To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what legislative provisions regulate physical access to the permanent way; and what responsibilities Railtrack has to protect the public by ensuring that the railway is adequately fenced; [34736](2) how many miles of unfenced railway line run through urban areas. [34737]

Under section 16 of the Railway Regulation Act 1840, section 23 of the Regulation of Railways Act 1868, section 55 of the British Transport Commission Act 1949 and railway byelaws, it is an offence to trespass on the railway.Railtrack has a statutory duty under section 10 of the Railways Regulation Act 1842 and section 68 of the Railways Clauses Consolidation Act 1945 to ensure that fencing is provided and maintained for its railway lines. In certain limited cases, lines may be exempt from the requirement for fencing by the terms of the old private Act or the light railway order which originally authorised their construction. However, I understand that in some of these cases fencing is in fact provided even though the Act or order does not require it.Following a review of existing railway safety legislation, the Health and Safety Commission has consulted on new draft regulations, including one which would require infrastructure controllers, so far as is reasonably practicable, to prevent unauthorised access by persons or animals which could endanger health or safety.Railtrack is also subject to the same duties and liabilities in respect of persons on its premises as any other public limited company. These duties include the general requirements of the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974, including the duty to conduct the undertaking in such a way as to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that persons are not exposed to risks to their health or safety.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what level of delay in the completion of the M5 link road with the second Severn crossing will trigger penalty clauses against the contractors. [35676]

Any delay in substantial completion of the M49, which links the M5 to the second Severn crossing, beyond the contract completion date would render the contractor liable for a sum based on liquidated damages.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how often InterCity West Coast trains are given a fall service check; what changes there have been to this maintenance schedule within the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement. [35033]

This is a matter for InterCity West Coast, the train operator.I understand that a full range of maintenance is undertaken, varying from daily maintenance to complete overhaul. There have been no changes in maintenance schedules within the last 12 months.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to introduce regulations to implement the EC bus and coach directive. [34990]

The Commission has not yet made a proposal for a European bus and coach directive. The implementation dates of the directive will no doubt be the subject of negotiation after the proposal has been tabled.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what date he expects to ratify the joint aviation authorities agreement on joint airworthiness requirements No. 36 on noise. [35510]

The JAA adopted JAR No. 36 on noise on 24 June 1996. The practice is that new JARS are incorporated into EC legislation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to ensure that railway rolling stock destined for repair and maintenance arrives at the depot by rail. [35663]

Responsibility for deciding how and where passenger rolling stock is transported for repair and maintenance lies with the train operators and the passenger rolling stock leasing companies. In some instances, the nature of the fault renders rolling stock unsafe for transport by rail.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the recommendations contained in Sir Richard Scott's report relating to Customs and Excise legislation and procedures. [35979]

Sir Richard Scott made a number of recommendations in his report relating to Customs and Excise legislation and procedures. These may be found in chapter K4 of his report. All his recommendations have either been accepted by the Government as they stand or, in a few cases, following detailed consideration by the commissioners of Customs and Excise and their legal advisers, the concerns reflected in Sir Richard's recommendations will be met in an alternative manner to that proposed. The Government's detailed response to each recommendation is contained in a paper which I have placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when diplomatic relations were (a) suspended and (b) restored between the United Kingdom and (i) Iran, (ii) Iraq and (iii) Syria during the past 15 years. [35316]

Relations with Iran were formally broken by Iran on March 1989. We restored relations with Iran in September 1990. Relations with Iraq were suspended in February 1991 and have not been restored. Relations with Syria were suspended in October 1986 and restored in November 1990.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent action the UN has taken in respect of US personnel missing in action in (a) Vietnam and (b) North Korea. [35153]

We are unaware of any recent UN activity in this area.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) for what reasons individuals suffering from Crohn's disease who need medication for life are not exempt from prescription charges; [35096](2) what plans he has to make prescriptions free for people suffering from Crohn's disease. [35106]

We have no plans to extend the exemption arrangements. In 1996–97, we expect 85 per cent. of prescriptions to be dispensed free, thanks to our extensive exemption arrangements, which are among the most generous in Europe. Many people with Crohn's disease will benefit from these.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list all categories of staff working in the NHS who are not eligible to join the NHS pension scheme and the number of people currently in each category; what estimate he makes of the extra public expenditure that would be involved in giving full NHS pension scheme eligibility to each of these categories; and if he will make a statement. [35086]

