To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster which of the 1,000 regulations identified for repeal or amendment by the Prime Minister are the responsibility of his Department; of those which (a) have been repealed or amended and (b) are planned to have been repealed or amended by the end of the 1995–96 parliamentary Session; and if he will list those whose repeal has saved business more than £1 million per annum. [23645]

I am arranging for a list of regulations which have been repealed or amended to date to be compiled and placed in the House Libraries. This will also include examples of the savings to business. Details of regulations still to be amended or repealed will be announced as and when consultations are completed.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what out-sourcing contracts his agencies have with the EDS software computer system; what is the current cost; when the contract ends; what are the penalties involved should he seek early termination of the contract; and if he will make a statement. [23728]

There are none.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what savings to date have been made by his Department as a result of out-sourcing arrangements made with the EDS computer system; what assessment he has made of the equivalent costs for carrying out this work in-house; and if he will make a statement. [24233]

The Cabinet Office and its agencies have not entered into any out-sourcing arrangements with the EDS computer system.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what savings to date have been made by his Department as a result of out-sourcing arrangements made with the EDS computer system; what assessment he has made of the equivalent costs for carrying out this work in-house; and if he will make a statement. [24236]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 14 December 1995, Official Report, column 750, if he will give a breakdown of the figure of £30,100 for official hospitality by his ministerial office and related agencies. [24445]

The figure of £30,100 given in my answer of 14 December represented expenditure on official hospitality by the Cabinet Office, including the Office of Public Service, and its executive agencies—excluding HMSO—for the period 1 April 1995 to the end of November 1995. It was made up of £14,800 expenditure by the Cabinet Office—excluding the Prime Minister's Office—£4,000 by OPS agencies and £11,300 by the Central Office of Information.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, pursuant to the answer of 25 March, Official Report, column 693, for whom the two dinners at Lancaster house were held; how many people attended; and what was the cost in each case. [24428]

The Deputy Prime Minister hosted the dinners in question in order to discuss a range of competitiveness issues with a mix of senior public and private sector representatives. Seventeen people attended the first dinner, at a cost of £1,118.36. Eighteen attended the second, at a cost of £1,163.41.The Deputy Prime Minister has also hosted one other lunch at Lancaster house, and a dinner at another venue, for a total of 22 people, from a similar range of backgrounds and to discuss other issues relating to national competitiveness, at a total cost of £1,204.53.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minster to what extent (a) he and (b) his office has a role in the co-ordination of answers from Ministers to parliamentary questions tabled by hon. and right hon. Members. [23778]

As Chairman of the Ministerial Committee on the Co-ordination and Presentation of Government Policy, I have in place procedures for co-ordinating the handling of linked parliamentary questions put to a number of departmental Ministers and parliamentary questions put to one Government Department where the subject matter is of wider interest to the Government as a whole. In each case, it is for the departmental Minister to take responsibility for the answer. The co-ordinating procedures are designed to secure consistency and efficient handling of those questions which extend beyond the field of responsibility of individual departmental Ministers.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what is his role in the framing of answers to parliamentary questions to other Government Departments. [23719]

My role is confined to those cases where the subject matter of a question put to another Government Department cuts across the responsibilities of several Departments including my own, or has been brought to the attention of the Ministerial Committee on the Co-ordination and Presentation of Government Policy, which I chair, as a matter of wider interest to Government as a whole. In such cases, the lead Department would liaise with the Committee, and with other interested Departments, over the terms of the answer. In each case, it is the departmental Minister who has responsibility for the final answer.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on the progress of the review of civil enforcement agents. [24699]

The discussions referred to in my written answer of 29 June 1995, Official Report, column 741, have now concluded. Following careful consideration of the proposals which emerged from these discussions, I believe that the best way of achieving a proper and professional service for creditors and debtors lies in a package of initiatives specifically focused on the areas of concern identified in the course of the review.I therefore intend to implement a range of measures that will increase creditors' access to enforcement by the sheriffs while increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of the county court bailiff service for those who continue to use it. At the same time, my Department will be working with other Government Departments and relevant bodies to modify and strengthen the certification procedure for other bailiffs and to ensure that redress is both available and accessible for those aggrieved by the actions of private bailiffs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on forthcoming business in the Council of the European Union. [24012]

The answer is as follows:SUBJECT: MONTHLY FORECAST OF BUSINESS FOR APRIL 19961. The following Councils are scheduled:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the current location of the Government code and cypher school (a) original decrypts of German army and air force Enigma traffic and (b) SMA original decrypts in the Japanese military attaché; series. [23841]

The Government communication headquarters—GCHQ—released reports based on Government code and cypher school decrypts of wartime German army and air force messages to the Public Record Office in January 1996 under reference HW5. Reports based on decrypts of Japanese military attachémessages were released in April 1995 under reference HW10. In many cases, the original decrypts were destroyed when the reports were issued, or soon after, and the Public Record Office has stated that it has no requirement for GCHQ to release the few original decrypts that still exist.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to release original Government code and cypher school Enigma decrypts to the Public Record Office. [23842]

