To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the cost and number of items of equipment and furniture that (a) have been stolen and (b) are otherwise unaccounted for from his Department and its agencies in each of the past five years, listing by name any such items valued at £5,000 or more, and showing information technology material separately. [19034]

The following items of equipment have been reported stolen or unaccounted for in the past five years:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Government's plans to raise the violation of human rights faced by independent human rights organisations in Indonesia at (a) the forthcoming 52nd session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights and (b) other inter-governmental conferences. [18849]

We have no plans to raise specific concerns of independent human rights organisations in Indonesia at the 52nd session of the UN Commission on Human Rights. Together with our EU partners we will continue to raise with the Indonesian Government, bilaterally and at other appropriate international fora, our concerns about the human rights situation in Indonesia.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the expenditure by the Government in (a) 1994–95 and (b) 1995–96 upon Commonwealth scholarships; and what estimate he has made of expenditure in 1996–97. [20046]

The Government provided £63.5 million for awards for commonwealth students in 1994–95. Figures for 1995–96 are not yet available but are likely to be broadly similar.The expenditure on awards for commonwealth students is likely to fall in 1996–97 due to reductions in the various budgets from which awards are funded, and policy changes affecting the pattern of training within the United Kingdom's bilateral country aid projects.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make statement on press freedom in Zimbabwe. [20457]

The constitution of Zimbabwe provides for freedom of expression subject to certain defined exceptions. Most of the media in Zimbabwe are effectively state-controlled but there are privately owned press titles which take an independent stance and can be critical of Government.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what plans he has to review the capping limits on the environmentally sensitive areas provision; and if he will make a statement; [19949](2) when he expects the review of the environmentally sensitive areas provision to be complete; and if he will make a statement. [19950]

Biennial reviews of payments ceilings and rates have now been completed for all 10 environmentally sensitive area schemes. Increased ceilings and rates were introduced for the Breadalbane and Loch Lomond schemes with effect from 21 December 1995. Substantial increases in ceilings of up to 175 per cent. for the remaining eight schemes were announced on 8 March, subject to approval by the European Commission and Parliament. These increases demonstrate our commitment to the schemes and should ensure that farmers and crofters who opt to join can manage their land to achieve maximum conservation benefit.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to correct the underspend on the environmentally sensitive areas provision; and if he will make a statement. [19948]

The environmentally sensitive areas scheme is voluntary and while uptake to date has been lower than anticipated, it is steadily increasing. My noble Friend the Minister for Agriculture and the Environment expects that it will continue to do so as farmers and crofters recognise the benefits of participation and take advantage of substantially increased payment ceilings which we have recently announced.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to introduce a criminal offence of stalking. [19691]

The Government have recently completed an examination of the anti-stalking laws passed in the United States, Australia and Canada and are currently considering whether specific legislation to address the problems of stalking could with benefit be introduced in the United Kingdom. In Scotland, the breadth of the common law charge of breach of the peace is such that virtually any conduct which might constitute stalking can already be prosecuted as breach of the peace.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with further education colleges on (a) provision of places in the colleges and (b) amalgamation of existing colleges; and if he will make a statement on the negotiations he has had with each college. [20079]

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects the Lord Advocate to make a decision on whether to bring charges in respect of allegations made in the "Dispatches" programme on the export of electric shock equipment. [20357

I understand from my noble and learned Friend the Lord Advocate that Strathclyde police are currently investigating allegations concerning the export of electro-shock equipment. At the conclusion of the investigation, a report will be submitted to Crown Office for the consideration of Crown counsel.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department 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. [19452]

My Department has not directly bought computer capacity from other Departments or the private sector since 1987 and has no current plans to do so.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what provisions were made to protect the interests of Strathclyde passenger transport executive in rolling stock funded by them which was transferred to the ownership of Angel Train Company and Eversholt Leasing Company; and if he will make a statement. [19600](2) what provisions were made when the rolling stock companies were established to safeguard the interests of passenger transport executives in rolling stock which they had funded. [19599]

