To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which aircraft the Nimrod R1 replaced in active service with the Royal Air Force. [22363]

Nimrod R1 replaced Comet Mk2s in No. 51 Squadron Royal Air Force.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the Nimrod R1 lost on 16 May 1995 had received its star window upgrade. [22354]

Star window equipment was not fitted to this aircraft.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the estimated cost of the star window upgrade to the Nimrod R1; and from which sub-heads of which votes these funds are taken. [22352]

The value of the star window upgrade is under £30 million. Costs have been charged to vote 2, section M6.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many officials and members of the United Kingdom armed forces are (a) stationed in Bahrain and (b) attached to Bahrainian military, police or paramilitary units or services (i) to support contracts, (ii) on secondment and (iii) for training (1) currently and (2) on 1 January 1995. [22662]

It is our practice not to comment on the precise location of forces deployed on operations in the Gulf region.One Royal Navy officer, acting as UK/Bahrain defence co-operation officer, is based at the British embassy in Bahrain.No members of the UK armed forces are attached to Bahrain's military, police or paramilitary units or services, nor were there any on 1 January 1995.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many visits have been undertaken to Bahrain by (i) officials of his Department and (ii) members of the United Kingdom armed forces in the last 12 months with, in each case, their rank and status. [22661]

The information is not available in the form requested.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he plans to report on the inquiry into Gulf war syndrome. [22551]

As stated in my reply to the right hon. Member for South Shields (Dr. Clark) of 30 January 1996, Official Report, columns 607–608, we are in the process of commissioning a series of epidemiological studies into the alleged Gulf war syndrome. I shall report further when significant information becomes available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the annual cost of (a) routine maintenance and (b) refitting of HMY Britannia. [22823]

The present estimated cost of maintenance for the current financial year is £1,262,000. No further refits are planned.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many companies have tendered for the new air-launched, anti-armour weapon, currently out to tender; if he will list the companies involved and the countries they are based in; and what is the estimated number of jobs that will be created to fulfil this contract. [22580]

Five companies have tendered for the new advanced air-launched anti-armour weapon as follows:

Company	Country
BAe Dynamics	UK
GEC Marconi	UK
Hunting Engineering	UK
Texas Instruments	US
Thompson Thorn Missile Electronics	UK/FR

It is too early to give any meaningful estimate of the number of jobs which will be created to fulfil the contract.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his estimate of Government expenditure in support of military research and development for each year since 1986–87, including the figures planned for 1995–96, 1996–97 and 1997–98. [22682]

The information requested is set out in the 1995 edition of "Forward Look", the publication on Government-funded science, engineering and technology, volume 3, table 2.1, a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the number of his Department's (a) married quarters and (b) other houses in each parliamentary constituency. [22999]

The information is not held in the form requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the location of 22 SAS. [23297]

The present site at Stirling Lines, Hereford occupied by 22 SAS is too small to meet long-term requirements and it is planned to move the unit to the former RAF site at Credenhill, Hereford within the next three years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what purpose the Army produced and published a paper entitled "The Military Ethos (The Maintenance of Standards)" in January 1994; to whom it was distributed; and with what instructions for onward transmission. [22715]

[holding answer 25 March 1996]: The purpose of the Army paper "The Military Ethos (The Maintenance of Standards)", is to explain the requirement for high standards of personal conduct and respect for law demanded of those in military service. Before the paper was promulgated, the Army had issued edicts on various subjects such as drug misuse, but without fully explaining the reasons behind them. The paper is intended to make all serving Army personnel, recruits and members of the Territorial Army conversant with the standards required of them, and the reasons behind them.The paper was issued on 21 October 1993 and distributed to commanders in chief, all commands and districts both home and abroad. Commanding officers were instructed to bring the paper to the attention of all ranks. To that end, commanding officers were to set aside time to explain personally these issues to their officers and senior non-commissioned officers to ensure that the message was understood.

To ask the President of the Board Trade if he will list, by year, country and export classification, the number of waivers used Customs and Excise with respect to the export of military equipment. [19241]

This information was not collated centrally by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what monitoring is done to ensure that goods leaving the United Kingdom on temporary export licences are returned to the UK; and if he will list those occasions since 1990 when goods exported on temporary licences have not been returned. [19249]

Export licences granted for the temporary export of goods are valid for a period of 12 months, which may be extended in certain circumstances. If notification of return of goods is not received by due date, the matter is taken up immediately with the consignor. There are occasions when goods licensed for temporary export are legitimately retained overseas on a permanent basis after due consideration by my Department.The second part of this question could be answered only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much was spent on research into (a) cancer, (b) heart disease and (c) stroke in each year since 1989; and if he will make a statement. [21579]

Research funding from the Medical Research Council for all three areas between 1989–90 and 1994–95, which is the latest year for which full figures are available, is summarised in the table:

£ million
	Cancer	Heart disease	Stroke
1994–95 figures using current definitions of research areas	13.2	11.4	3.4
11993–94	13.3	6.1	0.9
11992–93	13.5	5.4	1.0
11991–92	13.6	5.3	0.6
11990–91	13.5	5.9	0.4
11989–90	13.3	5.5	0.4
1 Figures using previous definitions of research areas.