GCHQ has already released to the Public Record Office—PRO—a considerable amount of Government code and cypher school signals intelligence and related documents, including the reports based on Enigma decrypts which were passed to Churchill from 1941 onwards. GCHQ is continuing to review its records from the second world war and earlier, with the aim of releasing as many as possible. The answer which I gave to the hon. Gentleman earlier explained that the few remaining decrypts are not required by the PRO.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what is Her Majesty's Government's assessment of the human rights situation in Colombia; and if the UK will be raising the issue of human rights in Colombia at the 52nd UN Commission on Human Rights; [23823](2) what measures he intends to take to address the human rights situation in Colombia at the UN Commission on Human Rights. [23824]

We take a close interest in the human rights situation in Colombia. The Colombian Government are making efforts to improve the situation, but the high level of violence, the guerrillas, narco-traffickers and unauthorised actions by the security forces cause problems. At the UN Commission on Human Rights, the presidency will deliver a statement on behalf of the European Union reviewing the human rights situation in several specific countries, including Colombia.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 25 March, Official Report, columns 409–10, on how many days the D2 building in Brussels was used for plenary sessions in (a) 1995 and (b) 1996. [24104]

The European Parliament held plenary sessions in Brussels on 12 days on 1995 and will meet there on 16 days in 1996. The D2 building also contains offices and committee rooms and is in continuous use.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans Her Majesty's Government have to review the proposed reductions in the BBC World Service's grant for 1997–98; and what representations he has received in support of the proposed reductions. [23816]

The amount to be made available as grant in aid for the BBC World Service in 1997–98 will be considered along with all the other Government expenditure, during the 1996 public expenditure round, later this year.The Government receive many representations in support of reduced public expenditure generally, but are not aware of any specifically relating to the BBC World Service.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which of the 1,000 regulations identified for repeal or amendment by the Prime Minister are the responsibility of his Department; of those which (a) have been repealed or amended and (b) are planned to have been repealed or amended by the end of the 1995–96 parliamentary Session; and if he will list those whose repeal has saved business more than £1 million per annum. [23657]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster today.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer on 19 March, Official Report, column 112, if he will place in the Library a copy of the guidelines on broadcasting issued by the St. Helena Government. [23573]

These guidelines are a confidential internal document drawn up by the Government of St. Helena for use in the Government broadcasting service. It would not, therefore, be appropriate to place them in the Libraries of the House. Media arrangements in St. Helena are under review by the St. Helena Government.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions Her Majesty's Government have had with Governments in the Caribbean region about the United States Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity Act. [24108]

We have discussed the issue with the Mexican Government. My right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary expects to discuss it with Governments in the region when he visits later this month.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the proposed privatisation of the travel immunisation service. [24182]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Under-Secretary of State for Health today.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if a meeting between the chair of the Government Communications Staff Federation and civil service unions is permitted under the conditions laid down in CCHQ general notice—GN100/84. [24395]

GCHQ general notice GN 100/84 was superseded on 20 December 1995 by another notice, PCN 12/95, which, in accordance with my written reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Gravesham (Mr. Arnold) on that day, Official Report, columns 1191–92 relaxed the restrictions on trade union membership at GCHQ while still upholding the Government's concerns regarding the protection of national security. Like GN 100/84, PCN 12/95 places no constraints on a meeting between the chairman of the Government Communications Staff Federation and the civil service unions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many staff are currently in post in the Commonwealth co-ordination department; and what are their grades. [24217]

There are seven permanent staff in the FCO's Commonwealth co-ordination department. Their grades are as follows, with home civil service equivalents in brackets: diplomatic service grade 4 (HCS5), DS5 (HCS7), DS7 (HEO), DS9 (EO), DS 10 (AO), S2 (personal secretary) and executive assistants (no equivalent). Prior to the biennial Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting, the Departments's staff increased by some 50 per cent. to handle the United Kingdom preparation for those meetings.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will now make representations to the Spanish Government about their failure to implement the terms of the treaty between the United Kingdom and that country on the transfer of convicted prisoners in the case of Ms Louise Stack.

