To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 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. [31545]

The Home Office is committed to the implementation of the Office of Public Service programme for action to achieve equality of opportunity for women in the civil service. It is also a founder member of Opportunity 2000, which aims to increase opportunities for women and promote the achievement of a balanced work force. The Department has continued to encourage measures which increase opportunities for women to reach senior positions. It monitors regularly the number of women in each grade, their annual report markings and their performance on promotion boards. It also makes available career breaks, flexible working arrangements and subsidised child care to assist women who want to combine work with domestic responsibilities.There has been steady progress in the promotion of women into senior positions over the past five years. The percentage of women in grades 1 to 7, excluding the Prison Service, has risen from 21 per cent. to 28 per cent. Within that group, the representation of women at the former grade 3 level has risen from 27 per cent. to 43 per cent. and at grade 7 level from 20 per cent. to 33 per cent. Examples of progress elsewhere within the Department are that of the 12 people reaching governor 4 grade on the accelerated promotion scheme in the Prison Service, five have been women, representing 43 per cent., and that representation at grade 7 level in the Forensic Science Service has quadrupled over the past five years.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many life sentence prisoners released on licence in the period 1990–95 were subsequently recalled. [32151]

Provisional data show that there were 578 life sentence prisoners released on licence between 1990 and 1995 inclusive, of whom 37 had their licence revoked and were subsequently returned to prison.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if appropriate equipment exists in all prisons in England and Wales to monitor phone calls being made by inmates. [32466]

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 is the present policy of his Department in respect of the wearing by prison officers of name badges when on duty in a prison establishment in prisons in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement. [32465]

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

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if measures to deal with the adverse effects which may be encountered by non-human primates during transport prior to arrival in the United Kingdom will be incorporated into section 5(4) of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. [32811]

There are no plans to amend section 5(4) of the 1986 Act. In advising the Secretary of State on the acceptability of overseas sources of non-human primates, the Home Office animals (scientific procedures) inspectorate takes into account any adverse effects which may arise during transport.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to publish the Prison Service annual report for the year up to March 1995; and if he will make a statement. [32223]

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 is the present number of registered drug addicts in England and Wales. [32910]

The information requested is published in table A3 of the Home Office statistical bulletin, issue 17/95. "Statistics of drug addicts notified to the Home Office, United Kingdom, 1994 (Area Tables)". A copy of this publication is in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of people held in prisons in England and Wales for immigration offences as of 1 June. [32464]

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 on how many occasions a body belt was used on a prison inmate in each prison in England and Wales during 1995. [32478]

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

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the pre-1990 category acute and subacute whole body lethal toxicity tests is equivalent to the post-1990 category acute and subacute quantative whole body lethal toxicity tests in statistics on scientific procedures on living animals in Great Britain. [32813]

The categories are not equivalent. The definition was widened to include all lethal toxicity tests.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many dogs in (a) the Metropolitan police area and (b) the rest of the country, held under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 as alleged pit bull or pit bull type terriers are still in custody when proceedings have been (i) discontinued and (ii) dismissed; and if he will list the weekly cost to public funds of keeping these dogs in custody. [32941]

The Metropolitan police currently hold four pit bull terriers in custody where proceedings have been discontinued and three pit bull terriers where proceedings have been dismissed. There are no such dogs in either category being held by other police forces in England and Wales. The weekly cost of kennelling these dogs in £460.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with his United States counterpart about prosecutions arising from breaches of curfew orders. [31643]

None, but my right hon. and noble Friend the Minister of State plans to visit the United States later this year among other things to discuss with interested bodies the systems in place for the electronic monitoring of offenders.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the new arrangements he intends to introduce for access to criminal records for employment and related purposes. [33375]

A White Paper will be published on Wednesday, 19 June setting out the Government's proposals for new arrangements for access to criminal records for employment and related purposes.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many Irish prisoners were being held (a) on remand and (b) after being sentenced in prisons in England and Wales for (i) the latest date available and (ii) for equivalent dates in (1) 1986 and (2) 1991; [32712](2) what is the total number of persons being held in prisons in England and Wales