There are two major qualifications to these figures. First, the basis for indexing and retrieving electronic research data at the Medical Research Council changed after 1993–94. Trends cannot, therefore, be read between the first five years on the one hand, and 1994–95 on the other.Secondly, cancer studies are underpinned by a significant amount of basic research of some relevance to the above figures, but not included within them. Such areas include research into genetic blueprint and health— £37.7 million; molecules and cells—£64.9 million; and infections and immunity—£60.2 million.The Scottish Office Home and Health Department's expenditure on these areas in as follows:

£ million
	Cancer	Heart disease	Stroke
1994–95	762,720	254,070	115,272
1993–94	963,910	361,404	141,835
1992–93	454,391	295,995	64,959
1991–92	181,113	140,004	90,677
1990–91	82,561	24,337	6,908
1989–90	112,862	72,308	79,975

In addition, the Department of Health—England and Wales—spent £8.3 million on cancer research in 1994–95. On heart disease and stroke, in 1993–94, the latest available figures, the Department of Health's policy research programme spent £400,000 on research into cardiovascular disease, and the NHS research and development programme on cardiovascular disease and stroke spent £49,537 in the same year. It is estimated that the NHS programme will spend £3,093,185 in 1995–96.Figures for other years and for Northern Ireland are not readily available.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on his Department's funding for research into cancer. [21452]

The Medical Research Council, which receives its funding from my Department, supports an extensive programme into cancer. For the financial year 1994–95, which is the latest year for which full figures are available, MRC expenditure was £13.2 million.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on his Department's funding for research into (a) heart disease and (b) stroke. [21578]

The Medical Research Council, which receives its funding from my Department, supports an extensive programme into heart disease and stroke. For the financial year 1994–95, which is the latest year for which full figures are available, the expenditure on (a) heart disease was £11.4 million and for (b) stroke was £3.4 million.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what measures his Department is taking to ensure that its contractors and suppliers (a) pay their employees a wage which ensures such employees do not need supplementary welfare payments via various state benefits and (b) meet workplace health and safety regulations; an if he will make a statement. [21461.]

Terms and conditions of employment, including wages, are a matter between the contractor or supplier and his employees, subject of course to any relevant legal requirements. Compliance with health and safety regulations is a legal requirement for the contractor or supplier.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what participation Her Majesty's Government have had in the human genome project; and if he will make a statement. [21650]

The Government fully recognise the value of the human genome project, HGP, and in the last three years—1994–95, 1995–96 and 1996–97—have allocated additional funding, now totalling £13 million a year, to this important area. They also recognise the need to share results of the work as widely as possible. The project will provide new insights into the treatment and prevention of many diseases and could lead to more accurate diagnosis. The Government will continue to support this work in conjunction with other international sponsors.The genome project is a global initiative that has expanded considerably over the past few years. The Medical Research Council, MRC, which is funded by my Department through the science budget, continues to play a leading role in this work. The MRC human genome mapping project, HGMP, was initiated in 1989 to support work on genome mapping and for studies of the structural arrangements and sequence within the genome, to develop and evaluate enabling technologies and to support training. In addition to funding research grants and projects in MRC establishments, the council has set up the HGMP resource centre in Cambridge to provide centralised facilities and services to UK users. More recently, the MRC has collaborated with the Wellcome Trust to establish the Sanger centre, also in Cambridge. The centre is carrying out parallel and complementary programmes funded by the two partners, and serves as a "factory" to sequence the nematode and yeast genomes, as well as selected human chromosomes, and to develop robotics and informatics.The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, BBSRC, also funded by my Department, currently supports an initiative in plant and animal genome analysis and in doing so liaises closely with the human genome mapping programme and the MRC's resource centre. Collaboration with the human genome resource centre has allowed important access to databases for use in comparative mapping, enabling animal mappers to acquire information about the position of candidate genes on the human genome. In future, these benefits may be reciprocal, allowing human geneticists access to information about the genetic bases for complex diseases, such as osteoporosis, for which there is a model in the chicken. There are also close links between BBSRC and MRC on the development of appropriate informatics to underpin genome research.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on credits extended from the United Kingdom to Taiwan; and to what extent payments on these are up to date. [22209]

Since privatisation of the Export Credits Guarantee Department's short-term credit arm in 1991, medium and long-term export credit facilities have continued to be available to support UK capital goods and project exports to Taiwan.Taiwan is only an occasional user of export credit, and ECGD's exposure is relatively modest, at £91 million as at 31 December 1995.No delays in payment have been reported and no claims have been paid on business with Taiwan.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on credits extended from the United Kingdom to China; and to what extent payments on these are up to date. [22208]

Since the privatisation of the Export Credits Guarantee Department's short-term credit arm in 1991, medium and long-term export credit facilities have continued to be available to support UK capital goods and project exports to China.China was ECGD's top new business market in 1994–95 and is currently the largest market in terms of exposure which, as at 31 December 1995, stood at £2,240 million.Occasional administrative delay in payment have been reported, but no claims have been paid on business with China.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will commission a report on the technical and practical considerations of applying the V-chip to the Internet. [22141]

My Department is contributing to the study of the V-chip for television being conducted by the department of National Heritage. For the Internet, it is unlikely that the application of a V-chip will be feasible in a complex global network. Legislation is not an ideal means of regulating content on the Internet, which is of increasing importance in business, education and leisure. Voluntary action on the part of network service companies, coupled with personal responsibility and the use of software tools designed to enable the subscriber to limit the range of material available, would seem to be more appropriate than imposing a particular rigid technological solution. Indeed, recent attempts by other Governments to restrict the Internet have demonstrated the difficulties with imposed regulation. I am very keen that the service providers agree, as soon as possible, a voluntary code of conduct to allay public concerns. I made this clear in a speech on 22 March 1996, in which I set out my Department's attitude to the Internet generally. A copy has been placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to investigate the effect of employment insecurity on productivity in relation to (a) small and medium enterprises and (b) the economy. [22290]