There is no bilateral treaty between Spain and the UK on the transfer of convicted prisoners. We are not aware of any failure by the Spanish authorities to observe the Council of Europe convention on the transfer of sentenced persons in the case of Ms Louise Stack.Ms Stack was released from prison in Spain on conditional liberty on 26 March.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on British aid to Zanzibar. [24587]

We have decided that, in present circumstances, we should not continue with our programme of development assistance to Zanzibar. This reflects our concern about the way in which the outcome of the Zanzibar Government elections in October 1995 was handled, and disturbing reports of post-election political polarisation and harassment of some sections of the community. We do not believe that the current environment is conducive to the effective implementation of a development programme. This decision does not preclude the resumption of further assistance to Zanzibar when circumstances have improved.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to receive copies of the first annual report of the global environment facility; and if he will place a copy in the Library. [24589]

Copies of the first annual report of the global environment facility have recently been received. A copy has been placed in both Libraries of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations Her Majesty's Government have made to the Zambian Government about future elections, with particular reference to the banning of individual candidates; and if he will make a statement. [23913]

We have made clear to the Government of Zambia our concern about possible amendments to the constitution which would exclude the leader of the main opposition party from standing for the presidency in the elections due later this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what will be the role of the permanent joint headquarters. [22308]

The permanent joint headquarters, which I shall formally open tomorrow, will enhance the ability of the three armed services to plan for the conduct of joint operations and to carry them out, including command of the new joint rapid deployment force when it is deployed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the role of British forces' contribution to peacekeeping operations world-wide. [22309]

There are some 10,500 ground troops with the NATO peace implementation force in Bosnia, supported by 1,200 other personnel. We are also making important contributions to United Nations peacekeeping operations around the world.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effect on Britain's position in the UN Security Council of reducing the United Kingdom's defence spending to the European average. [22311]

Reducing defence spending to the current NATO European average would involve cuts of over £4.5 billion per year. This would have a gravely damaging effect on our armed forces and on their ability to carry out operations, including those carried out under the auspices of the UN Security Council.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements will be made to mark the last visit of the royal yacht to Cowes; and if he will make a statement. [22320]

Events to mark the last visit of HYM Britannia to Cowes have yet to be decided.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the United Kingdom will retain its independent nuclear deterrent. [22321]

We shall maintain a minimum independent nuclear deterrent for as long as is necessary for this country's security.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if his Department will now restore to the Gaelic Athletic Association the full use of its ground at Crossmaglen. [22322]

Crossmaglen Gaelic Athletic Association club has full use of its pitch and other facilities. A small proportion of the club's land is held under the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1991 and forms part of the joint police and Army base in Crossmaglen. This will continue for as long as the security situation demands.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he has taken to recover missing parts of his Department's art collection; what new security measures are in place to avoid further losses; and what plans he has to commission new art works to replace those lost from his departmental budget. [22324]

We will continue to make every effort to recover missing works of art by a renewed search of our buildings.Works of art are safeguarded by securing the rooms in which they hang, asking staff who occupy those rooms to verify that the rooms are safe and by inspections by staff responsible for works of art.We have no plans at present to commission new works of art.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of the performance of the British defence industry in export markets. [22325]

British defence equipment manufacturers continue to enjoy success in the export market. In 1995, they won contracts worth about £5 billion, giving UK an estimated world market share of 19 per cent.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the British defence industry's performance in export markets in the last three years. [22329]

Over the last three years—1993 to 1995—UK defence equipment export orders have been worth almost £17 billion.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress he is making to increase the number of aircrew in the Royal Auxiliary Air Force. [22326]

Members of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force do not currently serve as aircrew. The RAF has, however, conducted trials to assess the feasibility of recruiting and training volunteer reservist aircrew. The trials were conducted on the Hercules aircraft at RAF Lyneham, and the Wessex helicopter at RAF Benson. The trials were completed earlier this year and the RAF is currently assessing the results.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to be able to make a decision concerning the replacement of the Nimrod maritime reconnaissance aircraft. [22327]

We expect to award a contract for the RAF's replacement maritime patrol aircraft in the late summer.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the costs and benefits of disposal of the atomic weapons establishment, Llanishen, Cardiff, subsequent to closure. [22328]

There will be no further defence requirement for the Cardiff factory after 1997. Prior to the decision to close it, an assessment was made of the associated costs and benefits. The former consist mainly of severance payments and decommissioning costs. The benefits to my Department will be felt in terms of reduced annual expenditure.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total manpower of the RAF in 1990; and what is his estimate of the strength of the RAF by the end of the decade. [22330]

The total strength of the RAF on 1 April 1990 was 89,685. The estimated strength for 1 April 1999 is some 55,500. Both figures include personnel undergoing training.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has held with English Nature regarding the return of runways at Greenham Common to heathland. [22331]

The removal of concrete from the runways at Greenham Common and the restoration of heathland was agreed between officials of my Department and English Nature prior to the commencement of work.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about recent changes to the structure and functions of the chemical and biological defence establishment at Porton Down. [22332]