Constraints on the use of the passenger rolling stock, which had previously been put in place by the British Railways Board to protect the interests of the PTEs were transferred, as appropriate, to the three passenger rolling stock leasing companies—Roscos. The arrangements for Strathcylde funded passenger rolling stock was recently confirmed to Strathclyde regional council by officials in my Department.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if it continues to be his policy that passenger transport executives are entitled to direct the use of rolling stock which they have funded. [19601]

I have no current plans to change the present arrangements.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps were taken to inform the European Commission of the state subsidy provided to the privatised rolling stock companies from the British Railway's Board's retention of the obligation to meet outstanding loan charges in respect of PTE-funded assets transferred to rosco ownership; and if he will make a statement. [19602]

A decision by the Government and the British Railways Board to repay a proportion of PTE capital grants, as a means of compensating the PTEs for the loss of the lower costs charged to them by British Rail prior to April 1994, does not confer any benefit on the three recently privatised passenger rolling stock leasing companies.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the cost to the British Railways Board in 1996–97 of meeting outstanding loan charges in respect of PTE-funded assets which were transferred to private ownership. [19598]

The current estimated cost to the British Railways Board of payments to be made to the PTEs under deeds of assumption for 1996–97, in respect of rolling stock acquired by BR as a result of PTE capital grants and subsequently transferred to private ownership, is £10.6 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what (a) interim report and (b) special bulletins he has received from the marine accident investigation branch on the grounding of the Borga; when they were received; and if he will place copies of them in the Library. [20556]

Neither an interim report nor a special bulletin was produced in the case of the Borga investigation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 6 March 1996, Official Report, column 216–17, when he expects the marine accident investigation branch to report on the grounding of the Borga. [20572]

The marine accident investigation branch report of the investigation into the grounding of the Borga on 28 October 1995 will be published as soon as the investigation is complete. Work is continuing in co-operation with the authorities in Norway, the flag state of the vessel.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the last valuation was made of the royal train and what value was attached to the asset. [20452]

I understand that in 1995 Railtrack valued the royal train at approximately £11 million for insurance purposes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what regulatory mechanism is in place in the United Kingdom for checking that aircraft flying into and out of the United Kingdom are insured. [20468]

Council Regulation (EEC) No. 2407/92 on licensing of air carriers requires an air carrier with an operating licence granted by the competent licensing authority to be insured to cover liability in case of accidents. The regulation applies to all states of the European economic area and is implemented in the United Kingdom by Statutory Instrument No. 2992 "The Licensing of Air Carriers Regulations 1992". The competent licensing authority in the United Kingdom is the Civil Aviation Authority.Article 102 of the Air Navigation (No. 2) Order 1995 provides that aircraft registered in a state other than the United Kingdom or another European economic area state shall not operate into the United Kingdom without the permission of the Secretary of State. Permits are not issued to non-European economic area air carriers unless they have provided evidence of insurance.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many cases there have been in the last five years of airlines flying to or from the United Kingdom that are not insured. [20469]

None that the Department or the Civil Aviation Authority is aware of.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the total Government grant to London Underground Ltd. in each year since 1991; and what was the total annual amount of Government grant spent on (a) the Northern line, City branch, (b) the Bakerloo line and (c) the east London line. [20328]

My Department gives grant to London Transport. The distribution of grant by LT between London Underground Ltd. and its other businesses is an operational matter for LT. LT's allocation of grant to London Underground from 1991–92 is shown in the table. Grant is not allocated on a line-by-line basis. These figures exclude grant for the construction of the Jubilee line extension.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the last valuation was made of the European Passenger Services fleet of trains; and what value was attached to the asset. [20298]

