To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement regarding Ghana's recent human rights record. [19843]

We welcome the improvements that have taken place in the human rights situation in Ghana in recent years. There is respect for the constitution, the rule of law applies, there is press freedom and a high level of personal liberty. Political activity is permitted and further multi-party elections are due in December 1996.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement regarding the meeting between the Minister for Overseas Development and the Foreign Minister of Burundi on 22 February. [19842]

Mr. Bakevyumusaya briefed my right hon. and noble Friend Baroness Chalker on the success of his Government's recent "Pacification Campaign". She assured the Minister of our continued support for international efforts to promote dialogue and reconciliation in Burundi and the neighbouring region.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the elections in Equatorial Guinea; and what assessment he has made of the withdrawal of opposition candidates from the presidential elections. [19841]

We regret that the presidential elections which took place in Equatorial Guinea on 25 February were not conducted in a free and fair manner. We urge the Government and all political parties to work towards the establishment of democracy.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department which of the advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department have a statutory base, and which (a) publish their advice to Government, (b) publish an annual report and (c) lay an annual report before Parliament (i) under a statutory requirement and (ii) voluntarily. [20096]

The Lord Chancellor's departments sponsor the following advisory non-departmental public bodies:

• Insolvency Rules Committee
• County Court Rule Committee
• Supreme Court Rule Committee
• Land Registration Rule Committee
• Family Proceedings Rule Committee
• Crown Court Rule Committee
• Advisory Council on Public Records
• Advisory Committee on Legal Education and Conduct
• Council on Tribunals
• Law Commission
• Legal Aid Advisory Committee (NI)
• Advisory Committees on General Commissioners of Income Tax (NI)
• Advisory Committees on JPs in Northern Ireland
• Advisory Committees on Juvenile Court Lay Panel (NI)
• Advisory Committees on General Commissioners of Income Tax
• Advisory Committees on JPs in England (excluding the Duchy of Lancaster) and Wales
• Judicial Studies Board
• Honorary Investment Advisory Committee

All but the last seven have a statutory base.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department which of the advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department (a) hold public meetings, (b) conduct public consultation exercises, (c) conduct consultation exercises with outside commercial interests, (d) publish a register of members' interests, (e) publish agendas for meetings and (f) publish the minutes of meetings (i) under a statutory requirement and (ii) voluntarily.[20113]

For the advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by my Department, the answers are as follows:

(a) none

(b) The following advisory bodies have carried out public consultation exercises:

• the Supreme Court Rule Committee
• the County Court Rule Committee
• the Family Proceedings Rule Committee
• the Law Commission
• the Advisory Committee on Legal Education and Conduct the Judicial Studies Board.

(c) the Supreme Court Rule Committee, the County Court Rule Committee and the Family Proceedings Rule Committee regularly consult with individuals and organisations which have a professional or commercial interest in the amendment of rules of court.

• The Law Commission does conduct consultation exercises with outside commercial interests but this is encompassed within

(b) above.

(d) none

(e) none

(f) none

• There is no statutory requirement for these bodies in these areas.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what values of payments were outstanding within his Department on 5 March, which were beyond the date on the invoice and, where no date was specified, older than 28 days. [20470]

The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, a recent survey within the Department has shown that 93.8 per cent. of all invoices are paid within agreed terms, or within 30 days of receipt of invoice, where no such terms exist.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what grants under (a) section 56 of the Transport Act 1968 and (b) other legislation have been awarded by the Scottish Office for railway infrastructure in Scotland between 1975 and 1995 in (i) the Strathclyde passenger transport executive area and (b) the rest of Scotland.[19301]

The information is set out in the table:

	Number of projects	Grant awarded (outturn prices) £ million
Section 56 grants
Within the Strathclyde Passenger Transport Executive (SPTE) area	5	103.3
Outwith SPTE area	2	11.0

	Number of projects	Grant awarded (outturn prices) £ million
Other legislation
Freight facilities grants within SPTE area	14	3.1
Freight facilities grants outwith SPTE area	18	4.7
Grants for repairs to listed buildings outwith SPTE area	1	0.2

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was spent on (a) fixed rail infrastructure in Scotland, (b) investment in new railways, upgrading and re-opening of railways, new and improved stations and new signalling and (c) maintenance of track, signalling, structures and stations in Scotland at outturn prices in each year from 1975 to 1995. [19305]

This information is not available. British Rail keeps only limited historic information on investment on a geographical basis.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what procedures govern applications for railway rolling stock to be used in the highlands objective 1 area where the stock is owned by a leasing company and leased to a train operating company. [19310]

All applications for European regional development fund support must be submitted by a public agency and a minimum level of matching funding must be included within the funding package. Any grant support paid is channelled through the sponsoring public agency.In addition, all applications must be eligible under the terms of the single programme document and must also contribute to the outputs anticipated for the programme. applications for mobile infrastructure —that is that which could be readily moved outwith the programme area—would not normally be eligible.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made as to whether extending the use of warfarin to control grey squirrels is in breach of the Grey Squirrels and Warfarin Order 1973; and if he will make a statement. [19983]

Extending the use of warfarin to control grey squirrels was approved under the Control of Pesticides Regulations 1986 and is not in breach of the Grey Squirrels (Warfarin) Order 1973.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what studies into the expansion of grey squirrel distribution have been conducted by his Department. [19161]

[holding answer 6 March 1996]: The Forestry Commission has undertaken a survey of grey squirrel distribution every year since 1958. The Institute of Terrestrial Ecology's biological records centre also maintains records of the location of grey squirrels.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the cost of grey squirrel damage to broadleaf trees in each year for the last five years. [19160]