The Department has no plans for research into this topic.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list (a) the number and countries of destination of dual-use goods licenced under the Dual Use and Related Goods (Export Controls) Regulations 1995 and (b) the number and countries of destination of licences refused. [22655]

A statistical analysis of export licences both issued and refused under the Dual Use and Related Goods (Export Controls) Regulations 1995, as amended, will shortly be placed in the Library of the House. It will cover the six-month period which followed the entry into force of the regulations on 1 July 1995.The export control organisation's annual report, which also contains this information, is currently in preparation. It, too, will be placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if (a) a skim or cruise missile system without warheads fitted and (b) the parts, plans and technology for such a system are (i) a licensable export and (ii) defined as a lethal weapon; and under which heading of the export control orders such a system would be recorded. [22653]

Export controls cover all missiles and their related specially designed parts, plans and technology. The controls apply equally to skim and cruise types irrespective of whether the missile is fitted with a warhead.The relevant controls are found in the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994, schedule 1, part III, group 1, under ML4 for the missiles and specially designed parts, and under ML18 and PL 5027 for the technology and plans.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade which parts, plans, and technology for skim and cruise missile systems are covered by missile technology control regime restrictions; and what considerations of (a) range and (b) performance underlie this assessment. [22656]

The missile technology control regime, MTCR, establishes lists of missiles equipment and technology subject to control. The lists are long and complex and I am placing a copy in the Library of the House.The MTRC controls any missile, including skim and cruise types, which falls into either of two categories. Category I covers missiles capable of delivering a 500 kg payload to a range of 300 km or more. Category II, covers all other missiles with a range of 300 km or more, irrespective of payload. In assessing missile performance, it is necessary to take into account the ability to trade off range and payload.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether the European Union imposes different levels of the common external tariff in different member states. [22709]

No. Article 9 of the EC treaty provides for the adoption of a common external tariff by member states in their relations with all third countries. However, as part of transitional arrangements following their accession, new member states may apply different levels in aligning their tariffs on the common external tariff.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what emoluments were paid to the previous fund chairmen of the British Coal staff superannuation scheme; [23024](2) what emoluments are paid to the current chair of the British Coal staff superannuation scheme; and by whom they are paid. [23023]

As set out in my answer to the hon. Member for City of Durham (Mr. Steinberg) on 28 November 1995, Official Report, column 546, the current chairman of the British Coal staff superannuation scheme receives £15,000 per annum. This forms part of the administrative costs of the scheme. Previous chairmen did not receive any remuneration.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) how the current chair of the British Coal staff superannuation fund was appointed; [23022]

The current chair of the British coal staff superannuation scheme, Mrs. Sheila Gleig, was selected and appointed by the Secretary of State in accordance with article 37 of the trustee company's articles of association. She began a two-year term of office on 1 May 1995.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what guidelines are currently in force in his Department and its executive agencies relating to competitive tendering and the use of single negotiated tenders; on what grounds single negotiated tenders can be used; and what procedures are in place within his Department to ensure that the use of single negotiated tenders in competitive tendering processes is justified in all cases. [22846]

A copy of the chapters from my Department's procurement manual providing guidance on the use of competitive tendering and single negotiated tenders has been placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the progress being made under the prior options review of the Centre for Coastal and Marine Sciences as they relate to the Proudman Oceanographic Laboratory in Birkenhead. [22985]

The Proudman Oceanographic Laboratory of the Centre for Coastal and Marine Sciences is being covered in the Natural Environment Research Council centres and surveys prior options review. This is scheduled to report at the end of July.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will update his answer to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Northfield (Mr. Burden) of 21 February 1994, Official Report, column 22 and list the membership of the Overseas Projects Board in each year from 1977 to 1983, and in 1994, 1995 and currently, indicating the names, occupation and employing firms of each of the members together with their terms of office. [23007]

I have placed in the Library of the House lists of Overseas Projects Board members at December 1994, December 1995 and currently. The lists contain the members' occupations and employing firms, and their terms of service or, for current members, their appointment dates. Lists for 1977 to 1983 could be produced only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is his Department's level of planned funding in 1996–97 for (a) the support for projects under research—SPUR—scheme and (b) the small firms merit award for research and technology—SMART—scheme. [22686]

My Department's planned level of funding in 1996–97 for the SPUR scheme is £8.3 million and for the SMART scheme is £10.7 million.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was departmental expenditure in support of research into nuclear power in the last year on which figures were available; and if he will make a statement. [22684]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Industry and Energy on 20 March 1996, Official Report, columns 197–98.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is his Department's budget for 1996–97 for expenditure in support of research into renewable energy sources. [22685]

My Department's budget for the new and renewable energy programme for 1996–97 will be £14 million.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many handguns were sold legally in England and Wales in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [22391]

The Department does not hold information concerning the level of retail sales of handguns. However, UK manufacturers' sales of revolvers and pistols amounted to £151,000 in 1994 and sales of muzzle-loading firearms for sporting use totalled approximately £1.5 million in 1994. This and other information is published in "UK markets" report No. AR59, copies of which are available in the Library of the House.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what Export Credits Guarantee Department cover is available to British companies trading with Serbia and Montenegro. [22240]

[holding answer 22 March 1996]: The ECGD is not on cover for Serbia and Montenegro.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the average annual expenditure on regional selective assistance per head of working population in (a) development areas and (b) intermediate areas in (i) Great Britain, (ii) England, (ii) Scotland, (iv) Wales and (v) each of the English regions for the years 1990–91 to 1994–95. [22247]

[holding answer 22 March 1996]: The figures are as follows.