Seven of EPS's 11 Eurostar train sets and the night service stock are leased. The breakdown from EPS's latest annual report and accounts show that on 31 March 1995 the rolling stock had a written down value on a historical cost basis after taking into account leasing obligations of £318 million. No other valuations have been undertaken by EPS or the Department.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the last valuation was made of the maintenance depot in Manchester for regional Eurostar trains; and what value was attached to the asset. [20302]

EPS's latest annual report and accounts show that on 31 March 1995 the Manchester Longsight depot had a written down value on a historical cost basis of £5.9 million. No other valuations have been undertaken by EPS or the Department.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the last valuation was made of the Eurostar maintenance depot at North Pole; and what value was attached to the asset. [20300]

The breakdown from EPS' s latest annual report and accounts show that on 31 March 1995 the North Pole depot has a written down value on a historical cost basis of £77.5 million. No other valuations have been undertaken by EPS or the Department.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the last valuation was made of Waterloo international station; and what value was attached to the asset. [20299]

The breakdown from EPS's latest annual report and accounts show that on 31 March 1995 the Waterloo international terminal had a written down value on a historical cost basis of £136 million. No other valuations have been undertaken by EPS or the Department.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the last valuation was made of the new Ashford international station; and what value was attached to the asset. [20301]

Ashford international station is carried in EPS's 1994–95 annual report and accounts as having a value of £41 million on 31 March 1995. This figure is based on the net present value of future leasing payments. No other valuations have been undertaken by EPS or the Department.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what studies he has carried out to check the safety aspects of transporting orimulsion. [19251]

I have asked the chief executive of the Marine Safety Agency to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) on what occasions oil companies operating in Milford Haven or the harbour authority have suggested to his Department that aspects of the Sullom Voe system should be introduced at Milford Haven; and what was his response; [18578](2) if the Milford Haven port control staff are under standing instructions to monitor the harbour radar displays at all times during arrival and departure of tankers; [18583](3) if the port of Milford Haven has

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how regularly liaison takes place between the Milford Haven harbour authority and oil terminal operators. [18590]

I understand that the Milford Haven Harbour Authority has daily contact with oil terminal operators.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many harbour tugs and of what specification were waiting at the entrance of Milford Haven to render immediate assistance in the event of vessels being in difficulties at the time of the Sea Empress disaster. [18580]

On the night of 15 February, four harbour tugs, each with a 45 tonne bollard pull, were on station within the Haven.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if the Milford Haven harbour authority (a) keeps records and (b) publishes details of all pollution incidents. [18588]

I understand that the Milford Haven Harbour Authority does keep records of pollution incidents, which are made available to the Advisory Committee on the Protection of the Sea on an annual basis for publication, as part of its report to the marine pollution control unit. The authority must also report individual pollution incidents to the marine pollution control unit.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will list the locations of United Kingdom waste reception facilities for waste oil from ships; [19631](2) if he will list the locations of United Kingdom waste reception facilities for waste oil from ships introduced since the Donaldson report; and if he will make a statement. [19629]

I have asked the chief executive of the Marine Safety Agency to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 21 February, Official Report, column 145, what was the total sum estimated by W. S. Atkins as required for maintenance of Railtrack's assets in steady state over 10 years; and what maintenance works are included in this estimate. [18548]

Railtrack's asset maintenance plan in respect of track and route structures, developed with the assistance of W. S. Atkins, is based on a central estimate for the 10 years from 1 April 1994 of £3,250 million. The forecast covers maintenance and renewals work on track embankments, cuttings, retaining walls, culverts and sea defences. It excludes day-to-day maintenance carried out under contract by the infrastructure maintenance companies.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what proposals he has to amend regulations governing admission of single-hulled oil tankers to harbours in the United Kingdom; [17894](2) what action he is taking to ensure that single-hull tankers are banned from using United Kingdom coastal waters; and if he will make a statement. [17913]

The Government participated fully in international agreements that single-hulled oil tankers would be phased out by 2024, as approximately 93 per cent. of the world's oil tanker fleet are single-hulled, a faster phasing out could restrict if not halt the essential movement of oil cargoes to and from our ports.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many hours the pilot on the Sea Empress had worked before the grounding. [18585]

The special bulletin issued by the marine accident investigation branch indicates that the pilot was adequately rested before starting duty.