All staff employed by the national health service are eligible to join the NHS pension scheme. Others who work in the NHS such as chairmen of trusts and health authorities, some self-employed contractors and the staff of contractors are not eligible. The costs for each group would depend upon take-up, whether this scheme would replace current pension arrangements and the salaries of the staff concerned, as well as the factors set out in my reply to the hon. Member for Lancashire, West (Mr. Pickthall) on 26 June at columns 147–48.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS trusts (a) hold public meetings, (b) conduct public consultation exercises, (c) conduct consultation exercises with outside commercial interests, (d) publish a register of members' interests, (e) publish agendas for meetings and (f) publish the minutes of meetings; and if this is in each case (i) under a statutory requirement or (ii) voluntary. [35089]

All national health service trusts are statutorily required to hold one annual meeting which is open to the public. No information is available centrally on the many NHS trusts which voluntarily admit the public to their board meetings.All NHS trusts which are considering dissolution are statutorily required to consult the relevant community health council. No information is available centrally on individual NHS trusts which voluntarily conduct other consultation exercises either with the public or with outside commercial interests.There is no statutory requirement for NHS boards to maintain a register of members' interests, but all NHS trusts are required by the codes of conduct and accountability to do so. These registers are available for inspection by the public.There is no obligation on NHS trusts to publish the agendas and minutes of their meetings. Information is not available centrally on how many NHS trusts voluntarily do so.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients have been removed by general practitioners from their practice lists in England for each of the last five years. [35107]

The information required is available only from 1992 and is as follows:

• 1992–93: 78,993
• 1993–94: 70,997
• 1994–95: 82,831

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the interdepartmental working group on tuberculosis has completed its report. [36128]

Yes. Two reports of the interdepartmental working group on tuberculosis, entitled "Recommendations for the prevention and control of tuberculosis at local level" and "Tuberculosis and homeless people", have been released today. Copies have been placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he has completed his consideration of the advice he has received from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation on the future of the schools Bacillus Calmette-Guerin immunisation programme. [36105]

We have accepted fully the advice of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation that Bacillus Calmette-Guerin should be routinely offered to all schoolchildren between the ages of 10 and 14. The advice we have received from the JCVI is in line with the current recommendation as set out in the Department of Health's memorandum "Immunisation Against Infectious Disease", copies of which are available in the Library. We would therefore expect all health authorities to offer BCG immunisation routinely to school children.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will issue guidance on the donation of informational or educational equipment or materials in accordance with section 21(3) of the Infant Formula and Follow-on Formula Regulations 1995. [36106]

Draft guidance was issued for public consultation on 2 July, copies of which have been placed in the Library. It contains:

proposed good practice to help ensure that information provided on infant feeding is objective and consistent; and proposed guidelines and criteria on the donation of informational or educational materials by the infant formula industry.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he is taking to reduce the deaths by poisoning attributed to (a) paracetamol, (b) co-proxamol and (c) dotheipin. [35452]

No immediate measures additional to those already in place are proposed. Paracetamol co-proxamol and dothiepin are effective drugs which are safe at the dosages recommended on the labelling. The Medicines Control Agency evaluates all new information on the safety of medicines carefully, particularly in relation to the controls on their availability.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action is he taking to reduce the incidence of adverse reaction to medicinal drugs. [35456]

All medicines that are effective have adverse reactions, some minor and some more serious. Effective methods and procedures are in place to reduce the incidence of these in patients taking medicines. Medicines undergo rigorous evaluation of quality, efficacy and safety by the licensing authority, and its expert advisory bodies before being allowed on the market, to ensure that the benefits of medicines outweigh their risks. Product information for doctors and patients give clear instructions on use and provide warnings and precautions on adverse reactions in order to minimise the likelihood and impact of adverse reactions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 12 June, Official Report, column 89 in which two ambulance services the evaluation was commissioned; and how much is being spent on it. [35453]

The evaluation was conducted on Derbyshire Ambulance Service NHS trust and Essex Ambulance Service NHS trust.The cost of the research was £52,462.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many health service commissioners have market tested the provision of ambulance services; and with what results. [35580]