[holding answer 6 March 1996]: Damage by grey squirrels can kill broadleaf trees, reduce their growth rate, degrade their timber and allow diseases into them. It is difficult to estimate the total cost of this damage as the loss in value of the timber can be calculated only after the trees have been felled, and any assessment of the impact on growth rate and mortality can be only approximate. Recent estimates have suggested that the annual cost of the damage is between £3 million and £20 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what research he had (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the effects of secondary poisoning caused from the use of warfarin for squirrel control. [19162]

[holding answer 6 March 1996]: We have undertaken several research studies into the risk of secondary poisoning of non-target species by warfarin, and the Forestry Commission commissioned a review of these studies which was carried out by the Central Science Laboratory.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 6 March, Official Report, column 267, if he will name the firm of solicitors which has been appointed to the Forestry Commission with effect from 1 April. [20389]

Tods Murray, WS.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the effects of flooding in the Grampian area in September 1995; and if he will make a statement. [20641]

The Government have decided to trigger the Bellwin scheme for Grampian in respect of the flooding experienced in that area in September 1995. We have already held discussions with local authorities in the area, but will now be writing to all local authorities concerned, inviting them to submit formal claims in respect of expenditure which they believe to be eligible under the terms of the scheme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the expenditure incurred by Renfrew district council as a result of flooding in December 1994; and if he will make a statement. [20640]

I am glad to announce that we have decided that Renfrew district council is eligible for a payment of £167,558 under the Bellwin scheme. The scheme was triggered following the flooding for severe weather sustained in Strathclyde in December 1994.The district council's claim for assistance has been subject to detailed scrutiny. The payment relates mainly to expenditure incurred in connection with the temporary evacuation of people from their flooded homes and the provision of temporary accommodation, and the hire of plant, including drying and heating equipment, to make homes habitable again.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish the results of the environmental appraisal conducted under the guidance contained in "Policy Appraisal and the Environment" published by the Department of the Environment on the framework document for the new Forest Enterprise agency. [19549]

[holding answer 11 March 1996]: The framework document for Forest Enterprise will set out its aims, responsibilities and status. It is therefore not an appropriate subject for environmental appraisal under the guidance contained in "Policy Appraisal and the Environment".

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the location and circumstances of the accident to (a) a Royal Navy Lynx on 23 February 1994, (b) a Sea Harrier on 16 April 1994, (c) a Royal Navy Sea King on 25 March 1994, (d) a Royal Navy Sea Harrier on 16 April 1994, (e) an RAF VC10 on 5 May 1994, (f) an RAF Tornado on 20 May 1994, (g) an RAF Nimrod on 30 July 1994, (h) a Royal Navy Lynx on 5 September 1994, (i) a Royal Navy Sea King on 12 October 1994 and (j) an Army Air Corps Gazelle on 11 November 1994. [19627]

The information requested is as follows:

(a) We have no record of an accident involving a Royal Navy Lynx on 23 February 1994.

(b) A Royal Navy Sea Harrier was lost to warring party action on an operational mission over Bosnia-Herzegovina on 16 April 1994. The crew of one ejected safely.

(c) A Royal Navy Sea King was conducting a medical evacuation from a ship off Lizard point, Cornwall, on 25 March 1994. The stern of the ship yawed rapidly, making contact with the winch wire which was transferring a diver to the vessel. The wire became entangled and snapped, causing the diver to fall approximately 15 ft to the ship's deck, sustaining minor injuries.

(d) An RAF steward fell from an open door of an RAF VC 10 parked at Dulles airport, Washington on 5 May 1994, sustaining injuries to his elbow, hip and shoulder.

(e) An RAF Tornado ejector seat fired accidentally during servicing at Boscombe down on 20 May 1994, injuring the arm and leg of an RAF tradesman.

(f) The wingtip of an RAF Nimrod struck a parked vehicle at RAF Fairford on 30 July 1994 whilst taxi-ing, causing injury to the civilian occupant of the vehicle.

(g) A Royal Navy Lynx was undergoing maintenance at RNAS Portland on 5 September 1994. While descending from an aircraft servicing platform, a maintenance rating slipped and fell approximately 5 ft, injuring a foot.

(h) A Royal Marine landed heavily, injuring a leg, during a rapid roping serial from a RN Sea King at RAF Marham on 12 October 1994.

(i) An Army Air Corps Gazelle belonging to the School of Army Aviation was being used to conduct hover exercises at Middle Wallop airfield on 11 November 1994. During the flight, a student was given limited control of the hovering aircraft. He made a control error and the instructor was unable to stabilise the helicopter before it made contact with the ground; the occupants sustained minor injuries.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the current number and aircraft type flown by 32 Squadron, the Royal Squadron; and if he will list by rank the number of personnel currently attached to the squadron. [19816]

Number 32 (the Royal) Squadron is comprised of the following aircraft:

Aircraft type	Number
BAe 146 100 Series	3
BAe 125 700 Series	6
BAe 125 600 Series	11
Wessex HCC Mk 4	2
Gazelle HT MK3	22
1 +1 in use reserve.
2 +2 in use reserve.