To ask the Attorney-General 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. [19455]

The Crown Prosecution Service has one contract with a private sector company, Comshare Ltd., for the purchase of computer capacity. The value of the contract is commercially confidential.The Law Officers' departments do not have any such contract with any other Department.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the Treasury's policy in respect of the statutory compliance duties of industry practitioners and regulators (a) to ensure that all breaches of section 47 of the Financial Services Act 1986 are identified, (b) to ensure that all identified breaches of section 47 are investigated and (c) to ensure that, following investigation, breaches of section 47 are prosecuted in the criminal courts. [19965]

The Treasury is responsible for the general policy expressed in the legislation, but not for prosecution of matters under section 47. The Financial Services Act places no duties on industry practitioners and regulators of the kinds listed. In England and Wales, only the Secretary of State and the Director of Public Prosecutions have the power to prosecute or to consent to others prosecuting. In Northern Ireland, those powers are exercised by the Secretary of State and the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland. In Scotland, prosecutions would be brought by procurators fiscal.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if in he will list all rates of income tax in each year since1996–97. [19812]

Table 1.10 of the 1995–96 "Tax Benefit Reference Manual" gives income tax rates for years 1976–77 to 1995–96, a copy of which can be found in the Library.Proposed rates for 1996–97 are set as follows:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the number of people employed in the United Kingdom (a) armaments and (b) armaments-related industries for each of the last 10 years. [19773]

Information available from the census of employment for 1984, 1987, 1989, 1991 and 1993 is provided in the following table. Some industrial activities previously classified to standard industrial classification 1980—SIC80—group "Aerospace equipment manufacture and repair" were re-classified to standard industrial classification 1992—SIC92— "Manufacture of weapons and ammunition". The dual figures for 1991 reflect this discontinuity.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made, in the latest years for which information is available, of the number of taxpayers with taxable investment incomes of a (a) zero, (b) less than £100, (c) £101 to £499 and (d) over £500; and in each case what is the number of such taxpayers over the age of 65 years. [19495]

[holding answer 7 March 1996]: Estimated numbers for 1996–97 based on projections from a mixture of statistical sources are given in the table. The estimates of the numbers with small amounts of investment income are very uncertain.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what factors led to the non-availability of application forms for pensioners' guaranteed income bonds (series 3) in post offices in Dewsbury during February. [20234]

[holding answer 11 March 1996]: National savings sales booklets, which include application forms, for pensioners guaranteed income bonds are not related to any particular series, so could be used to purchase series 3 bonds as soon as they went on sale. I understand that Dewsbury post office had run out of stock and were awaiting new supplies. Stocks were available at the Post Office supplies depot and should have been delivered to Dewsbury post office within three weeks of being ordered.I have written to the hon. lady in reply to her letter of 22 February with full details.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state, in current prices, the amount of debt written off by Her Majesty's Government in respect of each privatisation since 1979. [19603]

It is common practice for capital reconstruction to be undertaken where necessary before privatisation. For some privatisations debt is written off, for others debt is injected. Debts written off in respect of privatisations total some £22.5 billion, in current 1995–96 prices. Details are set out in the table. New debt totalling £13.94 billion at current prices was injected into privatised companies at the time of sale.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects the 1996 departmental reports to be published. [20891]

Proposed publication dates for the 1996 departmental reports are as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what studies his Department has carried out on the possible environmental impact of a major orimulsion spillage on land or sea. [19250]

In 1992 a research study was carried out on behalf of the Department of the Environment which reviewed the impacts of orimulsion and the pollution abatements technologies which may be applied to orimulsion-fired boilers.Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution has not commissioned any research on the polluting effects of orimulsion.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what reports (a) his Department and (b) the Environmental Agency have evaluated regarding the environmental consequences of (i) the leak or spillage of orimulsion into seas or rivers and (ii) the operation of wind and rain on the gas generated by orimulsion. [19647]

