To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if staff from the Central Office of Information will be allowed to put in a bid for work earmarked for market testing which they currently carry out for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office; and if he will make a statement. [29981]

I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 23 November 1995, Official Report, column 235. I have decided that COI's activities should become more closely focused and it would not be compatible with this aim for COI to compete in market tests carried out by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on how many public sector computer projects Andersen Consulting has advised since 1985; how many of these and which have (a) been substantially delayed and (b) failed; and how many claims for compensation against Andersen are now in progress. [29996]

The information requested is not held centrally and it would be disproportionately expensive to obtain it. From the information that I have, which may not be complete, I can say that since 1993 the following contracts have been awarded to Andersen Consulting:

• Department of Social Services/War Pensions Agency—War Pensions Project, 1993;
• MOD/Procurement Executive—ASPECT study and report, 1993;
• MOD/Navy—WRAM project, 1993;
• Department of Employment—Image Processing, 1993;
• MOD/Navy—ACCESS project, 1995;
• Department of Social Services/Contributions Agency—National Insurance Recording System 2, 1995;
• Employment Service; Department of Social Services/Benefits Agency jobseeker's allowance review and implementation, 1995.

None of these projects has been substantially delayed and none has failed. So far as I am aware from the information available to me, there are no claims for compensation against Andersen in progress, but this information is not held centrally and it would cost a disproportionate amount to collect it.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list for each of his Department's agencies what market testing has been carried out into the services they provide; and what were the results. [30047]

The market testing of services provided by this Department's agencies is a matter for their chief executives and for their customers. I have asked the chief executives to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he has reached a decision on the short-list of bidders for HMSO. [30789]

HMSO was advertised for sale in March, and a large number of organisations expressed interest in the sale. We subsequently received 14 indicative bids, and I am pleased to announce that the following parties have been short-listed:

• an independent consortium backed by Mercury Asset Management, 3i and Capita;
• a Hambros consortium;
• National Publishing Group, a consortium led by Electra Fleming;
• Westminster Information System, led by NatWest Ventures.

Each of these will now prepare final bids based on detailed information about HMSO and discussions with its management and staff.

To ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, representing the House of Commons Commission, what progress has been made in drawing up a contract for the provision of printing and publishing services to the House after the privatisation of Her Majesty's Stationery Office. [30990]

A draft contract has been prepared by the House's legal advisers, and has been approved by the Commission for release to the short-listed organisations bidding for HMSO. A copy of the draft—excluding certain financial provisions which are commercially confidential—will be placed in the Library on Tuesday 4 June when the House returns from the spring adjournment. The Commission considers that the draft contract provides the safeguards stipulated in the Speaker's letter of 28 November 1995 to the Lord President of the Council, Official Report, 11 December 1995, columns 455–57.The provisions of the draft contract are not subject to negotiation with the short-listed bidders.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list for each of his agencies what market testing has been carried out into the services they provide and what were the results. [30045]

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the chief executives of the Royal Mint, the Office for National Statistics, the Valuation Office and Paymaster agencies. I have asked each of them to arrange for a reply to be given.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what evidence the Government has submitted to the European Parliament committee of inquiry into community transit procedures. [30167]

At a preliminary stage of its work, the European Parliament committee of inquiry into community transit procedures invited Governments to respond to the areas of investigation outlined under its terms of reference. A response by HM Customs and Excise was sent to the committee on 19 March 1996. I have arranged for a copy to be placed in the Members' Library.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will arrange for the Inland Revenue to increase the sample size of information collected from its files to enable a more accurate assessment of income levels by local authority area. [30398]

The size of the sample for the survey of personal incomes is set with a view to meeting efficiently its primary purpose of providing information relevant to the costing of income tax proposals affecting the United Kingdom as a whole. As such, a plan to increase its size is not required.Some information from the survey of personal incomes on income levels by local authority areas is already published in "Inland Revenue Statistics 1995". Like all information derived from sample surveys, the figures are subject to statistical variation and the published tables indicate which estimates are particularly uncertain.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the levels of (a) the invisible and (b) the visible imports and exports of (i) the record industry and (ii) the publishing industry over the past three years. [30350]

Estimates are not available in the format requested. For visible trade, the estimates to the nearest definition available are given in the following table:

£ million
	Publishing of recorded media1		Of which: sound recordings
CDID	Exports WIQC	Imports WLJD	Exports QAED	Imports QDYH
1992	1,292	877	231	148
1993	1,543	902	237	166
1994	1,762	956	301	192
1995	1,999	1,058	375	231

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the current level of employment in (a) the film industry, (b) the record industry and (c) the publishing industry. [30349]

The information requested is available only at census of employment dates. Figures from the latest census at September 1993 are shown in the following table.

Employees in employment in Great Britain: September 1993
Industry	SIC92 code	Level
Motion picture and video production1	92.11	11,200
Publishing of sound recordings2	22.14	1,700
Publishing of books, newspapers, journals, periodicals etc3	422.1	117,200
1 Includes production of motion pictures and video tape. Excludes related areas such as motion picture and video distribution and projection, reproduction of video from master copies, activities of own account actors etc.
2 Includes publishing of gramophone records, compact discs and tapes with music or other sound recordings. Excludes related areas such as reproduction from master copies of gramophone records, compact discs and tapes.
3Includes publishing of postcards, timetables, forms and posters. Excludes related areas such as printing.
4Less 22.14
Information about employment in related areas is available from "Census of Employment Statistics 1993" which is available in the Library.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the changes in employment levels for (a) employees and (b) the self-employed for (i) full-time males, (ii) part-time males, (iii) full-time females and (iv) part-time females between spring 1995 and 1996. [30162]

Information is not available for spring 1996 until 14 August 1996 when provisional results will be published in the labour force survey first release. The latest information from the LFS showing the change in employment levels between winter 1994–95 and winter 1995–96 are shown in the table.

Employment changes in Great Britain between winter 1994–95 and winter 1995–961 Seasonally adjusted.
	000
Employees
Full-time males	+138
Part time males	+76
Full-time females	+19
Part-time females	+201
Self-employed
Full-time males	-62
Part-time males	+4
Full-time females	0
Part-time females	-11

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the United Kingdom gross contribution to the EU in 1996; and if he will express this total as a sum per person per week. [30216]

The Government's latest estimate of the United Kingdom's gross contribution to the European Community budget for 1996–97 is £7,733 million, after account is taken of the UK's abatement. Assuming a population for the UK of 58.3 million, the estimate translates arithmetically to £2.54 per person per week.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the net contribution to the EU in 1996; and if he will list the principal areas in which revenue is returned from the EU. [30217]

The Government's latest estimate of the United Kingdom's net contribution to the European Community budget for 1996–97 is £2,899 million. Included within the estimate is a total of £4,834 million for public sector receipts. The great bulk of these receipts come from the three major Community funds, as follows:

Fund	1996–97 £ million
European Agricultural and Guarantee Fund	2,999
European Social Fund	1,068
European Regional Development Fund	744

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the latest available figures for (a) under-declarations and (b) over-declarations of VAT voluntarily disclosed; and what assessment he has made of the preventive effects of assurance visits on these figures. [30053]

[holding answer 21 May 1996]: Customs' latest audited figures for VAT voluntarily disclosed in the year ended 31 March 1995 are as follows:

(a) under-declarations—£366 million

(b) over-declarations—£568 million.

It is not possible to quantify the preventive effect of assurance visits on these figures.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what research has been (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated by Customs and Excise into the link between VAT compliance and assurance visits; if the results are published; and what plans he has for additional research in this area. [30054]

[holding answer 21 May 1996]: Customs tells me that it has an on-going programme of research into the link between VAT compliance and assurance visits. It asks academics to carry out research to evaluate the effect of the assurance programme on trade sectors. None of the material produced so far is of sufficient general interest to warrant publication, although it has been made available to interested parties inside the Department.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what amount of VAT arrears have been written off in each of the last 10 years. [30055]

[holding answer 21 May 1996]: Write-off figures for 1995 have not yet been finalised. The value of VAT remitted or written off in the previous 10 years was as follows:

• 1994: £550,464,000
• 1993: £742,376,000
• 1992: £745,773,000
• 1991: £515,335,000
• 1990: £212,715,000
• 1989: £176,478,000
• 1988: £225,780,000
• 1987: £216,354,000
• 1986: £178,601,000
• 1985–86: £238,999,000.

From 1 April 1986, schedules of these amounts have been prepared on a calendar year basis. Figures for 1986 cover the period 1 April to 31 December.Insolvency accounts for approximately 90 per cent. of all VAT write-offs or remissions.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many meetings of, or organised by, the Council of Europe since January 1995 have been attended by Ministers or officials of his Department; and if he will make a statement. [29364]

[holding answer 17 May 1996]: No Ministers or officials from my Department have attended meetings of, or organised by, the Council of Europe since January 1995.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of people who have been mis-sold personal pensions since 1986. [28813]

[holding answer 21 May 1996]: There is no reliable estimate available of the number of people who have been mis-sold personal pensions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received in respect of the general election in India concerning the percentage of electors in Jammu and Kashmir who cast votes; and if he will make a statement. [30441]

Elections in Jammu and Kashmir are being spread over three days: 7, 23 and 30 May. Turnout in the constituencies of Jammu and Ladakh, where polling took place on 7 May, but where the count has not yet begun, is estimated to have been around 55 per cent. and 80 per cent. respectively.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the names of those United Kingdom nationals who observed on behalf of the United Kingdom recent elections in Jammu and Kashmir; if he will place their reports in the Library; and if he will make a statement. [30443]

A member of our high commission staff in New Delhi visited the constituency of Jammu during the elections on 7 Mary. The overall atmosphere was peaceful. The high commission's report on that visit is an internal document and will not be placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received to date, concerning those taken hostage in Kashmir; and if he will make a statement. [30440]

We are aware of recent reports that the hostages may be dead and, together with the Indian and other Governments, are working to assess whether or not they are true. We continue at present to work on the basis that the hostages are alive and to work hard for their early and safe release.We keep in close touch with the families and give appropriate briefing to the constituency Members of Parliament involved.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) when a decision is to be taken by the post in Islamabad on an application by Mrs. Tazeem Akhtar and her children (ref. IMM/C7358) to enter the United Kingdom; when the results of DNA tests in relation to this application were received; and if he will make a statement; [30235](2) when a decision is to be made on the application made to the post in Islamabad by Mrs. Muzamal Jan and her two children (ref. IMM/C7226) to enter the United Kingdom; when the applicant was interviewed at the post; and if he will make a statement. [30234]

I have asked the high commission at Islamabad for details and will arrange for the hon. Member to receive a substantive reply form the migration and visa correspondence unit as soon as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to visit the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia; and if he will make a statement. [30258]

My right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary has no plans at present to visit the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what UN sanctions are currently being enforced against UNITA. [30331]

UN Security Council resolution 864 of 15 September 1993 imposed a ban on the sale or supply to UNITA of arms and related materials and military assistance, as well as petroleum and petroleum products.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the impact on peacekeeping operations of the United Nations' borrowing of funds from its peacekeeping budgets. [30500]

Funds borrowed from peacekeeping budgets to meet cash shortfalls on the UN regular budget have had no appreciable impact on UN peacekeeping operations.

To ask the Secretary of State Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's position with respect to the CFE review conference; and what the British delegation will seek to achieve at the conference. [30501]

The CFE review conference is the forum for an operational review of the treaty and for resolving outstanding treaty implementation issues. To this end the UK delegation's aim will be to:

• conduct a review of the treaty's operation;
• support efforts to resolve the flank problem and other outstanding implementation issues;
• consider any proposals for discussions on the future of the treaty.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the oral statement of the Minister of State, Home Office, of 8 May, Official Report, column 213, what representations have been made to the Government of Libya about two people in the Libyan bureau in London in 1984, possessing diplomatic immunity, suspected of the murder of WPC Fletcher. [29297]

[holding answer 20 May 1996]: We asked the Libyan Government to co-operate with the police investigation into the murder of WPC Fletcher at the time. They refused. In the absence of such co-operation it was not possible to bring charges against any individual. There were therefore no grounds for making further representations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list for each of his Department's agencies, what market testing has been carried out into the services they provide and what were the results. [30120]