The Gazelle helicopters will shortly be replaced by two contractor owned-military operated Twin Squirrel AS 355 F1 helicopters.The following personnel are assigned to the squadron:

Rank	Number
Wing Commander	1
Squadron Leader	18
Lieutenant Commander (RN)	2
Flight Lieutenant	29
Master Air Crew	2
Sergeant	10
Corporal	18
Senior Aircraftsman	18

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the members of the royal family who are entitled to use flights on (a) official and (b) private travel in aircraft of 32 squadron, the Royal Squadron. [19774]

Members of the royal family are entitled to make flights in aircraft of No. 32 (the Royal) Squadron as follows

• (a) Official travel
• The Queen
• The Duke of Edinburgh
• The Queen Mother
• The Prince of Wales
• The Princess of Wales
• The Duke of York
• The Prince Edward
• The Princess Royal
• The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon
• Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester
• The Duke of Gloucester
• The Duke of Kent
• The Duchess of Kent
• Prince Michael of Kent
• Princess Michael of Kent
• Princess Alexandra, the Hon. Lady Ogilvy
• (b) Private travel
• The Queen
• The Duke of Edinburgh
• The Queen Mother
• The Prince of Wales
• The Princess of Wales

Members of the royal family are entitled to use aircraft of the No. 32 (the Royal) Squadron at the discretion of Her Majesty the Queen.In accordance with the wishes of Her Majesty the Queen, arrangements agreed by my right hon. and learned Friend, the then Secretary of State for Defence, were introduced on 1 April 1995 under which the costs of private flights in aircraft of No. 32 (the Royal) Squadron by members of the royal family would be reimbursed to the MOD.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list in order of precedence those members of the royal family who may request a flight by 32 Squadron, the Royal Squadron, to be charged to the privy purse; and if he will make a statement. [19635]

My Department meets the costs of all official travel in aircraft of No. 32 (the Royal) Squadron by entitled members of the royal family. Since the introduction of arrangements on 1 April 1995, costs for the private use of No. 32 (the Royal) Squadron by the five entitled members of the royal family are met from their private funds. The sources of private funds used to pay for such private travel is a matter for the royal households.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of the clothing requirements of the armed forces is manufactured in the United Kingdom. [19626]

This is a matter for the Defence Clothing and Textiles Agency under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive, DCTA, to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which Army regiments are currently at their full establishment level; and what is the percentage shortfall in each of the other regiments. [19817]

The 9th/12th Lancers, The Corps of Royal Engineers, the Highlanders, the Kings Regiment, The Duke of Wellington's Regiment, The Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment and the Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps are currently manned to their full establishment of soldiers. The percentage surplus or shortfall of soldiers against establishment on 1 February 1996 is shown for each regular army regiment and corps in the table. Officer manning is generally satisfactory with a small surplus.

Regiment/Corps	Percentage shortfall/ surplus
The Household Cavalry	-9.1
The Queen's Dragoon Guards	-5.0
The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards	-6.9
The Royal Dragoon Guards	-11.5
The Queen's Royal Hussars	-11.8
The 9th/12th Lancers	+44.3
The King's Royal Hussars	-10.5
The Light Dragoons	-1.8
The Queen's Royal Lancers	-2.8
1st Royal Tank Regiment	-9.0
2nd Royal Tank Regiment	-3.5
The Royal Regiment of Artillery	-7.7
Corps of Royal Engineers	+.2
The Royal Corps of Signals	-4.7>
The Grenadier Guards	-2.3
The Coldstream Guards	-2.1
The Scots Guards	-9.5
The Irish Guards	-5.3
The Welsh Guards	-8.5
The Royal Scots	-10.7
The Royal Highland Fusiliers	-13.8
The King's Own Scottish Borderers	-7.0
The Black Watch	-12.3
The Highlanders	+2.3
The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders	-16.6
The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment	-13.6
The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers	-5.9
The Royal Anglian Regiment	-7.6
The King's Own Royal Border Regiment	-7.1
The King's Regiment	+4.5
The Prince of Wales' s Own Regiment of Yorkshire	-7.2
The Green Howards	-4.8
The Queen's Lancashire Regiment	-7.1
The Duke of Wellington's Regiment	+4.2
The Devonshire and Dorset Regiment	-1.6
The Cheshire Regiment	-7.8
The Royal Welch Fusiliers	-7.6
The Royal Regiment of Wales	-11.9
The Gloucester Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment	+3.0
The Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment	–1.1
The Staffordshire Regiment	-7.2

Regiment/Corps	Percentage shortfall/ surplus
The Light Infantry	-7.6
The Royal Green Jackets	-16.0
The Royal Irish Regiment	-10.2
The Parachute Regiment	-18.0
The Brigade of Gurkhas	-1.2
The Army Air Corps	-8.3
The Royal Logistic Corps	-2.6
The Royal Army Medical Corps	-1.3
Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers	-1.7
The Adjutant General's Corps	-2.5
The Intelligence Corps	-5.6
Corps of Army Musicians	-.1
Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps	+.5

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what (a) arms and (b) arms-related contracts were approved by Her Majesty's Government with the Argentine Government between the years 1979 and 1982. [19811]

The Ministry of Defence is not the licensing authority for exports and does not otherwise normally approve contracts between exporters and overseas customers. My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade has set out details of contracts for the supply of defence equipment to Argentina in the relevant period, Official Report, 6 March 1996, column 228.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what is the role and function of 51 Squadron, Royal Air Force; what are its annual running costs; and from which subheads of which votes these funds are taken; [19960](2) how many aircraft are currently assigned to 51 Squadron, Royal Air Force; what plans there are to increase the number of aircraft assigned to this squadron; what are the estimated costs of such an increase; and from which subheads of which votes these funds will be taken; [19959](3) on what date 51 Squadron, Royal Air Force, was established. [19961](4) what is the current assignment of 51 Squadron, Royal Air Force. [19958]

No. 51 Squadron, Royal Air Force, was reformed on 21 August 1958 to operate electronic reconnaissance aircraft. The squadron currently comprises two Nimrod R aircraft; a Nimrod MR2 from storage is being converted to replace a third which was lost on 16 May 1995.The squadron's forecast running costs for the current financial year are approximately £7.1 million, and are included in Air Officer Commander-in-Chief Strike Command's top level budget, vote 1 section D1.There are no plans to increase the squadron's complement of three aircraft.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what maximum authorised levels of (a) deployed RAF personnel and (b) deployed RAF combat aircraft are being requested of the Canadian authorities under the new multinational memorandum of understanding governing training activities at Canadian forces base, Goose bay, Labrador. [19745]

The new memorandum of understanding concerning allied military activity at Goose bay specifies that an annual maximum of 18,000 training sorties, of which no more than 15,000 may be at low level, can be flown by all the allied users. The MOU does not specify a maximum level of deployed RAF personnel or deployed RAF combat aircraft and does not require the RAF to request such levels.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for Royal Air Force training deployments to United States marine corps air station Yuma, Arizona. [19637]

No formal invitations have been received from the United States authorities for future RAF participation in exercises at Marine Corps air station, Yuma.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many investigations were carried out by the Royal Air Force police flying complaints flight in 1994; and how many breaches of low flying regulations were confirmed by these investigations. [19639]

The RAF police flying complaints flight carried out 632 investigations in 1994 which confirmed 70 breaches of low flying regulations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the changes made to the minimum weather requirements for visual low flying since 1989. [19636]

I refer the hon. Member to the letter the then Under-Secretary of State for Defence, my noble Friend, the Viscount Cranborne, wrote to him on 29 November 1993, a copy of which was placed in the Library of the House. There have been no changes to minimum weather requirements for visual low flying since that date.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the nationalities of military aircraft booked into (a) area 5E and (b) area 3A of the night low flying system between 1800 hours and 1930 hours GMT on 6 January 1995. [19746]

No military aircraft were booked into night low flying sectors 3A and 5E between the times stated on 6 January 1995.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many complaints were received about low flying aircraft in the vicinity of Darlington on 12 July 1994. [19640]

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many flights originated from, or bound for, Warton airfield were recorded by the military air traffic control authorities between 1700 hours and 2000 hours GMT on 6 January 1995. [19748]

Military air traffic control records of this type are normally retained for a maximum of three months. Consequently, the information requested is no longer available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the board of inquiry into the accident to a Tornado GR 1A on 1 September 1994 obtained evidence on the routes flown by other aircraft booked to fly in low flying area 14 at the time of the accident. [19754]

Yes. This was considered fully by the board of inquiry which concluded that there was no evidence to suggest that another aircraft was involved in the accident.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the extent, nature and purpose of Royal Air Force participation in Exercise Arid Thunder in December 1995. [19638]

Exercise Arid Thunder 1995–96 was divided into four two-week periods. RAF participation was as follows:

Unit	Dates
13 Squadron	3–17 November 1995
14 Squadron	20 November–1 December 1995
617 Squadron	3–15 December 1995
17 Squadron	19 February–1 March 1996

Eight Tornado aircraft and 122 personnel were deployed from each squadron. The purpose of the exercise was to provide training by expending life-expired BL755 munitions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many F-117 aircraft were present in the United Kingdom on 6 January 1995. [19749]

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will list (a) the exact location of munitions dumps in the English channel south of the Thames and the Severn estuaries, (b) the exact composition of the materials which were put into those dumps, (c) the ports which were used for that dumping, (d) the periods during which those ports were used for dumping, (e) the ships used for such dumping and (f) all monitoring of the dump sites for environment and safety which has taken place since 1966 or is currently taking place; [20182]

Records of the total tonnages, ports and vessels involved in munitions disposal are not available. From surviving records it has been established that the following general areas, shown more extensively on hydrographic charts, were designated, although not necessarily used, as conventional explosive dumping grounds in the English channel before 1973:

Area		Position
Hurd Deep		49 30 00 N—3 34 00 W
St. Catherines Deep		50 34 00 N—1 12 00 W
NW of Alderney	2 sites	49 50 00 N—2 18 00 W
NW of Alderney		49 47 00 N—2 17 00 W
SSW of Guernsey		49 18 00 N—2 42 00 W
Whitesand Bay, Plymouth		50 18 45 N—4 16 00W

Current scientific advice indicates that dump sites present no significant risk to safety, human health or the marine environment if left undisturbed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current average period for completion of fast jet training. [20226]

A qualified fast jet pilot needs to complete successfully three main stages of fast jet training before being deployed to an operational flying squadron. The average length of time it currently takes for a new pilot to progress through the flying training stages is 259 weeks which is longer than usual due to a backlog of pilots in training. From the end of 1996, however, the backlog should have been resolved and the current planned cycle for a new pilot starting training now, will be on average 109 weeks. This includes six weeks of breaks between courses and is dependent on pilot capability, weather and the operational conversion aircraft or course required.The main stages, aircraft employed and the minimum flying hours/weeks are as follows:

Main stages	Aircraft employed	Minimum flying hours/weeks
Basic flying training	Tucano	120 hours/42 weeks
Advanced training and tactics	Hawk	103 hours/33 weeks
Operational conversion	Various fast jets	188–129 hours/22 weeks
1 Average.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on military training assistance provided to Ghana in the last five years; how many British personnel were involved; and how many Ghanaian (a) military and (b) police officials have visited the United Kingdom for training since 1990. [19840]

The United Kingdom has provided a number of small teams of United Kingdom military personnel to carry out training of Ghanaian military personnel in the last five years and a team of several British officers has also assisted at the Ghanaian staff college, one of whom remains. Since 1990, several Ghanaian officers have visited the UK for training. Precise details of military assistance are regarded as confidential between Governments. I understand that 10 Ghanaian police officials have visited the UK for training since 1990.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what rents or charges he makes to Wiltshire county council in respect of services or land occupied by (a) Haig county primary school and (b) Kiwi county primary school, in Bulford camp, Wiltshire; and if he will make a statement. [20244]

The following charges have been raised over the last 12 months:

	£
Haig county primary school
Land for playground—rental charge	1130.00
Sewer connection charge	120.00
Water connection charge	120.00
Water	1,390.00
Electric	1,011.00
Kiwi county primary school
Sewer connection charge	120.00
Water connection charge	120.00
Water	559.00
Electric	1,984.00
1 Fixed annual charge.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make representations to Wiltshire county council opposing the proposed closure of Haig county primary school in Bulford camp, Wiltshire; and if he will make a statement. [20243]

Wiltshire county council has discussed the proposed closure of Haig county primary school with the local military authorities and has consulted with parents, governors and staff. The outcome of these consultations will be considered by the county council's education committee and any proposal to change the current provision will be published by way of public notices. Objections can be registered at this stage and these will be passed to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment for adjudication.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of the service families with children at Haig county primary school in Bulford Camp, Wiltshire, have a parent currently serving in Bosnia; and if he will make a statement. [20247]

Twelve per cent. of service families with children at Haig primary school have a parent currently serving in Bosnia.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the cost to his Department of security attributable to (a) Haig county primary school and (b) Kiwi county primary school in Bulford camp, Wiltshire; and if he will make a statement. [20245]

There is no identifiable extra cost to my Department attributable to security arrangements for either school.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimates he has made of (a) the married quarters population and (b) the numbers of nursery and school-age children dwelling in the married quarters and within designated catchments of (i) Haig county primary school, and (ii) Kiwi county primary school in Bulford camp, Wiltshire; and if he will make a statement. [20246]

The estimated population of the married quarters estates at Bulford camp is 2,564. Within the designated catchment area of Haig county primary school, there are an estimated 49 nursery and 94 school-aged children living in the married quarters. The corresponding figures for the Kiwi county primary school catchment area are estimated to be 118 nursery and 188 school-aged children.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which of the advisory non-departmental pubic bodies sponsored by his Department have a statutory base, and which (a) publish their advice to Government, (b) publish an annual report and (c) lay an annual report before Parliament (i) under a statutory requirement and (ii) voluntarily. [20102]

The independent board of visitors was established in accordance with the Imprisonment and Detention (Army) Rules 1979 for military corrective training centres. This is the only one of the non-departmental public bodies sponsored by my Department which has a statutory base. I regret that in my earlier answer to the hon. Member, Official Report, 27 April 1995, column 695, I erroneously stated that the Dartmoor steering group and working party also had a statutory base.There is no statutory requirement for any of MOD's advisory non-departmental public bodies to publish their advice to Government, publish an annual report or lay their annual reports before Parliament.The annual reports of the Dartmoor steering group and working party and the review board for Government contracts are placed in the Library of the House on a voluntary basis.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what values of payments were outstanding within his Department on 5 March, which were beyond the date on the invoice and, where no date was specified, older than 28 days. [20472]

This is a matter for the Defence Bills Agency under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if the timetable for finalising his Department's proposed waste classification system will be coincident with that for implementation of the landfill tax; and if he will make a statement. [19138]

The landfill tax will be introduced on 1 October this year, as my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, confirmed in his Budget speech last autumn. Those wastes subject to the lower rate of tax have been the subject of extensive consultation by HM Customs and Excise and will be set out in a Treasury order. A draft of the proposed contents of the order will be circulated in April. The third stage of the consultation on the national waste classification scheme will be published next month by my Department in conjunction with the Welsh Office, the Scottish Office and the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland. This will involve the introduction of the scheme on a non-statutory basis from April, so that its use can be fully assessed.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many people were employed by, and how many served on the boards of, (a) Anglian Water, (b) North West Water, (c) Northumbrian Water Ltd., (d) Severn Trent, (e) Southern Water Services, (f) South West, (g) Thames Water, (h) Welsh Water, (i) Wessex Water and (j) Yorkshire Water; and what was the total remuneration paid to those on the board of each company, in the final year before each was privatised. [19430]

This information is given in the prospectus for the water share offers published in November 1989. A copy of the prospectus is available in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to consult on his proposals to exempt small rural settlements from the purchase grant scheme; and if he will make a statement. [19763]

We have today issued a consultation paper asking for comments from local authorities, housing associations, rural groups and other interested parties on how we propose to exempt small rural settlements in England from the new purchase grant scheme.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of part B of the Building Regulations to take account of (a) modern building methods and construction techniques and (b) requirements of current fire safety needs; and if he will make a statement. [19747]

My Department keeps the Building Regulations and associated technical guidance under review with issues such as these very much in mind.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to extend part B of the Building Regulations; and if he will make a statement. [19751]

At its meeting on 22 February, the Building Regulations Advisory Committee considered a revised draft of the technical guidance approved in support of part B of the Building Regulations. I expect to be able to put these proposals out for public consultation later this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to support the national spring clean from 12 to 21 April. [19952]

National spring clean is funded from the Department of the Environment's grant to the Tidy Britain Group. The Tidy Britain Group has received a total grant of £2,897,000 in 1995–96.The Department also intends to support publicity events and other activities connected with the national spring clean campaign.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what representations he has received about notices issued by local authorities following the death of a council tax payer; [20069](2) if he will issue guidance to local authorities in respect of the appropriate tone to be employed in notices issued following the death of a council tax payer. [20068]

I am aware of only one such representation.The form of each notice is for individual local authorities to determine. However, we have issued guidance to authorities suggesting that notices issued in these circumstances should be accompanied by a sympathetic letter to the bereaved.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 5 March, Official Report, column 102, what sanctions are available to the Environment Agency in cases where a company has failed to implement solutions to pollution problems within the time scale agreed with the agency or with a predecessor authority. [20350]

Section 13 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, through the Environment Act of 1995, provides for the Environment Agency to serve a company with an enforcement notice if it has failed to comply with the conditions of an authorisation issued under the 1990 Act. Section 23 also makes it an offence to operate a process without complying with all the conditions of such an authorisation.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 5 March, Official Report, column 101, at what intervals chief inspector's guidance notes are reviewed; and when the chief inspector will next issue guidance notes on meeting the requirements of the hazardous waste incineration directive. [20349]

