To ask the Attorney-General (1) how much was paid late to the private sector for goods and services by his Department in 1995–96;[26160](2) what percentage of bills were paid late by his Department in 1995–96.[26111]

The Serious Fraud Office paid 92 per cent. of valid invoices on time—within 30 days, or specific contract provision if different—during 1995–96. The value of late payments made by the SFO to the private sector was £977,000. This represents about 6 per cent. of total expenditure and includes a number of substantial and complex invoices from large companies.On the basis of samples of bills settled during 1995–96, the percentage of valid invoices paid on time was 94.3 per cent. for the Crown Prosecution Service and 75 per cent. for the Treasury Solicitor's Department.

To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee on which date the latest bound publication of a Hansard index was published and for which Session; what are the estimated dates of publication of all sessional indices not so far published; and what are the reasons for delays in publication after January of the preceding normal Session. [26010]

The index for the long Session 1992–93 was published in November 1995. The proofs for Session 1993–94 will be returned to HMSO parliamentary press in early June 1996 and should be published two to three months thereafter. It is expected that the 1994–95 index will be sent to HMSO by the end of 1996 and published early in 1997. Editing the 1995–96 index will begin in January 1997, with a likely publication date later in 1997.The Library provides the copy for the fortnightly, volume and sessional indexes to Hansard, which are printed and published by HMSO. The entries for the sessional index are generated after the last volume index for the Session has been processed; the copy for the volume is usually received by the indexers two to three months after the proceedings reported. The objective is that the index for a Session of normal length should be published late in the following Session. I understand that this objective should be met for the 1995–96 Session.The current backlog is a result of problems arising from major changes to the Library's computer system in the summer of 1995.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if fifth-quarter material derived from cattle can be spread on agricultural land outside the waste management licensing regime; and if he will make a statement; [25719](2) for what reason fifth-quarter material derived from cattle is not classified as waste; and if duty of care waste transfer notes are required once this material changes hands. [25718]

The Department's views on the application to animal by-products of (a) the definition of waste, (b) waste management licensing and (c) the duty of care, are set out in DOE circular 11/94, paragraphs 1.17(c), 2.33(d) (ii), 4.91-4.94 and 5.167.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many rural district councils currently collect domestic refuse from the doorstep; and how many have transferred to the wheelie bin system. [26092]

Mr. Department does not hold the information requested, but I refer the right hon. Gentleman to the publication by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy entitled "Waste Collection Statistics 1993–94 Actuals", which contains that organisation's most recently published statistics covering the information that the right hon. Gentleman requests.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the (a) locations and (b) seal species from which the skins exported from the United Kingdom in 1994 and during the first nine months of 1885 came.[26446]

Between 1 January 1994 and 30 September 1995 permits were issued for the re-export of skins of the Afro-Australian fur seal, Arctocephalus pusillus, originally imported from Namibia; and the South American fur seal, Arctocephalus australis, originally imported from Uruguay.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of bills were paid late by his Department in 1995–96.[26115]

This information is being collated by the Department of Trade and Industry and will be published by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade before the summer recess.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much was paid late to the private sector by his Department for goods and services in 1995–96. [26156]

The Department does not hold a central record of the amount owed to businesses not paid within the agreed period. This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate the percentage of extra fuel which is required to heat identical houses in (a) Nottingham and (b) Derby, taking Bristol as the base. [26602]

The percentage of extra fuel required to heat a typical semi-detached house with gas central heating is estimated to be as follows for each of the specified locations:

(a) Nottingham +17 per cent. and

(b) Derby +17 per cent.

These figures have been calculated using the Building Research Establishment domestic energy model and taking Bristol as the base case.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Enviornment if he will list those (a) new and (b) established companies in the Tyne and Wear development corporation area which have appointed staff members of the corporation as (i) directors and (ii) advisers to their boards, indicating (1) the period of appointment of individuals, (2) their remuneration, (3) if capital or revenue financial assistance, grants or loans from the corporation have been awarded to the companies and for what purpose and (4) other corporation assistance to the companies.[26557]

Six companies in the urban development area of the Tyne and Wear development corporation have members of the corporation's staff appointed as directors in pursuance of the corporation's statutory object of securing the regeneration of the urban development area.Of these, five companies are regarded as new, having been formed since the corporation was created in 1987. These five companies are The Customs House Trust Limited, Jarrow AD Limited, North Shields Fish Quay Development Company Limited, Sunderland Enterprise Park Management Company Limited and Tyneside Enterprise Factory.The sixth company, South Tyneside Groundwork Trust Limited, is regarded as an established company, being part of a national group undertaking similar work in different areas of England.No companies in the urban development area have appointed any members of the corporation's staff specifically as advisors.Each appointment of a member of the corporation's staff will terminate not later than 31 March 1998.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what percentage of bills were paid late by his Department in 1995–96. [26118]

This information is being collated by the Department of Trade and Industry and will be published by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade before the summer recess.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how much was paid late by his Department to the private sector for goods and services in 1995–96.[26152]

The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what instructions he has issued to the franchising director on the eligibility to bid for rail franchises of companies that are under investigation by the Serious Fraud Office; and if he will make a statement. [25592]

