office for Standards in Education framework for inspection will ensure that inspectors will look at team games and sport as well as PE in the national curriculum as part of all school inspections.The Ofsted survey of good practice in school PE and sport was published in December, and a summary was sent to all schools in January 1996.Ofsted is also carrying out an audit of initial teacher training for PE. Its report is due in the summer, and will assist with the development of performance indicators.The Department for Education and Employment has also carried out a survey of sporting provision in schools, the results of which are expected in April. In addition, the Sports Council has distributed 35,000 copies of its "Why PE" leaflet to support the PE profession.The responses to the consultation paper published in July on the sportsmark and gold star award schemes, which was sent to all secondary schools, have been analysed. The Sports Council is now preparing detailed guidance on the implementation and assessment of both schemes. The aim is to have the schemes up and running in secondary schools in the 1996–97 academic year and in primary schools, following a further consultation exercise, in the 1997–98 academic year.The Sports Council's working group on coaching schemes has been set up and will report in April.The Sports Council is also carrying out audits of available governing body courses and on the number of teachers working on primary and secondary education.The Department for Education and Employment has consulted on the playing fields elements of the Education (School Premises) Regulations being retained and the regulations were laid in February.In addition, the Department of the Environment issued a consultation paper on 15 January on the Sports Council becoming a statutory consultee on all planning applications affecting playing fields. Comments were invited by 15 March.In order to stimulate more good quality lottery applications from schools, the Sports Council provided additional information and advice via publications and roadshows in November.The council will identify gaps in provision through a facilities planning model, and has produced new guidelines for deprived areas. Funding levels have also been raised to 90 per cent. for these areas. A progress report will be produced shortly and action begun in April 1996. The Department of National Heritage has also sent leaflets to all schools in the UK providing information on how they can benefit from lottery funds. The Institute of Sports Sponsorship is consulting the Department for Education and Employment on ways of promoting greater business sponsorship of school sport.The working group on university sports scholarships, which is being chaired by Sir Roger Bannister, commenced work in October, has been meeting regularly, and will report in April.The Sports Council's consultation paper, setting out what the structure and content of the British Academy of Sport might be, was published on 5 December. The closing date for responses was 31 January and an analysis of these is currently being carried out by independent consultants on behalf of the council. Once the structure and content of the academy have been agreed, bids will be invited to establish the academy. The aim is to invite bids in the spring.The Sports Council has also met the Sports Aid Foundation, British Olympic Association and British Paralympic Association to discuss the co-ordination of support for elite athletes. In addition, the Secretary of State has written to the Sports Council proposing changes to the way in which sports lottery money is distributed. The proposals include helping talented young people, including elite sports people, to develop their skills.Between now and July, progress will be made on several other action points, including: from April, the Sports Council will be allocating an additional £1 million to provide opportunities for teachers to gain coaching qualifications. Priorities will be decided by the council's coaching working group. The council is also considering the details of the £2 million fund for promoting links between schools and clubs. Sportsmatch will also be earmarking £1 million for schools projects from April.In April, the Sports Council's national junior sports programme which is being run in conjunction with the Youth Sport Trust will commence. The programme is designed to provide around 4 million children with sports equipment, qualified coaches and places to play. The scheme will cost around £12 million over three years with £7.7 million of lottery money being made available, £2 million to £3 million of grant-in-aid from the Sports Council and some private sector funding. British Telecom has already announced that it will be sponsoring the programme with a total of £750,000 over three years.The regional offices of the new Sports Council for England will be introducing programmes to improve school-club links in April. Also in April the Sports Council will be publishing revised planning guidelines for governing bodies with a strengthened section on youth sport, which will further encourage the promotion of school-club links.The Further Education Funding Council is currently drafting a report on sporting provision in the FE sector, which will be published in the next few months. Further education institutions will also publish details of their sporting facilities and the sporting opportunities available to their students from the 1996–97 academic year. The Committee of Vice Chancellors and Principals and the Standing Conference of Principals are recommending to their members that higher education institutions should publish details of the sporting facilities and the sporting opportunities available to their students from the 1996–97 academic year.The Sports Council is giving advice to governing bodies on planning, including planning for youth sport, and its grant assessment panel is assessing these plans with particular attention to governing bodies having targets for athlete support. An improved monitoring system will be in place by April 1996 which will give more detailed information on governing body performance. The council is also drawing up new governing body planning guidelines with special reference to provision for youth sport.I am pleased that various governing bodies have recently produced programmes for the improvement of their sport and to increase sporting opportunities:

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will list all cases since 1987 in which his Department has bought computer capacity from (a) other Departments and (b) the private sector, giving the value of each contract and the name of the private sector contractors. [19462]