In 1992 a research study was carried out on behalf of the Department of the Environment which reviewed the impacts of orimulsion and the pollution abatements technologies which may be applied to orimulsion-fired boilers.The Environment Agency does not come into being until 1 April. However, Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution which will form part of the agency has evaluated reports from National Power regarding the possible effects of the gases released after abatement from the proposed burning of orimulsion at Pembroke power station. These reports are available on the public registers. Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution is also carrying out its own modelling into the dispersion of the potential releases from the plant. In addition Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution is evaluating reports from Milford Haven Port Authority, which outlines the likely effects of a spillage of orimulsion into the Haven of up to 1,000 tonnes.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he plans to take to ensure that recreation grounds meet basic standards of health and safety. [19951]

The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 applies to recreation grounds where there is employment. Risks at recreation grounds are generally low, and inspection levels reflect this. Health and safety inspectors respond to any serious incident and follow up complaints. Sports grounds are regulated under the Safety at Sports Grounds Act 1975 on which there is guidance from the Department of National Heritage. DNH has also published guidance on playground safety.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to increase the use of mobile units in measuring air quality. [20257]

My Department has no plans to increase the use of mobile units. Mobile laboratories are generally used to monitor air quality for relatively short periods of time in a number of locations. Hence, data from mobile laboratories do not fit well into the national monitoring programmes operated by the Department, which requires long term monitoring to check for compliance with air quality standards and guidelines and to evaluate trends over a number of years.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was in (a) 1994–95, (b) 1995–96 and (c) 1996–97 for each company and for England as a whole the price charged to domestic users for 1,000 gallons of water. [20219]

This information is not available in the form requested. However, information about the price of water per cubic metre, for each company and for England and Wales as a whole, is given in Ofwat's "1994–95 Report on the cost of Water Delivered and Sewage Collected", published in November 1995. A copy of this report is in the Library. Information for 1995–96 and 1996–97 is not yet available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what policy changes he proposes to the granting of marine nature reserve status as a result of the Sea Empress disaster. [20015]

There are no current plans to change the Government's policy on marine nature reserves.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he plans to give the Government's formal response to the Environment Committee's report into the burning of secondary liquid fuels in cement kilns (HC497 of Session 1994–95). [20463]

The Government expect to publish this response in the next few weeks.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list for each education authority in England (a) the finalised education standard spending assessment figures and (b) the total standard spending assessment figures (i) by class and (ii) in total. [20498]

[holding answer 12 March 1996]: The information is given in the tables.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he has taken to implement EC directive 92/58 on safety signs for United Kingdom products. [18699]

I refer the hon. Member to my reply on 4 March 1996, Official Report, column 7, about the EC safety signs directive 92/95/EEC.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the number of (a) fatal and (b) serious reportable accidents per 100,000 manshifts in the deep coal mining industry between privatisation and 31 December 1995. [20199]

The figures are not available for the period in question. However, provisional figures for the period from 1 April 1995 to 30 September 1995 give rates of 0.08 fatal accidents and 3.17 major injury accidents per 100,000 manshifts in coal mines.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the accident rates recorded in the first year of the privatised deep coal industry. [20200]

None. Full information for the year is not yet available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action the mines inspectorate is taking to ensure that the accident reporting regime in the privatised deep coal mining industry adequately records the nature and cause of accidents so that preventative measures can be taken. [20201]