To ask the Prime Minister when he last discussed Cyprus with President Clinton; what issues were discussed; and if he will make a statement. [22821]

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs discussed Cyprus with the then Assistant Secretary of State, Mr. Holbrooke, on 14 February. We remain in close touch with the United States. We are committed to finding a settlement in Cyprus within the framework of the United Nations process, in consultation with the United States, the European Union and other partners.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 26 March. [21171]

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 26 March. [21172]

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

To ask the Prime Minister what the criteria are for making appointments of sponsor Ministers for individual cities. [22025]

[holding answer 22 March 1996]: The duties and responsibilities of sponsor Ministers are to support Government regeneration and competitiveness initiatives through publicity and contact with local civic and business leaders and to act as a channel for communicating local concerns.

To ask the Prime Minister what estimate he has made of the value of the works of art in the royal palaces that are in the ownership of Her Majesty's Government. [22812]

[holding answer 25 March 1996]: The royal collection is not the responsibility of Government. The responsibility for works of art in the royal palaces rests with the Royal Collection Trust. Any questions concerning the royal collection should be addressed to the trust.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which (a) Government committees, (b) advisers and (c) experts the Overseas Development Administration consults before deciding whether to support individual applications for assistance under the aid and trade provision; and if he will list the names, occupation and employer of each person giving such advice. [22998]

The Overseas Development Administration does not have specialist aid and trade provision advisers. Instead, as with all other ODA projects, applictions for ATP assistance are considered by the ODA's country programme managers and sectoral advisers in accordance with the relevant country strategies. The ODA monitors progress on ATP applications jointly with the Development of Trade and Industry, and consults the Export Credits Guarantee Department on export credit aspects. ATP projects involving ODA support in excess of £5 million, like all ODA projects of similar size, must be considered by the ODA's projects and evaluation committee, which makes recommendations to the Minister on whether they should be approved. Finally, all offers of ATP support must be approved by the OECD's international export credit group.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affiars which former public sector research establishments in the Overseas Development Administration have been privatised since 1979; and which public sector research establishments in the Overseas Development Administration are currently undergoing reviews with a view to placing them in the private sector. [21940]

From 1979 to date, no ODA research establishment has been transferred to the private sector. Over the period, a number of separate bodies were brought together to form the Natural Resources Institute, NRI. The transfer of NRI to the private sector is in progress; a preferred bidder was announced on 5 March, Official Report, column 166.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government will support the internationalisation of the issue of working for a settlement on Cyprus. [22797]

The United Nations Secretary-General's mission of good offices already offers an international framework through which to seek a solution to the Cyprus problem. It has our full and active support.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he (a) has had and (b) plans with the Secretary-General of the United Nations on the present position of the Greek Cypriots now living in the Karpas area of northern Cyprus. [22803]

The high commission in Nicosia maintains close contact with the United Nations force in Cyprus humanitarian branch which is responsible for overseeing the welfare of Greek Cypriots living in the Karpas. We support the United Nations force in Cyprus's— UNFICYP—efforts in this field.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with Mr. Rauf Denktash and the Turkish Government on the future of the town of Famagusta in Cyprus; and if he will make a statement. [22799]

We have had no recent discussions on this point. We believe, however, that the UN Secretary-General's proposed confidence-building measures for the resettlement of the closed area of Famagusta and the reopening of Nicosia international airport could make a positive contribution towards an eventual solution.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last discussed Cyprus with President Clinton; what issues were discussed; and if he will make a statement. [22822]

My right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed Cyprus with the then Assistant Secretary of State, Mr. Holbrooke, on 14 February. We remain in close touch with the US. We are committed to finding a settlement in Cyprus within the framework of the UN process, in consultation with the US, the EU and other partners.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had or plans with the Turkish Government on the recent statement of Mr. Rauf Denktash regarding missing persons in Cyprus. [22801]

None. The UN committee on missing persons is best placed to investigate the fate of those missing. We have noted Mr. Denktash's recent statement on this subject and deplore the atrocities that have been committed in Cyprus. We would expect Mr. Denktash to pass on any relevant information to the UN committee.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Cyprus Government as to Cyprus's membership of the European Union; and if he will make a statement. [22820]

Cyprus's accession to the European Union is discussed regularly in our contacts with both communities in Cyprus. My right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary spoke about it with the Cypriot Foreign Minister, Mr. Michaelides, when he was in London on 1 November.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last discussed with the President of Cyprus his views on the demilitarisation of the island of Cyprus; and what is the policy of the British Government on this proposal. [22796]

Demilitarisation arises regularly in our discussions with both communities in Cyprus. My right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed it with the Cypriot Foreign Minister, Mr. Michaelides, in London on 1 November. Moves to reduce deployment of troops and levels of military equipment on the island can only help to improve the climate for a settlement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has (a) held and (b) plans to hold with the Italian presidency of the European Union regarding Cyprus; and if he will make a statement. [22800]

We discuss Cyprus's accession to the European Union regularly with the Italian presidency and other EU partners. Cyprus has frequently been on the agenda of Foreign Affairs Councils, most recently on 25 and 26 March. The prospect of Cypriot accession to the EU should act as a stimulus to all parties to redouble their efforts to find a solution to the Cyprus problem.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the British Government will support an official inquiry into the alleged killing of Greek Cypriots by Turkish Cypriot troops during the invasion of Cyprus by Turkey in 1974; and if he will make a statement. [22802]