South Staffordshire Health Authority has market tested ambulance services for a part of its area which bordered on Greater Birmingham. The contract was retained by the West Midlands ambulance service.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the relative physically addictive properties of (a) nicotine, (b) alcohol, (c) heroin, (d) cocaine, (e) ecstasy, (f) benzodiazepines, (g) caffeine and (h) cannabis. [35457]

There is no scientific scale of "addictiveness" covering all these substances.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when (a) Biflex Thuasne bandages and (b) Velband bandages were last available on prescription from the national health service; and what alternative bandages are currently available on prescription. [35507]

Biflex Thuasne and Velband bandages have never been available on general practitioner prescription. A number of bandages are available on GP prescription and these are listed in the drug tariff, copies of which will be placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 1 July, Official Report, column 334 if he will place in the Library a copy of the report of the joint computing group of the British Medical Association and the Royal College of General Practitioners into medical coding and classifications. [35697]

The report will be placed in the Library.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many new initiatives his Department has taken in the current year to improve the flow of information between producers and their suppliers. [35476]

The development of successful partnerships between customers and suppliers is of great importance in promoting the competitiveness of UK industry. The Department works closely with companies, trade associations and others on a wide range of activities and initiatives to encourage this. However, no central record of such supply chain initiatives is held.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the cash value of the liabilities of British Energy that will be met by the segregated fund. [35616]

British Energy's expected future payments in respect of nuclear liabilities covered by the segregated fund were approximately £3.7 billion undiscounted, as at March 1996.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 27 June, Official Report, column 202, in respect of compensation for terrorist damage, for how many years such insurance has not been available in Northern Ireland. [35526]

Insurance cover for losses arising from damage to industrial and commercial property caused by terrorist activity has been unavailable in Northern Ireland for 22 years.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 1 July, Official Report, column 262, if he will detail the outcome of the 24 June meeting in respect of the Barmac N166 site objective 1 application; and if he will make a statement. [35618]

The meeting between officials of the European Commission and my Department was exploratory and to discuss a draft application; no decisions were made. Commission officials indicated what further information would be needed before they could reach a final conclusion.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many times since 1992 witnesses have given evidence in court (a) behind screens and (b) with the use of voice distorters. [34883]

The question concerns a specific operational matter on which the chief executive of the Court Service is best placed to provide an answer. I have accordingly asked the chief executive to reply direct.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what has been the cost to public funds of the consultation that he has undertaken on whether large companies should state their payment practice in their accounts. [35640]

As the consultation was launched only on 27 June, it is impossible to judge at this stage what the total cost to public funds will be. However, the consultative document itself was produced in-house to keep production costs down. We estimate the printing and reprographic costs for the nearly 2,000 copies issued so far to be approximately £1,800. The only other significant item of expenditure to date has been the cost of mailing the document to consultees.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the average time that prisoners are held on remand in custody awaiting trial. [34516]

For proceedings in the magistrates courts it is possible to give only the average number of whole weeks spent in custody between first listing and completion of the case, which in 1995 was seven weeks. That figure includes those cases which were subsequently committed to the Crown court, where the average waiting time between committal and start of trial in 1995–96 was 11.4 weeks.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what was the average time an indictable offence took (a) from offence to charge or summons, (b) from charge or summons to first listing, (c) from first listing to completion and (d) from offence to completion for cases proceeding through youth courts for (i) England and Wales, (ii) each region in England and Wales and (iii) each police force area in the latest year for which figures are available. [35622]

The latest full year for which figures are available is 1995. The information requested is contained in the table. The table includes information on all indictable offences—both indictable only and triable either way. The source of the figures is the magistrates courts time intervals survey. This survey collects information on all defendants in indictable cases in one sample week of February, June and October each year.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many Crown court centres have (a) separate waiting areas and (b) separate eating facilities for victims and their families; and what plans he has to increase the number of Crown court centres with these facilities. [34880]

The question concerns a specific operational matter on which the chief executive of the Court Service is best placed to provide an answer and I have accordingly asked the chief executive to reply direct.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when the Lord Chancellor intends to publish his conclusions on the reform of the legal aid system in England and Wales. [35650]

The Lord Chancellor has today published a White Paper, "Striking the Balance", which sets out the Government's policy for the reform of legal aid in England and Wales. Copies of the White Paper are available in the Vote Office.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has made of how many local authorities will contract out the administration and enforcement of the council tax, community charge and non-domestic rates in the next two years; and what percentage this represents of the whole. [34857]