The function of the chemical and biological defence establishment remains unchanged. It provides Her Majesty's Government with advice on the threat posed by chemical and biological weapons and carries out research to ensure that the United Kingdom's armed forces are provided with safe and effective protection. Since 1 April 1995, CBDE, with the chemical and electronic systems sector, has been a division of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. On 1 April 1996, CBDE is being renamed the protection and life sciences division. At the same time, it will be expanded to include the centre for human sciences based at Farnborough, which will incorporate the defence radiological protection service based at Alverstoke. The mission for the new division will be to provide a comprehensive and integrated approach to protecting the human being in military environments and optimising their military effectiveness.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's policy concerning the negotiation of a comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty. [22334]

We are negotiating in good faith a comprehensive test ban treaty with the aim of establishing an effectively verifiable treaty commanding universal adherence as soon as practicable.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to ensure equal opportunity for women in the armed forces. [22305]

There are very few roles in the services which are closed to women and the armed forces are committed to ensuring equality of opportunity for women, consistent with the need to maintain combat effectiveness.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 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; and if he will make a statement. [21457]

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. My Department has a corresponding obligation to notify contractors if work to be performed involves the use of dangerous articles of substances.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total cost of answering parliamentary questions in each parliamentary Session since 1989–90. [22899]

My Department does not collect this information.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action his Department intends to take to celebrate the diamond jubilee of the first flight of the Supermarine Spitfire aircraft; and if he will make a statement. [23071]

In response to requests from event organisers, RAF aircraft, principally from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, are involved in a number of civil events marking the historic achievement of the first flight of the Vickers Supermarine Spitfire.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what involvement his Department has had in the military training of Guatemalan Government armed forces in Guatemala. [23193]

We have had no involvement in the military training of Guatemalan armed forces in Guatemala, but have provided assistance with English language training.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what nation was the sponsor of the Arid Thunder exercise. [23441]

The United Kingdom sponsored Exercise Arid Thunder 95–96.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many sorties were flown by each squadron involved in Exercise Arid Thunder; and how many (a) BL755 and (b) other weapons were dropped by each squadron during the exercise. [23538]

The number of sorties flown and BL755, 3 kg and 14 kg practice bombs dropped during Exercise Arid Thunder, by squadron, was as follows:

Unit	Sorties	BL755	3 Kg PB	14 Kg PB
13 Squadron	93	139	50	—
14 Squadron	95	140	—	22
17 Squadron	131	137	75	30
617 Squadron	115	140	37	38

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many live BL755 weapons RAF Tornado aircrew are required to drop each year in order to maintain combat-ready status. [23449]

There is no specified number of live BL755 weapons which Tornado aircrew are required to drop in order to maintain combat-ready status.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the remotely piloted vehicle authorised to fly in the Llanbedr danger area on 6 January 1995 was recovered; and what were the times of take-off and landing of the aircraft. [23439]

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements are in place for the support of the submarine flotilla. [23447]

Since the announcement in October 1993 of the Government's intention to sell the royal dockyards, a series of separate negotiations has been conducted with Babcock International Group for the proposed sale of Rosyth Royal Dockyard plc and with Devonport Management Limited for the proposed sale of Devonport Royal Dockyard plc. Negotiations have also proceeded with DML on the related issue of the construction of facilities at Devonport for the refitting and refuelling of nuclear submarines, project D154.I am pleased to say that, today, my Department signed two heads of agreement with DML and its shareholders. The first, in respect of the proposed sale of DRD plc, covers the general principles which would apply to a sale agreement. The second, for the provision of nuclear refuelling and refitting facilities at Devonport, places on the contractor whose project manager will be Brown and Root (UK) Ltd., the responsibility for delivery of facilities that are licensable, operable and fit for purpose, whilst providing ample opportunity for industry to compete for work at the sub-contract level. A key issue in the negotiations has been the risk transfer and the contractor has accepted to bear an unprecedented proportion of the risk. The agreements must now be converted into binding contracts.My Department is today issuing a memorandum of information to the trade unions about the position as regards the future management arrangements for Devonport Royal Dockyard, and will then initiate a formal process of information and consultation.Negotiations are at an advanced stage with Babcock International Group on the proposed sale of Rosyth Royal Dockyard plc. The outcome will be announced as soon as possible. Short-term extensions to the current contracts in operation at both Rosyth and Devonport dockyards, which would otherwise expire on 5 April 1996, are being arranged to cover the period of further negotiations. The Government have confirmed, subject to reasonable prices, a programme of refitting work for Rosyth for Royal Navy vessels stretching to the year 2006, and to include two aircraft carriers and a substantial number of other major war vessels.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) Greek Cypriots and (b) Turkish Cypriots are employed at each of the two United Kingdom sovereign bases in Cyprus. [23681]

As at 29 February, there were 1,240 Greek Cypriots and no Turkish Cypriots employed in the western sovereign base area. In the eastern sovereign base area, there were 577 Greek Cypriots and 306 Turkish Cypriots employed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to place contracts for new auxiliary oil tankers; when the ships are intended to enter service; what specification is planned in terms of speed and endurance; how many helicopters will be carried; whether the ships will carry dry stores or weaponry; what order of cost is envisaged; what consideration was given to the use of the private finance initiative; and if he will make a statement. [23582]

An invitation to tender was issued on 2 February 1996 for up to two auxiliary oilers for order around the turn of the year. The first vessel is expected to enter service in early 2001. The specification will meet the latest environmental safety standards and provide a capability for replenishment of warships with fuel and a limited range of solid stores while under way and the operation of a single Merlin-sized helicopter. A speed in excess of 18 kts is required and the ship will possess a limited self-defence capability to allow it to operate with front-line naval forces in peace and war; it will also be able to receive the Phalanx close-in weapons system. The private finance initiative was judged to be inappropriate for the operational role envisaged for these ships. Costs cannot be provided as they are commercial-in-confidence at this stage in the competition.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence at what height above ground level the Tornado involved in an accident in Germany on 10 May 1991 was found to have been flying at the commencement of the manoeuvres which led to control loss. [23440]

The aircraft's final manoeuvre was a level turn, which it entered at a height of 1,075 ft above ground level.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those weapons ranges in the United Kingdom where delivery of live BL755 weapons is authorised. [23448]

No RAF weapons ranges in the United Kingdom are cleared for the delivery of live BL755 munitions, although the Defence Test and Evaluation Organisation's range at West Freugh is cleared for the release of BL755 for trials purposes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the sequence of events and the meetings and correspondence which preceded Premier Transco digging the Scotland-Northern Ireland gas pipeline in 1995. [23984]

I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 6 February 1996, Official Report, columns 121–23.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his policy regarding the air transport of key personnel travelling together to minimise the risk of loss. [24129]

Our policy remains that a judgment must be made in each case to assess the very remote possibility of a flying accident against the operational and other advantages that this form of travel provides.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 12 March 1996, Official Report, column 512, if he will place in the Library documents which relate to the dumping of surplus munitions in St. Catherine's Deep off the Isle of Wight or other small-scale munitions dumps in the Solent. [23982]

No. Complete records of munitions disposal are no longer available and St. Catherine's Deep, although shown on hydrographic charts, may have had only limited or emergency use, if at all. There is no surviving evidence of other munitions dumps in the Solent.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will survey the St. Catherine's munitions dump for reasons of public safety. [23983]

There are no plans to survey St. Catherine's Deep. Current scientific evidence indicates that munitions dump sites present no significant risk to safety, human health or the marine environment, if left undisturbed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 12 March, Official Report, columns 510–11, if he will list the purposes for which Bedenham jetty was used after 1966. [24220]

Bedenham jetty has been, and continues to be, used to transfer armament stores between the storage and maintenance depot Gosport to RN ships, the Royal Fleet Auxiliary and between other armament depots by naval armament vessels.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list (a) the current offset adviser and international finance adviser at Defence Export Services Organisation, (b) the companies from which they are seconded, (c) the duration of their appointments and (d) the bonuses to which they are entitled. [24078]

The current offset adviser is Mr. Barry Teidman, a civil servant and not a secondee. The international finance adviser, Mr. Miles Faulkner is a fixed-term appointee and is also not a secondee but his previous company was Trafalgar House. Mr. Faulker was originally appointed on 1 April 1992 and his appointment has been extended until 31 March 1997. Both are eligible for any performance-related pay awards which may be agreed for their grades, but no specific bonuses are attached to the posts.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the net cost of the Defence Export Services Organisation in each year from 1988 to the present. [24079]

The net cost of the Defence Export Services Organisation for each year from 1988 was as follows:

Year	Net cost of DESO £ million
1988–89	(12.23)
1989–90	(15.99)
1990–91	(17.63)
1991–92	11.05
1992–93	11.89
1993–94	16.02
1994–95	10.94
1995–96 (estimated)	16.81

In the years 1988–89 to 1990–91, receipts exceeded costs because the proceeds from sales of surplus equipment were not disagregated to the services concerned.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the visits outside Britain made by the permanent secretary to his Department on official business within the last 12 months indicating the date and purpose of the visit in each case. [24191]

Since 1 April 1995 the permanent under-secretary of my Department has made the following overseas visits:

Date	Country	Purpose
28–30 April 1995	Germany (Munich)	Attend conference organised by the Ditchley Foundation
29 August–3 September 1995	Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur)	Commonwealth Association for Public Administration and Management (CAPAM) followed by conference
19–20 October 1995	Belgium (Brussels)	Visit to UK Delegation and International staff at NATO HQ
14–15 January 1996	Germany (Oberammergau)	Keynote address to NATO Defence Planning symposium
2–4 February 1996	Germany (Munich)	Attend Wehrkunde conference on security issues
27–March 1996	Pakistan (Islamabad)	Co-chair inaugural meeting of the UK/Pakistan Defence Cooperation Forum
14–15 March 1996	Bosnia/Croatia	Visit to UK personnel deployed with IFOR