Chief inspector's guidance notes on processes subject to integrated pollution control are reviewed every four years, or sooner where developments in pollution abatement techniques or technology warrant it.Revisions to chief inspector's guidance notes for the waste disposal and recycling sector are due to be published in May/June 1996; revised guidance dealing with incineration processes is expected in June, and will give guidance on meeting the requirements of the hazardous waste incineration directive.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has had with the Director General of the Health and Safety Commission about the fatal accident that took place at Thoresby colliery, Nottinghamshire; and if he will make a statement. [18956]

None. I refer to my written answer of 19 October 1995, Official Report, columns 307–08, about the fatal accident at Thoresby colliery on 12 October 1995. I hope to be in a position to write to the hon. Gentleman later this month following the conclusion of the Health and Safety Executive's investigation and the inquest into the miner's death.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many (a) injuries and (b) deaths occurred in the last year for which figures are available among employed children where the source of injury or death was a direct consequence of employment. [19369]

For 1994–95, the provisional figures for fatal and other injuries to employees under 16 years reported to the Health and Safety Executive's field operations division and local authorities are:

Severity of injury	Number of injuries1
Fatal	1
Non-fatal2	39
Total	40
1 Includes trainees/pupils on work experience.
2 Includes major and over three-day injuries as defined by the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1985.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 21 February, Official Report, columns 153–54, on the total amounts of grants provided to local authorities responsible for education if he will provide the figures separately for each local authority.[20278]

I have arranged for the figures for all local authorities to be placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment which of the advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department have a statutory base, and which (a) publish their advice to Government, (b) publish an annual report and (c) lay an annual report before Parliament (i) under a statutory requirement and (ii) voluntarily.[20100]

Details of the advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by my Department are listed in the Cabinet Office publication "Public Bodies 1995". A copy is available in the House of Commons Library.I refer the hon. Member to my answer to him on 27 April 1995,

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what values of payments were outstanding within his Department on 5 March, which were beyond the date on the invoice and, where no date was specified, older than 28 days. [20478]

The information requested is not held centrally by my Department and is available only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make it his policy to end subsidies to the arms export trade; and if he will make a statement. [17915]

It has been long-standing Government policy for the Export Credits Guarantee Department to support defence exports on no more favourable terms than apply to civil sales. The ECGD operates to a financial break-even objective on its new business, applying the same prudent underwriting criteria, cover policy and premium rates to civil and defence business.Although there is the possibility of a subsidy arising from fixed rate export finance supported by the ECGD, the United Kingdom has been at the forefront of international negotiations to progressively eliminate the potential for such subsidy. The minimum interest rates supported under FREF are determined by international agreements, and fixed by reference to market levels.While defence-related exports are not covered by these agreements, the ECGD applies the same rules in financing support for defence sales as for civil sales.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he 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. [19467]

My Department does not purchase raw computer capacity as such. Instead, a range of computer-related services is procured from a variety of sources. Following decentralisation of related budget responsibilities to individual management units, central records do not cover all uses of such services. In addition, the costs of those services reflect not only the computer capacity required but the specialist manpower and communication facilities needed to deliver them.The majority of these services are currently delivered to my Department by Hoskyns plc following its success in a market test in 1994. The total value of services delivered during the first year of the contract was £6.7 million. Prior to the market test these services were delivered from in-house capacity. In addition, my Department has used the Treasury's Chessington Computer Centre for staff pay and pensions since 1980 at a current annual cost of £354,000.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) where inward investment seminars and conferences were held by his Department in 1995; and what was the range of numbers participating; [19939](2) how many inward investment seminars or conferences were held by his Department in 1995 and at what cost; and what cost was incurred in renting the venues. [19946]

For the financial year 1995–96, my Department's Invest in Britain Bureau has been involved with the following seminars and conferences for inward investors:

Where held	Overall costs	Cost of venue £	Number of participants
Copenhagen, Denmark	Seminar sponsored by Den Danske Bank	Nil	15
Munich	£25,000	864.8	130
Stuttgart	Sponsored by BW Bank	Nil	50
Seminar with IHK Frankfurt	Arranged by Chamber of Commerce	Nil	20
Osaka, Japan	1£80,075	14,678	153
Aomori, Japan	1£1,952	11,861	35
Akita, Japan	1£1,623	11,664	36
Morioka, Japan	1£2,415	12,254	46
Yamagata, Japan	1£1,709	11,407	24
Taipei Computer Association, Taiwan	2£140	Nil	6
1 £1 = 140 Yen.
2 £1 = 40 NT$.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 5 March, Official Report, columns 135–36, if he will give powers to shareholders of public companies to enable them to receive a detailed explanation of the reasons for a creditor company's refusal to initiate an action for bankruptcy in instances where the debt is in excess of £50,000 and where the debtor is an hon. Member. [19936]

In general, shareholders of companies delegate to their board to management decisions such as the enforcement of debts owed to the company. A power for shareholders to intervene in these specific circumstances would not be appropriate.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what procedures are in place to verify the credentials of private companies who tender for Government contracts. [20189]

A copy of the chapters from my Department's procurement manual providing guidance on the procedures for verifying the credentials of private companies which tender for DTI contracts has been placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if the criteria used for establishing areas eligible for regional assistance in the United Kingdom are identical with those used in other EU countries; and if he will make a statement. [20009]

The criteria for eligibility for grants under the regional objectives of the EC structural fund are, in general terms, identical. They are contained in Council regulation (EEC) 2052/99 as amended by 2081/93 (OJ L193 of 31 July 1993). The criteria for designating areas eligible for support under the regional selective assistance scheme are based on travel-to-work areas and are not therefore identical to those used in other EU countries.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what cases are currently being pursued by his Department's single market compliance unit.[20221]

The single market compliance unit is currently pursuing about 70 cases. The details of these are commercially confidential.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps his Department is taking to investigate the extent of German non-tariff barriers against the import of manufactured goods from the United Kingdom. [20220]

My Department has issued studies on the operation of the single market in public procurement, the chemicals sector and in respect of standards, testing and certification. The Department also analyses the complaints to its single market compliance unit. The unit received 13 complaints in 1995 alleging specific unjustified German non-tariff barriers to trade in manufactured goods. The Department has taken all of these up with the European Commission, the German Government, or both.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received (a) during 1995 and (b) since 1 January alleging that certain fuel suppliers are (i) practising selective price support in favour of company-owned sites and (ii) discriminating against independent dealers through allegedly uncompetitive contracts; what representations have urged him to refer this matter to the Director General of Fair Trading; and if he will make a statement. [20214]

My Department has received a number of representations on behalf of independent retailers during 1995 and this year regarding the pricing policies of fuel suppliers. These have been brought to the attention of the Director General of Fair Trading, who has responsibility for investigating allegations of anti-competitive behaviour or abuse of monopoly power. The Office of Fair Trading investigated these complaints, which included some concerned with Esso's pilot pricewatch campaign, and concluded that action under competition legislation was not appropriate. However, the Office of Fair Trading will continue to monitor the market.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will specify the origin of the reactor, the isotopic composition, point of departure, mode of transport and final end use of the United Kingdom plutonium exported to the United States of America between 1967 and 1988 in the form of fuel elements. [20268]

Plutonium exported from the United Kingdom to the United States of America under civil bilateral agreements was used for fuel elements as part of the US civil programme. All such exports were, where applicable, subject to the application of International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards. Plutonium exported for civil purposes was derived from UK reactors. Given the period over which these exports were made, information relating to the isotopic composition and mode of transport could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the proposal of the Accounting Standards Board for abandonment of historical cost accounting. [20269]

The draft of the proposed "Statement of Principles for Financial Reporting" published for public comment by the Accounting Standards Board does not propose an abandonment of historical cost accounting. Present practice already incorporates certain current values. The draft statement of principles makes clear the ASB's belief that, as markets develop, current values will become increasingly relevant and reliable. The ASB therefore encourages the development of practice in that direction but has stressed that it will not move faster on this subject than the business community will accept.I welcome the publication of the draft statement as apart of the ASB's valuable work on improving the quality of financial reporting. I hope that the business community will consider what the statement has to say on the numerous important issues it addresses and will take the opportunity to contribute to the debate on them.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the total number of workers in receipt of the national minimum wage in (a) the USA, (b) Japan. (c) Australia, (d) Canada, (e) New Zealand and (f) each EU state; and what percentage this represents of the total work force in employment in (a) to (f).[20318]

The Government do not collect this information, and believe that it could be made available only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he will list the number of claims referred in each of the last three years to (a) the commission for the rights of trade union members and (b) the commission for protection against unlawful industrial action; and in each case how many were successful; [203371(2) what was the expenditure of

There is no commission for the rights of trade union members nor commission for protection against unlawful industrial action. One person, Mrs. Gill Rowlands, currently, occupies both the office of Commissioner for the Rights of Trade Union Members, CRTUM, and the Commissioner for Protection Against Unlawful Industrial Action, CPAUIA. The CPAUIA was established in August 1993. The number of formal applications made to the CRTUM and the CPAUIA, and the numbers supported by the commissioners in each year are as follows.

	CRTUM		CPAUIA
	Total applications supported	Total applications supported
1993–941	47	8	1	-
1994–95	57	12	-	-
1995–962	85	9	3	-
1 For the CPAUIA, August 1993 to 31 March 1994.
2 1 April 1995 to 8 March 1996.

The expenditure of each of the commissioners for each of the last three years has been as follows:

	CRTUM £	CPAUIA £
1993–941	274,941	85,880
1994–95	293,716	104,543
1995–9622	287,888	86,218

Five staff have provided support for both Commissioners for the last three years.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what values of payments were outstanding within his Department on 5 March, which were beyond the date on the invoice and, where no date was specified, older than 28 days. [20474]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Hornsey and Wood Green (Mrs. Roche) on 24 November 1995, Official Report, column 417. Information on the basis requested is not available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what assessment he has made of the National Consumer Council report on green claims; [19982] (2) what plans he has to implement the National Consumer Council's recommendations on green claims and to amend the Trade Descriptions Act 1968. [19981]

The report referred to was jointly commissioned from the National Consumer Council by my Department and the Department of the Environment. The Government will be responding to the report as soon as possible following its publication.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the chairmanship and composition of the boards of AEA Technology plc and the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority. [20718]

AEA Technology plc will be vested with the property, rights and liabilities of the commercial activities of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority on 31 March. On that date, Sir Anthony Cleaver will relinquish his appointment as chairman of the authority and become chairman of AEA Technology plc. Admiral Sir Kenneth Eaton will succeed Sir Anthony as chairman of the authority. Sir Kenneth's leadership qualities and his extensive experience of nuclear planning and procurement will be of particular value in this role.In addition to Sir Anthony, the board of AEA Technology plc will comprise the following:

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the implications of the late filing of annual accounts of Capita Managed Services Ltd. for the suitability of that company as the sole bidder for the Companies House central inquiry unit and postal search section in Cardiff. [19783]

[holding answer 8 March 1996]: According to Companies House records, the most recent accounts, for the period to 31 December 1994, were filed by the deadline. Accounts for 1995 do not have to be filed until 31 October 1996.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade 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. [19910]

[holding answer 8 March 1996]: Those activities within my Department in respect of which (i) Capita Managed Services and (ii) Lusis Business Solutions are currently involved in bidding are as follows:

