To ask the Secretary of State for Transport under what statutory authority local authorities may contract the Highways Agency to carry out work on the agency's behalf. [24965]

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to de-trunk the A40 through Cheltenham; and if he will make a statement. [24902]

It has long been the Department's intention to change the trunk road network around Cheltenham once completion and opening to traffic of the A417 Brockworth bypass had been achieved. The change envisaged is to de-trunk the A40 through Cheltenham and to trunk the A436 from the A417, air balloon roundabout, to the A40, Shipton Solers.Following the recent opening of the A417 Brockworth bypass, the Highways Agency is now taking this proposal forward. However, those affected by the change must be given the opportunity to comment and Gloucestershire county council, which will take over responsibility for the A40, requires certain works to be done before it will accept this responsibility.To begin the statutory process, we expect to publish draft orders later this year. Depending on the nature and weight of any objections received, a public inquiry may be necessary.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many accident black spots have been identified by his Department on the A40 between Oxford and Gloucester; if he will list them; and if he will make a statement. [24909]

At each of the following locations on the length of A40 highlighted, a total of more than 12 personal injury accidents have been recorded in the last three years, as follows.

	1993	1994	1995
A40/A417 Elmbridge Court roundabout, Gloucester	7	5	6
A40/B4063 Arle Court roundabout, Cheltenham	4	3	6

A study set up to examine safety standards at the Elmbridge Court roundabout has recently been concluded. Measures such as revised road markings adjustments to kerblines and renewal of the high friction grip surfacing are proposed. Funding opportunities for all initiatives of this kind under the network enhancement programme are under severe restraint at the present time and it is unlikely that any work will be carried out in relation to these proposals in 1996–97.In the longer term, the Arle Court roundabout will be de-trunked and, as a result, and following the trunking of the A436, traffic flows at this roundabout are expected to reduce. Temporary traffic signals are currently in operation at the roundabout, the effect of which is being carefully monitored. The lights are needed to prevent queues backing up to the M5 Golden Valley viaduct where, due to the recent discovery of structural weaknesses, a temporary 3 tonn weight limit is currently in force.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what has been the increase in the number of heavy vehicles entering Cheltenham on the A40 (a) westbound and (b) eastbound since 1986; and if he will make a statement. [24904]

The recorded change in the number of heavy vehicles entering Cheltenham on the A40 (a) westbound and (b) eastbound since 1986 is as follows:

	1986	1995	Percentage variance
(a)	702	518	(-26 per cent.)
(b)	1,520	1,317	(-13 per cent.)

Flows: annual average daily traffic—AADT—24 hour count heavy goods vehicles over 3.5 tonnes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what has been the increase in the volume of traffic entering Cheltenham on the A40 (a) westbound and (b) eastbound since 1986; and if he will make a statement. [24903]

The increases in the volume of traffic entering Cheltenham on the A40 (a) westbound and (b) eastbound since 1986 is recorded as follows:

	1986	1995	Percentage variance
(a)	5,539	6,329	(+14)
(b)	13,993	17,711	(+27)

Flows: annual average daily traffic—AADT—24 hour countBetween 1986 and 1995, the national average growth in motor vehicle traffic was 31.8 per cent. To a measurable degree, the lower than average rate of traffic flow increase on the M40 entering Cheltenham in either direction can be ascribed to the opening in 1991 of the extended M40 between London, M25, and Birmingham, M5.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made in appointing chairmen for the rail access disputes resolution committee and the railway industry disputes resolution committee; how many applications were received for each post; and what salaries and costs are involved. [25452]

These committees have been established by the railway industry and the Department is not responsible for them or appointments to them. However, I understand that 45 applications were received for the post of part-time chairman of the access disputes resolution committee. A chairman was appointed on 1 April 1996. A total of 89 applications have been received for the post of part-time chairman of the railway industry disputes resolution committee. A chairman is expected to be appointed towards the end of April. Salaries of the chairmen and costs of the committees are matters for the committees.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what regulations are currently in place to control the use of air space by amateur flying clubs above residential areas; and if he will make a statement. [25477]

The regulations governing the use of air space above residential areas can be found in the Air Navigation Order (No.2) 1995 and the Rules of the Air 1991.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimates he has made of the cost of each of the accidents in the last two years where errant vehicles have left, via the near-side verge, roads, motorways and dual carriageways on which there is (a) a traffic flow of greater than 10,000 vehicles per day and (b) an accident incidence rate of more than 1.5 times the average for that class of road. [25147]

The valuation attributed to the total number of road accidents, using the standard safety valuation method, in 1993 and 1994 in which a vehicle left the carriageway on the near-side is (i) motorways £227 million; (ii) dual carriageways £419 million; (iii) other roads £241 million.It is not possible to provide these figures for roads with a traffic flow of greater than 10,000 vehicles per day, or for roads with a higher than average accident rate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will commission the Transport Research Laboratory to carry out a full-scale assessment of the effectiveness of crash cushions. [25151]

No. A study into the situations where there may be a need to deploy crash cushions on the highway network has already been carried out. Generally, their widespread use is not cost effective because of the unpredictability and infrequent occurrence of the type of accidents they prevent.The Highways Agency has developed an effective prototype crash cushion, and other proprietary systems exist. They can be installed at particular sites on trunk roads if, in the light of the specific circumstances, they provide an appropriate solution.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what additional resources he has committed for increased safety checks of foreign aircraft. [25524]