None. Decisions as to whether to contract out council tax, community charge and non-domestic rates work are for individual local authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the total cost since 1980 of (a) staff time, (b) legal advice and representation and (c) litigation to (i) the Inner London education authority, (ii) the London residuary body and (iii) the London Pension Fund Authority of responding to the complaints lodged by Miss Patricia Eaton of Kidbrooke Park road, London SE3, relating to her treatment by the ILEA when she was in its employment. [34890]

This is a matter for the London Pensions Fund Authority and I suggest that the hon. Gentleman should contact the chief executive for the information that he requires.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 25 June, Official Report, column 79, what factors led Ordnance Survey not to produce (a) county maps and (b) maps on a larger scale showing the new parliamentary boundaries; what assessment he has made of the legibility of the boundary lines of the maps proposed for issue in respect of the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [35100]

Ordnance Survey is responsible for the official, definite mapping of Great Britain; Ordnance Survey Northern Ireland is responsible for the mapping of the Province.Ordnance Survey maintains a definitive dataset of electoral boundaries which are offered for sale as a computer-readable digital map product called boundary-line. This product has been well received by the market and reduced the potential market for the traditional paper sheets.In reviewing its series of administrative maps, all of which needed revising to take account of parliamentary and local government boundary reviews, Ordnance Survey weighed up the diminished market against the costs of revising and reprinting some 56 map sheets and took an economic decision to discontinue printing the county maps. Parliamentary boundaries are now shown on two sheets, and local authority boundaries on a further nine sheets.More detailed versions of the new parliamentary boundaries are in the course of being produced. When complete they will be available as large-scale data.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what fiduciary duties are laid on local authorities in respect of decisions concerning the investment of sums paid into an authority's collection fund which are not immediately required for making payments or transfers. [35315]

Local authorities are under a general fiduciary duty to their taxpayers to act prudently in investing funds. They should also have regard to the capital finance regulations and professional treasury management codes, as appropriate. In addition, the investment of collection fund money is subject to specific regulations made under section 89(5) of the Local Government Finance Act 1988. The following regulations made under the section are still in force: the Local Authorities (Funds) (England) Regulations 1992 (SI 1992/2428).

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 1 April, Official Report, column 14, if he will undertake an immediate review of past EC directives with a view to removing all gold plating. [35046]

We take every opportunity to review the implementation of existing EC directives when regulations are updated as part of the normal process of regulatory reform. In doing so, we take account of the new "Implementing EC Law Checklist", the publication of which was announced to the House by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 16 May. This checklist is designed to ensure that no unnecessary additional burdens are placed on business when EC directives are implemented in the UK.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to publish the United Kingdom national environmental health action plan. [36107]

Together with my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Health, for Scotland and for Wales, I shall publish the United Kingdom national environmental health action plan, and an overview of it, on Monday 8 July.Copies of the documents will be placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if his Department will reassess its use of the family expenditure survey in the assessment of United Kingdom poverty, so that provision is made in a new survey for the inclusion of homeless people; and if he will make a statement. [33049](2) if his Department will reassess its use of the family expenditure survey in the assessment of United Kingdom poverty, so that provision is made in a new survey for the inclusion of people living in institutions with special reference to hospitals, nursing homes, residential homes and prisons; and if he will make a statement. [33048]

I refer the hon. Member to my reply of 21 June to the hon. Member for Bristol, East (Ms Corston), Official Report, column 635.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the cost in each of the past five years of (a) sick pay and (b) compensation paid to employees of his Department or their families, or members of the public, as a result of (i) minor, (ii) major and (iii) fatal injuries related to the work of his Department, detailing incidents involving information technology and those involving expenditure of more than £5,000. [33514]

Such information as is available is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many (a) minor, (b) major and (c) fatal injuries have been suffered by staff in his Department and its agencies in work-related incidents in each of the past five years, showing in each year how many were related to information technology and giving details of all incidents involving fatalities. [33513]

Such information as is available is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make it his policy to ensure that (a) a higher proportion or (b) all funeral expenses of those receiving social security benefit are met by the state. [34404]

We have no plans to do so. However, all aspects of the benefits system are kept under review.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the effect of the new system of social fund funeral payments on prices and costs in the funeral industry. [34421]

It is estimated that the social fund funeral payments scheme accounted for 10 per cent. of all funerals in Great Britain in 1995. The restriction in the level of payment made is presumed to have had an effect upon the market.