The Railways Act 1993 requires that the franchising director should not invite any person to tender for franchises unless he is satisfied that they are financially robust, managerially competent and otherwise suitable to be a franchisee. In order to prequalify for franchise competitions, potential bidders are required to notify the franchising director of any factors which might affect his assessment of their suitability to be a franchisee. It is therefore unnecessary for my right hon. Friend to issue any instructions to the franchising director on this subject.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the sections of rail track on the (a) west coast, (b) east coast, (c) Midland and (d) Great Western main lines currently subject to temporary speed restrictions due to the poor conditions of the track; and in each case, when it is estimated that these restrictions will be lifted. [25593]

The information required in not held centrally. I will write to the hon. Member when the information is available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what estimate he has made of the percentage of passenger kilometres that were (a) walked and (b) cycled in each year in Great Britain since 1979; [25402](2) what estimate he has made of the number of miles

Figures for cycling based on table 9.1 of the 1995 "Transport Statistics Great Britain" are as follows:

	Distance cycled (billion passenger miles)	Percentage of all passenger miles exc. walking (per cent.)
1979	2.9	1.0
1980	3.2	1.0
1981	3.4	1.1
1982	4.0	1.3
1983	4.0	1.3
1984	4.0	1.2
1985	3.8	1.1
1986	3.4	1.0
1987	3.5	0.9
1988	3.2	0.8
1989	3.2	0.8
1990	3.3	0.8
1991	3.2	0.8
1992	2.9	0.7
1993	2.8	0.7
1994	2.7	0.6

Figures for walking are less reliable and available only for particular years. They are as follows:

	Distance walked (billion passenger miles)	Percentage of all passenger miles including walking (per cent.)
1975–76	14	5
1985–86	13	4
1989–91	13	3
1992–94	11	3

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much money he estimates (a) has been paid to date and (b) will be paid in the current financial year by the Government or Railtrack for advice and other assistance in connection with the sale of Railtrack to (1) SBC Warburg, (2) Linklaters and Paines, (3) Ernst and Young, (4) Solid Solutions Associates, (5) Freshfields, (6) Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher and Flom, (7) N. M. Rothschild & Sons Ltd., (8) Merrill Lynch International, (9) Simmons and Simmons, (10) Sullivan and Cromwell, (11) Deloitte and Touche, (12) Dewe Rogerson Ltd, and (13) the Royal Bank of Scotland plc (i) separately and (ii) in total. [25869]

Information about the payments to individual advisers is commercially confidential. However, as usual for major Government share sales, I expect to make an announcement about the total costs of the Railtrack flotation shortly after this has been completed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what amendments were made to the draft prospectus for the privatisation of Railtrack following receipt of the views of the chairman of the British Railways Board. [26418]

At the time the chairman of the British Railways Board's views were received the Pathfinder prospectus was still being drafted. A number of changes have been made to the draft since the version on which the chairman was expressing his views to take account of comments received from the British Railways Board and other interested parties.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many shipments abroad by (a) sea or (b) air of mixed oxide fuel have taken place from the British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. Sellafield MOX plant since it opened; what safety licences are required for such transports; and if these transports are covered by (a) European Union legislation and (b) International Atomic Energy Agency or International Maritime Organisation guidelines. [26241]

There have been five such shipments by air, and none by sea.All package designs for MOX fuel have to be approved to IAEA standards by the competent authority of the country of origin. Such approvals must be validated by the competent authorities of the countries through which the shipments pass.The shipments complied with all relevant international transport regulations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when work is due to be completed on the A406 east of Falloden way. [26315]

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps the DVLA takes to ensure delivery of drivers' licences to the correct addresses; and what use is made of recorded delivery. [26592]

Delivery of driving licences is the responsibility of the Royal Mail. Recorded delivery is not used because it would delay the delivery of licences and increase costs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many driving licences have been used fraudulently in each of the last five years. [26590]

Some 2, 000 fraudulent driving licence applications are identified each year, representing 0.1 per cent. of applications.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what financial objectives he has set for London Transport. [26918]

I have written to Peter Ford, chairman of LT, to set new medium-term financial objectives for LT to achieve in 1998–99. These replace the objectives which came to an end on 31 March 1996. The package of new objectives sets challenging but achievable targets for the continued improvement in LT's financial performance and efficiency. The objectives are as follows:

All figures are at 1995–96 prices	Objective
Cost per train kilometer1	Not more than £9.45
LUL gross margin2	At least £285 million
Bus subsidy per kilometre3	Not more than 6.0 pence
LT Buses gross loss4	Not more than £20 million
Group services etc.5 gross loss	Not more than £21.5 million
Dial-a-Ride costs per trip	Not more than £9.40
Property rental income growth	To be at least as good as the average shown by the IPD index (6) on three-year following basis
1 Costs per operated train kilometre to exclude depreciation, renewals, restructuring and PFI costs.
2 LUL gross margin before depreciation, renewals, restructuring and PFI costs.
3 Net subsidy per operated bus kilometre before depreciation, renewals, restructuring and PFI costs.
4 LT Buses gross loss before depreciation, renewal, restructuring, and PFI costs.
5 LT Group Services, plus Victoria coach station, unit for disabled passengers, PASS and LT museum.
6 IPD is the Investment Property Databank index.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of bills were paid late by his Department in 1995–96. [26124]

This information is being collated by the Department of Trade and Industry and will be published by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade before the summer recess.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much was paid late by his Department to the private sector for goods and services in 1995–96. [26145]

The information is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) on what dates and at what stations in the last 12 months coastguard operational staff have initially missed distress calls over the emergency 2182 radio frequency; and if he will make a statement; [26643](2) pursuant to the answer of 19 February to the hon. Member for Stoke on Trent, North (Ms Walley),

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the expected date of completion for each of the schemes for which the Highways Agency has responsibility, now under construction, and for each of those upon which construction is expected to start by 31 March 1997. [25812]

I have set out in the table details of all schemes currently under construction, including their expected completion dates, and the anticipated completion dates for those schemes upon which construction is expected to start by 31 March 1997. I have also set out in the final table those schemes which are including within tranches 1 and 1A of design, build, finance and operate projects or DBFOs. It is not possible to indicate completion dates for the schemes contained within those projects.

Schemes currently under construction
Scheme		Expected completion date
M1/M621	Link Road, Leeds MB	Late 1997
M1	J21-21A Widening Phase 1, Leicestershire	Mid 1996
M1	J43-45 Lighting	May 1996
M4/M5	Second Severn Crossing Approach Roads, Avon	Mid 1996
M4	Second Severn Crossing, Avon	Mid 1996
M4	Landscape Improvements	Early 1996
M5	J18-19 Widening, Avon	Mid 1998
M6	J20-21 A Widening, Lancashire	Late 1996
M25	J7-8 Widening, Surrey	Late 1996
M25	J8-10 Widening, Surrey	Mid 1997
M25	Controlled Motorway M25 Pilot Scheme	Mid 1996
M65	Blackburn Southern Bypass Contract 1, Lancashire	Late 1996
M65	Blackburn Southern Bypass Contract 2, Lancashire	Late 1997
M66	Denton-Middleton Contract 1. Tameside MB, Manchester MB, Oldham MB, Bury MB, Rochdale MB	Early 1999
M66	Denton-Middleton Contract 2. Tameside MB, Oldham MB, Bury MB, Rochdale MB	End 1996
Al (M)	Walshford-Disforth, North Yorkshire	Mid 1997
A4/A46	Batheaston/Swainswick Bypass, Avon	Mid 1996
A5	Beech Road	May 1996

Schemes currently under construction
Scheme		Expected completion date
A10	Carterhatch Lane in AA406 Cycleway	Early 1996
A10	Royston to Huntingford Traffic and Safety Imp.Herts	May 1996
A11	Besthorpe-Wymondham, Norfolk	Early 1996
Al2	Hackney Wick-M11 Link Contract 2, L. Bs Hackney, Redbridge, Waltham Forest, Newham	Late 1997
Al2	Hackney Wick-M11 Link Contract 4, L. Bs Hackney, Redbridge, Waltham Forest, Newham	Late 1997
Al2	CRSF Feering—Marks Tey, Essex	June 1996
Al3	Thames Avenue- Wenningron, LB Barking and Dagenham	Mid 1997
A13	Blackwell Tunnel/Cotton Street Junction Imp, LB Tower Hamlets	Mid 1996
A27	Drainage Imp, Lancing W.Sussex	April 1996
A30	Minizies Down—Imp. of westbound carriageway, Cornwall	June 1996
A36	Improvement, Wick Farm, Somerset	May 1996
A41	Parking Imp. North of Dame Roundabout, Herts	April 1996
A45	Windmill Hill	May/June 1996
A46	Stragglesthorpe Crossroads	June 1996
A47	Walpole Highway/Tilney High End Bypass, Nolfolk	Late 1996
A50	Blythe Bridge-Queensway Phase 1, Straffordshire	Late 1996
A50	Blythe Bridge-Queensway Phase 2, Straffordshire	Early 1998
A102	Blackwall Tunnel Northbound Escape Ramp	Early 1997
A205	Kew Bridge Relighting	Early 1997
A249	M2-wade Imp, Kent	Mid 1996
A282/M25	VMS for Bridge Maintenance, Dartford Crossing	May 1996
A406	Dysons Road-Hall Lane, LB Enfield	Late 1996
A406	Silver Street-Fore Street Imp. LB Enfield	Late 1996
A406	East of Falladen Way- Finchley High Road, L.B Barnet	Late 1996
A417	Birdlip Single Lane Dualling	May 1996
A428	Bedford Southern Bypass, Bedfordshire	Late 1996
A501	Euston Road—Traffic and Pedestrian Improvement	Mid 1996
A564	Derby Southern Bypass and Derby Spur Contract A. Derbyshire	Mid 1997
A568	Widnes Eastern Bypass (South), Cheshire	Mid 1997
A570	Bushey Lane Roundabout	Sept 1996
A585	Mains Lane, Singleton, drainage	June 1996

Schemes currently under construction
Scheme		Expected completion date
A4123	Environmental Enhancement	Sept 1996
A6119	Brownhill Improvement	June 1996
	Kent Variable Message Signs	Late 1996
	Trunk Road Cabling and Communications, London	Late 1996
	Birmingham-Notts DLS	Late 1997
	Kent VMS	Late 1996
	Urban Traffic Control System, London	Early 1997
	MOVA Signal Control, London	Early 1997
	Cable Modifications, London	Early 1997
	Installation of VMS, London	Early 1997
	CCTV Upgrade, London	Spring 1997
	Blackwall Tunnel Overhight Detector	Late 1996
	Enforcement CCTV Pilot, London	Early 1997
	Enforcement Cameras, London	Early 1997

Schemes upon which construction is expected to start by 31 March 1997
Scheme		Expected completion Date
A12	Hackney Wick-Mill LinkContract 1. LB Hackney, Redbridge, Walth	February 1999
A12	Hackney Wick-Mill Link contract 3. LB Hackney, Redbridge, Walth	August 1999
A13	Wennington-Mar Dyke, Essex	June 1998
A13	West of Heathway- Thames Avenue Imp. LB Barking and Dagenham	February 1999
A34	Newbury Bypass, Berkshire	August 1998
A40	Gypsy Corner Imp. LB Hounslow	August 1999
A40	Western Circus Junction Imp. LB Ealing	August 1999
	London Primary Route Signing Project	Summer 1999

DBFO Projects showing schemes which are included within each project
Project	Schemes included	Project start date
A69: Carlile- Newcastle	A69 Haltwhistle Bypass	Awarded 1995–96
A1(M): Alconbury- Peterborough	A1 (M): Alconbury— Peterborough	Awarded 1995–96
A419/A417: Swindon - Gloucester	A419/A417 Cirencester and Stratton Bypass
	A417 North of Stratton—Nettleton Imp
	A419 Luton BypassAwarded 1995–96
M1-A1 Link Road: Lofthouse- Bramham	M1-A1 Link Road: Lofthouse—Bramham	Awarded 1995–96

Project	Schemes included	Project start date or expected start date
M40: J1 to 15	M40: J1A. 3 widening	Spring/summer 1996
A19: Dishforth-Tyne Tunnel	A19 Norton-Parkway Interchange Imp	Spring/summer 1996
A30/A34: M5 J29-Bere Regis	A30 H. oniton-Exeter Imp A35 Talpuddle-Puddletown Bypass	Spring/summer 1996
A50/A564: Stoke-Derby Link	A564 Doveridge Bypass	Spring/summer 1996

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will publish the final report on the roadside checks of illegal operators undertaken by the Vehicle Inspectorate in October 1995. [26767]

The report has been published today. It shows that 1.8 per cent. of miles travelled on roads in Great Britain by goods vehicles are travelled by vehicles that are being operated without an operator's licence. The survey also indicates that vehicles that are being operated illegally are more likely than other vehicles to have roadworthiness defects. I have placed copies of the report in the Library.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what factors underlay the statement by management of Customs and Excise in the recent expenditure review that further redundancies in the number of front line anti-smuggling officers including those specialising in drug offences, would be implemented in accordance with the level of drug seizures. [26523]

The fundamental expenditure review of anti-smuggling recommended that reductions in staffing should take place in two phases and that the effects of the first tranche of reductions should be comprehensively reviewed before any further savings are contemplated. Some 292 posts were withdrawn in the first phase during 1995–96 and the review is taking place throughout this year.In addition to monitoring drug seizures, the review will evaluate Customs' success in dismantling smuggling organisations, seizing illicit assets and detecting other prohibitions. The drugs risk faced by the United Kingdom, the effectiveness of intelligence in informing targeting, and the effects of changes in tactical deployment are also being closely monitored.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost of tax relief for (a) enterprise investment schemes, (b) venture capital trusts and (c) enterprise zone trusts in the financial years (i) 1994–95 and (ii) 1995–96. [23975]

The available information is in the table.

£ million
	Cost of tax reliefs1
	1994–95	1995–962
Enterprise	10	15
Investment Schemes Venture Capital Trusts	—	50
1 Estimated cost of income tax relief and capital gains tax costs of re-investment relief and exempting gains from tax.
2 Provisional.

The cost of tax relief for enterprise zone trusts is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.I am delighted that the venture capital industry and investors have responded to the challenge and opportunity offered to them by Parliament to invest in small and developing companies through venture capital trusts. The first 12 VCTs have between them raised over £150 million in the first few months of the scheme. This is excellent news for the financing and development of the companies, which are a crucial part of our growing economy. We should also congratulate the British venture capital industry on the energy they have put into raising this new form of capital for their growing business.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the percentage change in unemployment since 1992 for each county and former metropolitan county area in England in rank order from the greatest increase to the greatest decrease. [26482]

The information requested is available from the Nomis database accessed by the House of Commons Library.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to introduce tax relief on season tickets. [24727]

[holding answer 22 April 1996]: Under current law, the cost of a season ticket for home-to-work travel is not tax deductible. There are no plans to change that.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the yield in 1997–98 from higher rate income tax charged by direct assessment on investment income received net of lower rate income tax will be higher under the new system of self-assessment; and what estimate he has made of the extent of the difference. [26190]

[holding answer 22 April 1996]: Self-assessment rationalises the payment dates for income tax, replacing the current plethora of dates and allowing a taxpayer's affairs to be brought together in one place and on one bill. Under self-assessment, payments on account will be required from certain taxpayers on 31 January within the tax year and on the following 31 July—broadly following the existing payment dates for the self-employed. Any balance will then be required at the following 31 January. For those taxpayers not required to make payments on account, the whole amount will be due on the following 31 January.The transition from the old to the new pattern of payment dates will result in some one-off changes in Exchequer yields in 1997–98. Receipts of higher rate tax on investment income taxed at source will increase by £500 million because in-year payments on account of this tax will be required from some taxpayers from 1997–98, in contrast to the present arrangements whereby most such tax is collected in the following year. There will also be an offsetting reduction of £500 million in 1997–98 receipts of tax on rent and investment income not taxed at source because the bulk of 1997–98 tax will not be collected until the following year, whereas most of this tax is currently collected in-year—and this will also be true for 1996–97 tax. The £50 million shown in table 5.2 of the "Financial Statement and Budget Report 1996–97" as the net yield in 1997–98 from self-assessment reflects both these effects.The figures in the "Financial Statement and Budget Report" assume that no payments on account would be required in January and July 1998 from those whose tax due in 1996–97 was less than £500 or who paid 80 per cent. or more of their 1996–97 tax liability through pay-as-you-earn or other reduction at source arrangements. These limits will be confirmed when Treasury regulations are laid later this year. Under self-assessment, higher rate taxpayers who do not need to make payments on account will generally pay higher rate tax on their investment income taxed at source later than they do at present.

To ask the Prime Minister for what reasons a letter of condolence was not sent by a Minister to the family of the Danish tour guide for whose manslaughter three British service men have been convicted. [26301]

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence has written a private letter to Louise Jensen's parents.

To ask the Prime Minister what percentage of bills were paid late by his Department in 1995–96. [26120]

This information is being collated by the Department of Trade and Industry and will be published by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade before the summer recess.

To ask the Prime Minister how much was paid late by his Department to the private sector for goods and services in 1995–96. [26149]

The information is not held in the form requested.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to support moves by the UN Commission on Human Rights to prevent the continuing human rights violations in Turkey.[26441]

We contributed to the Presidency statement at the UN Commission on Human Rights which conveyed to the Turkish Government the depth of our continuing concern about a number of human rights issues in Turkey. We will continue to raise these concerns directly with the Turkish authorities at every opportunity.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will raise the subject of the human rights situation in China at the forthcoming United Nations Commission on Human Rights. [26424]

We are tabling a resolution on human rights in China at the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, together with our European partners. We are working for maximum support for it among members of the Commission. The statement to the Commission by the European Union also expressed in detail our specific concerns about human rights in China.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what percentage of bills were paid late by (a) the diplomatic wing and (b) the Overseas Development Administration in 1995–96. [26108]

This information is being collated by the Department of Trade and Industry and will be published by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade before the summer recess.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much was paid late to the private sector for goods and services by (a) the diplomatic wing and (b) the Overseas Development Administration in 1995–96. [26155]

We do not distinguish between payments to the public and private sectors and to analyse invoices paid in 1995–96 on this basis would involve disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many appointments to the public bodies listed in "Public Bodies" for his Department were made during 1994–95 from names supplied by the public appointments unit; and if he will list them.[25950]

[holding answer 22 April 1996]: During 1994–95, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office made five appointments from names supplied by the public appointments unit to public bodies listed in the FCO 1996 departmental report.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of funding to be made available to his Department through the private finance initiative in (a) 1995–96, (b) 1996–97 and (c) 1997–98. [26175]

Capital expenditure by the private sector on private finance initiative projects within my department is estimated as follows:

• 1995–96: up to £5 million
• 1996–97: £30 million
• 1997–98: £80 million

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what limitations are placed on Her Majesty's armed forces by the United Nations on the types of weapons that may be used in peacekeeping operations. [26264]

The type of weapons that may be used in peacekeeping operations is a matter for discussion between the United Nations and individual troop-contributing nations in the particular circumstances of each operation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if his recent speeches regarding the present Israeli-Lebanese conflict represent a change in Government policy in respect of territorial integrity between Lebanon and Israel as outlined in Security Council resolution No. 425. [26139]

No.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what percentage of bills were paid late by his Department in 1995–96; [26113](2) how much was paid late to the private sector for goods and services by his Department in 1995–96. [26162]

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many appointments to the public bodies listed in "Public Bodies" for his Department were made during 1994–95 from names supplied by the public appointments unit; and if he will list them. [25954]

[holding answer 22 April 1996]: There were no appointments made to my Department's public bodies using names supplied by the public appointments unit during 1994–95.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what estimate he has made of funding to be made available to his Department through the private finance initiative in (a) 1995–96, (b) 1996–97 and (c) 1997–98. [26180]

The Cabinet Office—including the Office of Public Service—Her Majesty's Stationery Office and the Central Office of Information have not yet approved any projects under the PFI. The Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency hopes to involve private finance in the provision of the Metropolitan Telecommunications Service. This could involve capital expenditure of some £750, 000 in 1996–97 and £1.5 million in 1997–98. Final offers are due at the end of May 1996, and the contract is likely to be awarded in June 1996.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much was paid late to the private sector by his Department for goods and services in 1995–96. [26158]

The information is not held in the form requested.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what percentage of bills were paid late by his Department in 1995–96. [26114]

This information is being collated by the Department of Trade and Industry and will be published by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade before the summer recess.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many regulations relating to firms with fewer than (a) 100 employees, (b) 50 employees, (c) 20 employees and (d) 10 employees were in force in each of the last 20 years. [26107]

This information is not held in the form requested. To collect such information would involve disproportionate cost.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what are the Government's proposals for the future of the Civil Service college. [26900]

The Civil Service college has a continuing role in the provision of training and development courses self evidently linked to the civil service. I am also pleased to announce that the college is now developing a number of partnerships with the private sector which will enhance its status in the provision of courses for those in the public and private sectors.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the occasions on which Home Office Ministers have visited Holloway prison in the past two years indicating the Minister who carried out the visit. [25620]

I have visited Holloway prison twice in the past two years, on 27 July 1995 and on 14 March 1996.I am the only Home Office Minister to have visited Holloway over that period.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the status and future of the Hillsborough fund. [25734]

The disaster appeal had two trusts, the Hillsborough Disaster Appeal Trust, a non-charitable discretionary trust, and the Hillsborough Disaster Charitable Trust, which was registered as a charity with the Charity Commission in April 1989. The appeal trust was closed in June 1992 and its remaining assets transferred to the charitable trust. The charitable trust was removed from the register in November 1995 because the trustees thought that the trust had served its purpose and wound it up after distributing all the funds.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list the prisons in England and Wales which conduct mandatory drug testing; [26138](2) how many prisons in England and Wales pursue a policy of random urine drug testing; and if he will make a statement. [26094]

Responsibility for these matters 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 if he will list the local authorities which have been granted financial help with the provision of city centre closed circuit television. [26272]

The 106 winners of the first Home Office closed circuit television challenge competition are listed. Additionally, phase 1 of the Home Office safer cities initiative funded some CCTV schemes. These areas are also listed. In both cases, the areas covered are not necessarily town or city centres, and payments were made to local partnerships, not to local authorities.CCTV CHALLENGE COMPETITION 1994–95

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the amount of money the Government are providing for closed circuit television in town centres in the last year for which information is available; and if he will make a statement. [26267]

In 1995, £5 million was paid to 106 winners in the first closed circuit television challenge competition. Over the next three years, my Department intends to distribute a further £45 million to help establish CCTV schemes in England and Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the maximum amount his Department is able to grant an individual local authority for city centre closed circuit television; and if he will make a statement. [26271]

The bidding guidance for the current closed circuit television challenge competition specifies that no scheme will receive more than £250,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the budget allocated to Her Majesty's inspectorate of constabulary in (a) 1992, (b) 1994, (c) 1995 and (d) 1996; and if he will make a statement. [26003]

Budgets allocated were:

• 1992–93: 3,723
• 1993–94: 4,364
• 1994–95: 4,707
• 1995–96: 5,154
• 1996–97: 5,017

Her Majesty's inspectorate of constabulary has existed since 1856 and is the means by which my right hon. and learned Friend monitors the efficiency and effectiveness of police forces. The budget for 1996–97 will, as have previous budgets, enable Her Majesty's inspectorate to inspect police forces, monitor key police initiatives, advise on policing policy and promote good policing practices.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers were (a) prosecuted and (b) disciplined in each of the last five years arising from cases where awards of damages or out-of-court settlements had been made; and in cases where offices were disciplined, what form the discipline took. [26009]

This information is not held centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what records are kept by his Department of foreign nationals serving sentences in prisons in England and Wales; and how often these are updated. [26091]

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 unannounced prison visits have been made by the chief inspector of prisons since 1 January; and to which prisons in England and Wales. [26090]

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

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to set up boards of visitors groups for military establishments being used as boot camps for young offenders; and if he will make a statement. [26303]

On 17 April, I announced our proposal to pilot a demanding new regime for young offenders at a young offender institution which is to be established at the military corrective training centre at Colchester. Her Majesty's young offender institution Colchester will be run under the young offender institution rules and will have a board of visitors appointed by the Home Secretary. There are currently no plans to pilot similar regimes at other military establishments.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the current and future use of the former borstal establishment and grounds at Lowdham Grange near Nottingham. [26416]

Responsibility for this mater 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 licences for firearms and shotguns were (a) granted, (b) refused, (c) renewed and (d) varied for the last five years in Greater Manchester. [26466]

The information requested is published annually in Home Office statistical bulletins "Firearm Certificate Statistics, England and Wales" (tables 2 and 4), copies of which can be found in the Library. The bulletin references are 23/91, 19/92, 23/93, 22/94 and 11/95. Statistics for 1995 are not yet available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library a summary of the main contracts with the private sector for the provision of prison buildings and services, including information on the duration of contracts, and the terms of any break or review clauses, for each Prison Service establishment. [26038]

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 if he can give further details of the forthcoming firearms amnesty. [26959]

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I have today announced that a national firearms amnesty will start on 3 June and will run for the rest of that month. It will apply to England and Wales and to Scotland and will enable people to hand in to a police station illegally held weapons without fear of prosecution. It will not, however, give immunity against any offences committed using those weapons. The amnesty will also provide an opportunity for people to hand in unwanted but legally held weapons.Guidance has been issued to the police to ensure that all appropriate arrangements are made to facilitate the surrender of weapons during the period of the amnesty.Publicity material will be made available locally to provide people with information as to how they can hand in weapons.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the prisoner demonstration that occurred at Buckley Hall prison on 16 April;how many prisoners took part in a rooftop demonstration; how many were subsequently moved to another prison; and what investigations will be carried out by the Prison Service. [26024]

[holding answer 23 April 1996]: 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 instructions have been given to the local police in dealing with media inquiries in relation to Buckley Hall prison; and in what circumstances they are instructed by his Department to refer media inquiries about Buckley Hall prison to Group 4. [26025]

[holding answer 23 April 1996]: 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, pursuant to his answer of 3 April, Official Report, column 291, on a full inspection of Buckley Hall prison, on what date, and by whom, the decision was taken that all new prisons should be operational for two years before being fully inspected and what are the implications of this for short, unannounced visits by Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons. [25760]

[holding answer 23 April 1996]: The decision that new Prison Service establishments should not be inspected until they have been operational for at least two years was taken in 1993 by the then chief inspector. The policy applies to inspections which are included in Her Majesty's inspectorate's annual programme of inspections. In addition, Her Majesty's chief inspector may inspect prisons unannounced, or direct a member of Her Majesty's inspectorate to do so, at any time.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 3 April, Official Report, column 293, on security fencing at Buckley Hall prison, how the design of the initial fencing at the prison differed from other similar category C prisons; and for what reasons the cost of additional fencing and external cameras is being incurred by Group 4. [25761]

[holding answer 23 April 1996]: 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 if he will make a statement on his policy in respect of entry visas for business people from Commonwealth countries who need to make urgent visits to this country. [26306]

I have been asked to reply.Almost all entry clearance sections process straightforward visit or business visa applications worldwide within 24 hours. Frequent visitors to the UK may apply for multiple entry visas which are valid for periods between six months and five years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will make a statement on the agreement between the United Kingdom and Hungarian Governments on the funding for the International Peto Institute; and what will happen to the money donated by Her Majesty's Government at the expiry of the agreement; [25873](2) what progress has been made in the proposal to create an International Peto Institute; [25872](3) what is the value at current prices of the donation by Her Majesty's Government towards the appeal fund to create an International Peto Institute in Hungary; when the donation was made; and where the money is now; [25870](4) what is the total value of international donations for the International Peto Institute. [25871]

The Government made a contribution in 1991 towards the cost of building a new International Peto Institute in Budapest. These funds are held in trust in a bank account in Budapest and their current value is around £2 million. The Peto Institute has received donations from Hungarian and foreign donors, both private and public. Under the terms of our agreement with the Hungarian Government, the new institute had to be operational by February 1996. As the Hungarians have not brought the new institute into operation, the agreement has expired. Discussions are taking place with the Hungarian Government about the financial implications, including the disposal of money lodged in Hungary and how best to secure benefits for British children, parents and students.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 18 March, Official Report, column 79, in what ways the crisis accommodation he proposes for mentally ill people will differ from that treatment and care provided in acute wards of psychiatric hospitals; and what guidance is being given to health authorities on the purchase of such accommodation and the provision of 24-hour nursing care in them. [26212]

Acute treatment units provide a protective environment for people who pose a significant risk to themselves or others. They should be used to treat and care for patients who require intensive medical and nursing support for a brief period of time but usually longer than overnight. The needs of patients who do not require such a high level of support, but nevertheless are in a crisis situation, can better be served by providing them with crisis accommodation in a variety of settings and with varying levels of support.Guidance was issued on 19 February to health and local authorities in health service guidelines LASSL(96)16/HSG(96)6. The guidance and accompanying documents are available in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the United Kingdom representatives on the Committee for Proprietary Medicinal Products notified his Department that it had discussed the referral made by the United Kingdom on 11 October 1995 in the context of article 12 of directive 75/319/EEC on 27 October; and if he will make a statement. [26165]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave him on 8 February at columns 343–44.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) pursuant to his answer of 25 March, Official Report, column 428, if licensing action has started with respect to oral contraceptives containing desogestrel and gestodene; [26250](2) what plans the Medicines Control Agency has to vary the product licences of third generation oral contraceptives. [26574]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Gordon (Mr. Bruce) on 19 December 1995 at column 1149.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 14 March, Official Report, column 752, if at the meeting on 3 October 1995 he and the chairman of the Committee on Safety of Medicines discussed issues relating to the safety of desogestrel and gestodene. [26255]

No.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 2 April, Official Report, column 184, if the Jick manuscript faxed to the Medicines Control Agency after dispatch of papers to the Committee on Safety of Medicines on 11 October was made available to the committee on 13 October. [26251]

No. A near final version of the manuscript from the Jick study was included with the papers despatched to committee members prior to the meeting. There was no substantive change to the analysis in the final version.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he took prior to authorising the issuing of the "Dear Doctor" letter of 18 October 1995 to establish that the Committee on Safety of Medicines had based its advice on all available relevant evidence; and if he will make a statement. [26292]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Gordon (Mr. Bruce) on 19 December 1995 at column 1152.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 8 February, Official Report, columns 344–45, which pharmaceutical companies were contacted by the Medicines Control Agency prior to the meeting of the Committee on Safety of Medicines of 13 October 1995 with a view to establishing continuity of supply of combined oral contraceptives. [26253]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 2 April at column 185.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the Medicines Control Agency received unpublished data from the study of oral contraceptives by Professor Richard Farmer and colleagues prior to the meeting of the Committee of Safety of Medicines on 13 October 1995. [26252]

No.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the safety of third generation oral contraceptives following the recent announcement from the committee for proprietary medicinal products. [26601]

I refer the hon. Member to the statement that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State made to the House on 23 October 1995, Official Report, columns 701-2. Since that time further evidence has become available which strengthens the basis for the Committee on Safety of Medicine's advice. The justification for that advice is not altered in the light of the recent position statement issued by the Committee for Proprietary Medicinal Products.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to alter the procedures for dealing with future marketing authorisation applications for third generation oral contraceptives. [26573]

None. Future applications for marketing authorisations for third generation oral contraceptives will be assessed according to existing procedures.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what mechanisms are in place for the communication of fatal adverse drug reactions from the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys to the Medicines Control Agency and the Committee on Safety of Medicines. [26290]

Statistical analyses and death certificate reports are available to the Medicines Control Agency from the Office for National Statistics—the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys became part of the office for National Statistics on 1 April 1996—for use in drug safety monitoring.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the outside experts who attended the meeting of the Committee on Safety of Medicines on 13 October 1995 were appointed members for the day; and on what basis they were present at the meeting. [26246]

Yes, and I refer the hon. Member to the replies that I gave him on 11 December 1995 at column 522 and on 7 March at column 322.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 11 December, Official Report, column 522, on what basis members may be appointed members for the day to the Committee on Safety of Medicines; and if those members are legally liable for the advice emanating from the Committee on Safety of Medicines on that day. [26254]

I refer the hon. Member to the replies that I gave him on 11 December at col 522 and on 7 March at col 322, which also apply to members appointed to the Committee on Safety of Medicines for the day.All members of the committee, including those appointed for the day, may be liable in law if incorrect advice is given.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health from what date Professor Klim McPherson was appointed as a member of the pharmacovigilance sub-committee of the Committee on Safety of Medicines. [26249]

From 1 January 1996.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 7 March, Official Report, column 322, if the experts on the Committee on Safety of Medicines who assessed the tables provided by Professor Spitzer on 9 October 1995 recognised arithmetical errors in those tables; and if they asked Professor Spitzer for clarification of the results of the transnational study. [26572]

The proceedings of meetings of the Committee are confidential.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidelines are in place covering the disposal of clinical waste. [25939]

There is much guidance on waste management and waste disposal produced by many organisations. Main general sources of published advice from Government bodies on best practice in waste management and disposal of clinical waste in particular are as follows:

(i) The Safe Disposal of Clinical Waste (Health and Safety Executive 1992);

(ii) Waste Management Paper No. 25 (Department of the Environment 1983; Revised in preparation);

(iii) Strategic Guide for Waste Management (Department of Health 1991);

(iv) A Strategic Guide to Clinical Waste Management (Department of Health 1994);

(v) Waste Management—The Duty of Care: A Code of Practice (Department of the Environment 1991).

Copies of the guidance will be placed in the Library shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what quantity of clinical waste has been disposed of in each of the past five years. [25937]

This information is not available centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if hospital trusts have a statutory duty to ensure the appropriate disposal of clinical waste. [25938]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Don Valley (Mr. Redmond) on 21 March at columns 319–20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the safeguards in place to prevent the dumping of clinical waste classified for incineration. [25940]

The Environmental Protection Act 1990 includes a duty to prevent the unlawful depositing, handling and disposal of clinical waste, and is enforced by county council waste regulation units. Any body which produces controlled waste, including clinical waste, is responsible for any pollution caused to the environment or any harm to health from clinical waste while in their control and has a duty to transfer it only to an authorised person. Authorised persons must hold a waste management licence or be carriers registered with the Environment Agency. Breach of the duty of care is an offence, where conviction on indictment can lead to unlimited fines. In estates policy letter (95)33, issued in December 1995 by the National Health Service Estates Agency, trusts were reminded of their legal obligations in respect of the safe disposal of clinical waste and were asked to review their current arrangements to ensure that the necessary safeguards were in place.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health on how many occasions NHS estates has issued memoranda concerning the trusts' responsibilities regarding the disposal of clinical waste. [25942]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Fife, Central (Mr. McLeish) on 14 March at columns 753–54, which listed all letters and guidance issued by National Health Service Estates to NHS hospital trusts about medical waste management. Copies of the guidance are available in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospital incinerators were in operation in each year since 1989; and what agency is responsible for the inspection of hospital incinerators. [25935]

The number of hospital incinerators in operation in each year since 1989 is not available centrally.The inspection of hospital incinerators with a capacity of more than 1 tonne per hour is the responsibility of the Environment Agency—previously Her Majesty's inspectors of pollution. The inspection of incineration plant with a capacity of less than 1 tonne per hour is the responsibility of the local authority's environmental department.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospital trusts have built incinerators in the past five years. [25936]

Six hospital trusts have built incinerators in the last five years. An additional thirteen incinerators have been built on hospital sites as the result of joint ventures between the national health service and private companies.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on (i) the savings per annum and (ii) the severance costs of the staffing review of the NHS supplies authority. [26319]

The review is still in progress, so it is not yet possible to estimate the total annual savings to be achieved, nor the aggregate costs of severance payments. The changes are designed to improve the service to customers and to give better value for money by simplifying the structure and removing unnecessary duplication of effort.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the key business targets for the Medical Devices Agency for 1996–97. [26746]

I have today placed in the Library a copy of the 1996–97 key business targets for the Medical Devices Agency.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to publish his consultative document on care of the elderly; and if he will make a statement. [25308]