To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what action he intends to take to reduce the length of time prisoners are held on remand in custody awaiting trial. [30269]

I have been asked to reply.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 the Environment what voluntary leakage reduction target each water company has set over the next five and 10 years. [27164]

Pursuant to his reply 30 April 1996, Official Report, c. 420: The leakage target shown in the table for Dwr Cymru should read: "Aim to achieve a reduction of 17 per cent. by 2000 and over a third by 2010".

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidance his Department has given to the Environment Agency in respect of (a) action to deal with foul water flooding, (b) abandoned mines water discharges, (c) flood alleviation and (d) unsatisfactory storm overflows; and what is the regional distribution of (a) (b) and (d). [30001]

No guidance in respect of action to deal with foul water flooding has been issued by the Department to the Environment Agency. I understand that Ofwat holds information about the distribution of foul water flooding.No specific guidance has been given to the Environment Agency regarding discharges from abandoned mines. The regional distribution of such discharges was described in detail in "Abandoned Mines and the Water Environment," a report issued by the National Rivers Authority in March 1994.My right hon. and learned Friend, the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales, are responsible for policy on flood alleviation. The published "Strategy for Flood and Coastal Defence in England and Wales" provides a comprehensive framework for the Environment Agency to work within.Guidance is being prepared to assist both dischargers and the Environment Agency in implementing the Urban Waste Water Treatment (England and Wales) Regulations 1994. It will include guidance on the limitation of pollution from storm water overflows. Information about numbers and location of unsatisfactory storm overflows will be held by the regional offices of the Environment Agency.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if the recent change in status of the basking shark under the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources red list will affect the proposal to protect the species under section 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 currently under review; and if he will make a statement. [31334]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 8 May 1996, Official Report, column 134.The Joint Nature Conservation Committee, the Government's statutory conservation adviser, will take account of all relevant conservation data, including the IUCN red list where appropriate, when considering which species should be protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 as part of the third quinquennial review. The committee's recommendations to the Secretary of State are due to be submitted in October 1996.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what programme of action his Department has to protect the basking shark under the EU habitats and species directive; and if he will make a statement. [31335]

The basking shark is not listed in the annexes to Council directive 92/43/EEC—the habitats and species directive. Nor is it included in the list of species for which action plans will be prepared over the next three years under the United Kingdom biodiversity action plan.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what work has been undertaken by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee to assess the threats to the basking shark in United Kingdom waters over the last five years. [31337]

The joint nature conservation committee and the Government's statutory conservation agencies have contributed funds to a number of research projects concerned with the status of the basking shark in British waters in the last five years.These projects include acoustic tagging of basking sharks for tracking and monitoring, plankton and water quality sampling, and funding for a basking shark watch scheme. The JNCC has also supported several workshops which have brought together expertise and existing knowledge on basking sharks.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to modify the Housing Corporation's advice on the granting of points for a local connection in line with amendments to homeless persons legislation. [30975]

The Housing Corporation will be revising its guidance to registered social landlords about access to social housing in the light of the legislative changes currently before Parliament.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received about the Housing Corporation ending the practice of associations awarding additional points for a local connection. [30976]

The Housing Corporation has not changed its guidance on allocations. We have received no representations on this matter.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to ensure that the secondary biological treatment plant at Pennington is equipped with ultra-violet disinfection equipment by Southern Water Services. [31168]

UV disinfection equipment is not required for secondary treatment. Secondary biological treatment when installed at Pennington will significantly improve the microbiological quality of the receiving water. Water quality in the area will be re-assessed once the new scheme comes into effect.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the amount of standard spending assessment per person for each of the new unitary authorities created on 1 April. [31169]

The standard spending assessments requested are as shown in the table.

	SSA £ per head
Bath and north-east Somerset	664.62
Bristol	699.88
South Gloucestershire	622.56
North Somerset	647.33
Hartlepool	815.36
Middlesborough	862.89
Redcar and Cleveland	805.25
Stockton on Tees	772.02
East Riding of Yorkshire	668.03
Kingston upon Hull	813.89
North-east Lincolnshire	760.06
North Lincolnshire	718.32
York	629.64

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the current key performance targets for the Building Research Establishment. [31805]

My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for the Environment announced on 2 April 1996 his proposals for transferring the Building Research Establishment to the private sector by February 1997. While it remains an executive agency, BRE is working to the following key targets for 1996–97:

net vote cost of £545,000;

deficit on trading account no greater than £119,000;

gross non-Exchequer income of £3.56 million;

an increase of less than 4 per cent. in the average unit cost of research commissions.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will issue the Government's response to the second report of the Environment Committee on the burning of secondary liquid fuels in cement kilns, HC497 of Session 1994–95. [32086]

The Government have today published their response to the Select Committee and copies have been placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the working party on the incidence of pesticides in water will publish its report. [31804]

The working party on the incidence of pesticides in water has today published its review on the monitoring of pesticides in water in the United Kingdom. I am placing a copy in the Library. It concludes that:

there is a basically sound system of monitoring and investigation that has emerged out of a long established intention to control pesticides effectively.

However, it has identified some gaps in monitoring and it has made some recommendations for improvements.This report provides a comprehensive summary of the data which is available on pesticides in water. A group, led by the Environment Agency, will be formed to ensure that there is an ongoing review of monitoring requirements and that monitoring efforts are most effectively directed.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what advice he has been given in relation to the creation of a site of special scientific interest at Rack marsh, near Bagnor in Berkshire. [31362]

[holding answer 5 June 1996]: I understand that English Nature's Council has approved the notification of Kennet and Lambourn floodplain, Berkshire/Wiltshire as a site of special scientific interest. The area known as Rack marsh forms a component part of this composite site. English Nature is now notifying owners and occupies of the council's decision.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what advice he has been given in relation to the creation of a special area of conservation for the vertigo moulinsiana snail in the Kennet and Lambourn valleys. [31363]

[holding answer 5 June 1996]: English Nature, through the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, has formally recommended that eight separate locations in the Kennet and Lambourn valleys be considered as a possible candidate for designation in due course as a special area of conservation under the European directive 92/43/EEC—the habitats directive—following the discovery in the area of large populations of the species Vertigo moulinsiana, Desmoulin's whorl snail. All the relevant survey material has been placed in the Library. The Government have accepted this recommendation and public consultation on this proposal is now under way.The JNCC has also recommended that parts of the Avon valley appear to qualify for possible designation, subject to more detailed survey work to determine boundaries. If this recommendation is confirmed and accepted, public consultation on a site in this area will be undertaken in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on adverse drug reaction to the anti-malarial drug Lariam (Mefloquine); and if he will indicate the number and type of reactions reported. [31322]

None.The Medicines Control Agency monitors adverse reactions reported with Lariam and evaluates potential safety issues in the light of any new evidence that emerges. The MCA received 956 reports of 2,678 suspected adverse reactions associated with Lariam between 1990, when the product was launched in the United Kingdom, and 1 June 1996. During this time in excess of half a million patients have received Lariam. The reports received are consistent with the known safety profile of Lariam as described in the authorised product information.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 26 March, Official Report, column 515, how much his Department estimated it would have cost to provide the information requested. [31460]

More than £450, the current threshold above which answers are deemed to incur disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to hold centrally information in respect of severance costs incurred by health authorities to achieve management cost reductions targets; and if he will make a statement. [31425]

No.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what changes will be made to the cash limits and running costs limit of his Department in 1996–97. [31969]

The cash limit for class XI vote 1—hospital community health, family health and related services, England—will be reduced by £4,000,000 (from £27,686,304,000 to £27,682,304,000). This allows for a transfer to class XI, vote 2—Department of Health, administration, miscellaneous health and personal services, England—in respect of a re-apportionment between health votes.The cash limit for class XI, vote 2—Department of Health, administration, miscellaneous health and personal social services, England—will be increased by £35,984,000, from £1,173,472,000 to £1,209,456,000. This allows for an increase of £36,000,000; £25,000,000 for services for people seeking asylum; £7,000,000 for a grant to the Thalidomide Trust, and £4,000,000—running costs—for a transfer from class XI, vote 1 as mentioned. The overall increase is partially offset by a transfer of £16,000 to class VI, vote 2—regeneration and countryside and wildlife, England—in respect of a project requiring assistance from the European regional development fund.The Department's gross running costs limit will be increased by £4,002,000 from £276,202,000 to £280,204,000 reflecting the transfer. Also the original running cost limit published in the "Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses", Cm 3201, table 3.8a was understated by £2,000.All increases will either be offset by foregoing the take-up of end year flexibility, transfer to or from other votes or charged to the reserve and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will publish the fourth report of the youth treatment service group; and if he will make a statement. [32062]

Copies of the report have been placed in the Library today. I have accepted the recommendations in the report and charged the management of the Glenthorne youth treatment centre with its implementations. Following this report and the closure of the St. Charles YTC, the group has now completed its task.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the waiting times by section, between applications being received by the mental health review tribunal service and the hearings taking place; and what assessment he has made of the scope for reducing the waiting times. [30444]

The tables give details of the waiting times for the last quarter of 1995. The tribunal offices are currently working to an eight week deadline for non restricted cases outside the special hospitals and 20 weeks for restricted cases outside the special hospitals. Deadlines for section 2 cases are determined by legislation and are required to be heard within one week of application. Delay times are continuously being monitored and options considered to improve the overall waiting times.

Waiting times last quarter of 1995 Non-restricted cases
	Under 8 weeks	9–12 weeks	Over 12 weeks
NHS hospitals (665 cases)	303	293	69
Special hospitals (44 cases)	0	14	30

Restricted cases
	Under 20 weeks	21–24 weeks	Over 24 weeks
NHS hospitals (171 cases)	102	29	40
Special hospitals (95 cases)	6	38	51

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement about the reappraisal he initiated six months ago of the provision of accident and emergency services at Edgware general hospital. [30583]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the future provision of accident and emergency services at Edgware general hospital. [31368]

My right hon. Friends have made sure that I am fully aware of the strong local representations on this matter. Barnet health authority is discussing future medical involvement in the casualty services at Edgware hospital with local clinicians. A working group is expected to meet in early July to consider its recommendations. I will write to my hon. Friends following that meeting.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the annual administrative costs of cancelling and re-scheduling elective surgery in the NHS. [31215]

The information needed for such an estimate is not available centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the annual cost of administering waiting lists in the NHS. [31214]

This information is not available centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the number of forms completed by GPs annually. [31365]

The average general practitioner currently submits just over 600 claim forms per year. From 1 July 1996 approximately 30 per cent. of claim forms will be abolished and completion of the remainder may be delegated to practice staff. Doctors will also have to complete 400 fewer prescriptions per year and simplified patient registration forms mean that GPs benefit from a 34 per cent. reduction in the number of such forms to be signed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of extra-contractual referral requests for secondary referrals are refused. [31366]

This information is not available centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the total number of "did not attends" for (a) out-patient appointments and (b) in-patient appointments in the NHS in the last available year. [31367]

The total number of "did not attends" for out-patient appointments during 1994–95 was 5,131,405. In the calendar year 1995, there were 209,082 "did not attends" for in-patient or day case admissions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he has taken following the announcement by the Zambian authorities of the disqualification of ex-President Kenneth Kaunda from the current year's elections. [31170]

We have already made clear to the Government of Zambia our concern that measures to restrict eligibility of candidates for president damage Zambian democracy and risk undermining the multi-party system.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in what ways the British Government are working with (a) the Bosnian Government and (b) other European countries to conduct a survey of the needs and locations of amputees needing prostheses in Bosnia. [31119]

We are not currently participating in any survey of the needs and locations of amputees in Bosnia. However, ODA is in close contact with the Bosnian Government on establishing its priorities for bilateral assistance in the health sector, including the needs of those disabled in the war.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 13 May, Official Report, columns 385–87, if he will list, by name, the individual projects or schemes under the ODA's country aid programme, under which funding is given to countries to finance training of police officers (a) in the United Kingdom and (b) in their home countries; and if he will list which countries have benefited from each project. [31161]

The ODA does not keep centrally a record of the titles of individual projects which finance the training of police officers either in the United Kingdom or in their home countries. Police training projects are managed and recorded on a country basis only and it would involve a disproportionate cost to collate this information.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what is his estimate of the impact on the public sector borrowing requirement for (a) 1996–97 and (b) 1997–98 of the effect of the change in the dates on which SC60 tax refunds will be made as a result of the switch to self-assessment; and if he will make a statement; [30593](2) when SC60 tax refunds relating to accounts years ending in tax years 1995–96 and 1996–97 will be made; what account will be taken of the timing of the relevant 1996–97 assessment in issuing these refunds; and if he will make a statement. [30592]

Refunds of deductions made from the earnings of self-employed sub-contractors in the construction industry—SC60 refunds—are made, and will continue to be made, where the sub-contractor can demonstrate that the deductions for any tax year exceeded his full liability to income tax and class IV national insurance contributions for that year. Although a sub-contractor's self-assessment for 1996–97 will not be due until 31 January 1998, this will not prevent a refund of SC60 deductions being made at an earlier date, if his liability for the year can be established. The Inland Revenue are drawing up guidelines for such claims to repayment, which will shortly be sent in draft to the representatives bodies for comment.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the length of time taken currently, from the initial application, for credit unions to be registered under the Credit Unions Act 1979; and what estimate he has made of the length of time which will be taken under the Act as amended by the Deregulation (Credit Unions) Order 1996. [31056]

The time taken for a credit union to be registered depends largely on how soon its committee members undergo training and set up the systems needed to run its operations. The deregulation order will not reduce that, though it will cut down the amount of work involved in determining the existence of a common bond among the members. However, as this normally takes place concurrently with other activities, it is unlikely to reduce the overall time taken for registration.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what criteria the Registry of Friendly Societies will use to assess the status of credit unions wishing to register under the Credit Union Act 1979 as amended by the Deregulation (Credit Unions) Order 1996. [31055]

To be registered a credit union must satisfy the registry that its objectives are the promotion of thrift among members, and the provision of credit at a fair rate of interest; that a common bond exists between members; that it is complying with statutory provisions for rules and insurance against fraud; and that its officers have received appropriate training.The Deregulation (Credit Unions) Order 1996 will not change the assessment criteria used by the registry, but will allow greater flexibility in establishing a common bond. A guidance note for new credit unions is given to those seeking to start a credit union, and I have placed a copy in the Library.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many drug seizures were made by Customs and Excise in (a) Coventry and (b) the west midlands in each year since 1990; and if he will indicate for each year the percentage change from the last one. [31095]

The number of drug seizures made by Customs and Excise in Coventry and the west midlands, and percentage changes were as follows:

	Coventry		West Midlands
	Number	Per cent. change	Number	Per cent. change
1990	0	—	65	—
1991	0	—	64	-1
1992	15	—	94	+46
1993	16	+7	87	-7
1994	14	-13	93	+7
1995	23	+64	120	+29

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the average living standards in each Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development country in 1995; and what was the gap between the United Kingdom and the OECD average. [30796]

The most commonly cited single measure of living standards for which valid international comparison can be made is gross domestic product per capita.The 1995 figures for GDP per capita are available for all OECD countries in the OECD publication "Main Economic Indicators", which is available in the House of Commons Library.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many registered disabled people are employed by his Department; and what percentage this is of the total figure. [30770]

As at 1 April 1996, the Treasury employed three registered disabled people, which represents 0.27 per cent. of the Treasury staff. The Treasury also employs a number of disabled people who have chosen not to register, or who became disabled after the withdrawal of the registration scheme under the provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his policy in respect of the pound sterling eventually re-joining a system of managed exchange rates. [30795]

The Prime Minister has made clear on many occasions the Government's policy which is that the United Kingdom will not rejoin the ERM during this Parliament, and there is no question of us ever rejoining a rigid, old-style exchange rate mechanism.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to raise the limit below which delivery of an inheritance tax account is not required for administering a deceased person's estate. [32064]

The Inland Revenue has today laid regulations increasing the overall limit from £145,000 to £180,000, and relaxing the current rules on lifetime gifts and overseas assets. The changes will come into operation from 1 July 1996, for estates of persons dying on or after 6 April 1996. They will simplify the administration of some 7,500 estates in 1996–97.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the recent Council meeting of the Economic and Finance Ministers of the European Union. [32166]

I represented the United Kingdom at the Economic and Finance Council—ECOFIN—of the European Union in Luxembourg on 3 June.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what account was taken in the company profit component of the gross domestic product figures for the Isle of Wight of the profits of companies or holding companies whose headquarters are not based on the Isle of Wight; and how the effects of the rules relating to habitual residence were applied. [28442]

[holding answer 7 May 1996]: For the compilation of regional gross domestic product, profits of multi-regional companies are allocated to the area in which they are generated, either directly where data are available or otherwise by the use of proxies such as wages and salaries of employees in the area.Habitual residence appears to refer to the main residence of an individual for the Inland Revenue's assessment of tax. Taxes are transfers of income not involving productive activity; habitual residence is not a term associated with gross domestic product since the latter is a measure of production.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Government's policy towards the security of human rights in Hong Kong after 1 July 1997. [30977]

The Sino-British joint declaration on the question of Hong Kong, which is a binding treaty between Britain and China, provides for continuing human rights protection in Hong Kong after the handover. Specifically, in the last paragraph of chapter XIII of annex I to the joint declaration, China pledges to ensure that the provisions of the international covenants on civil and political rights and on economic, social and cultural rights, as applied to Hong Kong, remain in force after 30 June 1997.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the interpretation by the Standing Committee of the National Peoples Congress on the implementation in Hong Kong of the Chinese nationality law. [32165]

The interpretation in question states that British citizenship acquired by Chinese nationals under the British nationality selection scheme will not be recognised under the Chinese nationality law. The British Government regard British citizenship obtained under the BNSS as having exactly the same validity as British citizenship acquired in any other way. We do not differentiate between British citizens who have acquired their British citizenship through the BNSS and those who have acquired it in any other way. Passports issued under the BNSS are the same as passports issued to all other British citizens and are equally valid.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Vietnamese boat people in Hong Kong. [31241]

[holding answer 4 June 1996]: There has been encouraging progress in recent months. The steering committee of the international conference on Indo-Chinese refugees, which held its final meeting on March, emphasised that those screened out as non-refugees must return to Vietnam. We have been working hard to raise the monthly number of returnees, with good co-operation from the Vietnamese Government. As a result, the rate of both voluntary and orderly repatriation has increased. It remains our objective to complete the repatriation of Vietnamese migrants by July 1997.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many registered disabled people are employed by his Department; and what percentage this is of the total figure. [30765]

Based on a voluntary survey of staff, as at 1 April 1996 the Foreign and Commonwealth employed 48 registered disabled officers. This is 0.7 per cent. of the total number of staff employed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what type of projects and programmes constitute the United Kingdom military training assistance scheme. [31110]

The military training assistance scheme sponsors developmental and skills training in the UK. This can include training which has a main or subsidiary aim of familiarising participants with British military techniques and equipment. It also provides for in-country developmental and skills training by UK trainers on attachments overseas, the training of nationals from several countries at regional centres, and sponsorship of participants in courses operated by organisations such as the United Nations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which Governments fund the United Kingdom military training assistance scheme; and in what proportions. [31112]

UKMTAS is entirely funded by Her Majesty's Government.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many police officers from other countries have received training under the United Kingdom military training assistance scheme. [31111]

Full details are available only from 1990. Since then, some 179 police officers from overseas countries have attended training courses in the UK sponsored by the scheme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the cost to public funds of the United Kingdom military training assistance scheme for each year since its inception. [31109]

The scheme has been operating in its current form since 1988. Annual financial year expenditure is:

	£ million
1988–89	13.2
1989–90	15.5
1990–91	18.1
1991–92	15.2
1992–93	12.5
1993–94	11.8
1994–95	12.0
1995–96	113.5
1 Estimate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the countries which have received training of police officers under the United Kingdom military training assistance scheme. [31113]

In recent years officers from the following police forces have received training sponsored by the scheme:

Belize, Chile, Czech Republic, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Fiji, Honduras, Hungary, India, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Lebanon, Malaysia, Malta, Nepal, Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Palestinian Authority, Philippines, Romania, Slovakia, Sri Lanka, Trinidad and Tobago, Tonga, Uganda and Vanuatu.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what instructions were issued to his Department's offices and agencies in respect of flying the European Union flag on 8 May; and if he will make a statement. [31505]

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when elections are scheduled to take place in Azad Kashmir to elect a new Government; if he will arrange for United Kingdom observers to monitor those elections; and if he will make a statement. [31466]

Legislative assembly elections will be held on 30 June. Staff from our High Commission in Islamabad will visit Azad Kashmir during the elections.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) by what methods the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment is currently monitoring the health of the service volunteers who took part in studies at the establishment with the nerve agent pre-treatment sets; [31347](2) when the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment carried out studies to evaluate whether nerve agent pre-treatment sets caused long-term health effects in humans; and what were the conclusions of these studies. [31346]

These matters are for the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive, DERA, to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 9 May, Official Report, columns 223–24, if Porton Down has used service personnel from the service volunteers programme in work which Porton Down has carried out for civilian organisations since 1996; and what has been Porton Down's policy on involving service volunteers in work for civilian organisations. [31349]

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what studies have been carried out by the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment to evaluate the long-term health effects of short-term exposure to the nerve agent Soman (GD); when these studies were carried out; and what were their conclusions. [31341]

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 8 May, Official Report, column 187, what was the amount of sarin to which volunteers were exposed in the study using single fibre electromyography. [31342]

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which division within the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment has had overall responsibility for running the service volunteers programme since 1966. [31343]

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 9 May, Official Report, column 222, for what reasons staff at Porton Down are not allowed to test chemical agents on themselves; and how many staff have deviated from the policy on self-testing since 1966. [31344]

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 9 May, Official Report, column 223, what details of experiments are given on request to the doctors of service personnel who took part in the service volunteers programme at the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment in cases where the service personnel have died. [31345]

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment carried out experiments with service volunteers involving the nerve agent GE; and what were the conclusions of this work. [31348]

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the submarine reactor flasks being built by Rolls-Royce and Associates. [31327]

A contract for the design and build of purpose-built used fuel flasks for the transportation of used submarine reactor fuel was awarded to Rolls-Royce and Associates in May 1995. Manufacture of the flasks is sub-contracted to BNFL Engineering Ltd. Delivery is currently planned for the end of 1998.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what receipts from the sale of his Department's Upholder class submarines will be retained by (a) his Department and (b) the Treasury; and if he will make a statement. [31173]

I currently expect that all the receipts accruing from the sale of the Upholder class submarines will be retained by the Ministry of Defence. In the event that actual receipts exceed voted provision, Government accounting regulations stipulate that the excess goes to the Consolidated Fund.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what guarantees on future standards of repair and maintenance will be sought from private sector institutions which purchase leases on his Department's married housing stock. [31171]

As I told the hon. Member for Warley, West (Mr. Spellar) on 23 April, Official Report, column 83, my Department will retain responsibility for the management and maintenance of the quarters which we lease back. This responsibility will continue to be discharged by the Defence Housing Executive after the sale.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence who will be responsible for setting the rent levels and what account will be taken of local pay levels and circumstances after the sale of the married housing stock. [31172]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 4 June to the hon. Member for Warley, West (Mr. Spellar), Official Report, column 344.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what key targets he has set for the Army Technical Support Agency in 1996–97. [32148]

The chief executive of the Army Technical Support Agency has been set the following key targets for 1996–97:

Key target 1: Influence equipment design by attaining 70 per cent. acceptance of land systems technical support recommendations.

Key target 2: Achieve a 10 per cent. gross cost saving in advanced order recommended spares purchasing without reducing sustainability or availability of equipment.

Key target 3: Answer 90 per cent. of ad hoc inquiries within two working days.

Key target 4: Achieve an average response time of nine working days for demand for technical publications.

Key target 5: Complete 90 per cent. of operational (O) projects and 65 per cent. of priority A projects before the agreed target date.

Key target 6: Reduce the administrative lead time to complete initial spares provisioning lists to 10 months.

Key target 7: Satisfy 90 per cent. customers when undertaking technical projects.

Key target 8: Improve efficiency by 3.6 per cent. over 1995–96.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many registered disabled people are employed by his Department; and what percentage this is of the total figure. [30768]

At I October 1995, the number of registered disabled people employed by the MOD and its agencies was 1,333. This represents 1.2 per cent. of the total staff.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what key targets he has set for the Disposal Sales Agency in 1996–97. [32147]

Since its launch in October 1994 the agency has brought in substantial revenues and has made significant efficiency savings. The key targets which have been set for the chief executive of the Disposal Sales Agency for this financial year are aimed at maintaining the momentum achieved in previous years through industrial participation and other efficiency measures.

1. To achieve disposal sales revenue of £80 million within budgetary cost allocation;

2. To secure efficiency savings of £4 million against the baseline of 1994–95 unit cost of generating £1 million of sales;

3. To increase to 85 per cent. the volume of receipts (excluding Government-to-Government) achieved through contractorised arrangements;

4. To achieve £1 million of sales on behalf of other Government departments and agencies.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement about the National Enterprise Board. [32070]

On 5 June 1996 I signed an order under section 11(2) of the British Technology Group Act 1991 dissolving the National Enterprise Board with effect from 1 July 1996.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the outcome of the EU Industry Council held on 20 May. [30816]

The Council adopted a resolution on industrial co-operation with third countries, particularly the Mediterranean region. The Council also agreed conclusions on shipbuilding which noted the state of ratification of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development agreement.The Council also reached political agreement on a basis text of a Council decision implementing a third multi-annual programme for small and medium enterprises which incorporated a United Kingdom request for additional wording highlighting value for money considerations. I placed a parliamentary reserve on the text as a whole.The Commission made oral presentations on its proposal for a new steel aid code to replace the current one which expires on 31 December, developments in the EU competition policy during 1995; its communications on the competitiveness of the chemical industry and on the textile and clothing subcontracting sector. The latter was referred back to COREPER for further consideration.Finally, under any other business, the Commission gave a brief report on last week's G7 information society conference in South Africa.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what contributions were made by his Department for the provision of security equipment in local post offices in each of the last five years. [31138]

The provision of security equipment in sub-post offices is a matter for Post Office Counters Ltd. and sub-postmasters.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what are the results of his consideration of responses to his consultation document on the liberalisation of international telecommunications services. [32167]

The Government will be inviting applications from today for further licences to provide international service from the UK, on the same terms enjoyed up to now by only BT and Mercury—that is, on telecommunication facilities owned and controlled by the company providing the service. These companies will be able to offer services on any route they choose.This is another step in ensuring the continued competitiveness of the United Kingdom, both as a hub for telecommunications traffic worldwide, and as a place where the increasing number of companies for whom telecommunications play a major role in their business will choose to base their operations.I believe that this further liberalisation will benefit users by bringing down international rates more quickly, and benefit the UK economy by attracting new investment, both by telecommunications operators and user companies, to the UK.In parallel, we will be continuing to press for improved access for UK operators, both within the EU through strict application of new Community liberalisation rules, and in other countries through the World Trade Organisation.I am also pleased to announce that the UK will, on 1 July, be lifting the "equivalency" rules which at present limit international simple resale services to certain routes. We will allow the provision of telecommunications services over leased line capacity on any route. I stress, however, that while we wish to open the UK market to full competition, we will ensure that such competition is fair.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what targets he has set the Patent Office executive agency for 1996–97. [32069]

I have set the Patent Office the targets listed for 1996–97.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the implications for United Kingdom space policy of the launch failure of Ariane 5; and if he will make a statement. [31872]

The loss of the European Space Agency's first Ariane 5 launch vehicle and the four CLUSTER space science satellites is a great disappointment for everyone involved. The United Kingdom Government contributed £35 million to CLUSTER and invested £12 million in instrumentation. British scientists played a prominent role in the CLUSTER mission and the setback in the research community will be keenly felt. The agency's space science programme will, however, continue to provide important opportunities for British space scientists.The UK will continue to support competitive European launch capacity to meet commercial and research programme needs. The UK contribution to Ariane, announced in March of this year, totals £2.8 million up to 2000 for the follow on programme for infrastructure. The UK Government also contribute £5 million a year to the operations of the Kourau launch centre. The decision to re-enter the Ariane programme came as a result of discussions with industry about the priorities for British space policy. A further space policy seminar with industry is to be held on 25 June.The Government's interest in space focuses particularly on our contribution to the science programme and the increasingly important civil activities of earth observation, pollution monitoring, mineral extraction data, global navigation, telecommunications, television and weather forecasting.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 22 May, Official Report, column 265, how much Britain has gained or lost in pounds sterling as a result of changes in exchange rates in each of the last three years. [31261]

[holding answer 4 June 1996]: The structural funds regulations provide for a number of block allocations of grants for multi-annual programmes to be made to each member state. These allocations, like the whole of the EC budget, from which they are drawn, are denominated in ecu. Changes in exchange rates therefore affect the value in national currencies of the structural funds grants received by all member states. There are no losses or gains in sterling terms since the sterling equivalent of the ecu value of the allocations are known only when the programmes are completed.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the current tariff of penalties employed at Companies House for late filing of accounts, indicating what size businesses the penalties relate to, and including the sliding scale for the length of delay in filing. [30729]

[holding answer 4 June 1996]: The registrar and chief executive of Companies House executive agency has delegated authority to deal with such matters on behalf of the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry. The registrar has been asked to write to the hon. Lady.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will place in the Library the memoranda issued to (a) the chief executives of the research councils, and (b) the director generals of the research councils setting out the conditions of their appointments. [31192]

[holding answer 4 June 1996]: The Director General of Research Councils is a senior civil servant serving on a limited period appointment. Apart from his performance bonus arrangements the conditions of his appointment are those of senior civil servants. The

	Retirement pension single rate £	Retirement pension couple rate £	Cost to national insurance fund £	Savings in income-related benefits £	Increase in Treasury income tax receipts £
1995–96	59.90	95.75	470 million	130 million	50 million
1996–97	62.25	99.50	510 million	140 million	50 million

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what measures are being taken to ensure that research into rail transport continues following privatisation. [32168]

I have been asked to reply.I have approved the establishment of a review to consider the best mechanism for directing and co-ordinating research and development in order to meet the needs of the new railway industry. The review will provide advice for the successor bodies, which, following privatisation, will be responsible for determining their own research requirements. It will be chaired by Professor Sir David Davies, chief scientific adviser, Ministry of Defence. Its membership comprises: Professor Brian Mellitt director, engineering and production, Railtrack plc; Mr. Gordon Pettitt, transport management consultant, formerly managing director, regional railways; Professor Tony Ridley, professor of Transport Engineering, University of London centre for transport studies; and Mr. Tony Roche, board member, engineering services and safety, British Railways Board. The review is currently in the process of collecting evidence and will present its findings and recommendations to the permanent secretary, Department of Transport, by late summer.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what the state pension for (a) a single pension and (b) a couple would have been in April 1995 and April 1996 if the pension in each of these years had been uprated by the higher of the retail prices index or earnings in both of these years; and what estimate he has made of (i) the gross additional costs of such increases in pension and (ii) the net cost after savings in (1) means-tested benefits and (2) increased Treasury receipts from income tax. [30163]

The information is in the table:

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioners will be affected by the reductions in the reduced earnings allowance. [30833]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Barnsley, West and Penistone (Mr. Clapham) on 25 April, column 252.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what modification will be made in the application of the good cause clause in reduced earnings allowance cases which are restricted to 12 months' retrospection; and how they will now apply. [31258]

No change has been made to the application of the good cause provisions for late claims to reduced earnings allowance. However, where there is good cause for a late claim or application for review of an award made on or after 24 March 1996, a maximum 12 months arrears of reduced earnings allowance is payable, in line with other, non-industrial injuries benefits.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if reduced earnings allowance will continue to be paid to a married woman who reaches 60 years of age but who has insufficient national insurance contributions to claim a retirement pension in her own right and her husband is in full-time employment and under 65 years of age. [31256]

Reduced earnings allowance recipients who have given up regular employment will transfer to retirement allowance after reaching state pension age.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the reasons for the 12-month restriction on back dating reduced earnings allowance in cases where the effects of a latent injury or disease have resulted in a loss of faculty which has reduced the claimant's earnings capacity; and what further retrospection will be allowed in such cases to the date of the last application for an award. [31257]

The introduction of a maximum 12-month period for payment of arrears of reduced earnings allowance is designed to bring the allowance into line with other, non-industrial injuries, earnings replacement benefits such as incapacity benefit or income support. Reduced earnings allowance is payable only in respect of industrial accidents occurring or prescribed diseases with a date of onset, before 1 October 1990. It is not justifiable to continue backdating payments in such claims indefinitely. Reduced earnings allowance can still be backdated for a maximum of 12 months where someone can show good cause for making a late claim.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many representations he has received regarding the reduction in reduced earnings allowance; and how many of these representations express support for the changes he has made. [31143]

As at 31 May, 97 right hon. Members and two organisations have written to Ministers. The letters have generally expressed concern or sought clarification.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will issue a code of practice on access to goods, facilities, services and premises under part III of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. [32084]

I have today laid a draft code of practice covering rights of access to goods, facilities, services and premises before Parliament under the powers contained in sections 51 and 52 of the Act. Proposals for the code were made by the National Disability Council following a very successful public consultation exercise. Response to the NDC's draft was favourable, with particular praise for the clear drafting and use of examples to explain the concepts contained in the Act.In conjunction with the consultation by the NDC, the Government consulted on a number of proposals for regulations under part III of the Act. Regulations covering powers of attorney; insurance; guarantees and the exclusion of certain education-related services will be laid before Parliament in the near future.The draft code of practice and the regulations will come into force on 2 December 1996, subject to parliamentary approval. The code will be published as soon as possible to give service providers, those involved in the selling, letting and managing of premises and others affected time to take account of its guide.The Disability Discrimination Act is a huge step forward for disabled people. The code forms part of a co-ordinated framework of advice and guidance to ensure that the business community and disabled people are aware of their new duties and rights.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will issue guidance on the definition of disability under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. [32149]

I have today laid draft guidance before Parliament under the powers contained in section 3 of the Act. A draft of the guidance was issued as part of the recent consultation exercise carried out by the Department for Education and Employment. Many respondents to that consultation felt that the draft could be improved in terms of its structure and should provide fuller guidance. They also felt that the guidance in the draft should be put into context with references to the relevant provisions of the Act. The draft which I have laid before Parliament reflects these views. The Act defines disability as a physical or mental impairment which has substantial and long-term adverse effect on a person's ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. People who have had a disability in the past which met this definition are also protected by the Act. The guidance explains some of the matters to be taken into account in determining whether an impairment has this effect.The guidance is not legally binding, but an industrial tribunal or court must take it into account where it appears to be relevant. In most cases it will be clear whether or not someone meets the definition of disability in the Act. The purpose of the guidance is to provide help where there is doubt over whether someone is disabled. It is designed primarily for courts or tribunals, but may also be of help to disabled people and businesses.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate the cost of the technical experts listed by his Department to take part in the second survey of the MV Derbyshire wreckage field. [31273]

I refer the hon. Member to my reply on 7 May, Official Report, column 52.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to privatise Railfreight Distribution; and if he will make a statement. [32067]

I have today announced that the Government have decided that Railfreight Distribution—British Rail's channel tunnel freight business—should be offered for sale as soon as possible. I have asked BR, in consultation with my Department, to draw up a programme for its disposal. The offer for sale will be based on the existing business.Railfreight Distribution is heavily loss-making. Privatisation will enable the business to be put onto a sound financial footing so that the growth potential of international freight services via the channel tunnel can be exploited on a commercial basis, thereby furthering the objective of transferring more freight from road to rail.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement about the proposed sale of his Department's former research site at Crowthorne and Livingston. [32169]

My Department no longer needs to own the sites at Crowthorne and Livingston after the sale of the Transport Research Laboratory to the Transport Research Foundation. It has a 15-year lease at Crowthorne and a one-year tenancy at Livingston. Healey and Baker are to market the Crowthorne site and Richard Ellis the Livingston site. Applications are about to be made to the local planning authorities to confirm the existing use and planning status of each site, including the scope to rebuild on the sites. The sites will be put on the market in the near future.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when Ernst and Young's report of their emerging findings on the sale of British Rail's former heavy maintenance depots, British Rail Maintenance Ltd., will be available. [32068]

I have today placed a copy in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what are the implications for the Newbury bypass of the discovery of the snail Vertigo moulinsiana in the area; [32065](2) when the Highways Agency expects to award the main contract for the Newbury bypass; and if he will make a statement. [32066]

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) which contractor has won the main contract for the construction of the Newbury bypass; [31360]2. which contractor has won the contract for archaeological work on the route of the Newbury bypass; [31361]3. what measures he expects the Highways Agency to take to replace any snail habitat lost through the construction of the Newbury bypass. [31364]

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment explains today in a separate answer to the hon. Member for Newbury (Mr. Rendel) that public consultation is now under way on a formal recommendation by English Nature, made through the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, that various locations in the Kennet and Lambourn valleys be considered as a possible candidate for designation in due course as a special area of conservation under European directive 92/43/EEC—the habitats directive—following the discovery of large populations of the species Vertigo moulinsiana, Desmoulin's whorl snail, in these locations.One of the locations in question, Bagnor island, is due to be crossed by the Newbury bypass. Part of another area, Speen moor, will be affected by it. My right hon. Friend and I have accordingly considered JNCC's recommendation and the implications for the bypass.The provisions of regulations 50 to 53 of the Conservation (Natural Habitats &c) Regulations 1994, review of existing decisions and consents, do not apply in the case of this site which is not yet a "European site" as defined by the regulations, nor is it yet subject to the policy protection which the Government apply to candidate SACs from the time when they are proposed to the Commission. However, in the light of the acknowledged conservation value of the site, my right hon. Friend and I have considered whether the bypass can proceed in a manner which is consistent with the conservation objectives of the directive.The site recommended by JNCC consists of a cluster of eight separate locations, six of which are unaffected by the proposed bypass. The conservation objectives of the recommended SAC in the Kennet and Lambourn floodplain would be to seek to ensure that a large and viable overall population of the snail was maintained in the area. English Nature and the Highways Agency have discussed measures to achieve these conservation objectives. Porous asphalt will be used to minimise spray and the discharge of run-off will be controlled to reduce pollution. A number of further measures which can be implemented by the Highways Agency have been agreed in principle with English Nature. These will reduce the extent of snail habitat which would otherwise be destroyed by the road, together with other measures to maintain the conservation status of the snail in the area. Areas of new habitat are planned which will be much greater than those lost. The main measures are detailed in paragraphs 4.3 and 4.4 (option 2A) in the report "A34 Newbury Bypass—Impact of the A34 on Vertigo Moulinsiana and Opportunities for Mitigation—May 1996", copies of which have been placed in the Library. English Nature considers that, subject to further detailed discussion, these measures, if successfully implemented, should maintain the overall snail populations within the Kennet and Lambourn floodplain, and extend the distribution of the snail within the area where these measures are to be carried out.My right hon. Friend and I are in any case satisfied that there are no alternative solutions and that there are imperative reasons of overriding public interest for proceeding with the proposed bypass.Both the need for the bypass and the choice of route were established following the statutory procedures set out in the Highways Act 1980, which included two public inquiries. In addition to these procedures, my right hon. Friend the then Secretary of State for Transport announced his conclusion on the choice of route following a further assessment in 1995. The assessment took into account changes in appraisal techniques and local circumstances, as well as new traffic and economic data since the public inquiries and the subsequent statutory decision to go ahead with a western bypass. He considered carefully the balance between all the options and concluded that the proposed route was the most effective solution for Newbury. Having considered the new information about Vertigo moulinsiana, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment and I are satisfied that it does not change the balance of the weight of evidence, including environmental evidence, in favour of this particular route. As I have already explained, new measures will be adopted with the aim of reducing the effects of the road on the snail population.The imperative reasons for overriding public interest for proceeding with the bypass are environmental, social and economic. In particular:

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many registered disabled people are employed by his Department; and what percentage this is of the total figure. [30779]

The number of registered disabled staff employed the Scottish Office core and its executive agencies at 1 April 1996 is shown in the table.

Registered disabled staff in post in the Scottish Office and its executive agencies at 1 April 1996
	Total	Per cent.
Registered disabled staff	58	1.1
All other staff	5,180	98.9

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what considerations led him to specify 6.5 per cent. as the rate of return he believes to be reasonable for the water and sewerage authorities. [30836]

The required rate of return reflects an assessment of the opportunity cost to the economy of new investment in activities such as the provision of water and sewerage services which involve low risk.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the positions to which Ms Celia Urquhart has been appointed by his Department. [31067]

Ms Urquhart is currently a member of (a) the National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting for Scotland and (b) Scottish Enterprise.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many cases which have been dealt with by way of fixed penalty by procurators fiscal in Scotland in each of the past five years have also resulted in awards being made by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board. [31069]

This information is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland under what provisions it is necessary to establish that a crime has been committed before an award can be made by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board. [31070]

The board makes ex gratia payments of compensation in respect of eligible applications received up until 31 March 1996, under the provisions of the 1990 criminal injuries compensation scheme.The terms of the scheme are reproduced in the board's annual reports, copies of each of which have been placed in the Libraries of the House. The scheme defines a criminal injury as one directly attributable to a crime of violence, including arson or poisoning, to an offence of trespass on a railway, or to activities such as attempting to apprehend an offender or prevent an offence being committed.It is not necessary for an offender to have been convicted of a crime, but the board will not make an award if it is not persuaded that the injury has resulted from a crime of violence and may withhold or reduce compensation if the applicant has not taken, without delay, all reasonable steps to inform the police of the circumstances of the injury and to co-operate with the police in bringing the offender to justice. It is the board's policy to ask the police to investigate compensation applications which may be fraudulent, including those where there is a suspicion that the injury did not result from a criminal act.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many deaths were recorded as a result of abortion operations in Scotland in 1995; [31315](2) how many abortions

The provisional number of abortions performed in Scotland under the Abortion Act 1967 in 1995 was 11,136; the rate per 1,000 women aged 15–44 was 10.1. None of the abortions performed in Scotland in 1995 resulted in the death of the pregnant woman.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many fire fighters in the fire service in Scotland have had to retire through post-traumatic stress disorder, stress or depression arising from their job. [31350]

This information is not held centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the amount of standard spending assessment per person for each of the new unitary authorities. [31165]

Standard spending assessments do not apply to Scotland. The equivalent figures are for Government-supported expenditure for which the information requested is as follows:

	1 2 3GSE per person
Aberdeen City	1,078
Aberdeenshire	1,063
Angus	1,057
Argyll and Bute	1,397
Scottish Borders	1,223
Clackmannanshire	1,121
West Dunbartonshire	1,344
Dumfries and Galloway	1,207
Dundee City	1,281
East Ayrshire	1,150
East Dunbartonshire	1,043
East Lothian	1,100
East Renfrewshire	1,026
City of Edinburgh	1,105
Falkirk	1,076
Fife	1,112
City of Glasgow	1,489
Highland	1,349
Inverclyde	1,292
Midlothian	1,146
Moray	1,146
North Ayrshire	1,156
North Lanarkshire	1,166
Perth and Kinross	1,066
Renfrewshire	1,164
South Ayrshire	1,123
South Lanarkshire	1,143
Stirling	1,214
West Lothian	1,151
1 Population estimates for mid-1994 supplied by Registrar General for Scotland.
2 GSE comprises grant-aided expenditure, plus allowances for: loan and leasing charges; expenditure on council tax benefit and housing benefit net of DSS subsidy; and, where applicable, expenditure on urban programme net of specific grant.
3 The Islands Councils of Orkney, Shetland and Western Isles were unitary authorities prior to 1 April 1996.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the payments made to landowners by Scottish National Heritage for nature conservation purposes and access to their estates in each year since 1991. [30505]