[holding answer 13 June 1996]: Responsibility for these matters 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 white prisoners held on remand at Her Majesty's prison Feltham were deemed to be travellers for the latest date available. [32715]

[holding answer 13 June 1996]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment has been made of the cost effects of the millennium date change on the computer systems operated by his Department. [32676]

[holding answer 13 June 1996]: My Department is aware of the problem. The Department's information technology service provider—Sema group—has been commissioned to undertake an audit of all systems to assess the requirements for changes and a report will be produced in August. An action plan will then be prepared taking into account other developments which may have an effect. At that point, likely costs will be assessed.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) for what use, and under what specific circumstances, private taxis are used for the transporting of (a) prisoners from Buckley Hall prison and (b) other male category C prisons; [31888](2) what guidance is given by his Department as to the suitability of using private taxis for the transportation of prisoners from male category C prisons. [31885]

[holding answer 12 June 1996]: Responsibility for these matters 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 non-United Kingdom nationals, including asylum seekers, are currently held in custody in England and Wales; if he will list the locations where they are being held; what is the ethnic breakdown

Foreign nationals in prison in England and Wales on 30 April 19961, by sex, ethnic origin and establishment
	Ethnic origin
	White	Black	South Asian	Chinese and other	Not recorded	Total
Females
Askham Grange	1	1	0	0	0	2
Brockhill	3	3	0	1	0	7
Bullwood Hall	5	14	1	2	0	22
Cookham Wood	6	28	3	6	0	43
Drake Hall	3	6	0	1	0	10
Durham	4	5	1	1	0	11
East Sutton Park	3	7	0	1	0	11
Holloway	33	80	3	17	0	133
Low Newton	1	0	0	0	0	1
New Hall	1	3	1	3	0	8
Risley	4	6	1	0	0	11
Styal	4	19	1	2	0	26
Winchester	7	10	0	2	0	19
Total females	75	182	11	36	0	304
Males
Acklington	5	0	1	0	0	6
Albany	15	15	5	3	0	38
Aldington	7	4	2	7	0	20
Ashwell	6	4	10	0	0	20
Alyesbury	4	8	4	2	0	18
Bedford	10	6	1	2	0	19
Belmarsh	44	46	2	18	0	110
Birmingham	22	28	92	28	0	170
Blakenhurst	11	9	17	4	0	41
Blantyre House	3	2	2	4	0	11
Blundeston	20	35	4	5	0	64
Brinsford	2	0	5	1	0	8
Bristol	4	7	4	10	0	25
Brixton	39	67	18	32	0	156
Brockhill	1	0	0	2	0	3
Buckley Hall	2	8	3	1	0	14
Bullingdon	22	12	9	4	0	47
Camp Hill	14	13	4	3	1	35
Canterbury	36	5	9	11	0	61
Cardiff	1	0	1	1	0	3
Castington	0	1	1	0	0	2
Channings Wood	11	4	3	2	0	20
Chelmsford	17	3	1	3	0	24
Coldingley	7	28	3	5	0	43
Dartmoor	16	5	4	1	0	26
Doncaster	3	5	3	1	0	12
Dorchester	2	0	0	0	0	2
Dover	3	11	3	2	0	19
Downview	6	15	4	4	0	29
Durham	6	3	0	2	0	11
Elmley	47	8	0	9	0	64

of the non-United Kingdom nationals currently in custody; how many of them are women and if he will list the locations where they are being held; and how many non-United Kingdom nationals in custody have been granted bail, but remain in custody. [31961]

[holding answer 12 June 1996]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total revenue forgone as a result of the married man's tax allowance in the last financial year for which figures are available, attributed to (a) families with children, (b) childless couples where both are in work and (c) childless couples with only one partner in work. [31603]

The estimated full year revenue cost of the married couple's allowance at 1996–97 income levels is about £3.3 billion. This includes the cost of related allowances—the additional personal allowance and the widow's bereavement allowance. A detailed breakdown of the cost is given in the following table. The estimates are based on a projection of the 1993–94 survey of personal incomes and the 1994–95 family expenditure survey in line with assumptions in the Budget forecast. Employment income is taken to include income from employment and self-employment.