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the names of service personnel killed in Northern Ireland can be placed on local war memorials in Great Britain. [24370]

My Department has no objections to the names of service personnel killed in Northern Ireland being inscribed on dedicated memorials.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons the Army has a very urgent requirement for 55,500 rounds of 30 mm AFV TP-T (Practice) L18A2 ammunition as listed as future purchase number ART 2A/10 in MOD contracts bulletin volume 10, number 112 dated 21 February; and if he will make a statement. [22256]

The annual training requirement for the 30mm AFV TP-T practice round was expected to reduce following the introduction of the new discarding sabot reduced range round in 1995–96. Changes in the production timetable of the DSRR have resulted in the need to train with the TP-T round instead and, therefore, to replenish stocks earlier than expected.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for which forces there is a requirement for eight electronic support measure/direction finding stations as listed as tender number ISIS2A/017 in MOD contracts bulletin, volume 10, number 12, dated 21 February; and if this requirement is to replace existing equipment. [22257]

The requirement for the equipment specified in tender number ISIS2A/017 in MOD contracts bulletin, volume 10, number 12 dated 21 February, is to support the Army's activities in Bosnia as part of the NATO implementation force. The equipment to be provided is intended to meet the operation requirements of the deployment to Bosnia and is not intended to replace any existing Army equipment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what assumption for an in-service date for the future attack submarine tender number NSM13C/60167 in MOD contracts bulletin, volume 10, number 12, dated 21 February was issued in respect of pre-feasibility concept studies for the combat system. [22258]

The future attack submarine, currently the subject of concept studies, is intended to replace the Trafalgar class submarines early in the next century.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussion he had with Alan Moses QC before the collapse of the Matrix Churchill trial. [22392]

None. Mr. Moses's only contact with the Department was in order to review MOD papers which may have been relevant to the case. Details are set out in Sir Richard Scott's report.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which of the 1,000 regulations identified for repeal or amendment by the Prime Minister are the responsibility of his Department; of those which (a) have been repealed or amended and (b) are planned to have been repealed or amended by the end of the 1995–96 parliamentary Session; and if he will list those whose repeal has saved business more than £1 million per annum. [23651]

The MOD is not a regulator of business and has not therefore identified any such regulations. My Department continues to play a full role in the deregulation initiative by focusing efforts on relieving unnecessary administrative burdens on suppliers, streamlining contracts procedures, and improving communications with industry.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 18 December, Official Report, column 982, if he will make a statement about the review of pastoral care arrangements at Quantock school carried out by the Service Children's Education Authority; if he will place a copy of its findings in the Library; and what arrangements have been made to convey the findings of the SCEA to parents of service children at the school. [24206]

Two Office for Standards in Education-qualified SCEA staff visited Quantock school on 21 February 1996. Based upon their observations, it is SCEA's view that pastoral and guidance arrangements at Quantock school are entirely adequate with no obvious areas of concern. SCEA will continue to advise service parents in the normal way that Quantock school is suitable for attendance by service children.SCEA staff visit independent schools by invitation to assess pastoral care arrangements for service children; they have no statutory right of access. Visit reports are therefore written on the understanding that they remain for internal use only.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the introduction of dental charges for civilian staff, their dependants and the dependants of service men overseas. [24544]

We intend to bring practice in regard to dental charges overseas into line with that in the United Kingdom. Hence we have decided to introduce, with effect from 1 June, charges for dental treatment provided by overseas service dental establishments and by civilian practices in overseas locations without service facilities, to UK-based civilian staff, their dependants, and the dependants of service personnel. Charges will be in line with those fees currently charged to NHS patients in the United Kingdom. Normal exemption rules will apply. Additionally, dependants of gurkhas serving in Hong Kong will be exempt from these charges, as will service dependants who are serving and residing in Hong Kong, and UK-based civilians and their dependants who are also serving and residing in Hong Kong.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the current levels of pay for both the highest and lowest paid service personnel; what were the rates in real terms in May 1979; and if he will make a statement. [22608]

The rates of pay for the highest and lowest paid personnel for May 1979 and April 1996 are as follows:

	May 1979	1 April 1996
Five-star (Field Marshal etc.)	24,936.00	124,640.20
Junior entrant (under 17)	1,766.60	5,438.50

In the period since, the retail prices index, which is the recognised comparator for real-terms pay increases, has increased by 177.9 per cent. Meanwhile, pay for the most senior officer has risen by 399.8 per cent. whereas pay for junior service personnel has increased by 207.9 per cent. These figures indicate that all service personnel, including junior entrants who have yet to attain adult status, are now better off when compared with the RPI, than they were in 1979.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the rate of return on (a) manufacturing in the United Kingdom and (b) other industrial and commercial enterprises producing goods and services in the United Kingdom for each year since 1970. [22961]

Information on United Kingdom rates of return for (a) manufacturing industrial and commercial companies and (b) all industrial and commercial companies is available from the Office of National Statistics' central shared database and is published in the ONS's first release (95)136, "Profitability of UK companies". This is available from the Library of the House.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Customs and Excise investigations there have been during each of the last five years, and this year to date into the VAT returns made by (a) the Conservative research department and (b) the Labour research department. [23130]

Under Customs care and management of the tax and their duty of confidentiality, it is not the policy of the Department to divulge information of this kind relating to individual registered entities.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many appeals mechanisms, as laid out in section 6 of the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994, he expects to establish by the end of 1996; how many staff each appeals system will employ; and what their estimated annual running costs will be; [23611](2) which of the 1,000 regulations identified for appeal or amendment by the Prime Minister are the responsibility of his Department; of those which

[holding answer 1 April 1996]: I refer to the answer that my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster gave to my hon. Friend on 1 April 1996, Official Report, column 18.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the oral answer of the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster to the hon. Member for Colchester, North (Mr. Jenkin) on 26 February, Official Report, column 576, if he will list those statutory instruments and Acts of Parliament which have been gold plated in the past five years; and what steps he is taking to amend or repeal each piece of gold plating on existing legislation. [23629]

[holding answer 1 April 1996]: The Government's policy is not to add unnecessary burdens when implementing EC directives. Departments take every opportunity to review existing legislation in the light of this. Officials are currently working on revised guidance to enable Ministers to see where implementing legislation goes beyond the underlying directive.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the percentage and number of unemployed in each EU country at the latest date for which figures are available. [24029]

Information on both the level and rate of unemployment in each EU country can be found in labour force survey results, published by the statistical office of the European Community—SOEC. Unpublished data relating to 1994 are given in the table below. More up-to-date estimates of the rate of International Labour Organisation unemployment, not the level, in each country can be found in the SOEC's monthly "Unemployment Bulletin" which is available in the House of Commons Library; the estimates for December 1995 are shown in the table.

ILO unemployment numbers and rates in EU countries
	December 19951 Rate(Per cent.)	Spring 19942 Number(000)	Rate(Per cent.)
Spain1	22.2	3,760	24.3
Finland	17.0	—	—
Ireland	14.6	206	14.6
Italy	12.6	2,560	11.3
France	11.6	3,149	12.7
Belgium	10.3	400	9.6
Sweden	9.7	—	—
Greece	9.4	368	8.9
Germany	8.6	3,427	8.7
United Kingdom	8.6	2,741	9.7
Portugal	7.3	319	6.7
Netherlands	6.7	517	7.2
Denmark	6.1	222	8.0
Luxembourg	4.0	6	3.5
EU total	10.9	17,676	11.4

Sources:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the unit value of United Kingdom exports of manufactures for each quarter since 1974, the weighted average unit values for the main manufacturing countries less the United Kingdom and the index of United Kingdom competitiveness measured against those countries. [22966]

I have been asked to reply.Where available, the unit value indices data are published in the "Monthly Review of External Trade Statistics". A measure of relative export prices is published in table 2.15 of "Economic Trends". Both publications are available on the central shared database, which can be accessed from the Library of the House.

To ask the Prime Minister what proposals Her Majesty's Government plan to introduce to the intergovernmental conference on openness; what response has been made to the Swedish Government's proposals for right of access to official documents; and if he will place in the Library a copy of all proposals submitted by EU member state Governments and received by him to the IGC on openness. [23818]

We are committed to greater openness in the European Union and have already supported a number of proposals to achieve this. We are considering our policy on openness in the intergovernmental conference, including how to respond to the Swedish ideas for a treaty right of access to official documents. We have already placed in the Library material from other Governments setting out their policy at the intergovernmental conference, including on openness.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 2 April. [22607]

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 2 April. [22609]

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 if he will list the dates on which the receptions were held for (a) the 45th winter ball and (b) the 46th winter ball. [24272]

A reception was held at No. 10 Downing street for the 45th winter ball on 7 November 1994.The reception for the 46th winter ball was not held at No. 10 Downing street.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list all the functions and the dates on which they took place which were held at No. 10 Downing street since November 1990 where the costs have been met by (a) the winter ball, (b) the City and Industrial Liaison Council and (c) any of the regional industrialists councils which raise funds on behalf of the Conservative party. [24271]

Two functions have taken place where the costs were met by the winter ball. These were on 8 December 1993 and 7 November 1994. There have been no functions where the costs have been met by the City and Industrial Liaison Council or any of the regional industrialists councils which raise funds on behalf of the Conservative party.