The Department of National Heritage has never bought computer capacity, either from other Departments or from the private sector.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how much money the Government have spent in conducting drug tests on sportsmen and women in each year since 1979. [19316]

From April 1988, when the Sports Council's doping control unit was established, until March 1995 a total of £5,261,778 has been spent on anti-doping activities, including £4,951,828 on testing. The sports councils in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland contributed a total of £667,773.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when she expects to receive from the Sports Council statistics as to the number of sportsmen and women who failed drug tests in 1995. [19318]

The Sports Council will be publishing a report on doping control activities from 1995–96 by early June.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will list (a) the number of drug tests carried out on sportsmen and women, (b) the number of sportsmen and women who failed drug tests and (c) the drugs that those who failed the tests were found to be abusing in each year since 1979. [19313]

Between 1988, when the Sports Council's doping control unit was set up, and April 1995, 26,869 tests have been carried out on sportsmen and women of many nationalities participating in sport in the United Kingdom or UK sportsmen and women training abroad. There have been 357 substances found, and 58 refusals to be tested. The number of reports to the governing bodies of sport for consideration as doping offences would be lower, as in some cases more than one substance has been detected in a sample. Action taken by various governing bodies is monitored by the Sports Council.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how much extra money the Government have made available to the Sports Council to fulfil the pledges in "Sport: Raising the Game" to provide additional emphasis on educating young sportsmen and women about the dangers of drug abuse. [19315]

Government grant-in-aid to the Sports Council is not earmarked for specific purposes. However in 1996–97, £80,000 will be made available for education and information programmes by the Sports Council under the doping control programme.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how much money the Government have spent on educating sportsmen and women on the dangers of drug abuse in each year since 1979. [19317]

Between 1988, when the independent testing programme was established, and March 1995, £309,950 has been spent on education and information programmes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 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 D4.26 concerning changes in the Government's policy on the supply of arms to Iraq was misleading. [16951]

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 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 D4.27 concerning changes in the Government's policy on the supply of arms to Iraq was misleading. [16952]

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 22 February, Official Report, column 256, to the hon. Member for Kingston upon Hull, North (Mr. McNamara) and pursuant to paragraph D4.62 of the Scott report, what steps he has taken to contact the right hon. Member for Chesterfield (Mr. Benn) and the hon. Members for Carmarthen (Mr. Williams), for Clwyd, South-West (Mr. Jones), for Middlesbrough (Mr. Bell), for Edinburgh, South (Mr. Griffiths) and for Crewe and Nantwich (Mrs. Dunwoody) in respect of the findings of Sir Richard Scott that the answers given to those hon. Members were inadequate and misleading. [17871]

We continue to take the view that the Howe guidelines were not changed. My right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary does not consider that further action is necessary.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has anything to add to the answer given to the hon. Member for Neath (Mr. Hain), on 9 December 1992, Official Report, column 663, on changes made in guidelines covering defence-related exports to Iraq since 1979. [18537]

No.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the Security Council resolutions which preclude the release of interest from frozen Iraqi assets in the United Kingdom to produce money to compensate claimants. [18512]

[holding answer 4 March 1996]: None of the United Nations Security Council resolutions concerning Iraq provide for the interest on funds in frozen Iraqi accounts in the United Kingdom to be made available by the Government to meet the claims of UK nationals against Iraq.As required by the provisions of UNSCR 778, all funds in the UK representing the proceeds of the sale of Iraqi petroleum or petroleum products, paid for on or after 6 August 1990, have been transferred to the United Nations' escrow account provided for in UNSCRs 706 and 712. Under SCR 778, sequestrated funds are net of any amounts needed to meet third party rights over such funds existing at the time of its adoption. Funds in the UN escrow account are available to the UN Compensation Commission—UNCC—for meeting the costs of compensation arising out of the Gulf war. They are also available for meeting the costs of UN activities and humanitarian relief. The relevant UNSCRs do not make provision for the Government to have access to these funds or interest on them for the purpose of meeting claims by UK nationals against Iraq other than through the mechanism of the UNCC.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what assessment he has made of the impact on British economic and trade interests resulting from the closure of operations by the British Council in some countries following the reductions in its budget; [19604](2) if he discussed with the British Council the effects of the total closure of activities in some countries, and the closure of branch offices and libraries elsewhere following the reductions in its grant funding over the next three years; and if he will make a statement; [19605](3) what progress is being made to alleviate the impact of the reduction in the FCO grants in aid to the British Council. [19615]

The council and its board, of which the hon. Lady is a member, are considering how best to adjust their programme and activities to the financial allocations announced in the 1995 budget. The council intends to alleviate the impact of reductions in grant in aid in various ways including through efficiency savings. We will carefully assess proposals made by the council with a view to ensuring that these have the least possible impact on overall British interests.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what work his Department will carry out on deregulation issues in the run-up to the intergovernmental conference. [18643]