The Department of Transport may ask the Civil Aviation Authority to conduct a physical check of a foreign aircraft if there is any doubt about its safe operation. If this check reveals serious problems, the Department may ask the authority to carry out an audit of the foreign aviation authority with responsibility for the safety oversight of the aircraft. The Department has increased the funding available for these activities by 20 per cent. to £120,000 in 1996–97.In addition, the Department has pledged up to £150,000 to support the new safety oversight programme set up by the International Civil Aviation Organisation—ICAO. This support will involve funding the provision of Civil Aviation Authority experts as members of ICAO assessment teams, which will be helping foreign aviation authorities improve their safety oversight procedures.Both these programmes will be kept under review.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 5 March, Official Report, column 26, if he will make a statement on the arrangements made to write off Railtrack debt prior to flotation. [25528]

Railtrack's debt to the national loans fund—£1,299,418,952.48—was extinguished by means of the Railways Act 1993 (Extinguishment of Relevant Loans) (Railtrack plc) Order 1996, which came into effect on 29 March 1996. Railtrack's remaining debt to passenger transport executives—£230.5 million—was transferred to the British Railways Board on the same date. Finally, on the same date, Railtrack issued two debentures to Her Majesty's Treasury totalling £585 million, also on the same date.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he proposes to introduce the new style driving licence incorporating a photograph of the licence holder; and what assessment he has made of its impact on the work of the Driver and Vehicle Licence Agency at Swansea. [25591]

Our preparations for the introduction of the new plastic photocard driving licences are well advanced and the way is now clear for their introduction in the early part of 1997.A full assessment of the impact of the new procedures on the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency is being carried out in conjunction with EDS and Polaroid, who will be responsible for producing the plastic cards. This cannot be finalised until the European Union directive on plastic card driving licences as been formally adopted.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has taken to ensure adequate transport provision for the increased number of visitors during the European football championships. [25500]

How best to cater for increased passenger demand is a matter for the commercial judgment of transport service operators. I am confident that they will not miss the opportunity this important event will offer. I understand that plans are being made to provide the necessary public transport information and additional capacity.Arrangements are in hand for providing comprehensive temporary directional signing on both the trunk and local road network. It is for local authorities to consider whether special temporary traffic management and parking arrangements are needed in the vicinity of the football stadiums involved.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reasons Mr. William Sneddon, of 50 Polkemnet drive, Greenrigg, Harthill has been denied by his Department's policy division, zone 209, Great Minster house, 76 Marsham street, London SW1P 4DR, renewal of licence number SNEDD/407/019/WGGFF, valid from 4 December 1974 until 3 December 1977; and for what reasons no conclusion has been reached since March 1995 on his application. [25537]

Mr. Sneddon held a short period licence issued by a local licensing authority before the introduction in 1976 of car licences valid until 70 years of age. Because the then Driver and Vehicle Licensing Centre did not have records of such licences, holders were required to return their licences on expiry to the DVLC for their details to be registered and to be issued with a full "till 70" licence. The legislation provided for licence holders to be given until the end of 1985 to convert their licences, after which the entitlement would lapse and any former licence holder would need to pass a driving test to regain the entitlement. There is no scope for waiving the requirements in individual cases. As Mr. Sneddon is one of those whose short period licence was not converted within the prescribed time, it is not possible to issue him with a new licence solely on the strength of the old one.We are, however, considering a change in the law—under the powers conferred by the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994—to enable those who can prove that they held a licence prior to 1976 to be issued with a new licence without the need to pass a further driving test.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the organisations and local authorities who have made representations (a) in favour of and (b) against a public inquiry into the Sea Empress disaster; and if he will make a statement. [25185]

[holding answer 16 April 1996]: Some 74 organisations have made representations in favour of a public inquiry. As far as I am aware, none have made representations against. Nonetheless, we believe that the investigation by the marine accident investigation branch into the grounding of the Sea Empress and the subsequent salvage operations is the most effective and rapid means of determining the facts and any lessons which need to be learnt.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners serving life sentences were released on licence in each of the years 1990 to 1995; and what proportion of those prisoners in each year were released beyond the expiry of the tariff recommended by the sentencing court. [24621]

The number of life sentence prisoners released on licence for the first time in each of the years 1990 to 1995 is set out in the following table.

Year	Number
1990	74
1991	71
1992	90

Year	Number
1993	126
1994	107
1995	90

Information about the proportion of those released after the expiry of tariff recommended by the sentencing court is not recorded centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many refusals in the pilot programme of random mandatory drugs testing in prison for the male pilot prisons were recorded (a) in February to May 1995 and (b) in June to December 1995; and how many of the class A positives in (a) and (b) also tested positive for cannabis. [25385]

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 (a) remand and (b) convicted but not sentenced (i) men and (ii) women were received into the prison system during 1994 and 1995 with identified mental health problems, broken down by age. [25199]

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 has been the cost to public funds of investigating cases of fraud involving medical research studies in the United Kingdom for each of the last 10 years. [24992]

This information is not available centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will issue guidance to the police relating to the Prevention of Terrorism (Additional Powers) Bill to ensure (a) that women pedestrians are where possible stopped and searched by woman police officers in uniform,. (b) places of religious worship are not classed as non-residential accommodation which may be searched and (c) religious Sikhs are not required to remove their turbans; and if he will make a statement. [25370]

[holding answer 16 April 1996]: Guidance on the new police powers contained in the Prevention of Terrorism (Additional Powers) Act 1996 was issued to police forces immediately upon the Act's coming into force. Further guidance is being prepared in consultation with the police and will be issued in due course but, as I made clear during the debates on 2 April, it would not be realistic to require women pedestrians to be searched only by women police officers. While sensitivities of sex and religious practice will be taken into account in the exercise of the powers contained in the Act, they do not provide justification for exemption from any of its provisions. The relevant Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 codes of practice will be formally applied as appropriate to the new powers.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the problem of non-recognition by computers of the year 2000 with regard to his Department's computers and those for which it is responsible. [24406]

[holding answer 3 April 1996]: My Department is aware of the problem. An audit of Home Office computer systems is currently being carried out by the Department's information technology service provider—Sema Group—to establish what systems will be affected and what needs to be done to correct any problems revealed by the audit. Concurrently, third party software suppliers are being approached to establish how their products cater for the century change.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the total number of people who have been fined the maximum amount of £2,500 for cannibis offences since that penalty was introduced. [25390]

Information on court proceedings for 1993 and 1994, the latest available, is given in the table. For years prior to 1993, the exact drug, including class type, cannot be identified separately.

Number and percentage of persons given the maximum fine at Magistrates's courts1 for cannabis offences under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 by type of offence
England and Wales
Offence description/year			Maximum fine given
		Total fined (=100 per cent.)	Number	Percentage
Production of being concerned in the production of the controlled drug cannabis: Section 4(2) [Maximum fine L5 = £5,000]	1993	705	—	—
	1994	994	—	—
Supplying or offering to supply the controlled drug cannabis: Section 4(3) [Maximum fine L5 = £5,000]	1993	148	—	—
	1994	136	—	—
Having possession of the controlled drug cannabis: Section 5(2) [Maximum fine L2 = £5,000]	1993	5,879	5	0
	1994	8,691	8	0
Having possession of the controlled drug cannabis with intent to supply: Section 5(3) [Maximum fine L2 = £500]	1993	19611
	1994	201	7	3
Permitting premises to be used for unlawful purposes re cannabis: Section 8 [Maximum fine L5 = £5,000]	1993	53	—	—
	1994	60	—	—
1The magistrates' court may fine an offender for any offence which it can deal with, but the amount of the fine is limited according to the offence. There is no limit on the amount of the fine which the Crown Court may impose.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions Home Office Ministers have overturned considered verdicts of the Immigration Appeal Tribunal; and if he will put in the Library the conveniently available details of such occasions. [25498]

Home Office Ministers have no powers to overturn determinations of the Immigration Appeal Tribunal. Determinations may, however, be challenged on appeal to the Court of Appeal or the Court of Session in Scotland.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many Post Office employees received injuries caused by dog attacks while delivering letters and parcels in 1995; and how many work days were lost as a result. [24599]

I understand from the Post Office, that during the 12 months to 31 December 1995, there were 5,891 animal attacks on Royal Mail letter delivery staff, with 4,817 working days lost, and that there were 143 animal attacks on Parcelforce delivery staff, with 63 working days lost. Around 99 per cent. of all animal attacks are by dogs.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what factors underlay the decision by the Government to direct the Post Office to raise the price of stamps. [25326]

The Government have issued no such direction to the Post Office.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 26 March, Official Report, column 475, what reasons were given for the resignation of each of the two members of the Overseas Trade Board who resigned in March 1995, the four members who resigned in May 1995 and the member who resigned in September 1995. [25255]

Sir Alan Cockshaw, Professor Fleming, Mr. Gillibrand, Mr. Dewe Matthews and Mr. Reeves had each served more than the usual three-year term. Sir Michael Bett and Sir Desmond Pitcher resigned because of extensive commitments elsewhere.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the cost of the project to examine whether to contract out the work of the Insolvency Service. [25540]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Hillsborough (Mrs. Jackson) on 5 March 1996, Official Report, column 132.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant of his letter of 4 March what action he

OECD countries balance of trade in manufactured goods1 1979 to 1994
US$ billions
	1979	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986
Australia	-9.1	-10.5	-13.7	-14.5	-11.1	-14.0	-15.1	-16.5
Austria	-1.6	-2.5	-0.7	-0.1	-0.7	-0.3	0.0	-1.1
Belgium-Luxembourg	3.5	3.9	4.4	3.8	4.8	4.1	5.1	4.7
Canada	-10.4	-8.1	-10.5	-3.1	-5.7	-7.2	-8.7	-10.3
Denmark	-3.7	-2.2	-1.1	-1.6	-1.1	-1.7	-2.4	-4.5
Finland	1.6	1.2	2.3	2.5	1.9	2.6	2.5	2.5
France	11.5	7.3	8.8	3.4	6.3	8.9	7.3	1.3

The two recommendations of the Wolfendale report addressed to the Office of Science and Technology are being implemented. The contract for the "Best Practice Guide" has been awarded to Mr. Michael Kenward, and the survey into existing levels of public understanding of science and technology is being undertaken by Professor John Durant of Imperial college, London. The latter project is being co-sponsored by the Nuffield Foundation.My Department has drawn the report's other recommendation to the attention of the relevant organisations.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State's letter of 2 April to the hon. Member for Linlithgow, if he will make a statement on the European Space Agency—NASA—agreement negotiations in relation to the Hubble space telescope. [25496]

The European Space Agency, ESA, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, have yet to begin formal discussions on Europe's contribution to the refurbishment of the Hubble space telescope, planned for 1999. These are, however, due to take place in the next few months.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many contractors are employed in the Patent Office information technology services department; at what cost; and if he will make a statement. [24267]

[holding answer 2 April 1996]: There are 36 specialist contract staff in information technology services employed to supplement existing permanent civil servants and to make good deficiencies in the Patent Office's IT skills base. Their individual costs reflect the market rate for particular specialisms but, in 1995–96, the average cost was £61,000. They are supplied on short-term renewable contracts by a range of organisations selected through competitive tender.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the manufacturing balance of trade for each Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development country for each year since 1979. [24779]

[holding answer 16 April 1996]: The answer is in the table.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the United Kingdom manufactured balance of trade for each year since 1979; and what was, in each year, the percentage change from the previous year. [24778]

[holding answer 16 April 1996]: The balance of trade for manufactured goods is published by the Central Statistical Office in the monthly review of external trade statistics, which is available in the Library of the House. It is also available on the central shared database, which can be accessed from the Library of the House.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the level of manufacturing capital investment in (a) the west midlands and (b) the United Kingdom for each year since 1979; and if he will express the figures in (i) real terms and (ii) percentage change on the previous year. [24780]

[holding answer 16 April 1996]: Figures for capital investment in manufacturing industry in the west midlands are not available in real terms. Figures for the United Kingdom are shown in the table.

Investment in Manufacturing Industry in the United Kingdom 1979 to 1995
	£ million (constant 1990 prices)	Growth from the previous year (per cent.)
1979	13,558	5.6
1980	12,307	-9.2
1981	9,985	-18.9
1982	9,518	-4.7
1983	9,413	-1.1
1984	10,975	16.6
1985	12,710	15.8
1986	12,097	-4.8
1987	12,641	4.5
1988	13,846	9.5
1989	14,984	8.2
1990	14,227	-5.1
1991	12,803	-10.0
1992	11,828	-7.6
1993	11,104	-6.1
1994	11,831	6.5
1995	12,736	7.6

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the manufacturing output in (a) the west midlands and (b) the United Kingdom for each year since 1979 in real terms; and what was the percentage change in each year against the previous year. [24782]

[holding answer 16 April 1996]: Figures for manufacturing output in the west midlands are not available in real terms. Figures for the Untied Kingdom are shown in the table.

	1990=100	Growth from the previous year (per cent.)
1979	90.6	-0.2
1980	82.8	-8.6
1981	77.7	-6.2
1982	77.6	-0.1
1983	79.2	2.1
1984	82.2	3.8
1985	84.5	2.8
1986	85.6	1.3
1987	89.6	4.7
1988	95.9	7.0
1989	100.2	4.5
1990	100	-0.2
1991	94.6	-5.4
1992	94.0	-0.6
1993	95.1	1.2
1994	99.2	4.3
1995	101.1	1.9

To ask the Prime Minister if he will pay an official visit to Brixham. [24330]

I have been asked to reply.My right hon. Friend hopes to have an opportunity to do so in the near future.

To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 2 April, Official Report, column 107, for what reasons some necessary evidence is not available in relation to the Ames case. [25515]

I have been asked to reply.As the hon. Member will realise, in a case as complex and far reaching as that of Ames, evidence of the full extent of his activities only becomes available over time. My right hon. Friend looks forward to receiving the further conclusions of the Intelligence and Security Committee on this issue.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many students in each year since 1987 have taken advantage of his Department's Hosting for Overseas Students organisation; what has been the cost; and if he will make a statement. [25464]

The number and cost of placements arranged by Hosting for Overseas Students—HOST—a charity supported by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the British Council, is as follows:

	Number of student visits to families	Total costs £
1987–88	n/a	76,821
1988–89	1,708	176,133
1989–90	2,145	101,888
1990–91	3,577	135,552
1991–92	4,012	123,678
1992–93	4,031	189,327
1993–94	5,253	197,436
1994–95	5,705	199,587
1995–96	1—	212,863
1Number not yet known.

HOST performs a very valuable service in providing overseas students with experience of life in British families and we hope it will continue to expand, in particular by attracting new host families.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what conclusions he has reached on the petition from the elected parties of the Turks and Caicos Islands concerning Governor Bourke; and if he will make a statement. [25389]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given in the House on 3 April by my right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary, Official Report, columns 384–85.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has received from the Baltic states; and if he will make a statement. [25391]

We have frequent contacts with the Baltic states and exchange views on a wide variety of issues. Our bilateral relations are close and friendly, based on our strong support for Baltic independence, democratic and economic reform, and integration into European structures.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many diabetic nurses and paediatric nurses there are (a) by region and (b) nationally. [25527]

The number of nurses holding specialist qualifications in diabetic care is not available centrally.The information relating to nurses working in the paediatric area of work is shown in the table.

NHS hospital and community health services—HCHS—nurses working in the paediatric area of work, excluding agency and learners, by region in England at 30 September 1994
whole-time equivalents
	Nurses working in the paediatric area of work
England	11.950
Northern and Yorkshire	1,690
Trent	1,390
Anglia and Oxford	920
North Thames	1,080
South Thames	1,140
South and West	1,240
West Midlands	1,460
North West	2,320
Special health authorities and others	700
Not included in the above
Learners1	350

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of people per thousand of the population who are addicted to (a) heroin and (b) alcohol; and what are the equivalent figures for (i) France, (ii) Italy, (iii) Spain and (iv) Holland. [25388]

The estimated rate of people addicted to heroin per thousand population for 1994 was 0.41^1,. based on a United Kingdom population aged 16 to 64. The overall rate of alcohol dependency per 1,000 population was 47², based on a survey of psychiatric morbidity of 16 to 64-year-olds in Great Britain. The two figures are estimated on different bases and are not comparable.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he has taken to make the responses to his Department's consultation paper on the Community Care (Direct Payments) Bill available to members of the technical advisory group which advised the Government on technical issues about implementation of direct payments. [25533]

Copies have been sent to members who requested them.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish a summary of responses to his Department's consultation paper on the Community Care (Direct Payments) Bill; and what other steps he will take to fulfil the undertaking given in that document in respect of copies of responses being made available to the public. [25534]

No, I have published them in full. Copies of the responses are in the Library and are available to members of the public on request.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many responses he has received to his Department's consultation paper on the Community Care (Direct Payments) Bill from (a) disabled people, (b) organisations representing disabled people, (c) local authorities, (d) other groups or individuals providing care and (e) other organisations and individuals. [25535]

A total of 284 responses were received in England, 49 were received in Scotland, 49 were received in Wales and 36 were received in Northern Ireland.Of the English responses, 79 were from local authorities. The consultation paper did not ask people to provide any information about themselves in their responses, so information on the remaining responses is not available in the form requested. Thirty-four responses were from individuals, some of whom indicated that they were disabled; others said that they were providing informal care, but others did not give the reason for their interest. Similarly, many of the responses from organisations were representing disabled people and others were representing providers of care, but in many cases it is not clear whether the organisations would consider themselves to be in either category.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with the Commander-in-Chief of the British military forces based in Cyprus on incidents involving British military personnel and Greek Cypriot personnel. [22884]

Matters of discipline are taken very seriously by Ministers and by the services. Regular meetings take place to monitor standards of discipline and ensure that they are enforced. All service personnel serve under strictly enforced disciplinary regulations. British forces serving in Cyprus are subject to the same very high disciplinary standards.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what assessment he has made of whether the Army's disciplinary procedures were followed in relation to the rifleman from the 1 Battalion, the Royal Green Jackets, who assaulted Mr. Kevin Remmer, in Ayia Napa in August 1994; [24077](2) what action was taken by the commanding officer of 1 Battalion, the Royal Green Jackets, against a rifleman of that battalion who allegedly assaulted Mr. Kevin Remmer in August 1994 in Ayia Napa, Cyprus. [24073]

Where it is alleged that service men have committed offences under Cypriot law within the Republic of Cyprus, jurisdiction lies entirely with the Cypriot authorities under the terms of the treaty concerning the establishment of the Republic of Cyprus, Cm 1252 or 1960.At the time of the assault on Miss Jensen the rifleman had not been found guilty of any charges resulting from the earlier incident and was bailed by the Cypriot authorities to appear in court at a later date. As the civil authorities found no reason to hold the accused soldier in custody before the matter came to court, there appeared to be no justification for the commanding officer to restrict the soldier's movements. It is a matter of deep regret that the soldier was later involved in the assault on Miss Jensen. However, neither the Cypriot courts nor the commanding officer could have expected such a development.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what forms of Government support are provided to British arms exports; and what is the level of bonuses to be paid for the financial year 1995–96 to the (a) head of Defence Export Services Organisation, (b) offset adviser and (c) international financial adviser. [24080]

Within the Ministry of Defence, support for Defence exports is provided, primarily, by the Defence Export Services Organisation, which exists to help British manufacturers market and sell their products abroad, complementing the wide range of services offered by the Department of Trade and Industry. In addition to DESO/DTI support, the Export Credits Guarantee Department makes available its range of export credit facilities to support defence sales. The head of defence export services may be awarded a "bonus" of up to 15 per cent. of his annual salary depending on performance. The offset adviser and international financial adviser, who are civil servants, were eligible for the performance-related pay awards which applied to their grades. These were up to 4 per cent. from 1 April 1995, with a further award of up to 4 per cent. from 30 November 1995 for the offset adviser and up to 3 per cent. from 1 August 1995 for the international financial adviser; no specific bonuses attach to these posts.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what occasions since 1966 his Department has investigated LSD at the chemical and biological defence establishment, Porton Down; what were the total number of service volunteers used for these experiments; and if he will make a statement. [24622]

This is a matter for the chief executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the (a) dates, (b) locations, (c) numbers, types and nationalities of aircraft involved, (d) nature of breach, (e) disciplinary actions taken against aircrew and (f) lessons learned from each of the confirmed breaches of low flying regulations during 1995; and if he will make a statement. [24583]

Details of breaches of military low flying regulations during 1995 confirmed to date by RAF police investigations are as follows. A number of alleged breaches during the year are still under investigation. Unless stated otherwise a lateral breach of the avoidance area listed occurred in each case.

Date	Location	Numbers and type of A/C	Nationality	Nature of breach
4 January	Caerlaverock Dumfries and Galloway	1 x Tornado	RAF	Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust avoidance area
5 January	Caerlaverock Dumfries and Galloway	1 x Tornado	RAF	Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust avoidance area
11 January	Caerlaverock Dumfries and Galloway	1 x Tornado	RAF	Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust avoidance area
17 January	Haddington East Lothian	1 x Jaguar	RAF	East Fortune Microlight Site avoidance area
20 January	Caerlaverock Dumfries and Galloway	3 x Harrier	RAF	Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust avoidance area
23 January	Near Hay-on-Wye Powys	4 x F15	USAF	Hay Bluff Hang Gliding Site avoidance area
24 January	Caerlaverock Dumfries and Galloway	1 x Tornado	RAF	Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust avoidance area
2 February	Caerlaverock Dumfries and Galloway	1 x Tornado	RAF	Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust avoidance area
16 February	Lockerbie, Dumfries and Galloway	1 x Harrier	RAF	Lockerbie avoidance area
15 March	Sellafield Cumbria	1 x Harrier	RAF	BNFL Sellafield avoidance area
22 March	Caerlaverock Dumfries and Galloway	2 x F15	USAF	Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust avoidance area
23 March	Bude Cornwall	1 x Tornado	TTTE	Seasonal avoidance in Little Youlstone
24 March	Bude Cornwall	1 x Hunter	RAF	Seasonal avoidance in Little Youlstone

Date	Location	Numbers and type of A/C	Nationality	Nature of breach
31 March	Ruabon Clwyd	1 x Sea Harrier	RN	Monsanto Chemical Works avoidance area
3 April	Frittenden Kent	3 x Chinook	RAF	Unauthorised flight within UK night low flying system
5 April	Corsham Wiltshire	3 x Chinook	RAF	Unauthorised flight within UK night low flying system
7 April	Newent Gloucester	2 x F15	USAF	Unauthorised flight within LFA 4 of the UKLFS
11 April	Milton Keynes Bucking-hamshire	1 x Tornado	TTTE	Milton Keynes General Hospital avoidance area
19 April	Near Gainsborough Lincolnshire	1 x Tornado	TTTE	CANP avoidance area
20 April	Near Gainsborough Lincolnshire	1 x Tornado	RAF	CANP avoidance area
21 April	Caerlaverock Dumfries and Galloway	1 x Harrier	RAF	Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust avoidance area
5 May	Bude Cornwall	1 x Hawk	RAF	Seasonal avoidance in Little Youlstone
9 May	Bude Cornwall	1 x Tornado	RAF	Seasonal avoidance in Little Youlstone
9 May	Talgarth Dyfed	1 x Harrier	RAF	Black Mountains Gliding Club avoidance area
9 May	Talgarth Dyfed	1 x Harrier	RAF	Unauthorised flight in LFA 7 of the UKLFS
11 May	Caerlaverock Dumfries and Galloway	1 x Tornado	RAF	Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust avoidance area
16 May	Auchleven Grampian	1 x F15	USAF	Insch Airfield avoidance area
17 May	Auchleven Grampian	1 x Jaguar	RAF	Insch Airfield avoidance area
23 May	Caerlaverock Dumfries and Galloway	1 x Tornado	RAF	Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust avoidance area
25 May	Talgarth Dyfed	1 x Harrier	RAF	Black Mountains Gliding Club avoidance area

Date	Location	Numbers and type of A/C	Nationality	Nature of breach
25 May	Newent Gloucestershire	1 x Harrier	RAF	National Birds of Prey Centre avoidance area
6 June	Auchleven Grampian	1 x Jaguar	RAF	Insch Airfield avoidance area
7 June	Caerlaverock Dumfries and Galloway	1 x Hercules	RAF	Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust avoidance area
8 June	Loch Eil Lochaber	1 x Jaguar	RAF	CANP avoidance area
13 June	Caerlaverock Dumfries and Galloway	1 x F15	USAF	Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust avoidance area
27 June	Talgarth Dyfed	2 x F15	USAF	Black Mountain Gliding Club avoidance area
27 June	Talgarth Dyfed	2 x F15	USAF	Unauthorised flight in LFA 7 of the UKLFS
29 June	Staple Kent	1 x Hawk	RAF	Unnecessary repetitive overflight
1 July	Minster Kent	1 x Wessex	RAF	Unauthorised flight in LFA 18 of the UKLFS
5 July	Carmarthen Powys	2 x Harrier	RAF	Dyfed/Powys Police Helicopter Landing Site avoidance area
7 July	Driffield East Yorks	1 x Tornado	TTTE	Overflew Driffield, a town listed for avoidance
7 July	Llanwrtyd Wells Powys	1 x Harrier	RAF	Operational Low Flying avoidance near Llanwrtyd Wells
13 July	Hull Humberside	1 x Jaguar	RAF	Saltend PetroChemical Works avoidance area
19 July	Hawick Borders	1 x Tornado	RAF	Overflew Hawick, a town listed for avoidance
24 July	Newport Gwent	1 x Hercules	RAF	British Steel Llanwern Works temporary avoidance area
24 July	Duns Berwickshire	1 x Tornado	TTTE	Dexter Non Woven Chirnside Mill temporary avoidance area

Date	Location	Numbers and type of A/C	Nationality	Nature of breach
25 July	Newport Gwent	1 x Tornado	TTTE	British Steel Llanwern Works temporary avoidance area
26 July	Sherfield English Hampshire	1 x Puma	RAF	Unauthorised flight within LFA 1 of the UKLFS
10 August	Kettering Northamptonshire	1 x F15	USAF	Boughton House avoidance area
15 August	Keswick Cumbria	1 x Tornado	TTTE	Bewaldeth Hang Gliding Site avoidance area
24 August	Ruabon Clwyd	2 x MH53	USAF	Flexsys (formerly Monsanto) Chemical Works avoidance area
29 August	Near Downham Market Norfolk	4 x Harrier	RAF	CANP avoidance
30 August	Near Downham Market Norfolk	1 x Tornado	RAF	CANP avoidance
30 August	Near Downham Market Norfolk	1 x Tornado	RAF	Unauthorised flight within LFA 6 of the UKLFS
31 August	Near Downham Market Norfolk	2 x Harrier	RAF	CANP avoidance
31 August	Near Downham Market Norfolk	2 x Harrier	RAF	Unauthorised flight within LFA 6 of the UKLFS
11 September	Caerlaverock Dumfries and Galloway	2 x Tornado	RAF	Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust avoidance area
14 September	Kendal Cumbria	4 x F15	USAF	Unauthorised flight within UKLFS
15 September	Caerlaverock Dumfries and Galloway	2 x Tornado	RAF	Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust avoidance area
20 September	Near Holbeach Lincs	1 x Tornado	TTTE	CANP avoidance
29 September	Newport Gwent	1 x Hawk	RN	British Steel Llanwern Works temporary avoidance area
20 October	Newport Gwent	1 x Hawk	RAF	British Steel Llanwern Works temporary avoidance area
2 November	Corse Lawn Gloucestershire	2 x Harrier	RAF	Unauthorised flight within LFA 4 of the UKLFS

Date	Location	Numbers and type of A/C	Nationality	Nature of breach
2 November	St. Neots Cambridge-shire	1 x Tornado	RAF	Little Barford Power Station temporary avoidance area
20 December	Caerlaverock Dumfries and Galloway	4 x F15	USAF	Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust avoidance area

In cases where the nationality of the aircraft is shown as TTTE, the aircraft came from the tri-national Tornado training establishment at RAF Cottesmore which trains aircrew of the Royal Air Force, German air force and Italian air force using aircraft provided by all three nations.Formal disciplinary action under the service discipline acts has, to date, been taken in one case. The pilot of the RAF Hawk responsible for the breach at Staple, Kent on 29 June was found guilty by general court martial of one charge, contrary to section 52 of the Air Force Act 1955, of flying an aircraft in a manner causing or likely to cause unnecessary annoyance for which he was severely reprimanded and fined. The finding and sentence are subject to confirmation.In cases involving UK aircrew where formal disciplinary action is not appropriate, aircrew who have breached regulations may be interviewed by their station commander or other appropriate senior officer. Such action could be recorded on individual's career records and affect flying status and promotion prospects. It is not our policy to release details of such action. It is also the responsibility of senior officers to ascertain what lessons there are to be learnt from such incidents; central records are not maintained.Reports on breaches by foreign aircrew are passed to their relevant national authorities, with whom responsibility for any further action rests.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what inquiries he has received about the Kaymar telephone numbers; and if he will place the substantive replies from his Department in the Library. [25342]

My Department has recently been asked about a certain telephone number which the inquirer suggested may have been associated with a photographic studio known as Kaymar Studios. It appears that this inquiry is related to a pending appeal against a conviction for a criminal offence, evidence relating to which should be handled by the relevant solicitors. Such information as is available to my Department has therefore been passed to the Crown Prosecution Service.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the expenditure by his Department in each of the last 10 years on studies on the decommissioning of facilities at AWE Aldermaston. [25396]

Individual studies are not conducted; decommissioning planning follows standard procedures designed to ensure the safe and complete implementation of the process. Such planning costs are not required to be separately identified.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what conditions apply to the nationality of consortiums seeking to become project managers for the nuclear fitting of Trident submarines. [25356]

To optimise control of nuclear licensing and safety requirements, project management of the construction of nuclear submarine refitting facilities at Devonport will be controlled by the dockyard operator, Devonport Royal Dockyard plc. The Secretary of State for Defence will retain a special share in DRD plc, a UK registered company, which will enable the Government to protect essential national security interests in the dockyard facilities, including those associated with nuclear submarine refitting. Company personnel working in sensitive areas are subject to appropriate security clearance.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the defence agency status for the Joint Air Reconnaissance Intelligence Centre. [25999]

I announced on 19 July 1995, Official Report, column 1345 that the joint air reconnaissance intelligence centre was a candidate for defence agency status. Since then, we have carried out a detailed business analysis of the organisation under the leadership of the chief executive designate to confirm its suitability to become an agency.I have agreed to the launch of JARIC as a defence agency from 19 April 1996. The agency will remain fully part of the Department but the chief executive will have delegated executive powers to discharge his responsibilities. These powers are described in the framework document, copies of which will be placed in the Library of the House.JARIC is based at RAF Brampton, near Huntingdon. It has a total staff of 500, comprising service personnel from all three services and approximately 144 civil servants. It acts as the Department's centre of excellence for the production of imagery intelligence.It provides this intelligence to military commanders and the Government, in support of current military operations, defence planning and wider intelligence matters.JARIC has been set demanding targets in an era where the requirement for its expertise is continuing to increase. The targets for the 12 months from April 1996 are:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the Government will continue to support the export of defence equipment. [25910]

UK defence exports have been a major success story for this country.With a reducing home defence budget it is vital that we export if we are to maintain our defence industry which supports around 400,000 jobs. Between a third and half of the industry's output, by value, is for exports.Selling more abroad also brings down the cost of equipment for our own forces and enables us to sustain our essential technology base.In 1995, despite vigorous international competition from the US and France in particular, the UK won defence equipment contracts worth approximately £5 billion. This gave Britain the second highest market share ever. In no other major industrial sector have we managed to achieve nearly 20 per cent. of the world export market.Maintaining a strong British defence industry is important for our national security, for the economy and for jobs. The responsible exporting of defence equipment to our friends and allies makes an important contribution to world peace and stability through deterring the expansionist aspirations of unfriendly and aggressive regimes. Article 51 of the UN charter clearly states the right of all nations to self-defence.Moreover, the UK has a very strict policy on the control of exports of defence equipment. We promote the sale of British defence equipment overseas only in support of our national and international obligations and only where it is compatible with out political, strategic and security interests.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if Devonport royal dockyard will retain its status as a royal dockyard following privatisation; and what its title will be. [25307]

The subject of the proposed privatisation is the existing company Devonport Royal Dockyard plc, in which the assets of Devonport royal dockyard would be vested at the date of any sale. Her Majesty the Queen has graciously signified that she would be content for the royal title to continue to be used by the dockyard if it is privatised, subject to the use of the royal title being kept under constant review lest the activities of the dockyard develop in such a way as to make the further use of the title inappropriate. Subject to that proviso, the use and continuation of the royal title will be a matter for the purchaser.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will (a) identify the print missing since 1991 from Admiralty house, (b) place a value on the missing work and (c) name the Minister described by the National Audit Office as a former Secretary of State. [20830]

I have been asked to reply.The missing picture is a view of Admiralty house drawn in 1970 by Alan Dyson. As the work of an amateur artist it is particularly difficult to give it a commercial value. Our best estimate, given that its purchase price in 1970 was £10, is that its current value may be around £50 to £80. The drawing was placed on display in Admiralty house in 1970. The National Audit Office reference to a Secretary of State—who happened to be my right hon. Friend the member for Bridgwater (Mr. King) in 1991—is irrelevant to the loss of the drawing, which had been of unknown whereabouts since 1982.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy at the UN Commission on Sustainable Development to be party to a global, legally binding treaty to ban the most dangerous identified persistent organic pollutants. [25414]

The Washington global conference on the protection of the marine environment from land-based activities agreed in November 1995 that international action is needed to develop a global, legally binding instrument concerning certain persistent organic pollutants. The United Kingdom supported that conclusion and will work to take it forward through the intergovernmental forum on chemical safety. Our stance at the Commission on Sustainable Development will be based on that approach.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the most dangerous persistent organic pollutants that enter inland and coastal waters; and what action he intends to take in respect of the adoption of the United Nations environment programme programme of action on land-based sources of marine pollution. [25413]

The Washington global programme of action for the protection of the marine environment from land-based activities reflects generally the approaches adopted by the United Kingdom and other states bordering the north-east Atlantic. Pursuing our present policies will therefore lead to its implementation.The global programme of action notes the need for a legally binding global instrument to address certain persistent organic pollutants or groups of such substances. On the basis of work under the convention on long-range transport of air pollution of the UN Economic Commission for Europe—UNECE/LRTAP—these are identified as aldrin, dieldrin, DDT, endrin, chlordane, hexachlorobenzene, Mirex, toxaphene, heptachlor, polychlorinated biphenyls, dioxins and furans.The United Kingdom is supporting the negotiation of such an instrument through the intergovernmental forum on chemical safety.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what factors underlay the exclusion of migratory edible fish species, other than salmon and sea trout, from the provisions of the Food Protection (Emergency Prohibitions) Oil and Chemical Pollution orders; and if he will make a statement. [25164]

The catching of eels, including elvers, is prohibited up to the high water mark in the area covered by the Food Protection (Emergency Prohibitions) (Oil and Chemical Pollution of Fish and Plants) Order 1996. The close season for eel angling in the freshwater area beyond runs from 14 March to June, when anglers are prohibited from taking them. There are no commercial eel interests in that area.The allis shad is protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981; the twaite shad and sea lamprey are listed species under the EC habitats directive and neither is targeted by anglers.

Full-time and part-time farmers and tenants in Wales: June 1995
Local authority areas		of which:		of which:
	Number of full-time farmers	Full-time agricultural tenants	Number of Part-time farmers	part-time agricultural farmers
Alyn/Deeside	200	57	95	14
Colwyn	632	151	260	49
Delyn	415	105	220	25
Glyndwr	1,005	223	402	64
Rhuddlan	118	43	53	13
Wrexham/Maelor	506	122	261	54
Clwyd	2,876	701	1,291	219
Carmarthen	2,126	261	1,039	82
Ceredigion	2,212	248	1,036	111
Dinefwr	1,172	132	546	51
Llanelli	278	52	145	16
Preselli Pembrokeshire	1,779	283	734	68
South Pembrokeshire	539	164	266	42
Dyfed	8,106	1,140	3,766	370
Blaenau Gwent	60	13	63	20
Islwyn	76	17	50	17
Newport	196	24	77	17
Monmouth	1,040	242	599	64
Torfaen	87	28	75	26
Gwent	1,459	324	864	127

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many accidents were reported on farms in Wales in 1994–95; and what measures he has taken to increase awareness of accident prevention among farm workers. [25015]

In the agriculture and horticulture industry in Wales, in 1994–95, a provisional total of seven fatal and 80 non-fatal occupational injuries to all workers along with five major injuries to members of the public were reported to enforcing authorities. Information on the number of injuries which occurred on farms is not available separately.The Health and Safety Executive carries out a number of initiatives to increase awareness of health and safety in the agriculture industry. In 1994–95, these measures included campaigns on tractor safety, working near overhead power cables and using all-terrain vehicles, aimed particularly at farm workers. In addition, the HSE produces free publications in English and Welsh and seeks to raise awareness through information at shows such as the Royal Welsh and through liaison with a range of other organisations in the industry. It also carries out inspections on those workplaces that present the greatest risk.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many (a) full-time farmers, (b) part-time farmers, (c) full-time agricultural tenants, (d) part-time agricultural tenants there are currently in (i) Wales and (ii) each district and county council area in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [25019]

The information requested is shown for the old counties and districts in the table.