To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the number and types of incidents reported to the Prison Service since 1 March in relation to Buckley Hall prison. [30679]

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 prisoners are unlawfully at large having failed to return from authorised leave at each male category C prison. [30806]

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 much his Department spent in recruiting staff to his Department and its executive agencies during the 1994–95 and 1995–96 financial years; and how many staff were recruited in each of these years. [31391]

Excluding the Prison Service and recruitment undertaken locally within the main Home Office, apart from the immigration and nationality directorate, the Home Office spent £824,829 in 1994–95 on the recruitment of 939 staff. In 1995–96, the Home Office spent £1,059,426 on the recruitment of 1,172 staff. These figures exclude staff costs. Figures for the Prison Service and recruitment undertaken locally within the main Home Office, apart from the immigration and nationality directorate, could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what was, for each fire authority in England and Wales the number of (a) fires and (b) injuries and fatalities sustained in fires on residential, holiday and touring caravan sites in the years 1990 to 1995 inclusive; [31857](2) what was the number of

The readily available information for England and Wales and Scotland is given in the first table, with 1993 data for each fire authority given in the second table. Data for each separate fire authority for each year could be produced only at disproportionate cost. Data for 1994 and 1995 are not yet available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many British citizens with right of abode in the United Kingdom are currently living in (a) the European Union, (b) Commonwealth countries, (c) the United States of America, (d) Switzerland and (e) the rest of the world outside the United Kingdom. [32027]

There were 420,000 British citizens resident in other countries now in the European Union and 19,000 resident in Switzerland on 1 January 1993. Later data, and the other information requested, are not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the creation of the new constitutional unit in his office and list its responsibilities. [32265]

The constitutional unit was set up as part of the reorganisation of the Home Office which followed its senior management review. It is responsible for advice on the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, elections, human rights and royal and constitutional issues.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will ensure that the census in the year 2001 includes questions relating to the number of people in Wales who understand the Welsh language. [31307]

The census offices expect to include questions in the 2001 census in Wales on whether respondents understand, speak, read and write Welsh. This would provide additional information to the questions asked in the 1991 census which covered speaking, reading, and writing Welsh, but not understanding Welsh.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what reports he has received of difficulties experienced by the Inland Revenue in respect of self-assessment income tax returns in the pilot areas operating this scheme. [31423]

A prototype of the self-assessment tax return has been used in a trial in Leicester involving 5,000 taxpayers. Results of that trial are currently being evaluated and a report will be published later in the year. I understand that this will suggest that the results are in line with Inland Revenue expectations of taxpayer behaviour. Feedback from the trial did inform the continuing consultation on the self-assessment tax return and a number of changes were made to the return as a result of live trial experiences.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the movement each month in 1996 of the pound against (a) the US dollar and (b) the German mark. [31931]

Figures for monthly averages in 1996 of sterling's exchange rate against the dollar and the deutschmark are as follows:

	£/$	£/DM
January 1996	1.53	2.24
February 1996	1.54	2.25
March 1996	1.53	2.26
April 1996	1.52	2.28
May 1996	1.51	2.32

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received regarding re-entry into the European exchange rate mechanism at existing parities with particular reference to the effect on exports; and if he will make a statement. [31933]

None. The UK will not rejoin the European exchange rate mechanism 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 estimate he has made of the total amount of public funds invested in the nationalised industries since 1966 in 1996 prices. [31926]

The total amount of capital expenditure by public corporations, which include the nationalised industries, from 1966–67 to 1994–95 was £358 billion at 1994–95 prices. Of that, £135 billion was financed by capital grants or net lending from the general government sector. No separate information on the nationalised industries is held for the earlier part of this period.