Analysis of the cost of the married couple's and related allowance
	Cost at 1996–97 income levels £ million
Married couples where both partners are aged under 65 and:—
Both are paying tax, both have employment income1
—with children	570
—without children	800
One spouse pays tax, other spouse has employment income but does not pay tax
—with children	250
—without children	180
One spouse pays tax, other spouse has no employment income
—with children	370
—without children	310
Married couples with at least one partner aged 65 or over	580

Analysis of the cost of the married couple's and related allowance
	Cost at 1996–97 income levels £ million
Individuals in receipt of the APA	220
Individuals in receipt of the WBA	20
1 There are a few couples where both spouses are paying tax, but only one spouse has income from employment and the other spouse pays tax on investment income. These are included in this group.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the cost of tax exemption for permanent health insurance payments in 1995–96. [32237]

Precise figures are not available centrally, but, based on the latest information from the Association of British Insurers, it is estimated that in 1995–96 the cost of exempting benefits payable under permanent health insurance policies is about £30 million.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment has been made of the cost effects of the millennium date change on the computer systems operated by his Department. [32663]

[holding answer 13 June 1996]: Work is in hand to assess the effects of the millennium date change on the computer systems operated in the Treasury.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the hon. Member for Walsall, North will receive a reply to his letter of 25 April, 9122/96, which was transferred to the Office for National Statistics. [31574]

[holding answer 7 June 1996]: A reply was sent on 4 June.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures his Department has taken to ensure that those involved in the asbestos removal trade operate to proper safety standards. [32071]

The health and safety of those involved in asbestos removal work is regulated by the Health and Safety Executive. HSE administers a system for licensing employers and the self-employed who work with asbestos insulation or asbestos coating, including removal. This enables HSE to monitor and inspect the work of licensed contractors. HSE also gives advice and publishes guidance.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will list the estimated number of refuge places available for women escaping domestic violence in each year since 1991; [32699](2) how many refuges for women escaping domestic violence have been notified to his Department in each year since 1991

A survey carried out by the Women's Aid Federation (England) in 1995 identified 418 refuges in England, offering 6,532 bed spaces. Twenty-two of these refuges were in the Greater Manchester area. No figures are available for earlier years.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment 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. [32836]

The Department of the Environment and its executive agencies are responsible for one of the 41 main charters. This is the council tenants charter, issued in a revised form in June 1995. No charter in DoE's area of responsibility has been withdrawn.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment 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. [328451]

The information requested is as follows:

• 1994–95 cost: £959,000
• 1995–96 cost: £952,000.

The statistics on the numbers of items posted were collected only for the London headquarters over this period and were:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proportion of local government expenditure was provided by (a) business, (b) domestic householders and (c) central Government in each of the years 1979 to 1995. [32105]

The requested information is available from 1981–82. Figures for the proportion provided by domestic householders are gross of rebate or benefit—as detailed in note 2—and the grants supporting these expenditures are excluded from column 3.

Percentage
	Business rates as a proportion of local government expenditure (1)	Domestic rates/community charges/council tax as a proportion of local government expenditure (2)	Central government grants as a proportion of local government expenditure (3)
1981–82	24.9	21.6	54.4
1982–83	25.9	22.9	51.2
1983–84	26.0	23.4	49.5
1984–85	26.4	24.4	49.5
1985–86	27.8	26.3	48.2
1986–87	28.4	27.7	44.9
1987–88	27.9	27.9	43.9
1988–89	28.2	28.7	42.3
1989–90	28.8	29.2	40.5
1990–91	29.1	34.2	36.1
1991–92	31.4	21.6	47.2
1992–93	29.3	22.7	49.9
1993–94	27.8	21.5	52.2
1994–95	24.5	21.2	54.3
1995–96 (provisional outturn)	24.9	21.4	51.1
1996–97 (budget estimates)	26.9	22.1	48.5