This is a matter for the chief executives of each agency. They will write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will list the Sinn Fein candidates for Upper Bann for the elections on 30 May and indicate any terrorist offences with which they have been (a) charged and (b) convicted and the sentences given and served, the date of the offences and the date of release or as much of such information as is readily available to him; [30514](2) if he will list the Sinn Fein candidates for North Down for the elections on 30 May and indicate any terrorist offences with which they have been

It is not possible to indicate terrorist offences with which any of the candidates nominated by Sinn Fein to stand for election on 30 May, and listed in full in the Belfast Gazette, may have been charged or convicted, or details relating to sentences any may have served. To enable the Royal Ulster Constabulary's criminal records office to begin a search of its records it would be necessary to provide the office with the full name, date of birth and address of each person. As this, however, would not guarantee that the correct person had been identified, the RUC would further require a set of fingerprints to compare with those held on record.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the maximum sum of money per head of population in each district council in Northern Ireland which can be obtained from the European fund for peace and reconciliation. [30322]

Under sub-programme 6 of the EU special support programme for peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland 1995 to 1999, a proposed sum of £35 million will be allocated among Northern Ireland's 26 district council areas to take account of both population and levels of relative deprivation. The maximum sum of money per head of population in each district council area in Northern Ireland under sub-programme 6 is as follows:

District council	Allocation per capita (£)
Antrim	12
Ards	13
Armagh	16
Ballymena	13
Ballymoney	14
Banbridge	13
Belfast	34
Carrickfergus	11
Castlereagh	11
Coleraine	13
Cookstown	28
Craigavon	14
Derry	36
Down	14
Dungannon	25
Fermanagh	20
Larne	15
Limavady	30
Lisburn	19
Magherafelt	20
Moyle	25
Newry and Mourne	24
Newtownabbey	13
North Down	11
Omagh	19
Strabane	43
Average	21

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many staff were employed by his Department on BSE-related research during (a) 1991, (b) 1992, (c) 1993, (d) 1994 and (e) 1995; and if he will make a statement. [26004]

The following numbers of MAFF staff have been employed on BSE-related research:

Year	Staff years
1991–92	n/a
1992–93	116.8
1993–94	104.1

Year	Staff years
1994–95	103.8
1995–96	102.8
n/a = not available.

These figures do not reflect the totality of MAFF's BSE research programme as MAFF also funds BSE-related research at non-MAFF establishments. MAFF staff are also employed on work related to the diagnoses and monitoring of the disease.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has for the future organisation of the directorate of fisheries research. [30671]

The directorate of fisheries research was recently the subject of a prior options review. This looked at the need for its services, and how they could be provided most effectively. Following this review, the Government have decided that the directorate of fisheries research should become a next steps executive agency of MAFF. This will give it greater management freedom to improve performance within a framework of targets set by Ministers while retaining it within the public sector. My intention is that this change should take place on 1 April 1997 if this can be achieved, and in any event as soon as practicable.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what representations he has received about the proposed privatisation of Horticulture Research International; [30013](2) what steps he has taken to protect the interests of small to medium-sized horticultural enterprises following privatisation of Horticulture Research International; [30015](3) what guarantees of future funding for Horticulture Research International he will give following privatisation; [30016](4) if he will make a statement on the planned time scale for the privatisation of Horticulture Research International. [30020]

No decisions have been taken on privatisation of Horticulture Research International.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the meetings and consultations which he has had with representatives of the horticultural industry to discuss the future of Horticulture Research International in the last six months. [30014]

Horticulture Research International is the subject of a prior options review which is looking at a variety of options, including whether it should remain in the public sector. The review team has met the following representatives of the horticultural industry:

• The Apple and Pear Research Council
• East Mailing Trustees
• Horticultural Development Council
• National Farmers' Union

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are his plans for the future of Horticulture Research International; and if he will make a statement. [30018]

As part of the prior options review, the future status of HRI is now to be considered by the Prime Minister's adviser on efficiency, Sir Peter Levene. Decisions on the outcome will be announced as soon as possible.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the benefits to small to medium-sized horticultural enterprises which will accrue from privatisation of Horticulture Research International. [30019]

In reaching a decision on Horticulture Research International's future status, the Government will take into account the responses received from the horticulture industry in the course of the prior options review.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list those MAFF employees who currently hold directorships with companies engaged in the sourcing, processing, distribution or retailing of food, the dates of their appointment and the income or secondment received by his Department for their service. [30392]

Under the guide to non-executive directorships for civil servants, Mr. A. R. Burne and Mr. B. J. Harding currently hold directorships in companies engaged in the sourcing, processing, distribution or retailing of food. The dates of their appointments are October 1994 and March 1996 respectively. The Department does not receive any income or secondment from these appointments.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to publish the results of the Advisory Committee on Pesticides' review of the agricultural uses of the pesticide substance lindane. [30786]

The committee completed this review at its meeting on 15 February. The Government have accepted the committee's recommendation that all present agricultural uses of lindane should continue without unacceptable risks to people or the environment.Full details of the review are given in the committee's evaluation document which was published on 2 May. Copies of the document have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses of Parliament.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress he has made on the implementation of the new EU rules on the welfare of animals in transport; and if he will make a statement. [30962]

In October last year, we circulated our proposals for implementing the new EU rules on the welfare of animals in transport to over 600 interested organisations and individuals. That initial consultation ended in December and we have been considering the comments received. There are some issues on which it is now possible to give a clearer indication of the shape of future legislation. There are other issues where we shall need to consult interested parties further on how we should take practicalities into account while providing improved welfare conditions.It is now clear that there is nothing to be gained by bringing forward early legislation on particular aspects of the directive. We shall, instead, develop practical and workable measures, which we shall implement in a single statutory instrument later in the year.One of the central issues to emerge from consultation has been how livestock markets will fit in with the new rules. Consultation has clearly underlined the difficulties in requiring a "paper trail" to follow individual animals from farm of origin through markets and beyond and we will not now be pursuing this. We shall be consulting further on alternative approaches to markets to ensure that the continuity of protection required by the EU rules is provided.We have also been considering the requirement for transporters to be competent. It had been our intention to require such transporters to undergo a formal assessment of their competence. However, we have decided, in the light of the consultation exercise, that this would impose an unnecessary burden on the majority of transporters and that, in common with approaches in other sectors, the onus should instead be on transporters to show that their staff have the necessary competence. In order to help both transporters and enforcers, it is our intention to provide a framework of the competences required.We want to take the time available to us to make sure that all the detail of our implementing measures is sound and practical. We have therefore asked officials to continue discussions with all interested parties. When we have firmer proposals, we shall set these out in a further consultation document before finally deciding what approaches to adopt.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish a list of collection centres approved in accordance with EU legislation on animal health. [28626]

[holding answer 10 May 1996]: As at 17 May 1996, the following livestock markets and assembly points were approved as collection centres, as defined in Council directive 64/432/EEC:

• Penrith Auction Mart, Agricultural Hall, Skirsgill, Pentrith, Cumbria;
• Kirkby Stephen Auction Mart, Kirkby Stephen, Cumbria;
• Lazonby Auction Mart, Lazonby, Pentrith, Cumbria;
• Kendal Auction Mart, Appelby Road, Kendal, Cumbria;
• Sedbergh Auction Mart, Station Road, Sedbergh, Cumbria;
• Skipton Auction Mart, Gargave Road, Skipton, North Yorks.
• Leybum Auction Mart, Richmond Road, Leyburn, North Yorks;
• Applegarth Market, Romanby Road, Northallerton, North Yorks;
• York Livestock Centre, Murton, York;
• Malton Cattle Market, Cattle Market, Malton;
• Bentham Auction Mart, High Bentham, Lancaster;
• Thirsk Auction Mart, Station Road, Thirsk;
• The Auction Mart, North Road, Ripon, North Yorkshire;
• Lingfield Farm, Colton, Tadcaster;
• Lancaster Farmers Auction Mart, Golgotha, Lancaster;
• Light Foot House Farm, Light Foot Lane, Fulwood, Preston;
• Brockholes Arms Auction Mart, Garstang Road, Claughton on Brock, Garstang;
• Haslingden Auction Mart, Private Lane, Bent Gate, Haslingden, Rossendale, Lancs;
• Deben Farm, Land Dyke Lane, Scalford, Melton Mowbray, Leicstershire;
• Northampton Cattle Market, Victoria Promenade, Northampton;
• Stratford-upon-Avon Cattle Market, Alcester Road, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire;
• Airfield Farm (Calf Centre), Airfield Farm, Bearley Road, Snitterfield, Warwicks;
• The Cattle Market, Craven Road, Rugby, Warwickshire;
• Melton Mowbray Cattle Market, Scalford Road, Melton Mowbray, Leics;
• Henley In Arden Market, Warwick Road, Henley in Arden;
• Market Harborough Cattle Market, Foxton Road, Lubenham, Market Harboroug;
• The Grange Farm, Boon Hill, Bignall End, Stoke on Trent;
• Lichfield Auction Centre, Woodend Land, Fradley;
• Prospect Farm, Millmeece, Eccleshall, Staffs;
• Walnut Croft, Poole, Nantwich;
• Crewe Livestock Market, Barker Street, Crewe;
• Beeston Smithfield, Tarporley, Cheshire;
• Chester Auction Centre, Bumpers Lane, Chester;
• Hilltop Farm, Newton by Frodsham, Warrington;
• Elm Bank, Whitchurch Rd, Rowton, Chester;
• Chelford Agricultural Centre, Chelford, Cheshire;
• Bank Farm, Hough, Crewe;
• Ross-on-Wye Livestock Centre, Overross, Ross on Wye, Herefordshire;
• Hereford Cattle Market, Hereford Market, (Market Office), Hereford;
• Shrewsbury Livestock Auction, The Smithfield, Harlescott Lane, Shrewsbury;
• Market Drayton, Cattle Market, Addreley Rd, Market Drayton, Shropshire;
• Oswestry Cattle Auctions, New Smithfield, Shrewsbury Rd, Oswestry, Shropshire;
• Kidderminister Cattle Market, Comberton Hill, Kidderminster;
• Salisbury Agricultural Centre, Salisbury Road, Netherthampton, Salisbury;
• Gloucester Market Auctioneers, The Cattle Market, St Oswalds Road, Gloucester;
• Forest Gate Farm, Pewsham, Chippenham, Wiltshire;
• Chippenham Livestock Market, Cocklebury Road, Chippenham, Wiltshire;
• Chowle Farm, Faringdon, Oxford;
• Lodge Farm Calf Holding Shed, Lodge Farm, Barnard Gate, Witney Oxon;
• Banbury Market, Banbury, Oxfordshire;
• Homestead Farm, Petham, Canterbury, Kent;
• Abbotsland Farm, Capel Le Ferne, Folkstone, Kent;
• Kingsley Hill Farm, Warbleton, Rushlake Green, Heathfield, East Sussex;
• Coxhill Farm, Shepherdswell, Dover, Kent;
• Ashford Market, Ashford, Kent;
• Maidstone Market, Detling, Maidstone, Kent;
• 'Wyjac' Ashill, Nr. Ilminster, Somerset;
• Chancellors Farm Calf Unit, Chancellors Farm, Wanstron, Nr. Shepton Mallet;
• Halsey Cross Farm, Over Stowey, Bridgwater, Somerset;
• Mendip Farm, Hornblotton, Shepton Mallet, Somerset;
• Frome Market, Standerwick, Frome;
• Truro Market, 58 Lemon St, Truro, Cornwall;
• Helston Market, St. Johns Rd, Helston, Cornwall;
• Penzance Livestock Market, Poniou Road, Long Rock, Penzance, Cornwall;
• Liskeard Market, Liskeard, Cornwall;
• St. Austell Market, Pentenan Rd, St. Austell, Cornwall;
• Wadebridge Market, Wadebridge, Cornwall;
• Upperwood Farm, Threapwood, Malpas, Cheshire;
• Gaerwen Livestock Market, Gaerwen, Ynys Mon;
• St. Asaph Market, The Roe, St. Asaph, Clwyd;
• Dolgellau Market, Dolgellau Smithfield, Dolgellau;
• 'Davela', Llyswen, Brecon, Powys;
• Halifax Agriculral Services, 5 Walters Rd, Swansea;
• Cowbridge Cattle Market, The Buthe, Cowbridge;
• Newport Cattle Market, Newport, Gwent;
• Penderyn Market, Boedwiged Farm, Penderyn;
• Cardigan Market, Station Road, Cardigan, Wales;
• Whitland Livestock Market, West St, Whitland;
• Llanybydder Market, Carms, Wales;
• Dingwall Auction Mart, 15 Tulloch St, Dingwall Ross-Shire;
• Ben Nevis Auction Mart, Corpach, Fort Williams, Invernesshire;
• Thurso Auction Market, Ormlie Road, Thurso, Caithness;
• Lochmaddy Auction Mart, Lochmaddy, North Uist, Western Isles;
• Caithness Livestock Centre, Quoybrae, Watten, Caithness;
• Agricultural Marketing Centre, Staneyhill, Lerwick, Shetland;
• Orkney Auction Mart, 44 Junction Rd, Kirkwall, Orkney;
• Huntley Auction Market, The Ward, Huntley, Aberdeenshire;
• Thainstone Agricultural Centre, Thainstone, Inverurie, Aberdeenshire;
• Glenfield Market, Glenfield Road, Paisley;
• Stathaven Auction Mart, Station Road, Strathaven;
• Stirling Auction Mart, Kildean, Stirling;
• Oliver and Son, New Mart Rd, Edinburgh.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the annual budget for his departmental deregulation unit; how many staff it employs; and of these how many (a) are career civil servants and of what grades, (b) have been seconded from business, and (c) have experience of the private sector. [30066]

[holding answer 21 May 1996]: The 1995–96 annual budget for the MAFF deregulation unit covering pay and non-pay costs was approximately £96,000. The unit consists of four permanent members of staff, one at each of the following grades: grade 7, higher executive officer, executive officer and administrative assistant. In addition, there is involvement at more senior grades including the grade 5 head of division to whom the deregulation unit reports. All members of staff are career civil servants, none of whom has been seconded from the business sector. The grade 5 has some experience of the private sector through a non-executive directorship.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library a copy of the information bulletin on the activities of the United Kingdom delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the Assembly of the Western European Union covering the period October 1995 to April 1996. [30790]

I have done so today.

To ask the Prime Minister (1) what representations he has made to the Indian Government since the general election; and if he will make a statement; [30442](2) if he will invite the next Prime Minister of India to visit the United Kingdom to discuss the resolution of the Kashmir dispute; and if he will make a statement. [30439]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to him on 23 April, Official Report, columns 191–92. Our policy on Kashmir remains unchanged. I look forward to an early opportunity to discuss bilateral and other issues, including Kashmir, with the new Indian Prime Minister.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list all those occasions on which Ministers from Welsh, Scottish and Northern Ireland Offices have participated in overseas trade or goodwill missions on official business during (a) 1994–95, (b) 1995–96 and (c) in the programme for 1996–97. [29941]

[holding answer 16 May 1996]: Ministers promote British business and British jobs at every available opportunity. The information requested is as follows:

Minister	Country
Welsh Office
1994
Right hon. John Redwood	Japan
Mr. Gwilym Jones	Australia/New Zealand/ France/Belgium
Sir Wyn Roberts	Spain/Sweden/Italy
Rod Richards	Saudi Arabia

Minister	Country
1995
Right hon. William Hague	Japan/Korea/Hong Kong/Spain
Rod Richards	Argentina/Dubai/United Arab Emirates
Gwilym Jones	Italy/Germany
1996
Right hon. William Hague	USA
Rod Richards	Indonesia
Gwilym Jones	Luxembourg/Spain
Scottish Office
1994
Right hon. Ian Lang	USA/Belgium
Allan Stewart	Japan/Germany
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton	Finland
Lord Fraser of Carmyllie	USA/Greece
Sir Hector Monro	Norway/Canada/France
1995
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton	Norway
George Kynoch	Taipei/Finland/USA/Spain
The Earl of Lindsay	Germany/Canada
1996
Right hon. Michael Forsyth	USA/Canada
The Earl of Lindsay	France
Northern Ireland Office
1994
Tim Smith	Belgium/USA
1995
Baroness Denton	Belgium/Canada/USA/Hong Kong/Japan/France/Italy/Singapore
1996
Baroness Denton	Canada/Netherlands/France/USA/ Japan/Korea/Indonesia

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Comptroller and Auditor General's report on the NHS summarised accounts, 1994–95, in respect of how many cases the use of general practitioners' fundholder savings has been (a) outside the scope of the regulations since the inception of the fundholding scheme and (b) outside the scope of the regulations, in (i) 1993–94 and (ii) 1994–95. [23062]

Two such cases have been formally identified, one by the Audit Commission and the other by a regional health authority.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much general practitioner fundholders in each health authority area, by region, have spent on health care from outside the NHS, in each of the last four years. [29664]

[holding answer 16 May 1996]: The information will be placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the spending on pay and administrative costs of health authorities in each region in each year since 1991–92. [29400]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave him on 8 November 1995 at column 974, for spending on pay and administration costs of health authorities in each region for the years 1991–92 to 1993— 94. The comparable information for 1994–95 will be placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list (a) the number of (i) male and (ii) female employees, (b) the number of officials employed at each of the principal grades and the number and percentage of women employed at each of these grades and (c) the number of staff employed at administrative grades and the number and percentage of these staff that are women, in his Department on 1 April. [30557]

The information is shown in the table. The grades of staff in the national health service regional offices which became part of the Department of Health on 1 April are not comparable with civil service grades. A separate entry has been made for these.

Whole-time equivalents
	Male	Female	Total	Female percentage
UG1	3	0	3	0
UG2	5	0	5	0
UG3	18	6	24	25
UG4	17	9	26	35
UG5	128	60	188	32
UG6	55	39	94	41
UG7	335	172	507	34
SEO	186	68	254	27
HEO	343	264	607	43
EO	361	436	797	55
AO	263	736	999	74
AA	117	225	342	66
NHS	372	570	942	61
Total	2,203	2,585	4,788	54

Staff out on secondment or on loan to other Government Departments, on maternity leave more than three months, or on unpaid career breaks/study leave are excluded.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Rother Valley (Mr. Barron) of 4 March, Official Report, column 68, if he will make a statement on the outcome of his meeting in April 1996 with the National Kidney Federation about the national review of renal services; and when his Department's renal services review will be published. [30688]

I had a constructive meeting with the National Kidney Federation on 2 April at which its concerns about the provision of renal services were discussed. I was able to inform it that the national renal review, and purchasing guidelines for health authorities based on the review, would be published soon. The review and purchasing guidelines were published on 7 May.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans his Department has to consult patients in the contracting process in the implementation of the renal services review; [30219](2) if he will publish a timetable for the implementation of the renal services review; [30220](3) what steps he is taking to ensure the recommendations outlined in the renal services review are fully implemented. [30221]

The renal review, which we published on 7 May, makes several recommendations about the development of services for patients with renal failure. On the same day the national health service executive published guidelines, EL(96)35, for health authorities drawing attention to the important issues raised in the review and advising how these might best be tackled. The majority of recommendations are being taken forward locally by purchasing authorities and national health service trusts in accordance with local needs and priorities which take account of the views of patients locally. Copies of the review will be placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what provisions he has made for extra funding for renal services in the United Kingdom. [30222]

In England health authorities are given general allocations for hospital and community health services to purchase health care services for their resident population. It is for individual health authorities in consultation with the providers of services to decide the level and type of services purchased, taking account of local circumstances and national policies and priorities. Questions relating to Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are matters for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Wales and for Scotland and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.Staff out on secondment or on loan to other Government Departments, on maternity leave more than three months, or on unpaid career breaks/study leave are excluded.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 15 May, Official Report, column 479, if he will make it his policy (a) to collate statistics and (b) to establish estimated costs in respect of statistics in relation to the incidence of pressure sores among NHS hospital patients. [30212]

The Department of Health is seeking to reduce the burden of data collection by the national health service and rationalise data flows within the NHS and between the NHS and the centre. The collection of additional information on pressure sores would not be in line with this policy.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what use his Department has made of private detective agencies or investigators during 1995–96 and 1994–95; which agencies have been employed; for what purposes; and at what cost to his Department. [30568]

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the improvements in productivity of pharmacists in each of the last 10 years, together with the change in NHS payments to pharmacists for each of those years. [29577]

[holding answer 20 May 1996]: The table shows that amount of national health service payments to pharmacists in cash terms for the years 1985–86 to 1994–95. There is no overall measure of pharmacists' productivity. The number of prescriptions dispensed over the period is shown as one indicator of their NHS activity.

	Pharmacists' NHS payments amount paid1		Prescriptions dispensed
Year	£ millions	Year on year percentage change	Millions	Year on year percentage change
1985–86	1,240.6	—	337.4	—
1986–87	1,401.8	13.0	350.8	4.0
1987–88	1,583.2	12.9	367.4	4.7
1988–89	1,743.5	10.1	370.3	0.8
1989–90	1,911.6	9.6	384.3	3.8
1990–91	2,068.8	8.2	391.5	1.9
1991–92	2,345.3	13.4	412.8	5.4
1992–93	2,634.1	12.3	429.4	4.0
1993–94	2,903.8	10.2	447.3	4.2
1994–95	3,148.9	8.4	462.2	3.3
1 Amount includes net ingredient costs of drugs (i.e., excluding discount and including container allowance) and pharmacists' remuneration. Adjusted to account for payback and clawback of under/overpayment of pharmacists' remuneration in previous years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what amount the national health service breast screening programme spends on screening women aged 65 years or over; and what percentage of the total budget this is. [29676]

In 1994–95—the latest year for which figures are available—the national health service breast screening programme spent approximately £840,000 on screening women aged 65 years and over. This represents approximately 3.1 per cent. of the total expenditure of the NHS breast screening programme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will publish how many women were tested or screened under the national health service breast screening programme as a result of self or GP referral for each year since 1992–93 broken down by age bands (a) 50 to 54, (b) 55 to 59, (c) 60 to 64, (d) 65 to 69, (e) 70 to 74 and (f) 75 years and over; [29677](2) how many women were tested or screened under the national health service breast screening programme as a result of first invitation or routine recall broken down by age bands

The available information is shown in the table. Data for 1994–95 are provisional.

Breast screening programme: number of women screened by age and type of invitation.
Thousands
		Age
Type of invitation	Years	50–54	55–59	60–64	65–69	70–74	75+
Self or GP referral	1992–93	7.7	6.7	5.8	13.0	4.1	1.1
	1993–94	7.4	7.0	5.7	13.4	4.9	1.2
	1994–95	9.0	7.4	7.0	19.3	1(for age 65+)
First invitation or routine recall	1992–93	317.3	312.4	283.4	29.8	1.1	0.1
	1993–94	324.2	314.4	291.1	29.9	0.2	0.0
	1994–95	337.5	320.8	280.7	10.4	1(for age 65-)
1 Information not available by separate age bands for women over 65 for 1994–95.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the average cost per woman screened on the national health service breast screening programme. [29679]

In 1994–95, the latest year for which figures are available, the approximate cost per woman screened on the national health service breast screening programme was £27.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list (a) those non-unitary local authorities in England with populations over 90,000 and (b) those unitary authority local authorities with populations under 120,000 (i) at present and (ii) following completion of the local government reorganisation. [30000]

All county councils have a population over 90,000. The following district councils which are currently non-unitary, have populations over 90,000—using Office of Population Censuses and Surveys figures as at mid-1994. For those districts marked with an asterisk, either orders establishing unitary authorities have been made or draft orders have been consulted upon.

• Luton* 180,848
• Mid Bedfordshire 114,853
• Bedford 137,001
• South Bedfordshire 110,389
• Bracknell Forest* 104,635
• Newbury* 141,581
• Reading* 138,503
• Slough* 104,945
• Windsor and Maidenhead* 137,781
• Wokingham* 141,735
• Aylesbury Vale 152,033
• Chiltern 91,432
• Milton Keynes* 188,447
• Wycombe 162,588
• Cambridge 113,009
• Huntingdonshire 149,869
• Peterborough* 158,654
• South Cambridgeshire 123,563
• Chester 120,622
• Crewe and Nantwich 111,422
• Halton* 123,727
• Macclesfield 151,503
• Vale Royal 114,695
• Warrington* 186,749
• Allerdale 96,125
• Carlisle 103,335
• South Lakeland 100,263
• Amber Valley 114,451
• Chesterfield 101,104
• Derby* 230,473
• Erewash 107,142
• North East Derbyshire 99,180
• East Devon 122,839
• Exeter 104,537
• Plymouth* 255,815
• Teignbridge 114,088
• Torbay* 122,990
• Bournemouth* 160,139
• Poole* 138,100
• Darlington* 100,612
• Easington 97,980
• Sedgefield 91,405
• Brighton* 154,942
• Hove* 91,338
• Wealden 134,936
• Basildon 162,114
• Braintree 123,648
• Chelmsford 155,800
• Colchester 149,621
• Epping Forest 118,943
• Southend-on-Sea* 169,948
• Tendering 130,915
• Thurrock* 131,368
• Cheltenham 106,782
• Gloucester 104,735
• Stroud 106,271
• Basingstoke and Deane 147,193
• East Hampshire 108,209
• Eastleigh 110,780
• Fareham 101,764
• Havant 119,430
• New Forest 166,354
• Portsmouth* 189,270
• Southampton* 211,718
• Test Valley 105,318
• Winchester 101,848
• Bromsgrove 93,968
• Wychavon 104,577
• Wyre Forest 97,239
• Dacorum 134,231
• East Hertfordshire 121,624
• Hertmere 94,195
• North Hertfordshire 114,303
• St. Albans 128,739
• Welwyn Hatfield 94,682
• Ashford 94,765
• Canterbury 133,859
• Dover 106,938
• Gillingham* 96,165
• Gravesham 92,914
• Maidstone 138,456
• Rochester upon Medway* 145,463
• Sevenoaks 109,919
• Shepway 96,464
• Swale 117,195
• Thanet 125,301
• Tonbridge and Mailing 102,765
• Tunbridge Wells 102,727
• Blackburn* 140,147
• Blackpool* 153,971
• Burnley 90,530
• Chorley 96,854
• Lancaster 134,991
• Preston 133,127
• South Ribble 103,592
• West Lancashire 110,226
• Wyre 103,927
• Charnwood 153,144
• Hinckley and Bosworth 97,707
• Leicester* 293,387
• East Lindsey 121,431
• South Kesteven 115,229
• Breckland 112,171
• Broadland 110,069
• King's Lynn and West Norfolk 130,958
• North Norfolk 94,300
• Norwich 127,778
• South Norfolk 104,467
• Northampton 187,608
• Harrogate 148,412
• Scarborough 108,654
• Ashfield 109,863
• Bassetlaw 105,479
• Broxtowe 112,170
• Gedling 111,659
• Mansfield 102,127
• Newark and Sherwood 104,149
• Nottingham* 282,440
• Rushcliffe 102,967
• Cherwell 127,456
• Oxford 132,758
• South Oxfordshire 121,823
• Vale of White Horse 113,195
• West Oxfordshire 94,981
• Shrewsbury and Atcham 94,622
• The Wrekin* 143,430
• Mendip 98,017
• Sedgemoor 101,443
• South Somerset 148,298
• Taunton Deane 98,158
• Cannock Chase 90,789
• East Staffordshire 98,972
• Lichfield 93,619
• Newcastle under Lyme 123,137
• South Staffordshire 104,379
• Stafford 122,458
• Staffordshire Moorlands 95,072
• Stoke on Trent* 254,197
• Ipswich 114,065
• St. Edmundsbury 92,840
• Suffolk Coastal 113,163
• Waveney 107,604
• Elmbridge 119,717
• Guildford 126,162
• Reigate and Banstead 118,340
• Spelthorne 91,448
• Waverley 114,758
• Nuneaton and Bedworth 119,142
• Stratford on Avon 109,462
• Warwick 119,758
• Arun 134,328
• Chichester 103,078
• Horsham 114,324
• Mid Sussex 125,109
• Worthing 97,392
• North Wiltshire 118,899
• Salisbury 110,015
• Thamesdown* 173,516
• West Wiltshire 110,035

The following local authorities have populations under 120,000. Those marked with an asterisk are unitary authorities at present; for the reminder, either orders establishing unitary authorities have been made or draft orders have been consulted upon.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many households received voucher booklets offering discounts on energy efficiency products and services; [30497](2) what assessment he has made of the likely take-up of 25 per cent. grants under the home energy efficiency scheme from the results of energy efficiency voucher scheme; [30498](3) what estimate he has made of the number of households taking up one or more of the discounted offers under the energy efficiency voucher scheme. [30499]

The home energy efficiency scheme is the Government's major domestic energy efficiency programme and almost 2 million grants have been paid since it began in 1991. We expect a significant number of householders aged over 60 who qualify for HEES only on age grounds to take advantage of the 25 per cent. grant. This discount is a substantial incentive to adopt the energy efficiency measures under this scheme with its good reputation for quality. There is, however, no specific link between HEES and the voucher book scheme which was a separate promotion to encourage energy saving under the "Wasting Energy Costs the Earth" campaign.For information about distribution and take-up of the voucher book I refer the hon. Member to answers given to the hon. Member for Delyn (Mr. Hanson) on 22 November 1995, column

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will set out the current level of capital receipts now held by each local authority as a result of the sale of council houses; and in what form such assets are currently held. [30447]

A list of the amounts of accumulated usable capital receipts for each English local authority at 31 March 1995 was placed in the Library of the House in response to the question of Monday 22 January 1996, Official Report, column 85, from the hon. Member for Oxford, East (Mr. Smith). About 90 per cent. of these receipts are held by authorities whose responsibilities include housing, but it is not possible to say how much of the total derives from the sale of houses.Figures for the amounts of set-aside capital receipts are not available. These form part of the provision for credit liabilities, which is reported to the Department, but which also includes amounts set aside from revenue.Information on the way these assets are held is not available, but they are likely to be mainly invested in bank and building society accounts. Some may have been used temporarily to finance expenditure.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the expected date for completion of the demolition works at Bankside power station in London. [30469]

Demolition works are taking place in two stages. I understand that minor works are being carried out at the moment to allow for the removal of the redundant boilers and electrical equipment. This work should be completed by the end of the summer. There will then be further demolition to remove extensions and additions to the original building to turn the power station into the Tate gallery of modern art. These works are likely to continue until April 1997.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps his Department is taking to ensure that Britain retains a leading position in the design and construction of innovative building projects. [30467]

The Department is producing, jointly with the Department of National Heritage, new guidelines on architectural competitions which will help to promote high-quality building and design. It also has a research budget which provides funding towards an extensive programme of research into the built environment, including projects carried out on a collaborative basis with the construction industry. This programme covers the design, planning and carrying out of the construction process, as well as the products and materials used in it.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many new rented homes housing associations will be able to start in 1996; and what were the figures for each of the past three years. [29901]

The Housing Corporation has granted approvals for 27,000 new rented homes to be provided by housing associations using funding from the approved development programme during the financial year 1996–97. In addition, local authorities may also provide new rented homes using local authority housing association grant. Current indications are that an additional 11,000 social lettings will arise from LAHAG funding during 1996–97. Most of these approved schemes will be started during 1996–97.These approvals will contribute significantly to the 61,100 new social lettings expected to become available during 1996–97 from housing association and local authority activities under the rental and home ownership programmes.Figures for rental provision for the past three years are:

	ADP funded (approvals)	LAHAG funded (completions)
1993–94	45,781	7,159
1994–95	44,422	9,018
1995–96	26,516	11,394

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the areas where the proposed packaging waste regulations will be more extensive than the requirements set by the European Union directive on packaging waste regulations; and what are the reasons for such a policy. [29923]

The EC directive on packaging and packaging waste (92/62/EC) is a framework directive which requires member states to put in place systems which they determine and which are intended to implement its provisions. The directive provides a single market framework for the free circulation throughout the European Community of packaging which meets certain essential requirements reflecting environmental and other considerations. It also contains environmental objectives, including the need to achieve an overall recovery rate of 50 to 65 per cent. by the year 2001, with a minimum of 15 per cent. materials recycling per material.As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment set out in his answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Eastbourne (Mr. Waterson) on 7 May 1996,

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate his Department has made of the cost for the packaging waste industry of complying with the proposed new packaging waste regulations; and what was the outcome of this assessment. [29924]

A preliminary cost compliance assessment for implementation of this directive was set out in "Producer Responsibility for Packaging Waste— A Consultation Paper"—published in May 1995, a copy of which is in the Library. That assessment is currently being revised. I hope to publish it shortly for consultation alongside the draft regulations on implementation of the directive on the basis set out in the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment to my hon. Friend the hon. Member for Eastbourne on 7 May 1996, Official Report, columns 73–75.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment on how many days in the last year for which figures are available pollution levels in British cities have exceeded limits set by his Department. [30474]

A summary of exceedences of national and international guidelines and standards for pollution levels in air, water and soil across the United Kingdom is included in the Department of the Environment's "Digest of Environmental Statistics No. 17, 1995", a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House of Commons. The 18th volume of this report will be published in mid-June.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many fraudulent claims for legal aid were pursued in 1995–96 and how much was recovered from claimants in the same year. [29927]

Following investigations carried out by the Benefits Agency into applicants' financial eligibility for civil legal aid, 29 cases were referred to the police in 1995–96. In the same period, the Legal Aid Board assisted police in their investigations into five assisted persons in receipt of criminal legal aid.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list for each of his Department' agencies what market testing has been carried out into the services they provide; and what were the results. [30046]

The Lord Chancellor has responsibility for four agencies: the Court Service, HM Land Registry, the Public Record Office and the Public Trust Office. As the question concerns a specific operational matter, the chief executives of the agencies have been asked to reply direct.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what representations he has received from trade unions, members of the public and public bodies concerning the proposed closure of probate offices. [30361]

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 Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received in respect of deaths caused by suffocation of inmates in Rwandan prisons; and what representations he has made to the Rwandan Government about conditions in Rwandan jails. [30334]

The human rights field operation in Rwanda reports that five detainees died from suffocation during April. A further 37 died as a result of various illnesses. Our ambassador has made representations to the Rwandan Government about prison conditions, including these latest incidents.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the current security situation in Zaire, with particular reference to the recent ethnic clashes in eastern Zaire. [30218]

We are extremely concerned about the ethnic conflict in eastern Zaire and the recent reports of further killings. We make regular representations to all the Governments in the region to encourage a return to peace and stability.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of breaches of the peace plan in Angola. [30330]

As the UN Secretary-General noted in his report of 30 April to the Security Council, the level of ceasefire violations has diminished. However, the implementation of the Lusaka protocol has been delayed considerably, particularly in the key areas of quartering of UNITA troops and reaching agreement on the incorporation of UNITA personnel into the joint armed forces. The overall achievements still fall well short of what we and other members of the Security Council expected. We have made our dissatisfaction clear to both sides, and continue to use every opportunity to encourage progress.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress of the peace process in Angola. [30332]

Implementation of the Lusaka protocol remains behind schedule. We have urged both sides to honour their commitments without delay. Dr. Savimbi's recent undertaking to quarter 50,000 UNITA troops by 15 June is a welcome step forward.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards the sale of diamonds in international markets on behalf of UNITA. [30333]

The sale of diamonds from Angola is a matter for the Angolan authorities, but we look forward to a time when Angola's natural resources are used for the benefit of the Angolan people as a whole.

To ask the Attorney-General if he will list, for his Department's agency, what market testing has been carried out into the services it provides and what were the results. [30113]

The two agencies for which I am responsible have participated in the following market tests in the year 1995–96. Contracts were won by the agencies in the cases shown.

The Treasury Solicitor's Department (TSD)	Whether bid successful
Provision of legal services
Council for the Central Laboratory of the Research Councils	No
Welsh Development Agency	No
Funding Agency for Schools (jointly with GPL)	Yes
ODA	Yes
Local Government Boundary Commission for Wales	Yes
Department for Education and Employment (Employment Service)	No
The Government Property Lawyers (GPL) Provision of legal services in relation to property matters
Council for the Central Laboratory of the Research Councils	No
Department of Transport	No
Highways Agency (London and Dorking areas)	Yes
Highways Agency (Exeter, Bedford and Manchester areas)	No
Funding Agency for Schools (jointly with TSD)	Yes
Welsh Development Agency	No
Inland Revenue	No
DSS/BA Estates	No
English Nature (Cumbria team)	No
Department of Trade and Industry	Yes