The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1985 apply to coal mining companies as they do to all other employers. Their effect is to require the coal mining companies to notify the mines inspectorate of fatal accidents; major injuries; and injuries that incapacitate people from undertaking work which they might otherwise reasonably be expected to undertake for a period of more than three consecutive days; and certain specified dangerous occurrences. As part of its normal programme of inspection the mines inspectorate seeks to ensure that the companies are complying with the 1985 regulations. The 1985 regulations will be replaced with effect from 1 April 1996 by the new revised and updated Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995. The new regulations will continue the core injury and dangerous occurrence reporting requirements.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the impact of the procedures set out in the Health and Safety Commission publication "Your Rights When Health and Safety Inspectors Take Action" on the safety regime in the deep coal mining industry; and if he will make a statement. [20202]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 8 March, Official Report, column 364.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the effect of the publication "Your Rights When Health and Safety Inspectors Take Action" (a) on the issuing of improvement notices and (b) on the issuing of prohibition notices; and if he will make a statement. [20203]

It is too early to say what effect, if any, the procedures in the leaflet will have on the issuing of improvement notices. The commission is monitoring how the procedures are working in practice and will report to me. The leaflet has no effect on the procedure for issuing prohibition notices: It spells out practice that has always been followed.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has yet considered the response by Lincolnshire county council to the notices served upon the authority on 11 April 1995 under section 19A of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980; and if he will make a statement. [20732]

My right hon. Friend has considered carefully the responses which Lincolnshire county council has made to the two notices served on the authority for financial failure of the direct labour organisation in 1993–94 and for alleged anti-competitive behaviour. In relation to the notice for financial failure, he is satisfied that appropriate steps have been taken, and will not be taking any further action. He has however today given the authority a direction under section 19B of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 for anti-competitive behaviour.After careful consideration, the Secretary of State remains of the opinion that the authority acted in an anti-competitive manner in awarding a contract for highways maintenance work worth £20,635,000 to its in-house direct labour organisation when it was not the lowest tenderer. He considers that the authority's concerns about the contractor's ability to do the work and financial status were not backed up by sufficient evidence, and therefore were not reasonable grounds for rejection of the lower bid which offered a saving of £2,240,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what decision he has made concerning the membership schemes proposed by the Environment Agency for its regional environment protection advisory committees. [20893]

The consultation period on the membership schemes has now closed. After careful consideration of the responses received my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment has approved the schemes in the form in which they were submitted by the agency. The agency will now be consulting on nominations for each committee.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to amend the system of development plans prepared under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990; and if he will make a statement. [21092]

The plan-led system requires each district planning authority to have an area-wide local plan or unitary development plan. We set a target, agreed with local authorities, of getting a substantial majority of those plans prepared, debated and formally adopted by the end of 1996. The result of the most recent monitoring survey shows that 62 per cent. of authorities expect to have adopted their plan by the target date. This shortfall is disappointing.I have been concerned at the length of time it is taking some authorities to adopt their plan. We consulted earlier about possible changes to speed up this process. The response was lukewarm about radical change, but supported change that could be achieved within the scope of existing legislation. Already the planning inspectorate has introduced more concise reports on local plan inquiries and a system of service agreements with local authorities on their likely length and cost.I am proposing further changes that can be brought into effect quickly, with the publication of proposals to amend both the code of practice on development plans and the development plan regulations. Copies have been placed in the Library of the House.In addition, I am not ruling out further changes, including measures that will require legislation, if these are wanted by the users of the development plan system. My Department will shortly be writing to interested organisations about this wider review.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many, and which, health authorities and trusts operated negative equity buyout or similar relocation schemes prior to executive guidance being issued in October 1994; and how much was paid by each health service body under such schemes in each year. [19030]

This information is not available centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many consultant ophthalmology sessions are available on average each week at present; and how many were available on average each week in each of the past five years. [19611]

This information is not available centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the impact on community pharmacies of large supermarket chains selling (a) non-prescription and (b) prescription drugs below the recommended retail price. [19810]

(a) None. (b) prescription drugs are not available for sale.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what basis the relative effectiveness of admission of patients with schizophrenia to (a) a district general hospital and (b) an area mental hospital is assessed; and over what period after discharge. [19824]