To ask the Chancellor the Exchequer 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. [32412]

Expenditure on travel and subsistence overseas in the two years is included in the published running costs.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the readiness of his Department's information technology projects for the start of income tax self-assessment in April 1997. [31782]

[holding answer 7 June 1996]: The information technology system for self-assessment is being developed in the form of a number of related tranches. Their readiness to perform the task of delivering self-assessment will be assessed on a continuing basis as software testing is undertaken during the remainder of this year and the early part of 1987.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the likely cost overrun on the information technology projects associated with the move to income tax self-assessment; and if he will make a statement. [31791]

[holding answer 7 June 1996]: The Inland Revenue is keeping costs to completion of the information technology projects under continuous review. These costs remain within budget.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals he has to amend legislation in relation to the offence of insider dealing; and if he will make a statement. [32058]

[holding answer 10 June 1996]: I have no proposals to amend part V of the Criminal Justice Act 1993. An order will be made shortly under section 64(2) of that Act to update the lists of regulated markets in the Insider Dealing (Securities and Regulated Markets) Order 1994.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment which grant-maintained schools have hosted "Going GM" open days at the request of the Department; how many invitations have been issued to each; how many people have attended each; what has been the cost of each; and how many further such open days it is planned to hold. [28608]

GM schools "open days" have given head teachers and governors from local authority schools opportunities to see how GM schools are run and to discuss the implications of GM status with staff and governors. Since March 1994 the Department has supported 26 such open days, with a further six scheduled to take place this term. We do not hold information on the number of invitations sent. An average of 14 delegates attend each of the days held so far. Costs vary, because schools make their own arrangements. The average cost so far, where a claim has been submitted, is some £430 for staff costs, including preparation for the day, and some £540 for other costs such as administered and catering. The average cost per head is some £70. We are reviewing the range of activities undertaken to provide information about the GM programme, taking account of the forthcoming White Paper on extending self-government for schools.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what are the criteria for the nomination and selection of members of training and enterprise councils; and if she will make a statement. [32477]

Training and enterprise councils are private companies. The appointment of directors to TEC boards is determined by the members of the company acting in accordance with the company's articles of association and the eligibility conditions set by the TEC's contract with Government. It is for each TEC to decide on its own membership in accordance with the TEC National Council's "Framework for the Local Accountability of TECs" which has as its first principle clarity and openness in the selection of well-qualified and trained board members.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of the overseas development assistance budget is spent on projects and programmes which are primarily designed to meet the objective of the promotion of democracy and good governance. [32470]

ODA bilateral assistance in 1994–95 totalled £1,120 million. Our policy information marker system covered £624.5 million, of which £164.3 million or 26 per cent. was spent on projects and programmes where good government was either a principal or significant objective. We are not able to disaggregate our multilateral contributions to identify expenditure on good government.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received about the likely motive for the murder of Chief Abiola's wife, Mrs. Kudirat Abiola, on 4 June. [32513]

We have received no reports about the likely motive. We welcome the Nigerian Government's undertaking to investigate the circumstances of Mrs. Abiola's death promptly and to bring those responsible to justice.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much his Department spent in recruiting staff to his Department and its executive agencies during the 1994–95 and 1995–96 financial years; and how many staff were recruited in each of these years. [31393]

In 1994–95 and 1995–96 the number of permanent staff recruited to the central Department and executive agencies, and the cost of that recruitment was as follows:

Year	Numbers recruited	Cost £000
Central Department
1994–95	37	216
1995–96	17	51
Executive agencies1
1994–95	82	168
1995–96	129	173
HSE
1994–95	83	266
1995–96	154	145
1 Excluding the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures her Department has implemented during the last 12 months to encourage the promotion of women into senior positions with his Department and its executive agencies; and what progress her Department has made in encouraging the promotion of women over the last five years. [31543]

Specific action increasing opportunities for women over the last 12 months includes the issue of guidance to remind staff about the Department's policy on sexual harassment and their rights and responsibilities; detailed analysis of a new internal advertising scheme for job vacancies to ensure that it operates fairly; and the preparation of a leaflet on equal opportunities publicising the Department's policy. Items of particular relevance to women cover flexible working and coping with caring responsibilities; plans to reimburse additional expenses for the care of elderly and infirm dependents when the normal working routine is broken; and as a follow-up to a departmental review and staff attitude survey, a study is being undertaken to consider to what extent long hours working impacts on staff and how it might be reduced.Most of the above initiatives were taken under the Department's action plan for women published in 1993. Many others have been in place since then or earlier. They include:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consultations he has had with the Health and Safety Executive regarding the substantial increase in major accidents in the deep coal mining industry for 1995–96. [31930]

None. The mines inspectorate of HSE conducts an investigation into all major accidents in the coal industry.While there has been an increase in serious accidents, the overall trend in reported accidents, including fatalities, continues on a downward trend. Every effort must be made to reduce accidents further, but the UK deep coal mining industry remains one of the safest in the world.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to inquire into the management of safety in the deep coal mining industry following the increases in major accident figures in 1995–96. [31929]

None. I am satisfied that the mines inspectorate of HSE give proper priority to ensuring the effective management of safety in the deep coal mining industry.While there has been an increase in serious accidents, the overall trend in reported accidents, including fatalities, continues on a downward trend. Every effort must be made to reduce accidents further but the UK deep coal mining industry remains one of the safest in the world.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to make the payment of housing benefit and council tax benefit in the areas of local authority work to be subject to compulsory competitive tendering. [31972]

Our proposals for changes to the framework for compulsory competitive tendering for professional services includes a proposal to raise the percentage of financial services work which must be exposed to competition from 35 per cent. to 65 per cent., and limit the availability of exemptions from CCT for authorities which cannot meet that requirement without exposing benefits work to competition. The legal definition of financial services work includes benefits work and relevant authorities may well choose to expose this work to competition in order to meet their competition requirements.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has in the event of private sector management of the payment of housing and council tax benefits to ensure (a) confidentiality of claimant information and (b) adequate training in the processing of claims. [31973]

Statutory guidance on the conduct of compulsory competitive tendering—DOE circular 5/96—advises that it is for local authorities to specify the work to be done and the standards which must be met. Within this framework, it is for relevant local authorities to ensure that the confidentiality of claimant information is properly protected and that staff who are processing claims have appropriate training.Further guidance in relation to housing and council tax benefit is contained within DSS circular HB/CTB A2/95.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment where the private sector has competed for public sector work in the last five years, what percentage of work it has won. [31974]

Latest available figures from the November 1995 survey by the Local Government Management Board show that the private sector held 25 per cent. of contracts, by value, tendered by local authorities under the Local Government Act 1988. The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy figures for 1994–95 for work tendered under the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 show the private sector holding 56 per cent. of contracts, by value.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what response he has made to the conclusion of the report of the Business Services Association in respect of voluntary contracting out, a copy of which has been sent to him. [31975]

The Secretary of State agrees with the Business Services Association that many local authorities have failed to secure for their electorates and taxpayers the benefits of private sector provision of public sector services. Voluntary contracting out is one way of securing such benefits. It is pleasing to note that the director general of the Business Services Association has welcomed our proposals for changes to the framework for compulsory competitive tendering of professional services, which we announced on 21 May.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many tonnes of asbestos has been imported into the United Kingdom in each year since 1970. [32031]

This information is not available in the required form. However, it is estimated that imports of asbestos peaked in 1973 at around 195,000 tonnes, and have since declined to around 11,000 tonnes per annum. Imports of blue and brown asbestos ceased in 1972 and 1980 respectively.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many prosecutions have been made since 1970 for breach of asbestos regulations. [32035]

Information is readily available only since 1 April 1986. The latest year for which information is available is 1994–95. The number of informations laid under asbestos regulations by inspectors in HSE's field operations directorate since 1 April 1986 is shown in the table:

Regulations	Informations laid from 1986/87 to 1994/95
Asbestos Regulations 19691	35
Asbestos (Licensing) Regulations 1983	133
Asbestos (Prohibitions) Regulations 19852	nil
Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 1987	269
Asbestos (Prohibitions) Regulations 1992	nil
1 Revoked from 1 March 1988
2 Revoked from 1 January 1993.