• (a) Facilities management consortia:
• (i) None
• (ii) None
• (b) Private Finance Initiative:
• (i) None
• (ii) None
• (c) Management Buyout Consortia:
• (i) None
• (ii) None
• (d) Contractorisation schemes:
• (i) Companies House (Cardiff)
• Central Enquiry Unit and Postal
• Search Services
• (ii) None
• (e) Market Testing schemes:
• (i) None
• (ii) None

To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what assessment he has made of the implications of the resignation of the chairman of Capita Managed Services Ltd. on the suitability of Capita Managed Services as the sole bidder of the central inquiry unit and postal search sections of Companies House;[19781](2) what assessment he has made of the implications of the resignation of John Jasper as chairman of Capita Managed Services Ltd. for that company's status as the sole bidder for the central inquiry unit and postal search sections at Companies House, Cardiff; and if he will make a statement. [19784]

[holding answers 8 March 1996]: I have not yet taken a decision about whether to award a contract for the running of the central enquiry unit and postal search accounts service at Companies House, Cardiff. Mr. Jasper has no current involvement in the running of Capita Managed Services Ltd.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he has received an interim report from the Monopolies and Mergers Commission on the activities of suppliers of electrical goods; and if he will make a statement. [20083]

[holding answer 11 March 1996]: I have not received an interim report from the Monopolies and Mergers Commission. The MMC has until 31 October 1996 to report.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he expects the Monopolies and Mergers Commission to report on the retail pricing of certain types of electrical goods; and if he will make a statement. [20007]

[holding answer 11 March 1996]: My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade announced on 14 February that he has given the Monopolies and Mergers Commission until 31 October 1996 to report on the monopolies references on the supply of eight categories of electrical goods.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many professional scientists and engineers of each category were employed at each grade in the headquarters division of his Department in each year from 1991 to the current year. [19797]

[holding answer 11 March 1996]: The information requested is shown in the table.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what factors will be taken into account in assessing the public interest in arriving at the decision over proceedings against Birds Eye Wall's under section 93B of the Fair Trading Act 1973 for knowingly or recklessly providing misleading information to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission in its recent inquiry into ice cream exclusivity; [19582](2) when he expects to make a decision on proceedings against Birds Eye Wall's under section 93B of the Fair Trading Act for knowingly or recklessly providing misleading information to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission in its recent inquiry into ice cream exclusivity. [19581](3) what account will be taken of the integrity of the processes of competitive regulation in the decision on proceedings against Birds Eye Wall's under section 93B of the Fair Trading Act 1973 for knowingly or recklessly providing misleading information to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission in its recent inquiry into ice cream exclusivity. [19583]

[holding answer 11 March 1996]: It is not the practice of the Department to comment publicly on individual cases under consideration. Any decisions which need to be taken will be announced in due course.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what responsibility he had for the decision not to prosecute the person against whom sufficient evidence had been accumulated to provide a realistic prospect of conviction for alleged theft of a DTI computer disk and blackmail. [20052]

[holding answer 11 March 1996]: No DTI computer disk has been stolen in the incident referred to by the hon. Member. The President had no responsibility for the decision not to prosecute for the misuse of information held by the Treasury Solicitor.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what has been the cost to public funds of the proposed contracting out of insolvency casework as broken down into (a) the pre-feasibility study, (b) the feasibility study, (c) the 1995 advertisements, (d) the handling of the 149 expressions of interest, (e) the requirements scoping document, (f) the sifting of the 91 initial proposals, (g) the negotiations with 34 companies, (h) the invitation to tender, (i) the identification of three tenders offering value for money and (j) the stringent technical and financial evaluation; and what was the total cost of this exercise. [19584]

[holding answer 11 March 1996]: The cost of the pre-feasibility and feasibility studies into the scope for private sector involvement in the work of official receivers was £65,251 and £61,500 —excluding VAT—respectively.The costs of the contracting out exercise undertaken by the Insolvency Service, in the period beginning October 1994 when the Government announced their intention to pursue the preferred option identified by the then consultants to the announcement on 28 February 1996 of the outcome was £2,288,594. This figure could be broken down into the areas specified only at disproportionate cost.As a result of the drive for greater efficiency implemented during the period of the contracting-out exercise, the service will achieve a reduction this financial year of 3 per cent. in the unit costs of bankruptcy and company liquidations.I expect to announce shortly the targets which I have set for the Insolvency Service in 1996–97, which will look to the service to delivery substantial further savings above that level.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if there will be a revision of the areas eligible for grant from the EU structural funds under objective 2. [9379]

[pursuant to his reply, 11 January 1996, Official Report, co. 293]:On 8 March, the Commission announced that member states' total populations eligible for objective 2 grant will remain unchanged.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 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. [19429]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Roxborough and Berwickshire (Mr. Kirkwood) on 16 February 1996, Official Report, column 728.These figures as a percentage are:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 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. [19459]

There have been no contracts of this nature since 1987.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to raise at the forthcoming meeting of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in Geneva, the subject of violations of human rights in Sudan; and if he will make a statement. [20223]

We deplore the continual and widespread violations of human rights in the Sudan. Together with our EU partners, we will seek to ensure continued monitoring of the situation by the UN Commission on Human Rights.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the evidence of violations of human rights in Sudan presented by Baroness Cox and John Eibner of Christian Solidarity International; and if he will make a statement. [20222]

We read the reports of Baroness Cox and John Eibner with interest and concern. They contain many disturbing first-hand accounts of human rights abuses. We expect the Government of Sudan to investigate them fully and take appropriate action when allegations are well founded. Investigating human rights abuses in Sudan is not easy, but it is important to establish the facts. We look to the Government of Sudan to allow human rights monitors, including the UN Special Rapporteur, free access to all areas of Sudan.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans the British Council now has to withdraw facilities and services previously available to its staff. [21227]