1. For the years 1981–82 to 1989–90 this represents non-domestic rate yields net of rate relief. For the years 1990–91 to 1996–97 this represents the distributable amount from the non-domestic rates pool.2. Gross of domestic rate rebates for the years 1981–82 to 1989–90. Gross of community charge benefit grant and transitional relief/community charge reduction scheme grant (1990–91 to 1992–93). Gross of council tax benefit grant and council tax transitional relief scheme grant (1993–94 to 1996–97).3. For the years 1981–82 to 1989–90 Government grants comprise aggregate Exchequer grant. For 1990–91 to 1996–97 Government grants included are revenue support grant, specific and special grants in aggregate external finance, community charge grant (1991–92), teachers pay award additional grant (1992–93), standard spending assessment reduction grant (1994–95 to 1996–97), police grant (1995–96 to 1996–97).4. The percentages do not add up to 100 per cent. The difference is funding or drawing from balances.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those district areas in Berkshire, Cambridgeshire, Cheshire, Devon, Essex, Hereford and Worcester, Kent, Lancashire, Nottinghamshire and Shropshire where the Local Government Commission for England concluded that the costs of transition would be recovered by ongoing savings in annual running costs following structural change. [32808]

The Local Government Commission's estimates are in respect of whole county areas, not individual districts, and are expressed in each case as a range. They suggest that ongoing savings may be achievable in Essex, Hereford and Worcester, Lancashire, Nottinghamshire and Shropshire. In each case the estimates of costs or savings are marginal; whether savings are in fact achieved or costs incurred will depend on the decisions of the local authorities concerned.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the estimates of the Local Government Commission for England for the transitional costs arising from the proposals for the reorganisation of local government in the counties of Berkshire, Cambridgeshire, Cheshire, Devon, Essex, Hereford and Worcester, Kent, Lancashire, Nottinghamshire and Shropshire. [33029]

The Local Government Commission's estimates of transitional costs of reorganisation are:

	Transitional costs £ million
Berkshire	9.0–13.0
Cambridgeshire	14.8–7.9
Cheshire	13.6–8.1
Devon	5.0–9.0
Essex	26.5–12.2
Hereford and Worcester	6.0–9.0
Kent	17.8–11.2
Lancashire	12.9–6.1
Nottinghamshire	1.0–7.0
Shropshire	12.0–2.6
1 Excludes costs of redundancy, early retirement and other staff compensation costs.
2 Consists of £2.5 to £4.2 million for Thurrock (excluding redundancy costs etc.) and £4.0 to £8.0 million for Southend.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will indicate the maximum allocation for supplementary credit approvals to meet transitional costs, arising from the structural change of local

Disaggregation of county council budgets 1996–97 initial notional amounts
£ million
	Disaggregated County budget 1996–97	District's net budget 1996–97	Initial notional amount	Notional budget including parishes	Indicative SSA 1996–97
Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire CC	238.2		238.2	238.2	226.6
Luton	121.3	24.0	145.2	145.2	145.1
Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire CC	286.6		286.6	286.6	280.8
Milton Keynes	126.5	22.5	149.0	150.0	145.6
Derbyshire
Derbyshire CC	433.4		433.4	433.4	411.0
Derby City	149.4	26.0	175.4	175.4	169.6
Dorset
Dorset CC	211.7		211.7	211.7	206.7
Bournemouth	90.7	19.4	110.1	110.1	116.0
Poole	76.8	11.6	88.4	88.4	88.0

Provision for supplementary credit approvals to meet transitional costs of local government reorganisation for 1997–98 will be decided as part of the local government finance settlement later this year; that for 1998–99 will be decided in the settlement for 1998.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will calculate notional amounts for local authorities which are subject to local government reorganisation on 1 April 1997. [33373]

We intend to calculate a notional amount for each local authority which is subject to local government reorganisation on 1 April 1997. These figures will serve as a baseline against which to make a fair comparison of an authority's proposed 1997–98 budget requirement for capping purposes.We have made a first calculation of notional amounts for these authorities. These figures are shown in the following table along with our estimate of what each reorganised authority's 1996–97 standard spending assessment would have been on the basis of their revised boundaries and functions.The aim of our notional amounts calculation is to disaggregate the 1996–97 budget requirements of reorganised county councils so as to reflect the actual pattern of spending between their continuing areas and the areas of the new unitary councils. We are consulting authorities on those figures and we hope that local information will enable us to improve the calculations so as better to reflect the actual pattern of spending. We will generally be willing to accept locally-agreed budget splits put to me by both the relinquishing county and the new unitaries in its area.Authorities have until the end of August to comment. We shall consult further on our proposed notional amounts, incorporating any changes which we may make as a result of this initial consultation, as part of the local government finance settlement for 1997–98 later this year. Final notional amounts will be included in a report under section 55 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 which will be subject to approval by the House of Commons.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how he proposes to use his powers in the Housing Bill to help council leaseholders facing high service charges for repair and improvement works. [33354]

On 14 June we invited comments on our detailed proposals to reduce charges to leaseholders of local authorities and other social landlords. We wish to help leaseholders whose charges are particularly high in relation to any benefits which they receive from such works. We also wish to give landlords flexibility so that they can help those in greatest difficulty—for example, those who would suffer particular hardship as a result of high charges. We have therefore included in the Bill, in clauses 191 and 192, powers to issue directions to social landlords telling them when they can, or must, reduce charges, and to what extent.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what progress has been made with regard to the work of the interdepartmental working party on marriage. [33546]

The interdepartmental working party today issued a consultation paper following on from the seminar for researchers, service providers and other interested parties held on 3 April. The papers for the seminar have been published and are available in the Library. The results of this consultation exercise will inform the tender specifications being prepared for the funding of pilot projects which have particular potential for reducing the incidence and costs of marriage breakdown.The working party has concluded its mapping exercise of existing services. It intends to publish a directory of marriage support services in the summer.The mapping exercise has highlighted the lack of information about social attitudes to and expectations of marriage and also about the reasons why some marriages are so very successful when others sadly end in divorce or separation. Tender specifications will shortly be published for research into this field.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has to ensure that the recommendations contained in the report on the structure of the probate service of September 1994, are subject to parliamentary debate before their implementation. [33095]

There are currently no plans for a debate on the recommendations. Comprehensive public consultation on the proposals from the report was carried out between October and March and all hon. Members whose constituencies would be affected were included in this exercise. A submission will soon be put forward for the Lord Chancellor's and my consideration. Any change to the number of probate sub-registries will be introduced by way of statutory instrument which will be laid before the House in the usual way.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellors's Department what assessment he has made of the extent to which the recommendations of the report on the structure of the probate service comply with the aims and commitments contained in the courts charter. [33096]

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

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what estimates he has made of the growth of home shopping over the next decade and what assessment he has made of the implications of such growth for the retail industry. [33077]

No official forecasts of the e growth of home shopping in the UK have been made, although I am aware that some private sector organisations have made such forecasts. However, there is already a substantial amount of home shopping through mail order, response advertising and other methods. I would expect this total to rise in the next decade as electronic shopping develops.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the (a) contracts with and (b) work carried out for (i) his Department, (ii) its agencies and (iii) development corporations by (1) Paddington Consultancy Partnership Ltd. or its directors, (2) Millbank Consultants, (3) Mr. Neale Coleman, (4) Mr. Stephen Hilditch and (5) Mr. Peter Bradley; and if he will indicate the total fees paid to (1) to (5). [32405]

In DTI headquarters, no contracts for external consultancy have been let centrally to the organisations or individuals listed. Information on other contracts is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Agency chief executives have been asked to provide separate responses.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list those constituencies he has visited in the last three months on official business and those constituencies he intends to visit in the next three months; and if he will make a statement. [32336]

In the last three months I have visited Swindon, Suffolk Coastal, Esher and Brent, South constituencies on official business. I have a number of planned engagements over the next three months, but it is not the Department's policy to make public details of the forward diary.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the availability of statistics for trade between Britain and Yugoslavia since 1990. [33277]

The information on trade in goods is published in Business Monitor M20, "Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom", by HM Customs and Excise, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House. Until the end of 1992 the information was provided for Yugoslavia as a whole. Since the beginning of 1993, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro and Macedonia have been treated separately.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is his assessment of the market for VOC abatement technology in (a) Europe, (b) America and (c) world wide. [32594]

The Government's 1994 study of the UK environment industry, "The UK Environmental Industry: Succeeding in the Changing Global Market", covered VOC control technology as part of a review of the air pollution control sub-sector. The study concluded that there were good opportunities in western Europe, but that market opportunities in eastern Europe and north America were limited. The main opportunities in the United States will be for VOC control in light industry.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish his Department's recent report into business links. [32751]

A copy of the report was placed in the Library of the House on 13 June.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many business links chairmen and chief executives defined their relationship with the Department as "poor" in the categories set out in his Department's recent internal report. [32939]

A total of 11 out of 59 surveyed.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what contribution he has requested university history departments to make to the United Kingdom national strategy for global environmental research. [32781]

No contribution has been requested specifically from university history departments. Contributions were requested through an open consultation exercise before the strategy was drafted. An open consultation meeting was subsequently held to consider the draft in March. This was attended by about 240 people from academia, industry and commerce, representative bodies, non-governmental organisations and Government Departments and agencies. Around half were academics from various disciplines. A further 100 people who were unable to attend requested sight of the report and had an opportunity to comment.The UK national strategy for global environment research is due to be launched at a one-day conference at the British Association for the Advancement of Science annual festival of science in September 1996.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many disused oil wells in British waters (a) have leaked and (b) are believed to be leaking from the capped reservoirs into the sea. [33072]

Only one well in British waters has leaked small quantities of gas—not oil—from a shallow horizon into the sea and remains uncapped. The well, 22/4b-4, was drilled by Mobil in November 1990.It was not physically possible at the time, or subsequently, to perform any sort of intervention into the wellbore which would have any degree of success in plugging or killing the well. It has not, therefore, been capped.Recent inspections and sampling by Mobil have confirmed that the fluid now leaking is water, which contains no trace of hydrocarbons.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade when the Government will respond to the third report of the Science and Technology Committee of Session 1995–96 (HC 231) on "Human Genetics: the Government's response"; and if he will make a statement. [33350]

The Government have today published their response to the Select Committee's report, "Human Genetics: the Government Response". Copies of the response have been laid before Parliament.Advances in human genetics have great potential for improved health care, quality of life and competitiveness. The UK currently leads Europe in the research, development and application of genetic science and the Government want that lead to be maintained. As recognised by the Science and Technology Select Committee, however, advances in human genetics raise a number of important social, ethical and economic issues. It will be important that public confidence advances at a pace which reflects that of scientific discovery.In evidence to the Science and Technology Select Committee earlier this year, the Government undertook to look at whether there was a need for a new body to take a trans-departmental view of developments in human genetics and to foster public confidence. In the light of this, and after consultations with the Chief Scientific Advisor and the Chief Medical Officer, the Government have decided to establish a new Human Genetics Advisory Commission.The new advisory commission will report to health and industry Ministers and will be supported by a joint secretariat from the Office of Science and Technology and the Department of Health. It will report periodically and will be open to the Government to seek its advice on particular issues. More details, including the terms of reference, are given in the Government's response.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what progress has been made in the review of the future management of the radio spectrum; and if he will make a statement. [33349]

I am today publishing a White Paper, "Spectrum Management: into the 21st Century".The radio spectrum is used by used by a wide range of businesses and public sector services and in a variety of scientific and social applications. Radio services are of considerable importance to the economy and are growing rapidly. The White Paper announces proposals to improve the way in which the finite resource of the radio spectrum is managed so that future growth can be accommodated. We intend to achieve this by bringing forward legislation on spectrum pricing when parliamentary time is available. This will allow fees for licences to use spectrum to be set to reflect its value more closely instead of being linked to the costs of spectrum management. The White Paper seeks views on the detailed application of spectrum auctions and administrative pricing.The proposals will benefit the economy, enhance competitiveness and create jobs. By promoting spectrum efficiency, they will: