To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the 10 prisons with the highest levels of overcrowding in the last year. [30496]

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

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average assault rate in each prison for the financial year 1995–96. [32352]

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

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were imprisoned following non-payment of the television licence fee in each year since 1990; and what was the average length of sentence for those imprisoned. [33318]

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

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the cost to small firms of implementing the measures contained in the Asylum and Immigration Bill. [32112]

Clause 8 of the Bill is the only provision which will involve costs for business. Details were set out in the reply to a question from the hon. Member for Homsey and Wood Green (Mrs. Roche) on 21 May, Official Report, column 97.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the organisations his Department involved in the consultation process on (a) apprenticeship schemes in the drinks industry and (b) proposed changes to the liquor licensing legislation to extended permitted hours. [33384]

Table A lists the organisations which were consulted or which offered comments on allowing 16 to 17-year-olds on approved apprenticeship schemes to work in bars.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department on how many occasions in each Session since 1991–92 legislation has been introduced into Parliament by his Department, with the purpose of (a) removing the effects of a judicial review decision or (b) implementing a judicial review decision; and if he will list the relevant legislative provisions. [33589]

No such legislation has been introduced.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many decisions by his Department were challenged by way of judicial review in each Session since 1991–92; and if he will list in how many cases (a) the Department's decision was upheld by the court, (b) the court found for the applicant, (c) the Department submitted to the judgment and (d) the Department appealed successfully against the judicial review decision. [33573]

Excluding applications for judicial review of decisions of courts and tribunals, and of bodies exercising a judicial discretion such as the Legal Aid Board, there were three applications for judicial review in the Session 1992–93, one in 1994–95 and two in the current Session. One of the applications this Session has been stayed; all others were dismissed.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if (a) Metta Trading Ltd. and (b) Metalchem International Ltd. are the subject of current investigations by HM Customs and Excise; [33298](2) on what occasions

It is not the normal practice of the Commissioners of Customs and Excise to reveal, other than in the course of legal proceedings, details of whether particular companies or individuals are, or are not, the subject of investigation. Provision of such details might be both unfair to those caught up in customs inquiries and prejudice current or future investigation.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give for 1979 and for each year since 1986, (a) gross domestic product at current factor cost (b) gross domestic product at constant factor cost and (c) gross domestic product per capita for (i) Merseyside and (ii) each region of the United Kingdom. [33287]

The latest county estimates of gross domestic product at current prices for the years 1989, 1991 and 1993, and regional estimates for 1984, were published in the March 1996 issue of "Economic Trends". This publication, as well as data for earlier years, are available in the House of Commons Library. Estimates of regional and county gross domestic product are not calculated at constant prices, as there are no regional price deflators available.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the rate of VAT or comparable tax for each of the countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. [33339]

The standard rates of VAT in the member countries of the OECD which apply VAT are set out in the table.

Rates of VAT in OECD member countries
Country	Standard rate (per cent.)
Austria	20
Belgium	21
Canada	7
Czech Republic	22
Denmark	25
Finland	22
France	20.6
Germany	15
Greece	18
Iceland	24.5
Ireland	21
Italy	19
Japan	3
Luxembourg	15
Mexico	15
Netherlands	17.5
New Zealand	12.5
Norway	23
Portugal	17
Spain	16
Sweden	25
Switzerland	6.5
Turkey	15
United Kingdom	17.5

The two remaining member countries of the OECD, Australia and the United States, do not have VAT. Australia levies a wholesale tax, WST, on certain Australian manufactured goods and certain imported goods. A wide range of goods are exempt from WST, and those which are taxable are subject to different rates. The majority of goods are taxable at the rate of 22 per cent., although there are also rates of 12 per cent. and 32 per cent. In the United States, the majority of states impose a retail sales tax, RST, which generally applies to sales of goods to final consumers within the state's jurisdiction. Rates of RST vary according to the state concerned.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of national income is currently taken in taxation; and what was the figure in 1979. [33361]

The Budget estimate of total taxes and national insurance contributions as a percentage of gross domestic product, GDP, in 1995–96 was 36 per cent. In 1979–80, the comparable figure was 35½ per cent. An outturn estimate for 1995–96 is not yet available.Since 1979, public sector borrowing has averaged 2½ per cent. of GDP. Under the last Labour Government, public sector borrowing averaged nearly 7 per cent. of GDP. If Labour had kept borrowing down to the same level that this Government have achieved, taxes would have been higher under Labour by an average of nearly 3 per cent. of GDP.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of the population were men under the age of 25 years in each of the last 20 years for which figures are available. [33185]

[holding answer 18 June 1996]: The information is given in the table.