Details of proceedings taken by other enforcing authorities under the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974 are not readily available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the research which he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the development of knowledge of the hazardous properties of asbestos. [32033]

The hazardous properties of asbestos are well known and have been extensively researched by my Department. The results of that work and work commissioned by others are well documented in the scientific literature. Recently, the Department of the Environment has been researching the risks to health from exposure to asbestos in the non-workplace environment. The results of this research will be published early next year. Information on DOE's research programme is published biannually in "Research Report, DOE Science". In addition, the Helath and Safety Executive continues its programme of research into the hazards of asbestos and other fibrous materials in the workplace. Information on HSE's research programme is given in its publication "Mainstream Research Market 1996–97". HSE will also shortly publish a review of the toxicology of fibrous materials.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many approvals the Health and Safety Executive has withdrawn for respiratory protective equipment associated with asbestos work since January 1990. [32028]

None. However, since July 1995, new respiratory protective equipment has not required the Health and Safety Executive's approval.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much money the Health and Safety Executive has spent on researching measures to prevent exposure to asbestos at the workplace for each year since 1986. [31989]

The information requested is not readily available in a disaggregated form. The Health and Safety Executive sponsors a wide-ranging programme of research to underpin its enforcement, technical standard-setting and policy work. Some of this addresses measures to prevent exposure to asbestos specifically, but other parts of it cover more general aspects of exposure control that nevertheless have an impact on controlling exposure to asbestos.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much asbestos is currently estimated to exist in United Kingdom buildings. [31991]

This information is not available in the required form. However, the Department of the Environment has commissioned research to estimate the amount of asbestos in homes. The results of this research will be published early next year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many notifications of asbestos work have been recorded by the Health and Safety Executive for each year since 1986. [31993]

The Health and Safety Executive does not maintain a central record of notifications received by its area offices under the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 1987 or under the conditions of licences granted under the Asbestos (Licensing) Regulations 1983. However, a telephone survey of HSE area offices undertaken in December 1995 produced the following figures:

Year	Notifications received under the conditions of licences granted under the Asbestos (Licensing) Regulations 1983
1992–93	8,895
1993–94	7,954
1994–95	7,829

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many tonnes of asbestos roof tiles were imported into the United Kingdom in each year since 1990. [32030]

This information is not available in the required form. However, it is estimated that around 40 per cent. of the asbestos currently imported into the United Kingdom is used for producing asbestos cement, and this cement is largely used for roofing products and slates.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment which asbestos products are currently used in building materials. [32034]

White asbestos may be used in building materials apart from those products specified in the schedule to the Asbestos (Prohibitions) Regulations 1992 (SI 3067). In practice, the main current use of asbestos is in asbestos cement roofing products and cladding. The use of blue and brown asbestos was banned in 1986 and this ban was extended to all other forms of amphibole asbestos in 1993.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much money has been provided by the Health and Safety Executive for campaign work aimed at raising (a) employee and (b) public awareness of the dangers of asbestos for each year since 1990. [31990]

The Health and Safety Executive's campaign on raising awareness of the risks from asbestos is aimed at both employees and employers, and so expenditure on campaigns aimed at employees only cannot be distinguished. The expenditure on publicity campaigns addressed to both employers and employees is shown in the table:

Year	Employers and employees £
1990–91	nil
1991–92	nil
1992–93	nil
1993–94	nil
1994–95	469,700
1995–96	2,000
1996–97 (to date)	5,500

This does not include internal staff costs, such as action by HSE inspectors. Further expenditure on raising awareness of asbestos amongst employers and employees will be incurred this year during the second phase of HSE's campaign "Good Health is Good Business".The Health and Safety Executive is not responsible for raising public awareness of the dangers of asbestos, and has therefore incurred no expenditure in this respect. The Department of the Environment published a leaflet for the public on asbestos in housing in 1991 and is currently preparing a revised version of this guidance.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment in what year (a) blue and (b) brown asbestos was prohibited from being used as a construction industry material. [32007]

The marketing and use of blue and brown asbestos, and materials containing those minerals, was prohibited under the Asbestos (Prohibition) Regulations 1985 (SI 910) which came into force on 1 January 1986.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the annual average rent increase for (i) developing housing associations, (ii) council and (iii) private tenants since 1988. [32039]

The available information is that council rents increased at an average annual rate of 10.7 per cent. per annum between April 1988 and April 1995, and private rents by an average of 15 per cent. per annum between 1988 and 1994–95. These increases make no allowance for changes in the mix of property quality and type over the period.The estimate for private tenants is from the family expenditure survey and, like all estimates from sample surveys, is subject to sampling variability.Information is not available centrally on rent increases by developing housing associations for periods prior to March 1993.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many times the director general of the Health and Safety Executive has met members of the deregulation unit during (a) 1994, (b) 1995 and (c) 1996. [31988]

The current director general of the Health and Safety Executive, Miss Jenny Bacon, took up post in July 1995. Since then she has met members of the Cabinet Office deregulation unit—CODU—on two occasions. She has also been to two other meetings where members of CODU have been present. Information about meetings prior to this is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many research projects the Health and Safety Executive has funded in the past five years which analysed the effectiveness of respiratory protective equipment. [31992]

Ten.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment which respiratory protective equipment has been identified to give less protection than claimed by the manufacturer in research projects funded by the Health and Safety Executive in the last five years. [32008]

Research projects funded by the Health and Safety Executive in the last five years have examined the field performance of respiratory protective equipment, including full-facepiece powered respirators, compared with their performance in laboratory-based tests. The HSE is not aware that manufacturers claim that respiratory protective equipment will always meet in practice the standard of protection that can be achieved in laboratory tests, so it is not possible to say from the HSE's research which respirators given less protection than that claimed.The HSE has for some time advised users of respirators that they should not rely on laboratory-derived information alone when choosing appropriate respiratory protective equipment.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many consultation documents the Health and Safety Commission has published for public consultation in each year since 1988. [32029]

The figures requested are set out in the table:

Calendar year	Number of Consultation documents
1988	8
1989	15
1990	8
1991	13
1992	13
1993	16
1994	13
1995	16
1996	10

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what studies his Department has undertaken to evaluate the comparative efficiency of tenant-managed housing associations. [31984]

Ten case studies comparing tenant management organisations with locally matched social housing managed by local authorities and housing associations were carried out between 1991 and 1994. A report, "Tenants in Control: an evaluation of tenant led housing management organisations", was published last September. A copy is available in the House of Commons Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his policy on investments by housing associations in derivatives. [31985]

Housing associations are allowed to use derivatives only in order to reduce risk and, in particular, the risk of interest rates fluctuating. Each derivative transaction must match a corresponding identified risk. Speculation is not permitted. Guidance on investment in derivatives by housing associations is set out in Housing Corporation circular 11/95.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the circumstances in which a 12-hour working shift would be considered a risk to health and safety. [32032]

Employers are required to carry out assessments to identify the risks to the health and safety of their employees, including any which might result from working hours. There is no definitive list of circumstances where working 12 hours shifts might be considered a risk to health and safety, but employers might consider factors such as the nature of the work, its physical or mental demands, the level of concentration required and whether it is safety critical.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the annual average rent increase for non-developing housing association tenants in each year since 1988 in (a) cash and (b) real terms. [32040]

This information is not held centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what estimate he has made of the number of new black and minority ethnic construction firms or consultancies which (a) have been able to start up and (b) develop further, from the projects that have been funded in inner-city areas; [31962](2) what estimate he has made of the number of black and minority ethnic construction firms or consultancies which the banks have assisted in (i) the last financial year and (ii) in the last five years; [31963](3) how many black and minority ethnic construction firms or consultancies, as defined by the Commission of Racial Equality, are on the approved contractors list of local authorities in London. [31964]

No data are available centrally to answer these questions.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many black and minority ethnic construction firms or consultancies (i) are currently and (ii) are planned to be engaged in capital projects under (a) round 1 single regeneration budget challenge fund projects in London and (b) round 2 single regeneration budget challenge fund projects in London. [31965]

The information requested is not available. Partnerships are required in the grant offer letter not to discriminate unlawfully against any person on the grounds of sex or race.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he has taken to ensure that black and minority ethnic businesses are able to compete successfully as part of the single regeneration budget challenge fund programme in London and the regions. [31966]

The SRB challenge fund bidding guidance clearly states that bids for funding must be supported by partnerships representing all those with a key interest, including ethnic minority communities. Challenge fund objectives also address the need to involve ethnic minorities; these include enhancing the employment prospects, education and skills of local people, particularly the young and those at a disadvantage, promoting equality of opportunity and promoting initiatives of benefit to ethnic minorities.Over a third of successful SRB challenge fund schemes in the first two bidding rounds are specifically targeted at ethnic minorities. In addition, over 60 per cent. of successful round 2 schemes will include outputs for which ethnic minorities are intended beneficiaries.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps are being taken to monitor the success of local authority equal opportunities policies, with particular reference to the awarding of contracts for capital projects under the single regeneration budget challenge fund programme in London and in the regions. [31967]

No formal monitoring of equal opportunities policies is carried out. Local authorities are required to comply with the law relating to equal opportunities. In the specific case of the SRB challenge fund, all successful partnerships are made aware of the need to comply with this law in the grant offer letter and are directed to the codes of practice issued by the Commission for Racial Equality and the Equal Opportunities Commission for further advice.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of the single regeneration budget—SRB—challenge fund (a) has been paid to and (b) is planned to be paid to black and minority ethnic construction firms or consultancies in (i) round 1 SRB challenge fund year by year in London and (ii) round 2 SRB challenge fund year by year in London. [31968]

The information requested is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many properties have been sold to tenants of Thamesmead Town Ltd. who had the preserved right to buy. [32455]

Thamesmead Town Ltd. has sold 860 residential properties and 11 garages to tenants who had the preserved right to buy.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many properties have been sold by Thamesmead Town Ltd. since the company took over from the London residuary body; and what was the figure for capital receipts for each year. [32456]

The number of properties sold by Thamesmead Town since the company took over from the London residuary body is as follows:

	Number
Residential land sales	11
Industrial land sales	2
Right to buy units sold	860
Garages sold	12
Equity share property sold	1
Void property sold	1

Capital receipts for each year were:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what level of public subsidy Thamesmead Town Ltd. has received either in cash or reliefs, allowances or benefits in kind since its creation. [32457]

Since its creation, Thamesmead Town Ltd. has received the following public subsidy:

Urban Programme (received via the London Borough of Greenwich) (a) Additional pavements, Titmus avenue
	£
Grant	35,278
Thamesmead Town	11,760
Total	47,038

(b) Play area, Hawksmoor youth club
	£
Grant	20,000
Thamesmead town	22,000
Total	42,000

(c) Additional pavements in Bentham road were provided by the London borough of Greenwich, cost not available.

Derelict Land Grant (received via the London borough of Greenwich) (a) Landscaping and removal of fly-tipping, East Thamesmead business park
	£
Grant	30,000
Thamesmead town	45,000
Total	75,000

(b) Landscaping work and removal of fly-tipping, Eastern way verge in Birchmere park carried out on behalf of the London borough of Greenwich. Total cost £65,000.

Urban Partnership Fund West Thamesmead business park improvements
Source of funds	£
London borough of Greenwich	40,000
Thamesmead town	95,000
Business Park companies	44,500
Thames Water Utilities Ltd.	15,000
Sub-total	194,500
Urban Partnership Fund	165,000
Scheme total	359,500

Environmental improvements to Maran Way
	£
Grant from Bexley London borough	30,000
Thamesmead Town	45,000
Total	75,000

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many residential properties (a) in England and (b) in the local authority area of Manchester and Trafford still depend on outside toilets. [32515]

Figures for the number of residential properties with outside toilets are not available at local authority level. The census does, however, give figures for households. These will be slightly higher because a property can contain more than one household. The 1991 census found 78,640 households living in dwellings with no inside WC. Of these, 911 households lived in Manchester and 180 in Trafford.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects the Merseyside property development fund to commence operation; what are the main aims of the fund; and how much is being invested in the fund by each of its partners. [31824]

[holding answer 7 June 1996]: The proposal for a Merseyside property development fund is being developed by English Partnerships in discussion with other objective 1 partners. The objective of the fund would be to encourage greater private sector investment in the Merseyside property market.The applicant is exploring appropriate structures and financing mechanisms. It is envisaged that there will be funding from EP, objective 1 European regional development fund, and the private sector. Due to the complex nature of the proposals, it is difficult to forecast when the fund will be operational.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will ask those who made written representations in respect of the proposed privatisation of the Port of Tyne authority if it has any objections to these being placed in the Library. [31311]

I understand that the Port of Tyne authority has already asked those who made representation whether they have any objection to the details being so deposited.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the cost evaluation techniques used by his Department for major highway on-line improvement schemes with particular reference to the range of costs associated with the maintenance of traffic flows; and what reliability tests are applied to these evaluations. [32037]

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guarantees against the failure of the power supply to London Underground his Department has required, and from which parties, following the tendering exercise. [31977]

None. This is an operational matter and any such guarantees will be a matter for discussion in due course between London Underground and the preferred bidder for its Power PFI project.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if staff members' pensions will be restored to their original value in the event of a failure of a contractor to meet the standards required by London Transport in supplying electrical power to the underground and that contract being returned to London Underground; [31979](2) if staff pensions will be preserved when transferred to companies bidding for the power supply to London Underground. [31978]

I understand that London Underground will require the chosen contractor under its Power PFI project to offer the staff who will transfer to him pension arrangements which are broadly comparable with the existing London Transport pension scheme. In the event that a contractor defaulted and the relevant staff transferred back to London Underground until a new contract could be let, it is likely that they would temporarily rejoin the LT pension scheme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how the Marine Safety Agency determined the ownership of the former Swedish minelayer MUL 16. [32209]

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what basis the appeal board in the recent trawl for executive officers in the Glasgow vehicle registration office turned down candidates on appeal when those candidates had shown that the information given to the original sift panel was incorrect and produced additional information to support their applications. [32439]

The original sift board had already taken a balanced view of the inconsistencies that it had identified between certain comments on some of the trawl application forms and the wider evidence available to it for reviewing at least three years' annual staff reports and the attendance records of all applicants.The letter sent to unsuccessful candidates failed to make this clear. These should have explained that, given the high level of competition—15 candidates for two vacancies—only applicants with the strongest claim had been shortlisted for interview. Unfortunately, would-be appellants were instead led to believe that recent comments of their line manager on their application forms had been paramount in deciding not to call them for interview.The appeals board considered appeals from eight applicants, but in all but one case there was no significant new information which the original sift board had not already taken into account. The original shortlist of applicants to be interviewed increased from five to six.Subsequently, at a meeting sought by officials of the Civil and Public Services Association on 3 June, the procedures of the sift and appeals board were explained to the satisfaction of those present. Exceptionally, it was agreed to increase the number of candidates to be interviewed for the two vacancies from six to eight, and a detailed letter of explanation was sent to the CPSA national official for distribution to his members at Glasgow vehicle registration office.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what criteria were used by the sift panel in the recent trawl for executive officers in the Glasgow vehicle registration office. [32440]

The sift panel considered 15 applications for the two executive officer vacancies at Glasgow vehicle registration office. It reviewed the information on the trawl application forms against the evidence of the applicants' annual staff reports and attendance report to establish those whose skills and personal qualities best matched the job descriptions in the trawl notice. The shortlist of five applicants originally selected for interview included two established executive officers from outside the VRO, as well as three administrative officers from within seeking to fill the vacancies on promotion.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps the Driving Standards Agency has taken to ensure that deaf candidates are not at a disadvantage when undertaking the practical part of the driving test. [32404]

The DSA has well-established procedures to assist deaf or hard-of-hearing candidates to take the driving test. The test application form invites persons with special needs, such as hearing difficulties, to draw this to the attention of the booking office when making an appointment, and the booking office will arrange for more time to be allocated in which to conduct the test. This allows examiners extra time to explain the test procedures, either using printed materials or by the candidate lip-reading.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what training is given to safety advisers in his Department and in each of his Department's agencies. [32437]

Staff advising on health and safety matters study for certificates of competence issued either by the National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health or by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library a copy of the Driving Standards Agency training package for new entrant driving examiners. [32341]

I have arranged for a copy of the briefing package given to all new driving examiners when starting their training to be placed in the Library today.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if plans to widen the M25 motorway between junctions 12 and 15 will be subject to a public inquiry. [32281]

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if light dues are levied on European Community vessels in British waters. [32472]

Yes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much was raised by the light dues system from (a) commercial vessels over 20 tons, (b) pleasure craft over 20 tons, (c) tugs over 10 m in length, and (d) fishing vessels over 10 m in length in each of the last five years; and what is his estimate for the next financial year. [32530]

The information is as follows:

• 1991–92
• (a) £45,524,904
• (b) £30,013
• (c) £131,040
• (d) £1,177,260
• 1992–93
• (a) £58,485,221
• (b) £33,687
• (c) £124,353
• (d) £1,215,798
• 1993–94
• (a) £62,817,801
• (b) £4,860
• (c) £139,987
• (d) £1,344,873
• 1994–95
• (a) £63,402,714
• (b) £3,556
• (c) £141,495
• (d) £1,237,731
• 1995–96
• Provisional figures pending preparation of final accounts
• 1996–97
• Estimated
• (a) £63,000,000
• (b) Nil
• (c) £110,000
• (d) £1,000,000

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether employees of his Department or agencies within his responsibility who volunteer to carry out first aid duties are remunerated. [32438]

No, with the exception of first aiders in the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency who receive a small allowance on satisfactory completion of first aid training.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what advice he sought from the Civil Aviation Authority on safety matters before granting a permit to Monarch Airlines Ltd. to wet-lease a TriStar aircraft registered in Antigua for a flight from the United Kingdom to Turkey on 19 May. [32279]

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he had with the Civil Aviation Authority over granting a waiver to Monarch Airlines Ltd. to lease a TriStar aircraft registered in Antigua for a flight from the United Kingdom to Turkey on 19 May under article 8.3 of European Council legislation 2407/92; and if such a waiver was granted. [32280]

None. A waiver was granted for the flight.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the civil aviation authority in Turkey. [32278]

None. Turkey is now a signatory to the joint aviation authorities arrangements and has committed itself to the implementation of all joint aviation requirements. These are generally more stringent than the minimum standards of the International Civil Aviation Organisation. Turkey's national aviation authority will be assessed by the joint aviation authorities as part of the procedures for full membership. If any shortcomings are identified they will be addressed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to ensure that vans and other commercial vehicles adapted to carry people with disabilities for their own personal use do not attract insurance premiums at rates applying to commercial vehicles. [32235]

The setting of insurance premiums is a commercial matter for the insurance industry. When the appropriate provisions come into force, the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 will prevent insurance companies from practising gratuitous discrimination by charging disabled people unjustifiable additional premiums. My Department is not aware of any cases of insurance companies charging disabled people business rates of insurance for converted commercial vehicles which are only used privately.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will provide the estimated outturn of the Public Service and Tax Commerce Union grades base pay bill for this financial year. [32441]

The estimated outturn for the PTC grades base pay bill in the central transport group for the current financial year is not yet known as pay negotiations for the 1996–97 PTC pay settlement are still in progress. The estimated outturn excluding the pay settlement is £14.5 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action has been taken to remedy the lighting deficiencies at the vehicle registration offices in the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency's Scotland and North area. [32436]

The lighting deficiencies in the Scotland and North vehicle registration offices have been identified. A plan of action has been drawn up which will enable all deficiencies to be rectified by the end of October 1996.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the role played by the traffic area office in Cardiff in the field of road safety and environmental protection in south Wales; and if he will make a statement. [32351]

I refer to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Sutton and Cheam (Lady Olga Maitland) on 10 June, Official Report, column 30. The contribution to road safety and environmental protection of any one traffic area office cannot be separately assessed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what health and safety training is undertaken by (a) senior driving examiners, (b) supervising driving examiners, (c) assistant chief driving examiners, (d) deputy chief driving examiners and (e) chief driving examiners as part of their supervisory training; [32338](2) what subsequent

I have asked the Chief Executive of the Driving Standards Agency to write to the hon. Member.