To ask the Secretary of Slate for Social Security if he will list the number and percentage of individuals in benefit units where at least one contributory benefit is being received, by net income of the household adjusted for family size, broken down into equivalised income bands before and after housing costs. [35512]

The information is in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will list the amount of Government funding to the Foundation for Sport and the Arts in each year since its inception. [34745]

The Foundation for Sport and the Arts is funded partly by a 2½ per cent. reduction in pool betting duty, and partly by a voluntary contribution of 5p in the pound on pools coupons, both of which are passed on by the football pools companies to the foundation. The total amounts received annually by the foundation, as recorded in its annual reports, is as follows:

• 1991–92: £39,568,711
• 1992–93: £63,541,000
• 1993–94: £67,922,000
• 1994–95: £68,245,000

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what estimate she has made of the number of students of dance and drama who will benefit from her recent announcement on the use of lottery funds for scholarship purposes. [25247]

I regret the delay in replying.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what has been the total amount available to local projects from national lottery funds in each year since its inception. [34947]

The organisations responsible for distributing lottery funds do not subdivide them into amounts available for local, regional or national projects and these figures are not, therefore, available. Since its inception in November 1994, the lottery has raised more than £2 billion for projects of all sizes.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans she has to encourage the development of individual sporting talent. [33670]

[holding answer 1 July 1996]: In the sports policy paper "Sport: Raising the Game", we announced our intention to establish a British academy of sport, to provide a coherent and unified programme to allow those with the greatest talent to use that talent to best effect. In addition, on 1 April, the Secretary of State issued new policy directions to allow national lottery money to provide revenue support to develop sporting talents and skills, particularly of young people.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what was the total cost to her Department of the inquiry into the type of slate to be used for re-roofing the buildings in the Royal William yard, Plymouth. [34896]

[holding answer 1 July 1996]: The total cost of the inquiry has yet to be finalised, but it is estimated to be approximately £16,000.

To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to the answer of 13 May, Official Report, column 362, about the release of Hafez Dalkamoni, in what circumstances the release by one country of a prisoner who is a national of another country is not solely a matter for the authority of the detaining country; and if he will make a statement. [35824]

I have nothing to add to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, to the hon. Member for Eastwood (Mr. Stewart), on 17 January 1996, Official Report, column 590, other than that Mr. Dalkamoni was released on 27 June and deported to Syria.

To ask the Prime Minister what legislative provisions are currently in force which would enable a referendum on the constitution to be held in Scotland; and if he will make a statement. [36108]

None. Powers previously taken in 1975 and in 1978 to hold referendums have been repealed.

To ask the Prime Minister what proposals to move the world economy closer to ecological sustainability he made to the Group of Seven summit in Lyons. [34504]

The subject of ecological sustainability was not discussed at Lyon. I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Hexham (Mr. Atkinson), on 2 July, Official Report, columns 425–27.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 4 July. [34580]

This morning, I presided at a meeting of the Cabinet and had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House, I shall be having further meetings later today.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the average length of time served by (a) Secretaries of State, (b) Ministers of State and (c) Under-Secretaries in each Government Department since he became Prime Minister. [35908]

This is a matter of public record.

To ask the Prime Minister when the Government plan to publish the report by the Senior Salaries Review Body on parliamentary pay and allowances. [36025]

The Government have now considered report No. 38 from the Senior Salaries Review Body on parliamentary pay and allowances. The Government are grateful to the review body for undertaking this complex remit so promptly. The report is being published today—as Command Paper 3330—and copies are available from the Vote Office.Following representations made during the Government's consultations with other parties on the report, the Government will table motions to allow the House to consider whether it wishes to implement the recommendations of the report in full.The Government themselves, however, are clear that the recommended increases for Members' and Ministers' pay are too high and that the motions to give effect to these should not be passed in current circumstances. They will therefore oppose the motions and will table motions to bring into effect an increase in the salary of a Back-Bench Member from £34,085 to £35,108, that is by 3 per cent., with effect from 1 July 1996, and for similar increases in the pay of Ministers and other office holders. The Government will also table motions to implement the report's recommendation that further increases should take effect from 1 April each year and should be linked to movements in senior civil service pay bands.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many patients have been removed by general practitioners from their practice lists in each of the last five years. [35093]

The information requested is not available centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the names and status of the monitoring officers, and those who are designated deputies in the absence of the monitoring officers, in each unitary authority in Wales. [35520]

The information requested is not held centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has recently received about the Swansea institute of higher education; what meetings relating to that college have been attended by his (a) Ministers and (b) officials; where and when; and if he will make a statement. [35670]

My right hon. Friend and I have not received any recent representations about the Swansea institute of higher education, or attended any meetings relating to the institute.Officials attended three meetings towards the end of last month at the Higher Education Quality Council, the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales and the Welsh Office.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he last met Mr. O. J. Williams to discuss the application to build a jetty to import orimulsion into Milford Haven; and if he will make a statement. [35509]

There is no record of a meeting between my right hon. Friend and a Mr. O. J. Williams.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the number of cases by unitary authority of the various categories of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease for each year since 1985. [35637]

Details of suspected cases of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in the UK have been reported to the national CJD surveillance unit in Edinburgh since May 1990. Cases in Wales, since reporting began, are detailed in the table:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the chairmen of the University Hospital of Wales NHS trust and of the Bro Taf health authority concerning the delayed completion of the phase 1 on-slip road connecting the A48 and the University hospital of Wales site; what plans there are for the on-slip construction project to be carried out by the private finance initiative; what plans there are to re-advertise the scheme via the contracts supplement of the Official Journal of the European Communities; and if he will make a statement. [35677]

None. The University Hospital of Wales Healthcare NHS trust is currently negotiating contracts with a consortium of private sector companies. There is no reason to re-advertise the scheme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 17 June, Official Report, column 371, on what date it was determined that the previous Under-Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Clwyd, North-West (Mr. Richards), would play no part in consideration of the NHS complaint by the family of the late Robert Powell. [35624]

At no stage was my hon. Friend the Member for Clwyd, North-West involved in this appeal.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his oral statement of 17 June, Official Report, columns 521–35, if he will make a statement on his plans for children's services in Wales. [36129]

My Department has written today to all the local authorities in Wales enclosing an action plan setting out the timetable for the implementation of those recommendations contained in the Adrianne Jones report addressed to them. I have placed a copy of this letter and the associated action plan in the Library of the House. I have asked the local authorities to advise my Department by 14 October this year of the steps taken to implement the 17 recommendations that I expect to be implemented by 1 October 1996.To assist local authorities in their task, and to implement those recommendations addressed to my Department, I have asked the chief inspector of the social services inspectorate for Wales to take immediate steps to recruit three additional inspectors. This will also enable the inspectorate to check that the implementation has been effective and that practice in local authorities continues to conform to the best practice recommended in Miss Jones's report. I have also decided to establish a development fund of £500,000 which will be used to help bring about the required improvements in practice and procedures. The fund will be available for use in this financial year and in 1997£98.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many United Kingdom students benefit from the Socrates-Erasmus programme; and what steps she is taking to increase their number. [35478]

In the academic year 1994–95, 11,946 UK students studied abroad as part of the Socrates-Erasmus programme. This number is expected to rise for the academic year 1995–96 to nearly 13,000 students. For the past four years, the Department for Education and Employment has published a booklet entitled "The European Choice" which gives information about opportunities to study in higher education in another European country. Flyers advertising the booklet are sent out with the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service information pack to students to help inform their choice of higher education courses.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many statutory instruments his Department introduced in (a) 1994, (b) 1995, and (c) between 1 January 1996 and 1 May 1996 which had the effect of repealing one or more previous statutory instruments without replacing them with a new regulation. [35044]

The number of statutory instruments referred to by the Department or former Departments in the periods in question was as follows:

• 1994: 0
• 1995: 1
• 1996 to 1 May: 0

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to her Department's circular 6/96, annex A, paragraphs 22 to 24, if an oversubscribed school may withhold the offer of a place on the ground that the applicant's parents are unwilling to sign a home-school contract. [35454]

The circular emphasises that school admission authorities should have the maximum flexibility to decide how places will be allocated in the event of oversubscription. Annex A gives advice on the law as it relates to admissions procedures. It does not say that places can be withheld where parents are unwilling to sign a home-school contract, rather that admission authorities may decide that parents willing to sign should be afforded higher priority when there are more applicants than places.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what amount due to be paid to training providers in respect of training provided in 1994 and financed by the European social fund will not be paid as a result of exchange rate fluctuations; and if she will list the 50 organisations which have had the largest reductions and the amounts in each case. [35455]

It is not yet known whether any money due to be paid to training providers in respect of 1994 projects financed by the European social fund will not be paid as a result of exchange rate fluctuations. Training providers have been paid 95 per cent. of the total European social fund money to which they were entitled in their agreed final claim. Revised final claims have been submitted to the Commission for each European social fund programme. It is hoped to pay the remaining 5 per cent. to all applicants, but the precise amount will depend on the exchange rate on the day the money is received from the European Commission. The 50 organisations for whom the largest reductions were made and the amounts concerned are as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 14 March, Official Report, column 730, if he will publish the financial and economic assessment of the proposed Cairn Gorm funicular railway provided by Highlands and Islands Enterprise; and if he will make a statement. [35216]

The financial and economic assessment undertaken by Highlands and Islands Enterprise of the proposed funicular railway is subject to commercial confidentiality.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what level of grant aid has been offered, by his Department or its agencies, to the Cairn Gorm Railway Co. to support the construction of a funicular railway on Cairn Gorm. [35217]

None. My right hon. Friend is considering a request from Highlands and Islands Enterprise for his approval to the proposed of financial assistance to the Cairngorm Chairlift Co. for the construction of a funicular railway on Cairn Gorm. No decision on the request has yet been taken.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 29 April, Official Report, column 375, if he will list the criteria he will use to judge the application for approval to incur expenditure by Highlands and Islands Enterprise on the proposed Cairn Gorm funicular railway. [35215]

In considering the request from Highlands and Islands Enterprise for approval of the proposed financial contribution to the Cairn Gorm funicular railway, my right hon. Friend will take into account a range of criteria, including the need to ensure that the proposed contribution represents value for money.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what research has been commissioned by (a) his office and (b) the Highlands and Islands Enterprise to estimate the socio-economic benefits of the proposed Cairn gorm funicular railway; what was the cost of this research; and if he will make the results available to the public. [35213]

No research into such matters has been commissioned by the Scottish Office. The research commissioned by Highlands and Islands Enterprise is an operational matter for the organisation and I have asked the chairman to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he received the Grampian structure plan for consideration; and if he will make a statement. [35690]

The Grampian structure plan was formally submitted to my right hon. Friend on 13 February 1995.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will reach a final decision on the Grampian structure plan. [35678]

My right hon. Friend will make a final decision on the Grampian structure plan as soon as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many trusts to date have made pay offers to nurses; and what steps he is taking to ensure that the review body recommendations are acted upon. [35111]

To date, 17 NHS trusts in Scotland have made formal pay offers to nurses. Trusts have been advised of agreements reached within the nurses national Whitley negotiating council and should be engaged in local negotiations to seek resolution of this year's pay round.The timing structure of pay offers is a matter for local management. It is for each trust to decide whether to make public the position it has reached.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what guidelines he has issued to ensure that grants and loans received by private estates from public funds are adequately monitored; and if he will make a statement; [35675](2) what responsibilities he has for monitoring payments made from public funds to private landed estates; and if he will make a statement. [35693]

Guidelines on each scheme operated by the Scottish Office Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries Department are issued to all involved in considering applications or authorising payments. They are designed to ensure achievement of the scheme objectives and fulfilment of scheme conditions. There are no special procedures for monitoring payments from public funds to particular classes of applicant: standard procedures are applied to all recipients of assistance irrespective of their land tenure status.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will introduce mechanisms to ensure that details of public funds given to landed private estates are readily available to members of the public; [35694](2) if he will list the publicly funded

Details of public funds paid are subject to the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1974 and cannot therefore be made available without the express permission of the recipient. I have no plans to introduce mechanisms to ensure that details of public funds given to private estates are available to members of the public. Private estates are subject to the same monitoring conditions as all other applicants for financial assistance.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Banff and Buchan (Mr. Salmond) of 16 April, Official Report, column 450, if he will list the locations of the information relating to financial assistance given to the Atholl Estate since 1979; and if he will make a statement. [35695]

Details of any financial assistance given to Atholl estate would be held in several locations. Some scheme details are held in the Scottish Office Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries Department's local area office and some in the sub-office covering the area where the estate lands lie. The remainder are held in Edinburgh on the computer records appropriate to each scheme. For closed schemes, where all conditions would have been met, information will no longer be available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many representations he has received in the last year from the fishing industry in Scotland in connection with the subject of safety improvement grants for wheelhouse alteration; and if he will make a statement on his response to these representations. [35619]

I have received no representations on this subject.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what alternative eligibility criteria he has evaluated for safety improvement grants for the alteration of wheelhouses on fishing vessels. [34620]

The Fishing Vessels (Safety Improvements) (Grants) Scheme 1995 does not provide grants for structural alterations to wheelhouses. However, equipment to enhance wheelhouse visibility is eligible for assistance—for example, the installation of wandering steering leads or the building of a dome—glass bubble— on top of the wheelhouse with a raised platform underneath upon which the watchkeeper could safely stand, raising his sight level and increasing visibility.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he has taken to monitor the setting up by local authorities of recognised grant assistance schemes in respect of applications for Pesca and Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance funds; and if he will make a statement on the results of that monitoring. [35623]

My right hon. Friend does not monitor the details of local authority involvement in Community Initiatives. It is the responsibility of the local authorities concerned to ensure that scheme details comply with the relevant regulations. However, Scottish Office officials have held a number of meetings with officials of local authorities and other bodies to offer advice on proposals for schemes, to help ensure that they are consistent with European Community rules and the Pesca programme.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the ratio of police officers per head of population (a) in Britain and (b) on average in the EU. [34532]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the ratio of police officers per head of population in Britain; and what is the current EU average. [34538]

In England and Wales, the ratio of police officers to population was one to 407 at March 1996. No comprehensive data are available from which an average for European Union countries could be calculated.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he has taken to increase the number of police officers on the beat. [34541]

My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has promised sufficient resources for 5,000 more officers over the three years to 1998–99, specifically to enhance visible presence on the streets. We have started to give out funding for this. Also, providing high visibility policing so as to reassure the public is one of our key objectives for the police service.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps his Department is taking to increase the number of police constables over the next three years. [34544]

The Government are providing an additional £180 million in funding to enable chief constables in England and Wales to recruit 5,000 more constables over the three-year period from April 1996.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will raise at the next meeting of the European Council of Ministers the legal status of the declaration attached to the Single European Act which preserves British border controls. [34533]

We have no plans to raise the issue of border controls at the next meeting of the Justice and Home Affairs Council.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what new obligations have been placed on publicans as a result of the initiating of children's certificates in public houses.[34534]

Licensing justices are required to consider whether premises for which a children's certificate is sought represent a suitable environment for children. Some have exercised their discretion to impose conditions on applicants ranging from no smoking rules to restrictions to one bar per pub.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the trend in crime clear-up rates since 1987. [34537]

Although the overall clear-up rate for recorded crime in England and Wales has fluctuated between 33 per cent. in 1987 and 26 per cent. in 1995, the number of offences cleared up has increased during that period from 1,229,000 to 1,270,000 last year. For violence against the person and sexual offences, the clear-up rates has remained fairly consistent at around three quarters of all such recorded crimes.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for widening the representation on the Policy Advisory Committee for London. [34539]

Members of the Metropolitan Police Committee are chosen on individual merit, not as representatives of particular groups or organisations.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the total number of asylum seekers in custody at the latest available date. [34540]

At the beginning of June, a total of 751 people who had sought asylum at some stage were detained.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners are currently undertaking educational courses. [34542]

This information is not available in the form requested. Prisoners' education is recorded in hours. The total number of prisoner hours spent in education in 1995 was 9.4 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people under the age of 18 years have been issued with firearms certificates in the last five years. [34543]

This information is not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The grant of a firearm certificate in each case is a matter for the chief officer of police, who must be satisfied that the applicant can be trusted to keep and use firearms safely.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made in the establishment of a young offenders institution at Colchester. [34545]

On 17 April, I announced our intention to establish a young offender institution at the military corrective training centre at Colchester.Preparations are going well and I look forward to announcing the opening of this new institution in the autumn.