England and Wales: Males aged 0 to 24
Mid-year	Thousands	As percentage of total population
1974	9,451.5	19.1
1975	9,404.9	19.0
1976	9,358.3	18.9
1977	9,300.7	18.8
1978	9,245.8	18.7
1979	9,225.3	18.6
1980	9,216.0	18.6
1981	9,191.4	18.5
1982	9,145.8	18.4
1983	9,111.5	18.3
1984	9,071.7	18.2
1985	9,044.8	18.1
1986	8,999.7	17.9
1987	8,943.4	17.8
1988	8,881.2	17.6
1989	8,807.1	17.4
1990	8,748.6	17.2
1991	8,701.5	17.0
1992	8,636.0	16.8
1993	8,575.6	16.7
1994	8.521.6	16.5

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library a copy of the report on the "Relationship between Publicly Funded Basic Research and Economic Performance" submitted to his Department by the science policy research unit at the university of Sussex. [33380]

[holding answer 18 June 1996]: The Treasury intends to publish this report shortly. I shall arrange for copies to be placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) on which dates, to which location, for what purpose and at what cost, the millennium commissioners have visited areas of the United Kingdom outside London; [32432](2) on which dates, to which location, for what purpose and at what cost, the millennium commissioners have visited Wales; [32431](3) on which dates, to which location, for what purpose and at what cost, the millennium commissioners have visited countries outside the United Kingdom. [32433]

This is a matter for the Millennium Commission. I shall reply to the hon. Member in my capacity as chairman of the commission and place copies of my reply in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what she estimates to be the final cost of the new British library building at St. Pancras. [33972]

The final outturn of the project will not be known until all final accounts have been settled. Our estimates is that this will be at least a year after practical completion, which is targeted for December 1996. However, the latest estimate of the outturn for the project is £511.1 million, which represents a 3 per cent. increase over the present ceiling of £496 million. The Chief Secretary to the Treasury has agreed an increase to the project ceiling to reflect this.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make an announcement on the progress of the sale of Chessington computer centre. [33837]

I informed the House on 15 May of the identity of the three organisations that had been invited to submit final offers for Chessington computer centre. Final offers were received on 12 June. I have now considered these offers, and have selected a partnership comprising the Chessington management and employee buy-out team, Integris UK and financial backers as the preferred bidder. Detailed discussions with the partnership will now commence with the intention of reaching final agreement for an early completion of the sale of the business.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement about the arrangements for printing statutory instruments. [33838]

Some of the printing of statutory instruments has been contracted out by HMSO for over 30 years as the most cost-effective way of producing them. A careful examination has recently been made of the legislation which refers to HMSO and the Queen's printer. This has revealed that while the Queen's printer can contract out the printing of statutes, this may not be the case for statutory instruments. The Queen's printer is currently also the controller of HMSO. After privatisation, the Queen's printer and controller will remain in the public sector responsible for residual HMSO.HMSO's records show, for as far back as they are available, that statutory instruments were being printed by commercial contractors in January 1965. It is likely that the practice is somewhat older. Currently, around half the printing work for statutory instruments is contracted out at an annual cost of some £200,000. In order to put the validity of this practice in relation to statutory instruments beyond doubt, the Government intend to legislate before the summer recess. The legislation will be retrospective in effect in order to cover existing statutory instruments printed for, rather than by, HMSO.The privatisation process, subject to meeting the safeguards required by Parliament, will continue as planned with completion during the summer and on the basis that the Queen's Printer would be able to print all statutory instruments. Meanwhile, HMSO will enter into no more external printing contracts for statutory instruments.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement regarding the ethical issues relating to information superhighways. [33013]

The development of information superhighways and the growth of multimedia applications raise a number of issues which are relevant to the responsibilities of several Government Departments and other bodies. The CCTA in particular has been working on research which has made an important contribution to consideration within Government. Since questions of information superhighways regulation bear particularly strongly upon the responsibilities of the Department of Trade and Industry, I have agreed with my hon. Friend the Minister for Science and Technology that his Department will take the lead in any Government statements in this area. On 21 May 1996, my hon. Friend made a speech to the Internet Service Providers Association setting out the Government's views on these matters. A copy of the speech has been placed in the House Library.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what measures he is proposing at the EU intergovernmental conference to promote deregulation. [32621]

Making less, but better EC legislation remains a priority for the Government. As we made clear in the IGC White Paper, we will continue our efforts to achieve this both inside and outside the IGC.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the rules or guidance which govern the relationship between Secretaries of State and junior Ministers. [33111]

"Questions of Procedure for Ministers" describes the roles of Ministers in charge of Departments and Ministers outside the Cabinet. The distribution of ministerial responsibilities is published in the "List of Ministerial Responsibilities".

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, pursuant to the answer of 16 February 1995, Official Report, column 805, what has been the cost of maintenance, including figures for fees and VAT payments, of Century house since 16 February 1995; and what plans there are for the building. [33383]

Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to Property Advisers to the Civil Estate, under its chief executive, Mr. Neil Borrett. I have asked him to reply to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local government contracts subject to compulsory competitive tendering have been awarded (a) in-house and (b) to private companies. [33286]

Information is not held centrally by the Department but the latest Local Government Management Board survey shows that the private sector currently has 24.8 per cent. of contracts by value, in-house teams have 73.3 per cent. and the other 1.7 per cent. are held by a management buy-out companies or joint venture companies.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many decisions by his Department were challenged by way of judicial review in each Session since 1991–92; and if he will list in how many cases (a) the Department's decision was upheld by the court, (b) the court found for the applicant, (c) the Department submitted to the judgment and (d) the Department appealed successfully against the judicial review decision. [33566]

Information is not held centrally in a form which would enable the Secretary of State to answer this question without incurring disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment on how many occasions in each Session since 1991–92 legislation has been introduced into Parliament by his Department, with the purpose of (a) removing the effects of a judicial review decision or (b) implementing a judicial review decision; and if he will list the relevant legislative provisions. [33585]

There has been one instance in which legislation has been introduced into Parliament with the purpose of partially reversing a decision of the court in a case of judicial review against a local authority. This was the case of R. v. London borough of Ealing ex parte Lewis, where it was held that the local housing authority did not have power to include certain expenditure on sheltered accommodation in its housing revenue account. Sections 126 and 127 of the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 were introduced to change this effect of the decision. Parallel provisions were introduced for Scotland in sections 149 and 150 of that Act.There have been no instances of legislation introduced to implement a judicial review decision.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many core posts there were in the Joint Nature Conservation Committee in1994–95 and (ii) 1995–96; and how many are projected for 1996–97. [33320]

The average number of permanent posts and fixed-term appointments assigned to the JNCC in the financial years in question is:

	1994–95	1995–96	1996–97
Permanent	53	49	43
Fixed term	44	34	34

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list (a) the mineral sites on the first lists of sites prepared by all mineral planning authorities in compliance with mineral planning guidance note 14 where the sites are wholly or partly within sites of special scientific interest and (b) the names of the sites of special scientific interest concerned. [33529]

This information is not held centrally. It can be obtained from individual mineral planning authorities who are statutorily responsible for preparing the first lists of mineral sites in their areas.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made with preparing a strategy for environmental education. [33900]

I commissioned Jennifer Jones, a secondee to my Department, to carry out a review of education, training and awareness about the environment. She prepared a report which made a range of recommendations to the key players in environmental education. We have drawn up a strategy for environmental education on the basis of this report which takes account of the recommendations in it, and provides a framework within which to consider how they should be taken forward.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to lay before Parliament a draft of the guidance that Ministers are required to give to the Environment Agency under section 4 of the Environment Act 1955. [33973]

With my right hon. and learned Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales, I am today laying before the House a draft of the guidance which Ministers are required under section 4 of the Environment Act 1995 to give to the Environment Agency on its objectives, including the contribution it is to make towards the achievement of sustainable development.We will also provide to the Environment Agency an explanatory document which sets the statutory guidance into context and offers a commentary on the agency's duty to take account of likely costs and benefits. Copies of this document have been placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his policy on the payment of housing benefit to banks and building societies to meet the costs of housing association loans. [31982]

I have been asked to reply.Housing benefit may be paid by a local authority directly to a claimant's landlord in order to protect public funds. Regulations also provide local authorities with discretion to determine the appropriate method of payment which may result in payments being made directly into a bank or building society account. It is for landlords to decide how they wish to use these funds, which may include the repayment of a loan.Local authorities do not pay housing benefit to banks or building societies to meet housing association loans. It is available to help tenants meet their reasonable rent liability.

To ask the Prime Minister what proportion of those recommended for honours were civil servants, members of the armed forces and Government employees (a) in each of the two years prior to the changes of 1993 and (b) in each year thereafter. [33051]

Figures for civil servants are not available separately. The proportions of state servants¹ awarded honours in the new year and birthday lists of around 1,000 names each, are listed. The number of military awards² shows the number of awards in the defence services lists, which are purely military, issued at the same time following recommendations to the Queen by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Defence:

Year	Percentage of state servants1	Number of military awards2
1991	19	533
1992	19	527
1993	18	475
1994	17	424
1995	16	320
1996	17	315
1 Figures are for state servants which include not only civil servants in headquarters, professional and local posts, but also those giving wider state service, for example in the museums and galleries field; to both Houses of Parliament; and as circuit judges.
2 The numbers of military awards include members of the regular and reserve forces but exclude special lists for awards in a designated theatre (during the period from 1991 these have included Northern Ireland and the Gulf) Between 1994 and 1996, 56 meritorious awards were taken from the honours lists and were published separately in operational lists.

Since March 1993, any automatic recognition to staff in particular posts has ceased. Awards for state servants are selected on merit, reflecting service beyond what might normally be expected.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what was the cost in each of the past five years of (a) sick pay and (b) compensation paid to employees of his Department or their families, or members of the public, as a result of (i) minor, (ii) major and (iii) fatal injuries related to the work of his Department, detailing incidents involving information technology and those involving expenditure of more than £5,000; [33482](2) what was the cost in each of the past five years of rectifying working conditions that were the responsibility of his Department and its agencies, to bring them up to acceptable health and safety standards, detailing incidents involving information technology and those involving expenditure of more than £5,000. [33483]

The information is not available in the form requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions in each of the past five years health and safety problems in his Department and its agencies have been reported via internal monitoring; and on how many occasions the Health and Safety Commission has become involved. [33480]

Comprehensive figures are not available. Problems reported in the last three years by FCO and ODA staff working in the UK were as follows:

• 1993: 27
• 1994: 146
• 1995: 161

In addition, on-going training and workplace risk assessment programmes have identified other problems, but figures are not recorded centrally.The Health and Safety Commission has not become involved with any problems.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many (a) minor, (b) major and (c) fatal injuries have been suffered by staff in his Department and its agencies in work-related incidents in each of the past five years, showing in each year how many were related to information technology and giving details of all incidents involving fatalities. [33481]

Comprehensive figures for reported accidents suffered by FCO and ODA staff working in the UK are available for only the last three years. Details are as follows:

	1993	1994	1995
Minor	131	131	101
Major	19	11	12
Fatalities	—	—	—

Information technology related accidents are included in these statistics, but are not separately identifiable.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the average time taken for vehicle crossings from (a) Gibraltar to Spain and (b) Spain to Gibraltar in each of the last eight weeks for which figures are available. [33242]

Average delays are:

• (a) Gibraltar to Spain
• 17–23 April: 90–180 minutes
• 24–30 April: 90–120 minutes
• 1–7 May: 90–12 minutes
• 8–14 May: 45–90 minutes
• 15–21 May: 45–20 minutes
• 22–28 May: 60–80 minutes
• 29 May–4 June: 80–180
• 5–11 June: 10–20
• (b) Spain to Gibraltar
• 17–23 April: 20–30 minutes
• 24–30 April:45–60 minutes
• 1–7May: 10–45 minutes
• 8–14 May: 10–60 minutes
• 15–21 May: 0–60 minutes
• 22–28 May: 0–60 minutes
• 29 May–4 June: 0–30 minutes
• 5–11 June: 10–40 minutes

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the European Commission in respect of delays in vehicle crossings between Spain and Gibraltar. [33241]

We have raised with the European Commission our strong concerns about these delays.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his Department's policy concerning a nuclear fissile material cut-off convention; and what assessment he has made of the impact of such a convention on international security. [33189]

We supported the mandate agreed at the conference on disarmament in Geneva in March 1995 for an ad hoc committee to begin work on a treaty banning the future production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices—fissile material cut-off treaty, FMCT.Such a ban could be a significant contribution to non-proliferation and international security, provided that it enjoyed wide support including from those countries which have not yet signed the nuclear non-proliferation treaty. We therefore continue to urge all members of the conference on disarmament to support an early start to negotiations to conclude a satisfactory and universally applicable FMCT.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many applications for the issue of visas to Russian citizens to visit the United Kingdom were received by (i) the British embassy in Moscow and (ii) the consulate in St. Petersburg. [33436]

The number of UK visit visa applications received from Russian citizens by our posts in Moscow and St. Petersburg in 1995 were.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has taken part in about the future of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Haiti. [33538]

The United Kingdom mission in New York has participated fully in Security Council discussions on the future of the UN mission in Haiti.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many decisions by his Department were challenged by way of judicial review in each Session since 1991–92; and if he will list in how many cases (a) the Department's decision was upheld by the court, (b) the court found for the applicant, (c) the Department submitted to the judgment and (d) the Department appealed successfully against the judicial review decision. [33565]

This information is not held centrally. So far as I have been able to ascertain, six applications for judicial review have been decided in the period in question, in two of which the applicants were successful. The Department did not appeal in either case.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions in each Session since 1991–92 legislation has been introduced into Parliament by his Department, with the purpose of (a) removing the effects of a judicial review decision or (b)implementing a judicial review decision; and if he will list the relevant legislative provisions. [33586]

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's policy towards the National Council of Resistance of Iran; and if he will make a statement. [33714]

It is our long-standing policy not to have any official contact with the National Council of Resistance of Iran. The NCRI is a coalition dominated by the Mojahedin-e-Khalq—MKO—Islamic group, which has a long history of involvement with Iraq.The MKO has been seeking western support by portraying itself as a "democratic" alternative to the present Iranian regime. It is difficult to reconcile this with the MKO's history of violence. Our European and US partners share our general approach to the MKO. We have no intention of recognising it as an alternative to the present Government in Tehran.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much her Department spent on postage in the financial years 1994–95 and 1995–96; and how many items were posted during these periods. [32840]

Expenditure on postage in the financial years 1994–95 and 1995–96 was £1,363,741 and £1,274,376. Figures for the number of items posted in 1994–95 are not available but the 1995–96 figure is approximately 4 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will provide (i) the percentage of pupils achieving a grade G or higher, (ii) the percentage achieving a grade C or higher, and (iii) the average point score per pupil in (a) GCSE English language, (b) GCSE mathematics and (c) both English language and mathematics; and if he will provide the same by gender in each case, for all 15-year-old pupils in the maintained sector of each local education authority area for 1992 and 1995, on the same basis as the DFEE school performance tables. [32954]

The data are contained in a number of tables, copies of which will be placed in the Library.The tables for 1992 and 1995 give (i) the percentage of pupils achieving a grade G or higher, (ii) the percentage of pupils achieving a grade C or higher, (iii) the average point score per pupil in

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment which statistics her Department has discontinued (a) the collection and (b) the publication of since 1989. [32857]

Changes in the basis of compilation, presentation and publication of statistical series are made from time to time in response to the requirements of the Government and international organisations for statistical information. Others reflect changes in administrative systems on which some series are based, the developments of new statistical techniques and technological developments affecting the compilation and dissemination of statistical data. When such changes are made, they are fully documented in the relevant statistical publications. It would be disproportionately costly to identify all the changes in our surveys and publications since 1989, therefore this reply covers those regular surveys and publications which have entirely ceased.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many inspections have been undertaken of registered establishments in the first two months of the current financial year; and what proportion of establishments these costs represent within each authority participating in the pilot scheme for nursery vouchers. [33271]

No inspections of private and voluntary sector institutions participating in the nursery education voucher scheme can take place until the Nursery Education and Grant-Maintained Schools Bill has been given Royal Assent and has been commenced.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what are the qualifications required of the inspectors of under-fives establishments who have been newly recruited; and what proportion of these inspectors have each of the required qualifications. [33269]

In recruiting candidates for training to be registered nursery inspectors, the chief inspector of schools takes into account both relevant experience and qualifications as well as personal references.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many additional new inspectors have been recruited by The Office for Standards in Education in (a) February, (b) March, (c) April and (d) May to undertake inspection of establishments for nursery education. [33270]

For phase 1, the chief inspector invited 100 candidates to be nursery education inspectors to attend training courses in May 1996, and a further 120 and 100 in June and July 1996.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what criteria are used in the allocation of funding by the Higher Education Funding Council in the areas of science and technology; and if she will make a statement. [33169]

The Higher Education Funding Council for England allocates funds for science and technology research selectively to higher education institutions on the basis of competition. The main criterion is departments' relative strengths in research according to national and international standards, as measured in the periodic research assessment exercises. Other criteria include success in collaborating with industry and other users on research, leading to expertise and knowledge which can be used by higher education, industry and the community at large.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to her answer of 4 June, Official Report, column 398–99, how many schools in Gloucestershire have made use of the guidance available from the National Council for Educational Technology on the use of the Internet. [33127]

Advice and training sessions on the Internet have been offered to all local education authority and grant-maintained schools in Gloucestershire through the school library service libraries of the future project which is supported by the National Council for Education Technology, NCET. During the project, 24 secondary schools, seven primary and two special schools in Gloucestershire took part in the sessions. In addition, four schools requested information sheets on the Internet from the NCET.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many young people with an educational qualification below national vocational qualification level 2 in the Hemsworth constituency (i) have been and (ii) are being trained by the Wakefield training and enterprise council. [33239]

I understand that, since April 1995, 157 young people in the Hemsworth constituency have attended courses organised by Wakefield training and enterprise council, leading to a qualification below NVQ level 2. Of these, 32 young people are being trained by the TEC at present.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many young people in the age range 18 to 25 years (a) resident in the Hems worth constituency and (b) in related travel-to-work areas have attained national vocational qualification level 2. [33238]

The information is not available in the format requested.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many (a) primary or infant and (b) secondary schools are now grant-maintained; how many applications in each sector are pending; and if she will make a statement. [33146]

As at 12 June, there are 457 grant-maintained, GM, primary and 646 GM secondary schools operating. Nursery schools are not eligible to become GM. A further 24 primary schools and 11 secondary schools either have published, or are due to publish, applications for GM status following ballots in which the parents voted in favour of the school becoming GM.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when her Department was advised of the proposal advanced by Church of England education authorities to transfer the St. Mary's school in East street, Southend-on-Sea to vacant premises owned by the Essex county council in Boston avenue, Southend; on what grounds her Department's permission is required for the change of location; and when she expects to come to a decision on the matter. [33553]

The Secretary of State's approval is required for all proposals published under section 13 of the Education Act 1980 to transfer a school to a new site. The governing body of St. Mary's school published proposals on 12 January 1995, and we hope to reach a decision shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the public expenditure on higher education in England (a) including and (b) excluding expenditure on student maintenance in (i) cash terms, (ii) real terms and (iii) expressed as percentage of United Kingdom gross domestic product for each financial year since 1989–90; and what is planned for 1996–97, 1997–98 and 1998–99. [33344]

The information for 1989–0 to 1995–6 is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions in each of the past five years health and safety problems in his Department and its agencies have been reported via internal monitoring; and on how many occasions the Health and Safety Commission has become involved. [33472]

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the cost in each of the past five years of rectifying working conditions that were the responsibility of his Department and it agencies, to bring them up to acceptable health and safety standards, detailing incidents involving information technology and those involving expenditure of more than £5,000. [33475]

Information is not held in a way which would enable this question to be answered. Rectification of working conditions could cover a wide range of measures, including for example re-arrangement of office furniture, changes in working practices and major structural changes to buildings. Not all of these would be recorded and not all of them could be costed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) minor, (b) major and (c) fatal injuries have been suffered by staff in his Department and its agencies in work-related incidents in each of the past five years, showing in each year how many were related to information technology and giving details of all incidents involving fatalities. [33473]

This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, a MOD-wide accident and incident reporting system is being developed and should be supplemented by April 1997. The system will enable information about accidents occurring from April 1997. The system will enable information about accidents occurring from April 1997 onwards to be recorded centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department spent during the financial years 1994–95 and 1995–96 on sending civil servants accompanying Ministers from his Department on official duties abroad. [32419]

The information requested is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which statistics his Department has discontinued (a) the collection and (b) the publication of since 1989. [32864]

This is a matter for the Defence Analytical Services Agency, DASA, under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department spent on postage in the financial years 1994–95 and 1995–96; and how many items were posted during these periods. [32846]

This is a matter for the Defence Postal and Courier Services Agency, DPCS under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what studies he has evaluated in respect of his Department's involvement in the polar orbiting meteorological—METOP—satellite project; and what assessment he has made of the benefits of the project for United Kingdom industry. [33252]

My Department is evaluating reports prepared internally and by European Meteorological Satellite—EUMETSAT—and the European Space Agency—ESA—in respect of its involvement in, and requirements for, the METOP satellite project. The benefits to UK industry is a matter for my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's forecast of the total manpower strength of the United Kingdom armed forces on 1 April 1999. [33187]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on 25 March, Official Report, column 443.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has had with his German counterpart concerning the future large aircraft programme. [33188]

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence has not recently discussed the future large aircraft programme with his German counterpart. However, when I met State Secretary Simon on Monday 11 March, the future large aircraft programme was among the subjects we discussed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assistance he has given to countries of the former Soviet Union to assist with the dismantling of their nuclear weapon stocks. [33190]

The UK has supplied the Russian Government with 250 armoured supercontainers, 20 heavy-duty vehicles and spares to assist with the safe and secure dismantlement of their surplus nuclear warheads. The cost of this programme to the UK has been approximately £35 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the estimated annual cost to his Department of providing bed-and-breakfast accommodation for service personnel and their families in (a) 1995–96, (b) 1994–95, (c) 1993–94, (d) 1992–93,(e) 1991–92 and (f) 1978–79. [33335]

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions in each Session since 1991–2 legislation has been introduced into Parliament by his Department, with the purpose of (a) removing the effects of a judicial review decision or (b) implementing a judicial review decision; and if he will list the relevant legislative provisions. [33583]

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the number of overshoots at Gatwick and Heathrow airports for each of the last five years. [32786]

Statistics for runway overshoots for the whole of the period requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, figures are available for 1994 and 1995 and are as follows:

	Gatwick	Heathrow
1994	332	406
1995	355	446

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what programmes he is putting in place to ensure that all UK regional airports can benefit from EU public service obligation funding. [32804]

EC legislation allows member states to impose a public service obligation on a scheduled air service to an airport serving a peripheral or development region in its territory or on a thin route to any regional airport in its territory, where the route is considered vital for the economic development of the region and the availability of other forms of transport is limited. A subsidy may be paid where no operator is able to provide a commercial service which complies with the terms of the PSO.In the UK, certain routes serving the western and northern islands of Scotland are regarded as lifeline routes. The operator of air services on these routes receives subsidy from the Scottish Office or local government. PSOs are progressively being imposed on the routes in line with EC legislation, and any subsidies required will continue to be provided by the Scottish Office and the islands councils. At present, no PSOs have been imposed on mainland services.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the expected date for the opening of the A249 Iwade bypass (M2 to Kingsferry Bridge); what is the latest estimated cost of the project; and what factors underlay the delay in the completion of the scheme. [33249]

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the studies that have been undertaken by his Department in connection with the preparation of the draft orders for the A249 Iwade to Queensborough corner improvement scheme including the second crossing of the Swale; what is the estimated cost of consultation and planning work leading to the publication of the draft orders; and what is the latest estimated cost of the project. [33248]

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list by traffic area office, the constituencies within each traffic area boundary. [33296]

I have placed the information the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the total running costs for the traffic area co-ordination division within his Department. [33295]

The total running costs budget for 1996–97 for the traffic area co-ordination division—now the traffic area network unit—is £629,428.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the number of (a) heavy goods vehicles and (b) public service vehicles authorised to operate in each traffic office area. [33294]

The number of heavy goods vehicles and public service vehicles authorised to operate in each traffic office area as at March 1996 is as follows:

TAO	HGVs	PSVs
NETA	64,189	13,104
NWTA	66,864	12,853
WMTA	43,454	7,203
ETA	67,621	9,831
SWTA	17,120	4,196
WTA	54,580	11,089
SEMTA	51,658	13,026
SCOTA	37,090	10,332

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list by traffic area office the number of objections to the issue of an operator's licence received from the police for each of the last five years.[33297]

The numbers are as follows:

TAO	1991–92	1992–93	1993–94	1994–95	1995–96
North Eastern	9	5	5	6	4
North Western	1	0	1	2	2
West Midlands	0	0	0	0	0
Eastern	2	33	22	29	29
South Wales	0	0	0	0	0
Western	6	12	6	7	2
South Eastern and Metropolitan	38	36	26	10	10
Scottish	0	1	1	0	2

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the areas of policy which have been devolved to next steps agencies since April 1992. [33362]

Ministers retain overall responsibility for policy and would be consulted on any major decisions. Officials of the Department's agencies prepare policy advice for Ministers where they are in the best position to do so. Two agencies have specific day-to-day policy development responsibilities within a framework determined by Ministers.The Marine Safety Agency, established in April 1994, has responsibility for developing and reviewing marine safety and pollution prevention policies and standards and to represent the Department's interests in those areas nationally and internationally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the number of motorists who currently drive without vehicle insurance. [33556]

None.

To ask the secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has come forward with to tackle the problem of uninsured drivers; following his Department's consultation with the Association of British Insurers. [33557]

I am expecting a formal report from the Association of British Insurers soon. We will be deciding on the way forward after we have seen that report.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has completed his review of policy on fifth freedom passenger charter flights. [33701]

On 10 January this year, my noble friend the Minister for Aviation and Shipping announced a package of measures relating to the safety of foreign-registered aircraft, one of which was a review of policy on charter flights from the UK by airlines from countries other than those they are serving, known as fifth freedom charters. We have now completed the review of passenger charter flights, following consultation with UK airlines, tour operators and brokers and other interested bodies. We intend to make a number of changes aimed at ensuring that fifth freedom charter services continue to be the exception to the normal rule that UK holidaymakers travelling by charter airline should be carried either on UK carriers or on carriers from the country of destination. The changed procedures will give UK airlines more opportunity to offer services, while continuing to allow some flexibility, in the interests of passengers, where they are not able to do so.The changes are as follows:-

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to transfer the responsibility for the enforcement of road tax to local authorities. [33552]

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to promote competition and consumer choice between the principal London airports. [32128]

The Government's response to the report of the runway capacity in the south east group stated that they wished to provide the opportunity for the less busy airports in the south-east to develop. Greater choice for consumers is also promoted by the Government's policies for liberalisation of air services. The RUCATSE response highlighted the opening up of Stansted and Luton for transatlantic flights.The Transport Select Committee report on UK airport capacity, published on 21 May, included a recommendation that, during the present quinquennial review of BAA, the Civil Aviation Authority and Monopolies and Mergers Commission re-examine whether BAA should remain the provider of services to the three main south-east airports, or whether Gatwick and Stansted should be owned and operated separately from Heathrow. The Government will be responding to the TSC report in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) on how many occasions in each Session since 1991–92 legislation has been introduced into Parliament by his Department, with the purpose of (a) removing the effects of a judicial review decision or (b) implementing a judicial review decision; and if he will list the relevant legislative provisions; [33591](2) how many decisions by his Department were challenged by way of judicial review in each Session since 1991–92; and if he will list in how many cases

This information is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the number of pharmacies in Northern Ireland by year since 1979. [33080]

The information requested is not available prior to 1983. The number of pharmacies in Northern Ireland in April of each year since 1983 is as follows:

• 1983: 509
• 1984: 511
• 1985: 520
• 1986: 523
• 1987: 534
• 1988: 527
• 1989: 513
• 1990: 510
• 1991: 506
• 1992: 506
• 1993: 510
• 1994: 508
• 1995: 502
• 1996: 504.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list (a) the customer charters which are currently in use within his Department and its executive agencies and (b) the charters which have been withdrawn. [32834]

Eleven charters published by the Northern Ireland Office, Northern Ireland Departments and their agencies are currently in use. A list is given below.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish table 8 on page 16 of "The Growth of Social Security" updated to 1995–96. [32484]

The information is set out in the table.