The UN committee on missing persons has long been charged with investigating the fate of those Cypriots who remain unaccounted for following the tragic events of 1974. We support the work of the committee and expect both communities to co-operate fully with it.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with Mr. Rauf Denktash and the Turkish Government as to the number of Turkish settlers now living in northern Cyprus; and if he will make a statement. [22798]

There are no reliable figures for the number of Turkish settlers now living in the northern part of Cyprus. We support the call in United Nations Security Council resolution No. 789 for a Cyprus-wide census under the auspices of the United Nations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list (a) the names of the documents and (b) the date and places of the speeches made by members of Her Majesty's Government prior to 9 April 1992 which committed the current Administration to accept the content of the treaty on European Union signed at Maastricht on 7 February 1992, other than its protocol 11 concerning monetary union and protocol 14 and associated agreements on social policies. [22765]

My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister made clear on many occasions that, having negotiated and signed the treaty on European Union at Maastricht, he would ask the House to pass the necessary legislation to give the treaty effect in UK law.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the present status of the Luxembourg compromise and the circumstances on which it might be invoked by the United Kingdom. [22531]

The status of the Luxembourg compromise and the circumstances in which it might be invoked are set out in paragraph 22 of "A Partnership of Nations", presented to the House on 12 March.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the citizens of the member states of the European Union have the right to work and establish in (a) Jersey and (b) Guernsey. [22712]

No. The terms of the UK's Act of Accession do not require the Channel Islands to apply the provisions of the treaties relating to the free movement of persons.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government have raised with the Government of the People's Republic of China their concerns at the recent missile testing and the missile attacks in the Taiwan straits; and if he will make a statement. [22123]

We have made our grave concerns over China's behaviour in the Taiwan straits known to the Chinese, both directly and through our public and parliamentary statements. We have repeatedly urged China to show restraint and have called for an early resumption of the cross-straits dialogue.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the policy of the European Union on China's threats to the USA and Taiwan; and if he will make a statement. [22125]

The EU issued a statement on 8 March calling on the People's Republic of China to exercise restraint and urged an early resumption of the cross-straits dialogue.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the prison on St. Helena was last inspected; and if he will make a statement. [23006]

The prison on St. Helena was last inspected by Judge Tumim in February 1996.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when and for what reasons schools buildings undergo a Hunter survey. [22143]

It is for local education authorities and the governors of voluntary and grant-maintained schools to satisfy themselves about the condition of the school buildings for which they are responsible. It is open to them to conduct building surveys if they decide this is appropriate.The Funding Agency for Schools commissioned a survey of all GM schools in February 1995. This was carried out on the agency's behalf by Hunter and Partners in order to assist the agency in managing the GM capital budget and in ensuring that the available resources are targeted to areas where they are needed most.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many specialist school places there are for autistic children in (a) Staffordshire and (b) the United Kingdom. [22380]

The number of specialist school places provided by Staffordshire county council for autistic children is 60.The number of specialist places for autistic children in the UK is not available centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what percentage of children achieved grades (a) A to E and (b) below grade E at A-level in (1) England, (2) Scotland and (3) Wales in each of the past five years. [22660]

The percentage of students who achieved (a) at least one grade A to E and (b) all results below grade E at GCE A-level or AS equivalent in England are as follows:

Percentage
	(a) Grades A-E	(b) Below grade E
1992	78.3	21.7
1993	79.4	20.6
1994	81.0	19.0
1995	81.5	18.5

The figures are based on the number of students in schools and further education sector colleges who attempted at least one GCE A-level or AS equivalent in the relevant year. The data for 1991 are not available on a consistent basis. The figures for Scotland and Wales are the responsibility of my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and for Wales respectively.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment in what form, for what purpose, and what categories of information she expects will be made available to providers of funded nursery education, their employees and directors under the powers contained in schedule 2 (1)(1)(b) to the Nursery Education and Grant-Maintained Schools Bill; and what comparable provisions are contained in any Education Act. [22766]

Schedule 2 to the Nursery Education and Grant-Maintained Schools Bill will allow any staff of the Department for Education and Employment and the Welsh Office and any contractor appointed by the Secretary of State to have access to such social security information as is necessary to administer the voucher scheme. It is expected that the information will be limited to relevant information from the child benefit database. Providers of nursery education, their employees and directors will not have access to this information. There are no comparable provisions in other Education Acts. Similar provisions are, however, to be found in part VII of the Social Security Administration Act 1992.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will increase Government support and encouragement for the Basic Skills Agency's work to improve school students' abilities to understand and use mathematics. [22597]

The Basic Skills Agency is one of the partners, along with the Office for Standards in Education—Ofsted, the School Curriculum and Assessment Authority and the Teacher Training Agency, in the new literacy and numeracy project announced in January this year. This will establish, among other things, 10 numeracy centres from September 1996 to raise standards and improve teaching of numeracy in primary schools. Funding for this project is in addition to the core grant which the agency receives from the Department.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much her Department has spent in total in answering parliamentary questions in each parliamentary Session since 1989–90. [22879]

This Department does not calculate the data requested and they could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what were the number and percentage of surplus places for (a) primary and (b) secondary schools for the periods ended (i) January 1994 and (ii) January 1993 in the counties of (1) Essex, (2) Cambridgeshire, (3) Norfolk and (4) Suffolk. [22909]

The information requested was collected for the first time in January 1994. The figures in the following table show the number of surplus places at that date in schools where capacity exceeded pupil numbers.

Surplus school places, January 1994
	Primary		Secondary
	Number	Percentage	Number	Percentage
Essex	17,814	12	18,008	16
Cambridgeshire	7,978	13	2,837	7
Norfolk	7,383	11	4,041	9
Suffolk	4,559	10	6,000	11

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many claimants have been suspended from benefit for not actively seeking work in the Hammersmith and Fulham area in the last 18 months. [21164]

Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what would be the annual saving to the Exchequer for each year over the next 10 years from immediately ending the assisted places scheme for new entrants, and running the scheme down as individuals passed through the educational system. [22786]

The Government's expenditure plans, including those for the assisted places scheme in England published in Cm 3210, cover the period up to 1998–99 only. We do not intend to wind up the assisted places scheme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is her estimate of the additional cost which would result from limiting primary school classes taken by one teacher to 30 or fewer pupils; and if she will make a statement. [22788]

The financial implications of any policy setting arbitrary limits on class size would depend on the resulting decisions taken at school level about the deployment of teachers and pupils, and in particular how pupils in excess of 30 per class were redistributed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what guidance she has issued to training and enterprise councils on the advisability of issuing contracts to training provider companies whose principals are under investigation under section 447 of the Companies Act with respect to malfeasance and company liquidations involving training provider companies by the same principals. [22943]

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what consultations she has had with the chairman of the training and enterprise council national council concerning the status of Firland's Training of Aylesbury as a training provider in England and Wales. [22944]

My right hon. Friend has not had any discussions with the chairman of the TEC national council on this matter.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list those schools where part of the annual maintenance grant of a grant-maintained school (a) is being paid and (b) will be paid, from departmental votes rather than solely from recoupment from the local education authority within the area of which the school lies; and if he will indicate the factors underlying this funding. [22976]

An element of the annual maintenance grant paid to the following grant-maintained schools in 1995–96 has not been, or will not be, recouped from the local education authority;

• Alder Coppice Primary School, Dudley
• Appleby Primary School, Cumbria
• The Arnewood School, Hampshire
• Bourne Abbey Primary School, Lincolnshire
• The Burgate School, Hampshire
• Chellaston School, Derbyshire
• Costessey High School, Norfolk
• Eaglesfield Paddle CE Primary School, Cumbria
• The Ellowes Hall School, Dudley
• The Greensward School, Essex
• Greenwood Dale School, Nottinghamshire
• Heanor Gate School, Derbyshire
• Holy Trinity CE Primary School, Kent
• Katherines Primary School, Essex
• Merrill College, Derbyshire
• Ringwood Comprehensive School, Hampshire
• St. Anselm's College, Wirral
• St. Peter and St. Paul RC High School, Lincolnshire
• Sheringham High School, Norfolk
• Upton Hall Convent School, Wirral
• Wold Newton Primary School, Humberside
• Woodnewton Way Infant School, Northamptonshire

We envisage that an element of the annual maintenance grant paid to the following grant-maintained schools in 1996–97 will not be recouped from the local education authority:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will summarise the 218 responses to the draft admissions circular, issued for consultation on 8 January. [23002]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave on 19 March 1996, Official Report, columns 122–23.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list the comprehensive schools in (a) Hammersmith and (b) Fulham. [23001]

In the 1995 school performance tables the following secondary schools in Hammersmith and Fulham classify themselves as comprehensive.¹

• Burlington Danes CE School
• Fulham Cross Secondary School
• Henry Compton School
• Hurlingham and Chelsea School
• Lady Margaret School
• The London Oratory School
• Phonenix High School
• Sacred Heart High School

¹The Education (School Performance Information) (England) Regulations 1994 as amended, define a "comprehensive" school as one which admits pupils "wholly or mainly without reference to ability or aptitude or to whether pupils have been selected for a place at a selective school".

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what progress Bolton Bury TEC and Cilntec are making on meeting the criteria for the award of a three-year licence. [23280]

I am pleased to announce the award of a three-year licence to Bolton Bury TEC and Cilntec which have now completed the process of meeting the rigorous standards that we set.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what progress has been made in drawing up the regulations required by the Activity Centres (Young Persons' Safety) Act 1995; and if she will make a statement. [23281]

After extensive consultation, and on advice from the Health and Safety Commission, we have today laid regulations prescribing a new licensing scheme under the Activity Centres (Young Persons' Safety) Act 1995. This will improve safety for children and young people by introducing a regular and improved inspection programme for providers who sell adventure activities to schools and the public. An order designating Tourism Quality Services Ltd. as the licensing authority has also been laid today.The scheme will cover adventure activities under the broad headings of caving, climbing, trekking and watersports, with a focus on those in hazardous areas remote from immediate help.We have made some changes to the draft measures consulted on by the HSC, to help small providers and sole traders with robust safety measures and competent staff. For example, the burden of having to apply for licences every year has been removed and providers can apply for licences which may be valid for up to three years. However, inspection of any provider will still take place more regularly where necessary. For multi-activity centres, this is likely to be every year.Tourism Quality Services Ltd. will be the new, independent licensing authority. Its administration of the Wales Tourist Board voluntary accreditation scheme gives it highly relevant inspection experience. It will contract a team of inspectors who are experts in the range of activities, and to suit the various geographical and climatic conditions throughout Great Britain. There will be distinctive Scottish, Welsh and English arms.The licensing authority may begin to process licence applications from providers as soon as the regulations come into force. They will be able to take firm action against unsafe providers from 1 August 1996. By October 1997, all providers must have been inspected and licensed. From then, providers will not be able to start operating until they hold a licence.The list of activities covered will be kept under constant review. The scheme as a whole will be reviewed after three years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will place in the Library a list of the schools at which additional aided places will be offered under the music and ballet schemes. [23282]

My right hon. Friend announced on 29 February her intention to allocate some 100 additional aided places under the music and ballet schools scheme from September 1996, subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary regulations. I am placing a list in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans she has to allow greater flexibility to higher education institutions in the application of the proceeds of sale of Exchequer-funded assets; and if she will make a statement. [23283]

For many years, universities and colleges of higher education have enjoyed freedom, within specified limits agreed by the Secretary of State, to retain the proceeds of sale of Exchequer-funded land or buildings, without reference to the annual appropriation procedures. The purpose of these arrangements is to help institutions to make the most economic and efficient use of their land and buildings, with the objective of rationalising and disposing of those assets which institutions consider in the light of their strategic plans no longer to be needed.Following consultations with the Higher Education Funding Council for England, my right hon. Friend is satisfied that these arrangements have enabled higher education institutions in England to make effective use of their estates and that it would be appropriate to consolidate and extend them.Accordingly, the conditions attached to the disposal of Exchequer-funded land and buildings have been incorporated in a revised control framework designed to allow institutions greater flexibility to manage their own estate without the need for detailed vetting of every individual project. These conditions are among those set out in a revised financial memorandum between the Department and the HEFCE. Higher education institutions will be informed of the new arrangements in a model financial memorandum between the HEFCE and individual institutions.The Government are still considering the relationship between the private finance initiative and controls on the disposal of Exchequer-funded assets. The new provisions for reinvesting the proceeds of sale of such assets do not take into account the full range of circumstances in which institutions might wish to procure assets or capital-related services under innovative PFI schemes. In consequence, there will be a need for special flexibilities to operate in some PFI cases. The Government will consider sympathetically requests for exceptions to the disposal provisions, on a case-by-case basis, in order to ensure that there are no financial disincentives to institutions seeking value for money through PFI schemes.Copies of the Department's financial memorandum with the HEFCE and the model financial memorandum between the HEFCE and institutions will be placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment is she will make a statement on the operation of access to work in 1996–97. [23284]

The Government are committed to helping people with disabilities to secure jobs and satisfying careers at work. Our Disability Discrimination Act 1995 will significantly improve opportunities for disabled people. The access to work programme also has a part to play, and the Government recognise the high regard which disabled people and employers have for the programme.Access to work is not a demand-led programme. Although I increased the 1995 budget substantially during the year, from £13.4 million to £19 million, I had to announce on 14 December restrictions on eligibility conditions for the remainder of 1995–96 in order to prevent a major cost overrun. I also announced that, before I reached decisions on 1996–97, my Department would hold discussions with the disability and employer organisations principally concerned and I would take into account research and other data on the first year of operation of the programme.In light of those considerations, I have decided for 1996–97 that, in addition to continuing to provide help to those who are unemployed, eligibility should be reinstated for employees and the self employed. This restores the eligibility criteria which applied before the December announcement.As now, the Employment Service will continue to identify approved costs for the purposes of ATW with reference to the value of any wider benefit which accrues to the organisation. ATW will continue to meet 100 per cent. of the approved costs for unemployed disabled people. The ES will also pay 100 per cent. of approved costs for travel to work and for communicator support at interviews for all groups.For disabled people in employment, ATW will meet up to 80 per cent. of approved costs above a cost threshold of £300 per year. With a view to the needs of the most severely disabled, ATW will however, provide 100 per cent. of all such costs in excess of £10,000 over three years. The Government recognise that particular factors may apply in the case of the self-employed and we shall consider this issue further.Multi-year commitments to individuals will be made for a maximum of three years. The ES will accordingly review cases where commitments have been made for longer periods.The new arrangements will apply from 1 April for the unemployed, as will travel to work and communication support at interviews for all groups. Other support for employed people will take effect from 1 June, so that the necessary new administrative arrangements on cost sharing can be implemented effectively by the ES, along with support for the self employed.The ATW budget is cash limited and expenditure will be monitored closely. Should further prioritisation of ATW support prove necessary at any point, the Government will continue to give top priority to the unemployed, followed by those in work who suffer the onset of a disability or major worsening of a disability, and then those whose job circumstances change and those who seek to move to a new employer.The ES will continue to discuss detailed implementation of the arrangements with the organisations principally concerned. On this basis, I am pleased to announce that I am increasing planned provision for ATW in 1996–97 from £12.9 million to £19 million. I shall be considering provision for ATW in future years in the course of the 1996 public expenditure round.This significant increase in the budget for the programme will, I believe, be welcomed. In particular, I am pleased to be able to restore eligibility to the employed and the self-employed, as this will help them retain jobs and to progress at work. I believe that these new arrangements strike the appropriate balance in helping to meet the needs of people with disabilities, particularly those who need the most expensive types of help, while putting the available resources to best use.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which former public sector research establishments in his Department have been privatised since 1979; and which public sector research establishments in his Department are currently undergoing reviews with a view to placing them in the private sector. [21942]

No research establishments in the Home Office have been privatised since 1979.The police and scientific development branch of the Home Office is currently being reviewed as part of the programme of reviews of public sector establishments announced by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade on 26 January.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many gun clubs there are in each county in England and in each local authority area in Scotland and Wales; and how many members each of them has. [22459]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Islington, North (Mr. Corbyn) on 21 March, Official Report, column 295. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland is responsible for gun clubs in Scotland. I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. member for Islington, North (Mr. Corbyn) on 1 March, Official Report, column 168.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what amounts of money have been paid out by (a) his Department and (b) executive agencies, non-departmental public bodies and other organizations for which he is accountable to Parliament, to how many staff or former staff in respect of (i) alleged equal opportunities breaches which do not proceed to tribunals or courts and (ii) equal opportunities breaches which proceeded to tribunals or courts in (1) the current year and (2) the two previous years. [22502]

There have been no payments in respect of alleged equal opportunities breaches not proceeding to tribunals or courts. Information on alleged equal opportunities breaches which proceeded to tribunals is given in the table and relates to Home Office agencies. There were no awards; all the cases were settled.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his plans for publicising and disseminating the observations made by the United Nations committee on references to the elimination of racial discrimination in the United Kingdom's 13th periodic report. [22269]

The concluding observations of the committee on the elimination of all forms of racial discrimination, following the United Kingdom's oral examination on its 13th periodic report, will be placed in the Library. The corrected summary records of the hearing will also be placed there once they have been issued by the committee. Both documents are published by the United Nations, and copies may be obtained from that source. Copies are also available from the Home Office on request and the non-governmental organisations which, to our knowledge, submitted evidence to the committee will be informed of these arrangements.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions have taken place under the offence of causing intentional harassment, alarm or distress under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994. [22154]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Rossendale and Darwen (Ms Anderson) on 13 February, Official Report, column 523.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he proposes to take to ensure that the code of practice for the housing and care of animals used in scientific procedures is effectively enforced. [22195]

The code provides guidance on best practice in the treatment and use of laboratory animals. It does not purport to set mandatory requirements which must be followed in all circumstances. I am satisfied that the code makes a valuable contribution to the effective operation of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. We have no present plans for further action.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to ensure that detailed housing requirements are included in the code of practice on the housing and care of animals used in scientific procedures for all laboratory animals to ensure appropriate environmental enrichment and social contact for each species; and if he will make a statement. [22147]

We have no plans to amend the code of practice for the housing and care of animals used in scientific procedures. The existing code of practice is sufficiently flexible to reflect developments in scientific knowledge about the needs of particular species.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he proposes to take to ensure accountability for welfare standards for laboratory animals on the part of the designated certificate holders, the named veterinary surgeons, the named day-to-day carers and the individual Home Office inspectors; and if he will make a statement. [22148]

No changes are necessary. Of the five categories of persons identified as holding responsibilities under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, three—the personal licence holder, the project licence holder and the holder of the certificate of designation— are directly accountable to the Home Office. The other two—the named day-to-day care person and the named veterinary surgeon—are accountable to the certificate holder for the maintenance of standards of husbandry and care and for the provision of advice on the health and welfare of animals, respectively.The inspectors are accountable to the Secretary of State for checking that the specific responsibilities of these person are adequately met.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many exemptions he has granted in each of the last five years for the supply of animals for experimentation which have not come from a designated supplier; what were the animals concerned; and what was his reason for granting the exemption in each case.[22149]

Schedule 2 of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 lists the kinds of animals which may be obtained only from designated breeding or supplying establishments, unless the Secretary of State believes that an exemption from this requirement is justified.Comprehensive information on the number of such exemptions is not recorded centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. In almost all cases, the reason for granting the exemption would have been lack of availability of suitable animals from designated sources.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what checks are made on non-designated supply establishments for laboratory animals prior to his granting an exemption allowing them to be used; and if he will make a statement. [22150]

No person may breed or supply animals of the species listed in schedule 2 to the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 for use in regulated procedures unless designated under the Act. By definition, therefore, any non-designated supplying establishment must be abroad, and outside the jurisdiction of United Kingdom law.In respect of non-human primates, the Home Office inspectorate has taken steps to familiarise itself with conditions in the principal overseas breeding and supplying establishments. Arrangements shortly to be introduced will, in addition, require those wishing to use primates from abroad to submit to the Home Office details of the operations and facilities in the establishments from which they wish to obtain their animals.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many primates have been imported to the United Kingdom in each of the last five years to establishments licensed to perform procedures in animals under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 or to establishments designated to supply animals under that Act. [22151]

The figures for the number of primates directly imported to establishments licensed to perform procedures on animals under the 1986 Act are as follows:

• 1991: 80
• 1992: 240
• 1993: 373
• 1994: 765
• 1995: 551

The figures do not include primates imported by designated breeders and suppliers under authorities which do not require notification the Home Office in respect of each consignment.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was his Department's response to the letter of 24 August 1994 from J. L. Frogley, laboratory superintendent to the Home Office inspector about the import of rhesus monkeys; what consideration he gave to the possibility of instructing the establishment to wait until animals became available from a designated breeding establishment; and if he will give the reasons for his decision. [22152]

The request was handled in accordance with the current Home Office policy that primates may be acquired from non-designated sources only if suitable animals cannot be acquired from designated sources.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to publish the third report of the racial attacks group; and if he will make a statement on its recommendations. [22153]

The draft report is still being discussed by members of the racial attacks group. Its principal purpose will be to report upon local multi-agency work to tackle this problem, and to make recommendations as to how this work can be made more effective.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many arrests the police have made under the offence of production and distribution of racist material under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994. [22155]

Information on the number of people arrested for specific offences is not collected centrally.Information on cautioning and court proceedings data under section 155 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, which made offences under section 19 of the Public Order Act 1986 arrestable under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 on 3 February 1995, will not be available until the autumn of 1996.