To ask the Prime Minister (1) what action he proposes to take on concerns prompted by the Ames case and tainted intelligence referred to in paragraph 32 of the Intelligence and Security Committee report, Cm 3198; [24294](2) pursuant to paragraph 35, what action he proposes to take on significant lapses in the procedures for the briefing of Ministers as referred to in paragraph 32 of the Intelligence and Security Committee report, Cm 3198. [24295]

I refer the hon. Member to my letter of reply to the chairman of the Intelligence and Security Committee at the front of the report in which I said:

"In the light of what your report said about the Ames case, and as you suggested at our meeting, I have myself reviewed the evidence given to you. I feel satisfied that Ministers were adequately briefed on this case and that, on the evidence so far available, damage to United Kingdom interests was not great. But these are serious issues and I look forward to seeing your conclusions following your further investigations into these matters."

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many appeals mechanisms, as laid out in section 6 of the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994, he expects to establish by the end of 1996; how many staff each appeals system will employ; and what their estimated annual running costs will be. [23612]

[holding answer 1 April 1996]: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 1 April, Official Report, column 18.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will add gamma hydroxy butyrate to the list of banned drugs. [21963]

[holding answer 21 March 1996]: This substance is not currently under the control of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, but I am asking the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs to give the matter further consideration.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what forms of political extremism are taken into account when applications for British citizenship are considered. [23843]

In cases where the grant of British citizenship is discretionary, all aspects of an applicant's activities that might be relevant to the requirement that he is of good character are taken into account.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners over the last 12 months have tested positive for using class C drugs as a result of mandatory drug testing; and if he will make a statement. [23828]

Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners over the last 12 months have tested positive for using class B drugs as a result of mandatory drug testing in (a) England and (b Wales; and if he will make a statement. [23710]

Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what negotiations have taken place between Premier Prison Services Ltd. and the Prison Service since the contract was signed, to alter (a) the catchment areas and (b) the courts from which prisoners are drawn; what decisions were made as a result of those negotiations; and on what dates; [23243]

Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the complement of full-time and part-time staff by grade employed at Her Majesty's prison, Doncaster on the first day of every month since December 1995; what proportion of the staff costs were met by the Prison Service under the terms of the contract with Premier Prison Services Ltd; and what proportion were met by the company. [23241]

Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the complement of full-time and part-time staff employed at Her Majesty's prison, Doncaster on 20 June 1994; and what was the complement of full and part-time staff by grade on 20 March. [23242]

Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what account (a) the present and (b) the planned future funding formulas for the police take of levels of unemployment; and if he will make a statement. [23114]

Police funding is distributed by means of a population-based formula. In common with the formulae for other locally delivered services, the police funding formula also takes account of a number of socio-demographic variables including unemployment. In both 1995–96 and 1996–97, less than 1 per cent. of police funding will be redistributed on the basis of unemployment indicators.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis on the number of special constables in each division; and how many hours have been worked by them each month during the most recent 12-month period for which figures are available. [23160]

I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that it is not possible to break down the figures for hours worked into monthly periods. For April 1994 to March 1995, the latest period for which the total figure is available, special constables in the Metropolitan police worked a total of 407,102 hours. The number of special constables on each division is given in the table.

Division	Number of Specials
1 Area
Belgravia	5
Notting Hill	7
Brompton	21
West End Central	31
Charing Cross	30
Paddington	11
Marylebone	11

Division	Number of Specials
Fulham	10
Hammersmith	27
Area Headquarters	3
Total	156
Male	109
Female	47
2 Area
Golders Green	24
West Hendon	29
Barnet and Hertsmere	42
Wembley	23
Kilburn	15
Harrow	59
Ealing	29
Southall	15
Tottenham	17
Hornsey	17
Islington	16
Holloway	16
Kentish Town	14
Holborn	13
Hampstead	11
Area Headquarters	2
Total	342
Male	229
Female	113
3 Area
Enfield	36
Edmonton	45
Chingford	31
Leyton	22
Ilford	40
Barkingside	60
Stoke Newington	11
Shoreditch and Hackney	47
Limehouse	16
Forest Gate	24
Plaistow	27
Havering	56
Dagenham	50
Bethnal Green	32
Area Headquarters	3
Total	500
Male	311
Female	189
4 Area
Peckham	11
Walworth	8
Southwark	8

Stock of police houses at 31 March 1992–1995
Police authorities	Total stock 31 March 1992	Total stock 31 March 1993	Total stock 31 March 1994	Total stock 31 March 1995
Avon and Somerset	361	350	346	281
Bedfordshire	115	112	107	101
Cambridgeshire	191	250	154	150
Cheshire	145	144	142	141
City of London	74	73	65	63
Cleveland	8	8	7	6
Cumbria	223	222	239	201
Derbyshire	169	144	119	92
Devon and Cornwall	224	206	139	106
Dorset	181	165	159	158