[holding answer 7 March 1996]: The deregulation unit of the Cabinet Office is the lead Government Department on deregulation issues. Its work is fully supported by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The Government are committed to improving European regulatory systems and reducing the regulatory burden of European law. Not all this work requires treaty change, and most of it will continue outside the IGC.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the current status of negotiations on the European Commission proposals on nitrate in vegetables. [20381]

The draft Commission regulation on nitrate in lettuce and spinach was discussed at the European Commission's Standing Committee for Foodstuffs on 20 February. During those discussions the United Kingdom indicated that it would, reluctantly, support the Commission's latest proposal—Doc VI/3080/93 Rev 7.The UK objects to the principle of this legislation, deeming it unnecessary and lacking in scientific justification. However, there is considerable weight of opinion across the EU for various reasons in favour of legislation in this area. For this reason we have been negotiating with the Commission for a number of years to secure an arrangement that is satisfactory for UK interests and that will allow our growers to harvest and market their excellent and healthy produce. As a result of our pressure, allied to considerable assistance from the NFU and growers, we have secured significant concessions from the Commission which will enable British growers to continue production.I have taken the view that these hard fought gains should not be put at risk by continuing to oppose the Commission, particularly given the uncertainty over the voting intentions of other member states. I believe that the current proposal represents the best possible outcome for the UK given the determination of the Commission and other member states to introduce legislation in this area. However, we made it clear that we would not countenance any diminution of the considerable concessions that we have secured to date. We will maintain this negotiating position until the regulation is formally adopted.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the circumstances of the resignation of Mr. Robert Cooper, former head of the financial development unit at the NHS executive. [17951]

I shall write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what audit controls are in place to check public moneys allocated to general practitioners involved in total fundholding; [18046](2) what controls are in place to ensure that money allocated to general practitioners involved in total fundholding is not used to improve the property value of medical premises form which doctors may obtain personal financial benefits; [18040](3) what is the amount so far allocated to general practitioners involved int total fundholding. [18058]

Total purchasing pilots operate under devolved purchasing arrangements from health authorities and are subject to the same rules and audit controls as health authorities. Resource allocation is an important element in the three-year evaluation of the pilots. Resources are allocated according to locally-agreed methodologies governed by criteria such as historical activity, demography, epidemiology and other local factors. Detailed information about allocations is not therefore collected centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will publish the correspondence between the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee and his Department, concerning the time scale for 100 per cent. payment for prescriptions; [18458](2) if he plans to implement the recommendation in the Pharmacists Review Panel 1994 report, that pharmacists should be paid by the NHS at the time at which they have to pay their suppliers; and if he will make a statement. [18429]

Letters, or the relevant extracts therefrom, between the Department and the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee relating to the timetable for pharmacists' pay since December 1994 have been placed in the Library. We continue to explore the pharmacists' concerns about the present payment arrangements.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals he has for the more efficient use of information technology within the NHS. [18794]

A national information management and technology strategy for the national health service is being implemented. A major component of the strategy is achieving a common information management and technology infrastructure, which will enable more efficient communication and processing of information within and between NHS organisations, in a secure and controlled environment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what qualifications to the NHS accounts for 1993–94 were due to alleged or actual irregular payments by Yorkshire regional health authority; [19026](2) how many alleged irregular payments from the Yorkshire regional health authority, to whom, and for what amounts, have been investigated in the last five years; and what has been the result of these investigations; [19024](3) what conclusions he has reached on the NHS executive report into alleged irregular payments by the Yorkshire regional health authority; [19028](4) if he will publish the NHS executive report into the alleged irregular payments received by Mr. Keith McLean and Mr. David Martin of the Yorkshire regional health authority; [19023]

The report of the inquiry into matters raised by the district auditor on the former Yorkshire regional health authority has been provided to the National Audit Office. I understand that it will be published shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many United Kingdom citizens have been treated surgically for gender identity disorder in each of the last five years (a) on the NHS and (b) privately. [19271]

The number of combined operations for sexual transformation as reported in finished consultant episodes in national health service hospitals for the last five years are shown in the table. Information on operations carried out in the private sector is not available centrally. Responsibility for the NHS in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are matters for by right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and for Wales and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

Year	Combined operations for sexual transformation
1990–91	38
1991–92	27
1992–93	43
1993–94	20
1994–951	13

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received, and from whom, concerning the VAT status of recombinant factor 8 and plasma-derived factor 8. [19566]

My Department has received six representations—principally—about the value added tax status of factor 8 since September 1995. Three were from hon. Members writing on behalf of constituents, one from the Haemophilia Society, one from a clinician and one from a member of the public. In addition, three parliamentary questions have been asked on the subject. VAT is a matter for my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.