We are working with the Royal College of Psychiatrists to develop outcome scales to assess the health and social functioning of mentally ill people.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action is taken in respect of human embryos stored for more than five years, but less than the 39 years specified by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (Statutory Storage Period for Human Embryos) Regulations in the event that the woman for the relief of whose infertility they had been stored ceases to receive treatment. [19657]

Embryos will normally remain in store until used for treatment purposes or until the storage period agreed with the couple expires. The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority is preparing guidance for licensed centres on the steps that should be taken to review the situation with the couple concerned before the storage period ends.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library copies of all forms of consent authorised by his Department for use by infertility and research clinics in connection with the creation, storage and use of human embryos. [19656]

Copies of consent forms issued by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority will be placed in the Library. These forms are not subject to authorisation by the Department of Health.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library a copy of all codes of practice issued by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority in connection with the consent which is sought by the donors of gametes and human embryos, with specific reference to (a) maximum storage periods, (b) the individuals for the relief of whose infertility those embryos may be used and (c) the research or other non-therapeutic purposes for which those embryos may be used. [19655]

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority's code of practice provides guidance to licensed centres about consent to storage of gametes and embryos, consent to use of gametes and embryos in treatment and consent for use of gametes and embryos in research. Copies of the code of practice are available in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 5 March, Official Report, column 184, what assessment he has made of the funding requirements of health authorities necessary to ensure that where combination therapies of antiviral medicines are determined by clinicians as being the best response to HIV for a particular patient, there will be no financial obstacle to their prescription. [19937]

The Department allocates specific funding in relation to treating people with HIV and AIDS. The AIDS treatment and care budget is no longer ringfenced, and health authorities have the flexibility to move funds into HIV/AIDS from their main allocations if they so wish. The AIDS treatment budget already allows for significant costs for drug therapies and we will be monitoring the uptake and impact of combination therapies.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what evaluation he has made of the benefit of specialised computer equipment for blind and partially sighted people; [20236](2) what proposals he has to encourage the use of specialised computer equipment by blind and partially sighted people. [20239]

The Department has not carried out such an evaluation. We have, however, made a grant of £25,000 per year for three years to the computability centre in Warwick. The centre is a national charity which provides information and advice on computers to disabled people, carers, employers and professionals.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of blind and partially sighted people in the United Kingdom are under the age of 18 years. [20238]

Local authority registers show that at 31 March 1994 in England, around 2 per cent. of people registered as blind and 2.5 per cent. of those registered as partially sighted were aged under 18.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many blind and partially sighted people live in (a) Coventry, (b) the west midlands and (c) the United Kingdom. [20237]

Information on the numbers of people registered with local authorities as blind or partially sighted is shown in the table. As registration of blindness with local authorities is voluntary the figures may not provide a wholly reliable indicator of the prevalence of blindness or partial sight in the population.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many blind and partially sighted people in the United Kingdom use specialised computer equipment for individual use otherwise than as students or as employees. [20235]

This information is not available centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the qualification of staff of residential accommodation for mentally ill people in (a) the community and (b) psychiatric hospitals. [19825]

Registering authorities decide the level of qualification and suitability of staff in residential homes. Each trust determines the staff and skills that they need to deliver the service which they provide through their contracts.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of the population in the North Essex health authority area are now served by fundholding general practitioners. [18598]

A total of 47 per cent. of the population in North Essex health authority are currently registered with a fundholding practice. We expect this to rise to 60 per cent. this April.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consultations he has had with the chairmen of NHS trusts concerning insuring trust directors against liabilities other than in cases of malfeasance. [20555]

None. Guidance to the national health service on the personal liability of non-executive directors is in course of preparation. The decision as to whether insurance is appropriate will remain one for individual trust boards.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the current average gross weekly rent (a) for council rented accommodation and (b) housing association rented accommodation in Wales; and what were the corresponding figures five years earlier. [17882]

The available information on average actual rents is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales 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. [19418]

Letters passed to my Department's next steps agency—CADW—are as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales f 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. [19463]

The following is the information: