To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will set out the arrangements for Departments to carry out risk assessments on new regulatory proposals. [28165]

I am today publishing a new guidance booklet on regulatory appraisal incorporating risk assessment and am arranging for copies to be placed in the House Library. The new guide requires risk assessments to be carried out on all proposed regulations affecting business. As part of the regulatory appraisal procedure set out in the guide, Ministers will have to receive a risk assessment before deciding whether to introduce new regulations. Ministers must personally certify that they have read both the risk assessment and a compliance cost assessment in order to satisfy themselves that the benefits of the regulation justify its costs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the revenue spending estimated by his Department in connection with the private financial initiative for (a) 1995–96, (b) 1996–97 and (c) 1997–98. [26625]

Spending by my Department on private finance initiative projects is predicted to be in the order of £10 million in 1996–97 and £20 million in 1997–98. No expenditure was incurred in 1995–96. This does not include staff costs and other departmental overheads associated with PFI projects.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what research has been carried out by the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment at Porton Down since 1990 into the cocktail of anti-nerve agents given to British Gulf war soldiers. [27647]

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what study his Department has made of the findings of recent research in the United States into the relationship between the multiple prescribing and use of drugs and subsequent unexplained illnesses among service men and women who served in the Gulf war; what further action he is taking; and if he will make a statement. [26895]

The research relating to possible interaction between drugs and chemicals used in the Gulf war, undertaken by Duke university, North Carolina, has not yet been published. The research team's report on its findings will be carefully considered by my Department when it becomes available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he plans to publish the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1996". [27648]

The 1996 "Statement on the Defence Estimates", Cm 3223, was published yesterday.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what records his Department holds of the Soviet November class submarine carrying nuclear missiles which sank near Land's End in 1970; what measures his Department has taken to monitor the state of the missiles; what assessment he has made of the risks of radiation escaping from the submarine; and if he will make a statement. [27663]

The Soviet November class submarine lost in international waters outside the western approaches, on 12 April 1970, sank in deep water. It is assessed that the risk of radiation escaping from the submarine is minimal, and results from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food's monitoring programme have shown no indication of contamination from this accident.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what records his Department maintains of Soviet Union submarines which have sunk off the British coast over the last 30 years. [27662]

No Soviet Union submarines have sunk near the British coast.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what reports he has evaluated about the Soviet November class submarine which sank in the western approaches to the United Kingdom on 12 April 1970; what action he has taken in relation to safety of naval vessels sailing in the vicinity; what representations have been made to the Soviet and Russian authorities in relation to compensation; what further action he proposes to take to protect United Kingdom interests; and if he will make a statement. [26708]

[holding answer 25 April 1996]: The Soviet November class submarine lost in international waters outside the western approaches on 12 April 1970 sank in deep water and is not considered to be a hazard to vessels. This tragic loss is not a basis upon which compensation has been sought from Soviet or Russian authorities. It is assessed that the risk of radiation escaping from the submarine is minimal, and results from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food monitoring programme have shown no indication of contamination from this accident.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many training days per year members of the Territorial Army have to serve in order to received their annual bounty. [27651]

Most members of the Territorial Army are required to complete 15 days camp training and 12 days out-of-camp training to qualify for bounty. Members of specialist units which recruit nationwide, and of certain pools of manpower, must complete 15 days camp training and four days out-of-camp training. A lower training obligation is available, with the consent of the commanding officer, to individuals whose personal or employment circumstances make it difficult for them to meet the full obligation. Special rules apply to the officers training corps and in certain other cases.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much call-out gratuity will be paid to members of the Territorial Army on their return from Bosnia. [27655]

No call-out gratuity will be paid to members of the Territorial Army on their return from Bosnia. Call-out gratuity is a lump sum of £345 which is paid on mobilisation to every reservist called out for service in support of operations in Bosnia.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the Territorial Army called up for service in Bosnia in 1995 had not completed their annual training quota at the time of the call-up; if those personnel who had not yet completed their annual training quota were eligible for their annual bounty; and if he will make a statement. [27650]

Information on the level of training undertaken by each member of the Territorial Army before his or her call out in support of the peace implementation force is not immediately available. However, it is believed that the great majority would have attend annual camp, and that many would also have completed the required out of camp training. Those who had not done so were not eligible for bounty, as is explicitly provided in TA regulations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if service on operational duties for members of the Territorial Army called up for service in Bosnia qualifies in lieu of the annual quota of training days required for an annual bounty; and if he will make a statement. [27652]

Reservists called out for permanent service receive pay at the full regular rate. Under current regulations, such service does not count towards annual bounty, which is earned through attendance at training. however, it has been agreed that members of the Territorial Army may count a period of called-out service in support of the peace implementation force in Bosnia in lieu of annual camp in the current training year or, in certain circumstances, the next one. It will be necessary for individuals to complete the remainder of their annual training before they qualify for bounty. These circumstances are being taken into account as the rules governing the payment of bounty are reviewed in the light of changes to be introduced by the Reserve Forces Bill.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if members of the Territorial Army called up for service in Bosnia will be required to relinquish their service kit on completion of their service; what provisions have been made to ensure that they have civilian clothes to change into and travelling bags; and if he will make a statement. [27654]

Members of the Territorial Army returning from Bosnia on completion of their period of permanent service will be required, at the demobilisation centre, to hand in all extra items of clothing and equipment issued to them specifically for service in Bosnia. They will retain their standard kit for future use when training with their unit. On mobilisation, reservists were instructed to pack a set of civilian clothes, and they will be available to be worn after demobilisation. All reservists will be permitted to retain their travelling bags in order to carry their belongings home.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 29 April, Official Report, column 397, if he will give his current estimate of the time to be taken in thoroughly decommissioning the AWE Llanishen site; when the process is due to start; and if he will make a statement. [27827]

The process will start once current activities have ceased at the Llanishen site in 1997. The work will be undertaken in a careful and progressive manner and in conformity with all relevant guidelines and legislation and the requirements of the regulatory bodies. It is impossible to be precise as to duration, but the whole process will inevitably take some years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the police and security databases held by his Department have changed their procedures as a result of investigations by the Data Protection Registrar. [27656]

No changes have been made to procedures followed by the military police and security forces in the use of their databases as the result of investigations by the Data Protection Registrar. My Department will be glad to receive and comply with any advice proffered as the result of this or any other investigation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what advice he has received from the Data Protection Registrar concerning his Department's handling of data under the Data Protection Act 1988. [27657]

The Office of the Data Protection Registrar has yet to advise MOD of the findings of its investigation which concluded in August 1995. As of 1 May 1996, no advice other than that which has been specifically requested by the MOD Data Protection Office to meet particular circumstances has been received from the Office of the Data Protection Registrar.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the outcome of the consultation process regarding the interim arrangements for the Joint Service Command and Staff college; and if he will make a statement. [28292]

The consultation process on the interim arrangements for the Joint Service command and Staff college has been completed. A number of responses have been received, but none raised any new or major issues that might call the proposals into question. Those issues that were raised will be taken carefully into account in future work.This work remains on schedule for the new Joint Service Command and Staff college to open at Bracknell in September 1997 and immediate next steps include formal planning consultation with the local authority. In the longer term it remains our intention to dispose of the Bracknell site by the end of 1999, by which time the new college should be well established at its permanent site.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 2 May. [26609]

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 2 May. [26610]

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the development value of the railway lands at King's Cross and Stratford which have been transferred to London and Continental and are not required for the channel tunnel rail link. [27860]

I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave him on 14 March, Official Report, columns 720 and 721.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if Railtrack shares left with the Government qualify for the special dividend payable from this year's profits. [27816]

Any Railtrack shares still held by the Government as at 4 September 1996 will qualify for the final dividend of 13.75p share in respect of the year ended 31 March 1996.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will list the bodies who have audited costs and liabilities for the route structure of Railtrack; and to what extent each of these bodies will be held responsible for errors in these figures; [27820](2) what assessment

I understand that CEDG was commissioned to inform directors of Railtrack as to expected future costs of maintaining and renewing certain of it assets. CEDG's report to Railtrack was produced over a short time scale; was based on an extrapolation of a small sample; used less sophisticated analytical techniques than those subsequently used by W. S. Atkins; and was based on assumptions about asset lives which were not in accordance with prudent management of the assets concerned. Its cost estimates were inconsistent with historical spend in this area. The report was rejected by Railtrack and, having regard to the matters above and the superseding work of W. S. Atkins, its contents were not regarded as material or appropriate information for inclusion in the Railtrack prospectus.W. S. Atkins, a firm of independent consultants, was subsequently engaged by Railtrack with the approval of my Department to report jointly to the Secretary of State and the directors of Railtrack and our respective financial advisers, to assist in the development of its asset maintenance plan—AMP—for track and route structures. This included an assessment of the policies, targets, bases and assumptions, methods and procedures used by Railtrack in arriving at the estimate of expenditure related to the AMP which is described in the prospectus. My Department received one report from W. S. Atkins which was the basis of W. S. Atkins' expert certificate set out in the prospectus. The report was not submitted to the Rail Regulator although in his conclusions on the future level of access charges he allowed Railtrack sufficient income form its charges to enable it to maintain the existing capability of the rail network having regard to projections of Railtrack's future expenditure,. My right hon. Friend is satisfied, on the basis of due and careful enquiries made by my Department and Railtrack and our respective advisers that the estimates set out in the prospectus were prepared on a proper basis.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what factors were taken into account in the estimate of the maintenance costs for the rail network in the Pathfinder prospectus. [27799]

All material factors were taken into account in the estimate of maintenance costs for the rail network and are described in the Railtrack prospectus.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the work commissioned by his Department from Professor Tony O'Hagan of Nottingham university relating to research of W. S. Atkins on rail maintenance costs. [27802]

Professor O'Hagan was not commissioned by my Department. I understand that he was engaged as a consultant by W. S. Atkins to assist it in its work on Railtrack's asset maintenance plan for track and route structures.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many bids were received for the franchise for InterCity East Coast; and what is the subsidy required by the winners, Great Northern Railway Co. Ltd. and by the runner up. [26536]

Details of the number of bids received for individual franchises and the levels of subsidy required by unsuccessful bidders are commercially confidential.The Great Northern Railway Company Ltd. will receive support of £64 million in the first year of the seven-year franchise, falling to zero in the seventh year. It will receive a total of £164.88 million over the duration of the franchise. Figures are in 1996–97 prices and exclude any additional payments arising from level crossing grant. British Rail's preliminary claim for InterCity East Coast for 1996–97 is £76.25 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many staff (a) will be employed by the Great Northern Railway Company and (b) will have had previous employment experiences in the rail industry; and what are the equivalent figures for those employed by InterCity East Coast Ltd. in 1995–96 and by British Rail in 1992–93 in the provision of those same services. [26512]

The number and experience of staff employed by the Great Northern Railway Company Ltd.—GNR—in the provision of InterCity East Coast services is a matter for GNR. As at 1 April 1996, InterCity East Coast employed 2,867 staff. A comparable figure for 1992–93 is not available as this was prior to the restructuring of the railway.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of freight moved over land was moved by road vehicles in Great Britain in (a) 1965, (b) 1979 and (c) 1994. [24698]

The information requested is as follows:

• 1965: 74 per cent.
• 1979: 77 per cent.
• 1994: 85 per cent.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the total investment made in the maintenance and development of the east coast main line in 1993–94, 1994–95 and 1995–96; and what is the expected investment by Railtrack in 1996–97. [26511]

Railtrack informs me that investment figures for the east coast main line are as follows:

• Track renewal
• 1993–94: Figures not held by Railtrack
• 1994–95: £23.1 million
• 1995–96: £23.2 million
• 1996–97: £18.3 million (forecast).
• Other than track renewal
• 1993–94: £5.9 million
• 1994–95: £6.2 million
• 1995–96: £6.6 million
• 1996–97: £7.0 million (forecast).

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what were the total costs and the net revenue received for Intercity services on the east coast main line in the financial years 1993–94, 1994–95 and 1995–96. [26514]

The costs and the revenue for InterCity services on the east coast main line for the financial years 1994–95 and 1995–96 are as follows.

£ million
	1994–95	11995–96
Revenue	241	292
Costs	307	340
Administered profit	4	18
Grant support	70	66
1 Provisional

The figures for 1993–94 are not comparable because they do not reflect total costs for the use of infrastructure and rolling stock.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on how many occasions over the past five years operators or employers have been prosecuted simultaneously with their drivers for offences relating to the regulations governing heavy goods vehicles, buses and coaches; and on how many occasions prosecutions have been made against the operators alone. [26674]

Separate statistics are not available in the form requested.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the quality and safety of buses in Greater Manchester. [27538]

Ensuring the quality and safety of buses is an integral element in the overall enforcement activities carried out by the Vehicle Inspectorate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of (a) the number of bus operators in Greater Manchester and (b) the number of occasions on which consideration has been given to withdrawing operators' licences for failing to reach and maintain an acceptable safety standard; how many licences have been withdrawn; and if he will make a statement. [27539]

There are 36 bus operators running local services and claiming fuel duty rebate in the Greater Manchester area. Data about disciplinary action taken by the Traffic Commissioner are not available in the form requested.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what proportion of the total number of tunnels on the British Rail network has been inspected in the last (a) 10, (b) 20 and (c) 30 years; [27791](2) what proportion of bridges on the British Rail network has been inspected in the last

I understand that all Railtrack's bridges and tunnels are subject to regular visual inspection; in addition, all tunnels receive a full structural inspection annually and all bridges receive a full structural inspection on a six-year cycle.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what is the total number of tunnels in the British rail network; and how many were built (a) before 1875, (b) 1876 to 1900, (c) 1901 to 1950 and since 1950; [27789](2) how many bridges there are in the British rail network; and how many were built

Railtrack's network encompasses around 40,000 bridges, viaducts and tunnels. Many were constructed more than 100 years ago. Further information on the dates of construction could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) on what dates the latest X-ray inspections of the steelwork on the approach roads to the second Severn crossing took place; if he will list those structures where the outcome of the inspection involved the non-acceptance of the steelwork as satisfactory; and what assessment he has made of the impact of the inspections on the contract completion and opening dates for (a) the crossing, (b) the M4 approach roads and (c) the M5 approach roads; and if he will make a statement; [27824](2) what measures he has discussed with the director of the Highways Agency in relation to the delays in the Balfour Beatty contract for the approach roads to the second Severn crossing; [27826](3) what representations he has had in relation to the

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many complaints his Department has received in each of the last six calendar years in respect of the treatment of visa applications and sponsors by entry clearance officers at the British embassy in Manila; and what proportion of all visa applications in each year these complaints represent. [27373]

This information is not readily available and cannot be compiled except at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress made to ban the manufacture, export and use of anti-personnel land mines at the recent negotiations at the first review conference for the 1980 inhumane weapons convention in Geneva. [27140]

The UN weaponry convention review conference is currently taking place in Geneva and is expected to be concluded on 3 May. We hope that significant new prohibitions and restrictions will be placed on the use and transfer of anti-personnel land mines taking us significantly closer to the goal of a total international ban on these weapons. The production of mines is not covered by the convention.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the United Kingdom returned its 1995 submission to the UN register for conventional arms; and if he will place a copy of the submission in the Library. [27646]

We submitted our return to the UN register covering calendar year 1995 to the UN Secretary-General on 30 April 1996. A copy has been placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on forthcoming business in the Council of the European Union. [28196]

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

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what decision he has reached upon the application for political asylum by Professor Mohammed Al-Masari. [26555]

Dr. Al-Masari has been given leave to remain for an initial period of four years. Dr. Al-Masari's asylum application has not been considered substantively.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he will take to ensure that the police ensure that identity in drink drive cases is substantiated by evidence other than the driver's licence alone. [26591]

This is an operational matter for the police, but I understand that, when someone is charged with a drink drive offence, the usual procedure is to carry out checks on the vehicle records and the address given, in addition to verifying licence details.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what budgetary allocation (a) was made in 1994–95 and (b) has been set aside for 1996–97 for (i) the B3 division of the immigration and nationality department and (ii) the Home Office presenting officers' unit in B1 division; how many decisions were made by B3 division in each of the last two years; how many decisions are projected for 1996–97; how many (1) cases in total and (2) asylum cases were presented by Home Office presenting officers in each of the last two years; and how many cases in each category they are projected to present in 1996–97. [27175]

The available information is contained in the tables:

Running costs	Asylum division1	B1 presenting officers' unit1
1994–95	£13 million	£2.8 million
1996–97	Not finally settled2	Not finally settled2
1 Does not include accommodation costs and certain other overheads not allocated to the units concerned to manage directly.
2 Final amount depends on the precise allocation of spend to save funds for 1996–97.

Asylum division	Decisions
1994	21,000
1995	27,000
Projected 1996–97	45,000

	April 1994 to March 1995	April 1995 to March 11996
Decisions on asylum applications	23,975	28,915
Total appeal determinations2	26,220	21,700
Of which; asylum appeals3	3,335	8,320
1 Provisional figures.
2 Separate figures for cases presented are not available.
3 Includes asylum appeals referred back to the Secretary of State for further consideration.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what review of firearms legislation is presently being carried out by his Department; when it (a) began and (b) was announced; what are its terms of reference; what are the names and positions of those conducting the review; from whom submissions have been received to date; and from whom else submissions have been requested. [27122]

My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland announced on 21 March that they would conduct a joint review of firearms controls in Great Britain. The review began at that time and has now considered the arguments for and against the changes in the controls which have been suggested following the tragic events in Dunblane on 13 March.In conducting their review, my right hon. and learned Friend and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland have taken account of submissions from opposition parties, comments from the Firearms consultative committee and over 2, 000 letters from Members of Parliament and the public. Comments were invited from all interested parties who are, of course, free to submit their evidence directly to Lord Cullen's inquiry.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the recommendations made by the Firearms Consultative Committee in its (a) first, (b) second, (c) third, (d) fourth, (e) fifth and (f) sixth report (i) have been implemented, (ii) dealt with matters

Firearms consultative committee annual report
	(a) 1st	(b) 2nd	(c) 3rd	(d) 4th	(e) 5th	(f) 6th
Recommendations which have been implemented or which require no action	18	15	12	6	19	15
Recommendations which would require primary legislation	1	9	9	1	17	17
Recommendations which could be implemented through a change in administrative procedures	1	4	2	6	11	13

In addition, a number of the recommendations of the Firearms Consultative Committee would require secondary legislation to implement them and are not included in the table above. Some of the recommendations included in the table have been formally rejected.It is not possible to identify separately those recommendations which deal solely with matters of public safety but, in making recommendations, the committee always consider the likely impact on public safety.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department at (a) directions and (b) terms of reference he has given to the Firearms Consultative Committee to review firearms legislation since 13 March; what submissions have been received and from whom; what other information has been sought and from whom; and if he will place a copy of (i) that information and (ii) the final report in the Library. [27123]

The terms of reference of the Firearms Consultative Committee, as set out in section 22(5) of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1988. These have not been changed since 13 March. Within its terms of reference, the Firearms Consultative Committee may consider any issues arising from the tragic events of 13 March that it considers appropriate.I understand that the Firearms Consultative Committee has received a number of submissions from members of the public and other interested parties. Publication of any material submitted to the committee is a matter for it.The Firearms Consultative Committee is required by section 22(6) of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1988 to make a report each year on its activities to the Secretary of State, who is required to lay copies of the report before Parliament. A copy of the report of the committee for this year will be placed in the Library in the usual way.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the oral statement of the Minister of State of 28 March, Official Report, column 1286 and his answer of 24 April, Official Report, column 163, on how many occasions in the last two years the Minister of State has visited Holloway prison. [27555]

The information requested is set out in the table:

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member on 24 April, Official Report, column 163.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much compensation Durham constabulary paid out in each year since 1980; and for what reasons. [27380]

This information is not held centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to transfer the responsibility for stray dogs from the police services to local authorities. [27302]

Since April 1992, local authorities have had primary responsibility for dealing with stray dogs. The police have a duty under the Dogs Act 1906 to deal with stray dogs brought to police stations. The report of the review of police core and ancillary tasks, published on 27 June 1995, proposed that the police might shed this statutory duty so that local authorities would assume full responsibility for strays.The proposal, with examples of other co-operative schemes involving police and local authorities, is being considered in consultation with police and local authority associations before any decision is reached.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been prosecuted under the provisions of paragraph 325, sub-paragraph (II) (f) of the immigration rules within the last five years; what guidelines on sentencing policy for those found guilty under the said provisions have been issued to the courts; how many of those prosecuted were convicted; how many of those convicted were sent to prison; how many were fined; what was the most common prison sentence given; and what was the most common fine levied. [27247]

Information collected centrally cannot identify the exact immigration sub-rule under which a prosecution under section 26 (1) (f) of the Immigration Act 1971—whereby it is an offence for a foreign national, subject to conditions imposed, to fail to register with the police—has been made. No guidelines have been issued by the Department on sentencing policy relating to the above legislation.

Defendants proceeded against at magistrates' courts for offences associated with failing to register with the police under section 26 (1)(f) of the Immigration Act 1971 by result 1990 to 1994
England and Wales
Offence1 description/year		Total proceeded against	Total found guilty	Total for sentence	Total fined	Average fine (£)	Total immediate custody	Average Custodial sentence length (months)	Otherwise dealt with
Foreign national failing	1990	6	5	5	1	100	—	—	4
to register with police	1991	6	4	4	4	48	—	—	—
or to produce	1992	8	4	4	2	38	—	—	2
documents etc,	1993	6	1	1	—	—	—	—	1
	1994	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1Principal immigration offence.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners in (a) prison establishments and (b) police custody have (i) committed and (ii) attempted suicide in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement. [27446]

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 assessment he has made of the Home Office advisory group's recommendations on video evidence; and if he will make a statement. [27563]

The Criminal Justice Act 1991 implemented most of the recommendations of the advisory group on video evidence. In particular, it prohibited the defendant from questioning the child and it allowed the child's main evidence to be given by means of a video-recorded interview conducted by police and social workers soon after the incident. We are not persuaded that video recording of pre-trial cross-examination, also recommended by the group, would be in the best interests of children.The Government remain determined that the criminal justice system should be made more responsive to the needs of children and that the measures introduced by the 1991 Act should work as effectively as possible. We are pursuing a range of further improvements to the present arrangements to secure practical benefits for children.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list (a) the capital spending by Greater Manchester police in (i) 1993–94, (ii) 1994–95, (iii) 1995–96 and (b) the estimated and projected spending in (x) 1996–97 and (y) 1997–98 in (1) cash terms and (2) 1996 prices; and if he will make a statement. [27537]

The information is listed in the table.

Greater Manchester police—capital expenditure
	1993–94	1994–95	11995–96	11996–97	21997–98
Cash terms £ million	11.407	11.774	14.305	13.845	18.619
1996 prices £ million	12.265	12.430	14.968	13.845	18.619
1 Force estimate.
2 Force projection.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for legislation following the consultation exercise on wheel clamping. [27878]

The Government are still considering what action, if any, should be taken to regulate wheel clamping on private land. We are looking at the possible need for new legislation as part of that consideration.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the effect of the reduction in capital expenditure in his Department during the current financial year on the use of police cells; and if he will make a statement. [26671]

[holding answer 29 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 list (a) total capital expenditure for his Department and (b) capital expenditure on (i) the Prison Service, (ii) police and (iii) other Department functions indicting the expenditure planned for each of the following three financial years set out in the public expenditure surveys for 1991–92 and each subsequent year together with estimated outturns where these are available. [26035]

[holding answer 24 April 1996]: Information in the form requested is not available.Capital spending by the Home Department has been as follows:

£ million, outturn prices
Year	Prison service	Police	Other	Total
1991–92	431.7	193.7	85.6	711.0
1992–93	342.7	221.4	102.6	666.7
1993–94	294.0	243.6	112.9	650.5
1994–95	322.8	242.5	96.6	661.9
1995–961	327.7	252.5	92.6	672.8
1996–971	120.0	224.7	85.4	431.1
1997–981	111.5	220.3	82.9	414.7
1998–991	113.6	200.8	81.7	396.1

1. The data are standardised by including expenditure for services which are the current responsibility of the Home Office.2. The figures for "Police" and "Other" include capital grants and credit approvals to local authorities.3. Capital expenditure by the Charity Commission is omitted.4. "Police" expenditure includes expenditure by the Forensic Science Service agency. "Other" includes expenditure by the United Kingdom Passport Agency and the Fire Service College trading fund.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to remove television sets from (a) sentenced and (b) remand prisoners; and if he will make a statement. [26672]

[holding answer 29 April 1996]: Policy on this subject is still under consideration.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those courts which fall into the catchment area of HMP Eastwood Park, and those which previously were in the catchment area of Pucklechurch remand centre; if he will list for each court the number of prisoners by offence (a) remand in custody, and unconvicted, (b) remanded to custody following conviction, but unsentenced, (c) sentenced prisoners in each year since 1990 and (d) the number of cases brought before each court by offence in each year since 1990. [27235]

[holding answer 29 April 1996]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange a reply to be given.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the Prison Service will carry out an investigation into the escape of four prisoners from Buckley Hall prison on 23 April; and if he will publish details of the investigation. [27291]

[holding answer 1 May 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 consideration has been given to the possible change in the number of people that might be imprisoned for the non-payment of a television licence fine following the introduction of a weekly cash instalment scheme for the payment of the television licence; and what discussions his Department has had with the Department of National Heritage on this issue. [26857]

[holding answer I May 1996]: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the National Heritage has given approval in principle for the BBC to introduce a cash instalment scheme for television licence payment. The scheme is expected to be piloted by the BBC later this year, and this will assist those who find it difficult to pay for a television licence by existing methods. Television licence evasion remains, however, a criminal offence punishable by a fine. It is the non-payment of such a fine that can result in imprisonment, but only where that default is the result of wilful refusal or culpable neglect.My right hon and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor has established a working group, which includes representatives of the Magistrates' Association and Justices' Clerks' Society, to identify ways of improving the effectiveness of fine enforcement.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of his Department's budget was spent on procurement from small and medium enterprises in 1995–96[27528]

[holding answer I May 1996]: The information required to answer this question is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate the percentage difference in fuel required to heat identical houses in Nottingham and Derby. [26517]

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend, the Minister for Construction, Planning and Energy Efficiency on 24 April, Official Report, column 147.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to extend the work carried out by his Department presented in "Indicators of Sustainable Development for the United Kingdom", by the construction of indicators at the level of individual businesses. [24697]

The indicators published by the Department of the Environment are national in nature and, in many cases, relate to broad industrial sectors. Individual businesses should be able to construct their own indicators to compare their performance with the national sectoral norm.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will develop indicators to measure the contribution of United Kingdom international trade to sustainable development globally. [26516]

The issue of international trade was flagged up in the report of indicators of sustainable development for the United Kingdom published on 12 March 1996. This area requires much further work as the issues involved are very complex. In the longer term, we will need to consider, in conjunction with other countries and international organisations, whether more appropriate indicators might be developed to illustrate the role of international trade in global patterns of consumption and production.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much of the planned expenditure for 1996–97 on international biodiversity is devoted to (a) the administrative costs of the biodiversity convention secretariat and (b) contributions to developing countries for the implementation of their biodiversity action plans. [24699]

In 1996–97, £433,000 has been allocated to the administrative costs of the biodiversity convention secretariat. In addition, the Government have set aside £167,000 principally to contribute towards the travelling costs of developing countries attending the convention meetings. Funding developing countries to produce biodiversity action plans is one of the priorities for the convention's interim financial mechanism, the global environment facility, to which the United Kingdom has committed some £130 million. National biodiversity projects are also funded under the bilateral aid programme.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the average length of time between the publication of reports I to 17 of the royal commission on environmental pollution and the publication of the Government's response to those reports. [26515]

The average length of time between the publication of reports 1 to 17 of the royal commission on environmental pollution and the publication of the Government's response to those reports was about two years five months.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many hours to date N. M. Rothschild has worked on the contract to give advice on the privatisation of the coal industry; and when the contract is expected to conclude. [27797]

N. M. Rothschild has, to date, worked approximately 37,800 hours on providing advice on the privatisation of the coal industry. The contract will end once the privatisation, including the non-mining activities, is complete.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to the answer of 3 April, Official Report, column 300, what progress has been made by the International Atomic Energy Agency in its assessment of the radiological situation of the atolls of Muroroa and Fangataufa. [27561]

No formal progress report has yet been received from the International Atomic Energy Agency. We understand, however, that initial meetings have been held and that the necessary task groups and working groups have been established.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many business innovation centres are co-located with business links and which they are; what research his Department has commissioned on the relationship of business links to business innovation centres; and what is the remit of his research. [27189]

[holding answer I May 1996]: My Department has recently commissioned research into the relationship between business links and business and innovation centres. The remit of this study is to identify the services provided by each business and innovation centre, define the degree of formal and informal integration business links and business innovation centres and make recommendation on how collaboration could be further enhanced. Two business and innovation centres, in Sunderland and Stafford, are currently co-located with business links.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what research he has (a) commissioned into and (b) evaluated on Drug Alert. [26780]

[holding answer 25 April 1996]: I have been asked to reply.The Government have not commissioned or evaluated any research on Drug Alert.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many new justices of the peace were appointed in Wales during 1995; and what is the political affiliation of the new appointees. [27019]

The total number of new justices of the peace appointed in Wales in 1995 was 112. Their political affiliation is as follows:

• Conservative: 30
• Labour: 46
• Liberal Democrat: 12
• Plaid Cymru: 12
• Independent/Other: 12

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how much compensation for delay has been paid since the commencement of the current industrial action at the county court bulk issuing and summons production centres at Northampton. [26961]

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

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department which organisations have received compensation for delays arising from the current industrial action at the county court bulk issuing and summons production centres in Northampton. [26962]

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans his Department has to introduce a co-ordinated national programme of education in the early identification of oral cancer; and if he will make a statement; [27016](2) what steps are being taken by his Department to reduce the number of deaths from oral cancer; and if he will make a statement; [26982](3) what plans he has to ensure that dental examinations include a systematic soft tissue screening for oral cancer; and if he will make a statement; [26984](4) what steps are being taken by his Department to raise pubic awareness of oral cancer and its risk factors; and if he will make a statement; [27014](5) what research his Department is currently funding into oral cancer; and if he will make a statement; [27017](6) what plans he has to include oral cancer targets on the "The Health of the Nation" programme; and if he will make a statement. [27015]

All oral examinations include examination of both hard and soft tissue. Dentists are trained in the early recognition of abnormalities in the mouth. Oral cancer can result from excessive alcohol or tobacco consumption, the risks of which are widely publicised and recognised. There are no plans at present to introduce set targets for reducing oral cancer morbidity or mortality rates. The chief dental officer chairs the national advisory group on screening for oral cancer which was set up last October. The group co-ordinates the detecting and preventing of oral cancers. The national health service national cancer research and development programme commissioned in 1995 a systematic review of the early natural history of certain cancers, including oral cancer, where there was potential for screening to reduce mortality. This research item was one of 25 priority areas ratified by the NHS Central Research and Development Committee. The systematic review is being undertaken by the cancer screening evaluation unit based at the Institute of Cancer Research. It will take approximately one year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the grounds on which a general practitioner can remove an NHS patient from their list. [27146]

Under his terms of service

"a general practitioner may have any person removed from his list and is required to notify the health authority in writing that he wishes to have a person removed from his list."

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the cost of retesting the 25,000 stored samples which had previously been tested for HIV using the faulty Abbot kit; and who will be responsible for meeting this cost. [27151]

It is too early to say yet what the costs of the retesting exercise are likely to have been but national health service trusts have been asked to keep a record of their costs and the Department is liaising with the NHS and public health laboratory service on this. Abbott Laboratories Ltd. has stated that it will pay the cost of retesting.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give the budget of the East London and the City health authority in each year from 1994–95 to 1997–98. [27112]

For details of the 1994–95 final revenue cash limit and the 1995–96 initial revenue cash limit for East London and the City district health authority, I refer the hon. Member to the reply my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State (Mr. Horam) gave her on 11 December 1995, Official Report, column 520.The 1996–97 initial revenue cash limit for East London and the City health authority is £317, 616,000.Cash limits for 1997–98 have not yet been set.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the changes from April in the system for commissioning national health promotion work on HIV and AIDS. [27176]

The Government's HIV-AIDS health promotion strategy¹, published in November 1995, identifies the need for targeted and national campaigns and for greater voluntary sector involvement in this area. A contract to undertake a national campaign in the coming year has been awarded to the Health Education Authority. We are currently exploring the scope for greater voluntary sector involvement with targeted campaigns.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many representations have been made to his Department about the practice of some general practitioners of removing elderly patients from their lists in each of the last four years; and what statistics he collates which show the number of patients aged over 70 years who are removed from general practitioner lists against their will each year. [27245]

The Department has received several representations from members of the public and from hon. Members concerning the removal of patients from general practitioners' lists. Information by age category on the number of patients removed is not available centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children were notified as having tuberculosis in each of the last five years; and how many in each year were from areas where health authorities stopped the school immunisation programme. [27441]

The number of notifications of all tuberculosis, excluding chemoprophylaxis, in children under 16 years old in England and Wales is shown below:

• 1991:483
• 1992:548
• 1993:596
• 1994:433
• 1995:422 (provisional).

BCG immunisation to protect against tuberculosis is recommended for children between the ages of 10 and 14. District health authorities are responsible for the programme in their own areas and information on this is not available centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made as to the adequacy of NHS dental provision; and if he will make a statement. [27418]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member of Taunton (Mr. Nicholson) on 16 April columns, Official Report, 475–76.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many private hospital beds registered with the Doncaster health authority there were within the Doncaster metropolitan borough in each year since 1979; and how many there are currently. [27430]

There were 42 beds registered with the Doncaster health authority in private hospitals or clinics within the boundaries of Doncaster metropolitan district in 1993–94 and 36 in 1994–95. Information is not available centrally for years before 1993–94.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to keep the general population informed about the continuing risks from HIV. [27398]

The Health Education Authority has an on-going programme in this area, including its recent winter campaign aimed at young people.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what research his Department has commissioned into factor 8; where it is based; who does it; what it costs; and when it started; [27711](2) what evidence he has evaluated based on research into factor 8 otherwise than in the United Kingdom. [27712]

The Department has not commissioned any current research on factor 8. Research findings from abroad, as well as from the United Kingdom, are kept under review when any relevant decision are taken by the Department.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he has issued on the recommended waiting time for breast cancer patients between surgery and the start of radiotherapy treatment; and what percentage of patients at the Yorkshire regional centre at Cookridge, Leeds begin within that time. [26490]

The Department has not issued guidance on a recommended waiting time for such treatment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many patients were treated at the Yorkshire regional centre in each of the financial years from 1991–92 to 1995–96; and what were the numbers who began their treatment in each three month period from April 1994 to April 1996; [26491](2) what is the current waiting list for starting radiotherapy treatment at Cookridge; and what it was on

These are matters for United Leeds Teaching Hospitals national health service trust. The hon. Member may wish to contact Mr. David Hall, chairman of the trust for details.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the average waiting time between the completion of a purchasing agreement for a linear accelerator and its commissioning after installation. [24694]

The average waiting time between the completion of the purchasing agreement for a linear accelerator and its commissioning after installation is not available centrally. However, factors which could affect the waiting time are the complexity of the particular linear accelerator under consideration and the availability of local scientific and technical expertise.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what requests from the Cookridge centre for linear accelerators are currently under consideration by Northern and Yorkshire Health and when is completion of the purchasing agreement is expected. [24695]

An outline business case has been submitted to the national health service executive's Northern and Yorkshire regional office from the United Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS trust for provision of two linear accelerators, one new simulator and associated building work at Cookridge hospital.Further consideration is now being given to the business case in the light of the recommendations of the Leeds acute services review, which was published recently.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy that no xenotransplantation trials involving human recipients should proceed until an advisory committee on xenotransplantation has been set up. [27886]

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health last year established an advisory group on the ethics of xenotransplantation, with the following terms of reference:

"In the light of recent and potential developments in xenotransplantation, to review the acceptability of and ethical framework within which xenotransplantation may be undertaken and to make recommendations."

The advisory group will report by summer 1996. My right hon. Friend will then consider its recommendations and the policy implications.