To ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, representing the House of Commons Commission, to what extent the Commission has (a) encouraged and (b) permitted competitive performance assessment (i) within Departments of the House and (ii) between their respective employees. [34670]

(a) Performance-related pay was introduced several years ago for staff in the non-industrial grades in the civil service and the Commission approved the introduction of similar arrangements for appropriate groups of staff in the House in order to keep "broadly in line" with the civil service as required by the House of Commons (Administration) Act 1978.

To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee when he expects the Committee to conclude its inquiry into all-party and parliamentary groups; and if he will make a statement. [35212]

I am pleased to advise my hon. Friend that at its meeting on 18 June, the Administration Committee agreed its report on all-party and parliamentary groups. The Committee makes several recommendations which, if approved by the House, would mean that the current written undertaking given by such groups seeking registration would be amended significantly to remove any existing imprecisions, and to be otherwise tightened up. Hon. Members may obtain copies of the report, HC (1995–96)494, from the Vote Office.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to review the take-up and effectiveness of launch aid; and if he will make a statement. [34998]

My Department already reviews regularly the returns from previous launch aid contracts.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the research projects in Britain which have been financed in whole or in part by the European Union's third research framework programme. [34948]

Full information on research projects funded in individual member states by the European Union's third framework programme for research and technological development, which ran from 1990 to 1994, is held only by the European Commission. It is not distributed to member states. UK researchers have, however, participated vigorously in the EU's framework programmes. Commission statistics show that 2,337 UK research teams participated in projects funded under the third framework—more than in any other member stale. The indications are that UK researchers are continuing to participate strongly in the fourth framework programme, which runs from 1994 to 1998.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on progress in respect of the Barmac N166 site objective 1 application. [34833]

The approval of the European Commission is required under the terms of the seventh shipbuilding directive for public investment in Barmac's project as presently constituted.Since the end of February, there have been a number of discussions and meetings between the company, officials of the Scottish Office and those of my shipbuilding unit and oil and gas project supplies office. An informal meeting was held on 13 June between those DTI officials and those of the European Commission's directorate general IV responsible for interpreting and enforcing the seventh shipbuilding directive, at which the Commission asked for clarification of certain issues before approval of the grant could be considered.A further meeting was held between the company and my officials on 24 June to review the progress of its application, the information requested by the Commission and the options open to Barmac.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what decisions were taken at the EU ministerial Council on the internal market on 28 May; and what matters were voted upon. [35113]

The right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, the deputy UK permanent representative and I represented the UK at the Internal Market Council in Brussels on 28 May.The Council reached common position by qualified majority voting on the sweeteners directive—Germany and Sweden opposed. The Council also reached unanimous political agreement on the common position on the directive on temporary authorisations for foodstuffs. Common positions on comparative and misleading advertising, exchange of information on measuring air pollution, monitoring of waste and protection of passengers in frontal collisions were agreed by A point procedure.In accordance with UK non-co-operation in EU business, we blocked four measures requiring unanimity: two Council resolutions—administrative co-operation and legislative simplification in the internal market; a set of Council conclusions, accounting strategy; and an A point, Council decision on implementation of a Community action programme to strengthen the competitiveness of European industry.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the estimated saving to business from the Deregulation (Weights and Measures) Order 1996. [34678]

The draft order contains three proposals to reduce the burdens on business:

• verification of weighing or measuring equipment by manufacturers and others;
• third party testing of equipment;
• pre-test stamping of equipment.

The total savings will depend on how many businesses take up these options. Assuming take-up by about half of the businesses that already have equipment verified, it is estimated that businesses might save £4.3 million per annum in fees formerly paid to trading standards officers, to which can be added savings in businesses' indirect costs less the cost of operating one or other of the new options.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment the Clifford Chance report on nuclear privatisations made of the number of workers likely to pursue damages claims for radiation-induced illness in the years (a) 1998, (b) 1999 and (c) 2000; and what was the estimated cost of meeting these claims. [34327]

[holding answer 27 June 1996]:I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him during the debate on 18 June, Official Report, column 780.It is inevitable that some of those affected by radiation-induced illnesses, such as cancer, will work in the nuclear industry, but it is scientifically impossible to distinguish between a radiation induced cancer and a naturally occurring one.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the constituencies he has visited in the past three months on official business and the constituencies he intends to visit in the next three months; and if he will make a statement. [34356]

During the past three months, I have visited:

• Battersea
• Brighton, Pavilion
• Ipswich
• Coventry, South-East
• Holborn and St. Pancras
• Dorset, West
• Guildford
• Spelthorne
• Rutland and Melton
• Sheffield, Attercliffe
• Barnsley, East
• Doncaster, Central
• Brentford and Isleworth
• Twickenham
• Northavon
• Milton Keynes—North-East
• Birmingham—Selly Oak
• Brighton, Kempton
• Hove
• Braintree
• Ludlow
• City of London and Westminster
• Cambridge
• Chichester
• Rushcliffe
• Sheffield, Central
• Sheffield, Brightside
• Don Valley
• Kensington
• Suffolk, Central
• Salisbury
• Milton Keynes, South-West
• Birmingham, Small Heath

I have a number of visits planned over the next three months, but it is not my policy to make public details of my forward diary.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many animal rendering plants there are in Britain; what are the procedures for the treatment of their effluent; how many discharge their effluent into the domestic sewerage system; and how many spray their effluent on to agricultural land. [34509]

There are 36 rendering plants in Great Britain, authorised under the Animal By-Products Order 1992. Treatment of effluent will normally include the removal of solids and will reflect conditions in trade effluent consents issued by sewerage undertakers for discharges to sewer, or conditions in consents from the Environment Agency for discharges direct to receiving waters. No central records of the number of rendering plants discharging effluent to sewer, or spraying it on agricultural land, are held by my Department or the Environment Agency.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what mechanisms exist to reallocate money from the Energy Saving Trust to the home energy efficiency scheme. [34666]

Uncommitted resources may be redeployed between the different parts of my Department's environment protection programme in accordance with the Government's priorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what Government funding has been made available to the Energy Saving Trust in the current financial year; what proportion of this funding has been committed to specific programmes; and what estimates he has made of the trust's actual expenditure during the period. [34667]

The Government will make up to £25 million available to the Energy Saving Trust in 1996–97. More than 95 per cent. of this is for specific projects within a programme of work that has been agreed with the trust, the remainder covers the trust's management and administration costs. It is too early yet to estimate the outturn expenditure.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received opposing the implementation of a tax on waste disposal. [34587]

The consultation paper setting out the Government's proposals for the introduction of a new tax on the disposal of waste to landfill was published on 21 March 1995 by seven Government Departments, including the Department of the Environment. Of the 720 responses that were received, 166 opposed the introduction of the tax.Although this Department has received further representations about the introduction of the landfill tax, it keeps no central record of the number of representations that have been submitted.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what monitoring of plume grounding at Castle Cement in Clitheroe the Environment Agency has carried out since the earlier testing of air quality by the National Physical Laboratory. [34738]

Observations of the plumes are made on a regular basis by Environment Agency inspectors. However, the agency does not consider that further monitoring would provide any additional useful information, since the monitoring carried out by the National Physical Laboratory during August and September 1995, using a mobile laboratory and differential scanning lidar, provided sufficient information for the Environment Agency to evaluate the position and to determine appropriate action. As a result, Castle Cement was required to submit proposals to the Environment Agency to resolve the problem of plume grounding, and these proposals are required to be implemented by 31 December 1996. Castle Cement has appealed to the Secretary of State for the Environment against the implementation time scale.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much money was given to each London borough council in revenue support grants settlement in relation to homelessness in the current financial year. [34594]

It is not possible to specify a portion of revenue support grant—RSG—for revenue expenditure on homelessness because RSG is not hypothecated to particular services.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has completed the assessment of his Department's energy efficiency voucher scheme; what has been the total cost to his Department of this initiative; how many householders have installed practical energy efficiency measures benefiting from discounts offered under the scheme; and if he will make a statement. [34865]

The assessment is not complete, and I can not add to the answer given to the hon. Member on Wednesday 22 May, Official Report, columns 222–23.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total amount of community charge still outstanding and owed to local authorities; and how much has been written off. [34858]

The latest information relates to 31 March 1995. As at that date, we estimate that community charge arrears totalled £1,200 million, and write-offs totalled £430 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations have been made to the Government office on Merseyside by the Albert dock residents association concerning its lease when the Merseyside development corporation is wound up. [34461]

The Government office for Merseyside has received three letters during the past two years from the Albert dock residents association concerning that lease and other issues.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many residents have had court proceedings taken against them by the Albert Dock company for leasing their apartment between 1 January 1989 and 1 January 1995. [34384]

This is a confidential matter between the Albert Dock Company and each and every occupier, and I am unable to provide this information.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the clawback clauses included in the terms of the sale of the leases of properties by (a) the Albert Dock Company, (b) Barratt and (c) other companies within the Merseyside development corporation. [34487]

The detailed terms of each and every sub-disposal by the Albert Dock Company, Barratt and, indeed, any other developer within the corporation's area is really a matter of negotiation between a purchaser of an interest and the seller of that interest. It is a confidential matter, and I am unable to provide the information required.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the value of the National Rivers Authority's receipts from water abstraction licensing and changes in each year of its operation. [34845]

The receipts from water abstraction licensing and charges generated by the National Rivers Authority in each of the years of its operation are set out in the table.

National Rivers Authority: Income from water abstraction licensing and charges 1989–90 to 1995–96
	£ million
1989–90	79.2
1990–91	58.3
1991–92	64.6
1992–93	77.0
1993–94	77.3
1994–95	64.7
1995–96	80.3

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what research he has evaluated as to the size of filter pore needed to prevent possible contamination of potable water from abattoir discharges; [34776](2) what information he has collated as to how many water companies are requiring abattoirs involved in the national BSE cull to provide fine filter systems; [34777](3) what is his policy with regard to the provision of fine filter systems at abattoirs dealing with cattle from the national BSE cull; and if he will make a statement. [34778]

The Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee has advised that filtration systems in abattoirs that are capable of removing particulate matter from effluent are adequate to prevent the infective agent being carried into the aquatic environment. The Environment Agency and water companies, who have statutory responsibilities for authorising discharges from abattoirs, ensure that the required standards are applied at relevant abattoirs. In addition, waste water receives further treatment at sewage treatment works. Natural processes within catchment areas and drinking water treatment processes form a further multiple barrier providing adequate protection for drinking water supplies.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of the income from water abstraction licensing and changes came from (a) water undertakers, (b) industrial concerns and (c) private individuals last year. [34846]

Last year—1995–96–87 per cent. of the income from water abstraction licensing and charges came from the water undertakers. Industrial concerns and private individuals accounted for the remaining 13 per cent. The Environment Agency does not keep central records enabling it to distinguish between the last two categories.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many new licences for water abstraction have been granted in each year since 1989 and in 1996 to date. [34847]

The total number of new licence applications determined each year in England and Wales since March 1989 are as follows:

Year (April to March)	Licences determined
1989–90	1,041
1990–91	1,599
1991–92	1,781
1992–93	1,849
1993–94	1,489
1994–95	1,313
1995–96	1,339
1996–97 to date	399

These determinations include those of applications for impoundment. Records of applications granted are not kept centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he proposes to publish the findings of the inspector's report on state 3/4 of the Torbay ring road; and if he will make a statement. [35128]

The public local inquiry into this called in application closed on 10 June 1996, after 32 days sitting. Details of the expected time scale for announcing the decision will be published when the inspector's report is received by the Government officer for the south-west later this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are his plans for special grants to local authorities following the Court of Appeal's judgment on 21 June in respect of regulations withdrawing benefits from asylum seekers. [35447]

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security announced on 24 June that the Government intend to amend the Asylum and Immigration Bill so as to exclude from eligibility for benefit certain asylum seekers and certain other persons from abroad. Other provisions in the Bill would make similar changes to eligibility for assistance under the homelessness legislation at about the same time as the benefit rules are changed. Any remaining costs to local housing authorities should be minimal.Because housing benefit payments are now available to persons housed under the homelessness legislation since 5 February, the Government have decided that the proposed persons from abroad housing benefit special grant to local housing authorities is no longer required.There is likely to be some continuing burden on social services departments in connection with supporting children in need and their families, and the Government's commitment to assist social services authorities with those costs, given earlier this year, remains unchanged. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health intends to lay a revised special grant report proposing a special grant to social services authorities. The terms of this grant are likely to be similar to the persons from abroad children's grant in the special grant report (No. 19) which was laid before Parliament on 6 June. The special grant report (No. 19) has been withdrawn.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consultations he plans on proposals for meeting the United Kingdom's commitments under the second sulphur protocol of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe—UNECE. [35348]

Because of the rapid progress which is being made in the United Kingdom in reducing emissions of sulphur dioxide—one of the main constituents of acid rain—we are on course to meet our international obligations under the second UNECE sulphur protocol. We published last Friday—28 June—a consultation paper setting out our preliminary conclusions on how this will be achieved. I have placed a copy in the Library of the House.Under the terms of the protocol, the United Kingdom is committed to reducing national emissions of sulphur dioxide by 80 per cent. by 2010 compared with 1980 levels. This target is to be met through intermediate reductions of at least 50 per cent. by 2000 and 70 per cent. by 2005.The paper shows that, in the light of current programmes for reducing emissions, particularly from power stations, the targets for 2000 and 2005 should be met without the need for additional measures. Over the longer term, we propose to keep the position under review in the light of any measures which may be required to meet short-term air quality standards—on which we shall shortly be publishing a consultation draft of a national air quality strategy—and any new initiatives in this area which may be agreed by the European Community.The paper also reviews the performance of the existing national plan, which gives effect in the United Kingdom to the requirements of the EC large combustion plant directive, and sets out proposals for changes in its future operation. The aim of these changes will be to ensure future allocations of emissions quota under the national plan are more closely in line with regulatory consents under integrated pollution control.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) 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; [33508](2) how many

The information about injuries is set out in the table:

Year	Fatalities	Major injuries	Minor injuries	Information technology related (all minor)
1995–96	Nil	4	219	2
1994–95	Nil	10	203	3
1993–94	Nil	14	249	0
1992–93	Nil	11	242	0
1991–92	Nil	4	271	0

During the past five years, the Health and Safety Commission has become involved in six cases—two in 1991–92 and four in 1993–94.A central record of health and safety problems is not kept, since many are minor and dealt with routinely by line management. On average, however, my Department's health and safety adviser deals with about 15 queries a week.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the expenditure on council housing in (a) Scotland and (b) Dundee in (i) 1989–90 and (ii) 1995–96, expressed in 1995–96 prices. [33845]

The table gives estimated expenditure in 1995–96, and actual expenditure in 1989–90 expressed in 1995–96 prices. It should be noted that expenditure in any year depends, in part, on the success of local authorities in generating capital receipts. In 1989–90, the level of capital receipts generated by Scottish local authorities, including Dundee, considerably exceeded the estimated amount for 1995–96.

Total capital expenditure on Council Housing in Dundee and Scotland (£ million)
	Dundee	Scotland
1989–90 expenditure (at 1995–96 prices)	27.2	625.0
1995–96 estimated expenditure	15.6	425.1

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received about (a) the expenditure programmes and (b) the level of central Government funding provided to Perth and Kinross council and Angus council; and if he will make a statement. [34239]

I have received a number of representations about the revenue budgets set by Perth and Kinross and Angus councils and about the level of central Government funding which supports those budgets. On each occasion, I have taken the opportunity to point out that it is for each council to determine its own spending priorities within the total level of resources available to it. I have also drawn attention to the very generous level of Government support for Scottish local authorities.Perth and Kinross council was able to increase its expenditure by £5.8 million, or 4.60 per cent., over its notional 1995–96 budget figure without breaching its capping limit; Angus council had scope to increase its expenditure by £4.7 million, or 4.47 per cent. In both cases, the increases were before any account was taken of the scope for efficiency savings.Perth and Kinross council will receive Government support totalling £115.5 million in the current year, which is 20 per cent. more per head of population than the average level of support for English authorities. Angus council will receive support totalling £100.3 million, which is 23 per cent. more than the average English figure.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many permits issued to individuals who are incapacitated for the purposes of the Agricultural Wages (Scotland) Act 1949 for the payment of lower minimum rates are currently in force; and what is their distribution by rates of pay. [34584]

There are seven permits in force. They are distributed as shown in the table.

Number of permits	Classification of worker	Full minimum weekly wage
4	General farm worker	£150.55
1	Tractor worker	£168.55
1	Stockworker	£180.60
1	Supervisory	£181.30

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland to what extent local assessors are permitted to take account of local economic circumstances when making assessments for business rates. [34588]

Assessors are entirely independent of both local and central Government in the exercise of their statutory duties, and reach decisions on the rateable value of business premises in accordance with statute and case law. Economic circumstances in each area will affect rateable values to the extent that they will affect the rental evidence used by assessors in setting appropriate rateable values.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the advantages of introducing a differential business rate for rural and urban areas. [34589]

I am well aware of the burden rates place on Scottish businesses, both rural and urban. That is why the Government have been pursuing a policy of harmonisation, to bring Scottish business rates to the same level as apply in England.We are also very sympathetic to the problems of village shops and post offices. Research has shown that, while for most businesses rate bills are relatively small in relation to total turnover, they impose a more substantial burden on the smallest businesses, particularly in the retail sector. Shops and post offices in villages often exist on very low turnovers and, for them, the rates bill can represent a significant burden.In the White Paper "Rural Scotland: People, Prosperity and Partnership" the Government announced their plans to bring forward a scheme to reduce the burden of rates on general stores and post offices which fulfil a special role in the life of the rural community, and I recently issued a consultation paper on the operation of such a scheme.In line with the Government's aim to harmonise rating across the country, the intention is to introduce the scheme in Scotland, England and Wales simultaneously.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many statutory measures his Department introduced in (a) 1994, (b) 1995 and (c) between 1 January 1996 and 1 May 1996 which had the effect of repealing one or more previous statutory instruments without replacing them with a new regulation. [35029]

This information is not available in the form requested, but a list of regulations that have been repealed or amended was placed in the House Library by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 8 May.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will place in the Library an index of all Scottish Office circular letters, to police authorities since 1967 relevant to the Firearms Acts of 1968, 1988, 1992, and 1994 indicating the number and reference of the circular together with the date of issue and title; [34838](2) if he will place in the Library an index of all Scottish Office circular letters, to chief officers of police since 1967 relevant to the administration of the Firearms Acts of 1968, 1988, 1992 and 1994 indicating the number or reference of the circular together with the date of issue and title. [34840]

Details of circulars relating to firearms in the numbered series are as listed:

	Index of Scottish Office circular letters to chief constables since 1967
Year	Number of circular	Date of issue	Title
1967	24/67	30 August 1967	Firearms Certificates for Flare Signal Pens
1967	39/67	22 November 1967	Firearms Form 9A
1968	25/68	19 July 1968	Firearms Act 1968
1969	12/69	19 March 1969	The Firearms (Dangerous Air Weapons) (Scotland) Rules 1969
1975	16/75	1 July 1975	Firearms (Variation of Fees) (Scotland) Order 1975
1976	24/76	16 September 1976	Firearms (Variation of Fees) (Scotland) Order 1976
1976	28/76	10 December 1976	The Removal of Firearms to Northern Ireland
1977	2/77	20 January 1977	Firearms (Variation of Fees) (Scotland) No 2 Order 1976
1977	13/77	25 May 77	Firearms (Removal to Northern Ireland) Order 1975
1979	4/79	20 February 1979	Firearms (Variation of Fees) (Scotland) Order 1979
1979	5/79	6 March 1979	Firearms (Variation of Fees) (Scotland) Order 1979
1979	8/79	18 April 1979	Firearms (Variation of Fees) (Scotland) 1979
1979	14/79	3 May 1979	Firearms (Variation of Fees) (Scotland) Order 1979
1983	10/83	20 July 1983	1. Firearms (Certificates granted in Great Britain and Air Weapons lawfully held in Great Britain Regulations (Northern Ireland) SI No 132
			2. Firearms (Removal to Northern Ireland) Order 1975 SI 1975 No 760
1983	11/83	12 September 1983	Firearms Act 1982
1986	7/86	19 August 1986	Firearms (Variation of Fees) (Scotland) Order 1986
1994	4/94	24 May 1994	Firearms Certificate Returns

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total cost to public funds of (a) the Fife inquiry and (b) the report of the inquiry into child care policies in Fife. [35219]

The costs incurred by the Scottish Office in relation to the inquiry were £830,000. They include direct running expenditure for Scottish Office staff, of £239,356, wholly seconded to the staff on the inquiry. The cost of printing the report of the inquiry was £15,000. Information on the costs to public funds incurred by others involved in the inquiry is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the cost to public funds of the Orkney child abuse inquiry by Lord Clyde. [35140]

The costs incurred by the Scottish Office in relation to the inquiry were £3,380,000. They include direct running expenditure for Scottish Office staff, estimated at £157,000, wholly seconded to the staff of the inquiry. The cost of printing the report of the inquiry was £10,500. Information on the costs to public funds incurred by others involved in the inquiry is not available.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on training and development in the civil service. [35442]

I am pleased to announce that I have presented to Parliament today the White Paper "Development and Training for Civil Servants: a Framework for Action". I have also placed in the Libraries of both Houses copies of tables detailing progress in the civil service towards gaining investors in people status.The Government place great importance on increasing the skills of the UK work force in order to meet the challenges set out in the recent competitiveness White Paper, Cm 3300. The civil service has a vital role to play in delivering national competitiveness. The White Paper published today sets out a framework for achievement this necessary step change in training and development in the civil service.The White Paper has three key themes: a strengthened commitment to the achieving of the investors in people standard across the civil service; a drive to raise the levels of skills and awareness of civil servants; and an emphasis on civil servants taking responsibility for their own development and careers in a supportive partnership between top managers, line managers and the individual.In addition to key targets being monitored centrally for initiatives in the senior civil service and its feeder grades, Departments and agencies will be required to draw up action plans with their own stretching targets in the specific areas listed in the White Paper. There will be an annual progress report to Ministers on the collective performance of the civil service, which will be published.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what action he has taken since March to establish an independent committee to review the supply and dissemination of information within the services dealing with people in need of treatment; care and control. [34601]

I have been asked to reply.Following widespread consultation we published on 7 March guidance for the National Health Service—"The Protection and Use of Patient Information Between Agencies". Specific guidance on these matters is also contained in "Building Bridges". Copies of both documents are available in the Library.

To ask the Prime Minister (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; [33490](2) 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; [33488](3) how many

For these purposes, my office is part of the Cabinet Office. I refer the hon. Member to the replies given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service, on 27 June, Official Report, columns 189–92.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 27 June.

I have been asked to reply.My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister is attending the G7 summit in Lyon.

To ask the President of the Council 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. [33458]

Nil.

To ask the Lord President of the Council 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. [33456]

No such problems have been reported. I am not responsible for any agencies.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what (a) primary and (b) secondary legislative measures would be required to allow the comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty to be implemented. [34586]

We anticipate that legislation may be required to implement certain provisions of the comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty. We shall consider the precise form and nature of any legislation in the light of the outcome of the negotiations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last discussed with British high commissioners the role and perception of the BBC World Service in the countries in which they serve; and if he will make a statement. [34592]

All FCO posts overseas, including the high commissions, are asked in an annual information return to assess the impact of the BBC World Service in the country to which they are accredited. The last such exercise took place in April this year. The results show the BBC World Service is highly valued in Commonwealth countries.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last discussed Kashmir with the Indian Government; and what specific problems were addressed. [34599]

My right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary last discussed Kashmir in general terms with the previous Indian Foreign Secretary in London in November.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects a decision to be taken on an application made by Mr. Mohd Bashir, date of birth 8 January 1971, to the British post in Dubai to join his wife in the United Kingdom. [34813]

I have asked the embassy at Dubai for details and will arrange for the hon. Member to receive a substantive reply from the migration and visa correspondence unit as soon as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects a decision to be taken on the application made by Amanat Ali ref: Imm/D2604 to the British post in Islamabad to enter the United Kingdom; when Mr. Ali was interviewed; and if he will make a statement. [34812]

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has held with the British representatives at the European Parliament as to the refusal of Mr. Denktash to allow members of the European Parliament to visit the Karpass area in occupied northern Cyprus and if he will make a statement. [34768]

MEPs attending the 9th meeting of the EU/Cyprus Joint Parliamentary Committee discussed the issue of the Karpass with EU ambassadors in Nicosia 3 to 5 March. The Turkish Cypriot leadership is well aware of our views on the need to revoke the remaining restrictions on the basic freedoms in the Karpass. High commission officials regularly visit the Karpass.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has received about the United Kingdom rejoining UNESCO. [34821]

My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has received nine letters from Members of Parliament, organisations and members of the public in the last six months about the United Kingdom rejoining UNESCO. In addition there have been three parliamentary questions in the same period.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the financial implications of the United Kingdom rejoining UNESCO. [34828]

We estimate that it would cost the United Kingdom approximately £11 million annually to rejoin UNESCO. In addition there would be extra staffing costs which have yet to be calculated.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the current management and functioning of UNESCO. [34831]

We have frequently acknowledged the progress made by UNESCO in putting its house in order since we left in 1985. But we believe that there is still scope for further reform. In particular, we are keen to see greater focus of programmes, greater decentralisation, tighter budgetary discipline and more transparency in management practices.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has taken to speed up the processing of visa applications made by language students in Moscow seeking to learn English in the United Kingdom. [34974]

All applications for UK visas have to satisfy the requirements of the immigration rules. The visa section at Moscow, like all our other entry clearance issuing posts, processes all straightforward visa applications within 24 hours. However I inspected Moscow's visa section and approved plans to enlarge and improve the old premises at a cost of £700,000, better to accommodate visa applicants. The renovated visa section opened on 13 May and provides waiting space for 160 persons and new counter positions for eight visa officers at a time, out of a total of 17.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 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. [31546]

The information in respect of the Chancellor's Departments and agencies is as follows:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total cost of the conditionally except works of art list in uncollected inheritance tax (a) in 1995 and (b) since the list started, inflation adjusted. [34221]

The estimated overall cost to the Exchequer of granting conditional exemption from inheritance tax/capital transfer tax to works of art and chattels is about £55 million in 1994–95 and around £700 million over the period 1984–85 to 1994–95, at constant 1994–95 prices using the GDP market deflator. Comparable information for earlier years to 1977–78 when the list started is not available. And there are no separate estimates of the cost of exempting items included in the list.The exemption is conditional, not absolute. Its broad effect is to defer payment of tax on the qualifying items for so long as the conditions of the exemption are met. the figure of £700 million given above does not take into account any deferred tax subsequently paid.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many individuals have been asked by the Inland Revenue to remove items from the exempt works of art list as a result of denial of access (a) in 1995 and (b) since the list has existed. [34223]

In 1995 one owner has had items removed from the list because of a failure to provide public access. The capital taxes office has no record of any previous such removal of items.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the average inflation adjusted gross yearly income of individuals owning conditionally exempt works of art in (a) 1995, (b) 1980 and (c) the first year of the relevant list. [34220]

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

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many complaints have been received by the Inland Revenue regarding denial of access to conditionally exempt works of art (a) in 1995 and (b) since the scheme came into existence. [34222]

The capital taxes office has received no complaints from members of the public regarding denial of access to conditionally exempt works of art. If anyone feels that he or she has been unreasonably denied such access, they should write to that office.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to equalise the inheritance tax treatment of surviving partners in long-term homosexual couples with the treatment of the surviving partner in heterosexual marriages; and if he will make a statement. [34949]

There are no such plans. Inheritance tax exemption for transfers between spouses is not available to unmarried couples.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many actors and actresses are currently unemployed. [35008]

In May 1996, 13,033 of the claimant unemployed in the United Kingdom usually worked as actors, entertainers, stage managers, producers or directors. Figures for actors alone cannot be separately identified.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what targets he has set National Savings on its creation as an executive agency of his Department; and if he will make a statement. [35472]

National Savings has today been established as an executive agency of the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Its main aim is to support the Government's management of its debt and its policies for personal savings by attracting and retaining investments from the retail market efficiently and cost effectively. It will be set clear targets to continue to improve value for money for the taxpayer and the level of service to customers. Accordingly, I have set the following performance targets for its first year, 1996–97.

(i) To work within the terms of the 1996–97 funding remit¹

(ii) To manage National Savings so as to deliver its aims within the resources allocated by Parliament.

(iii) To improve efficiency by 6 per cent. in 1996–97.

(iv) To develop a consistent agency-wide unit costing system drawing on the development of resource accounting by end March 1997.

(v) To achieve a 97 per cent. outturn against all national savings published timeliness targets.

(vi) To set up a consistent system by end March 1997 to measure accuracy of those transaction processes that most affect customers (repayment and purchase).

(vii) To show 85 per cent. of customers surveyed are either satisfied or very satisfied.

¹ The funding remit sets out the costs and volume assumption that National Savings works to. It is not published because of commercial confidentiality.

I have today placed copies of the agency's framework document in the Libraries of both Houses.Following open competition Peter Bareau has been selected as the new agency chief executive. He will take up post on 15 July 1996.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish for each of the constituent nations of the United Kingdom and for United Kingdom as a whole for the last three years in constant prices the cost to the Exchequer of enforcement of current laws on illegal drugs, broken down by the costs of (a) policing, (b) prosecutions, (c) medical treatment of abusers and (d) border controls. [33930]

The overall expenditure of the Government on tackling drug misuse across the United Kingdom in 1992–93 was estimated to have been £520 million. The comparable figures for 1993–94 was estimated as £526 million. These are the most recent figures available. The information in the form and breakdown requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the next edition of the "Abortion Statistics Monitor" will be published; and what factors account for the interval in publication between it and its predecessor. [34891]

The most recent edition of the "Abortion Statistics Monitor", covering legal abortions for the December 1995 quarter, was published on 27 June 1996. The next edition, which will cover the March 1996 quarter, has an expected publication date of 1 October 1996. Publication dates are determined by the date of receipt of HSA4 notification forms by the chief medical officers at the Department of Health and the Welsh Office, and the statistical processing and analyses of the notifications by the Office for National Statistics.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many legal abortions were performed in England and Wales in each month of 1995. [35091]

The data presented for 1995 in the table are provisional as they are based on quarterly returns. Finalised annual figures for 1995 are expected to be published in an annual monitor on legal abortions performed in England and Wales on 10 September 1996.

Total terminations performed in England and Wales
1995	residents and non-residents
January	13,913
February	13,938
March	14,890
April	12,138
May	13,403
June	14,191
July	13,803
August	13,825
September	13,224
October	13,521
November	13,372
December	12,229
Total	162,447

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals he has to ensure that each legislative measure put forward by his Department contains a compliance cost assessment (a) relating to small firms and (b) in respect of which small firms have been consulted. [34146]

[holding answer 26 June 1996]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 26 June 1996 by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Official Report, column 119.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will express as an index where the year of privatisation equals 100 the utility component of the retail prices index including value added tax in (a) 1979 and (b) the latest available period for (i) gas prices, (ii) electricity prices, (iii) electricity and gas prices, (iv) water prices and (v) gas, electric and water prices. [30343]

[holding answer 22 May 1996]:The information is as follows:

Period	Gas	Electricity	Electricity and gas	Water	Gas, electricity and water
Year of privatization	1986	1990	1990	1989	1990
1979	44	44	42	36	41
May 1996	125	121	118	194	127

Although the gas/water/electricity prices has risen to 127 compared to 100 in 1990, a wider range of utility prices, which also includes the price of telephone services, rail fares and postage, has risen to only 121.3. In real terms, this is an increase of only one and half percentage point.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the spending per pupil (a) in primary schools and (b) in secondary schools in each local education authority in England. [34674]

The following table sets out, for each local education authority, net institutional expenditure per pupil in LEA-maintained (a) pre-primary/primary schools and (b) secondary schools in England for 1994–95, the latest year for which figures are available.

Net institutional expenditure per pupil 1994–95	(a) Pre-primary and primary £	(b) Secondary £
Corporation of London	3,635	0
Camden	2,057	2,790
Greenwich	2,028	2,772
Hackney	2,249	3,138
Hammersmith and Fulham	2,482	3,316
Islington	2,055	2,657
Kensington and Chelsea	2,397	3,327
Lambeth	2,573	3,782
Lewisham	2,097	2,677
Southwark	1,898	2,681
Tower Hamlets	2,393	3,194
Wandsworth	2,268	3,053
Westminster	2,440	2,825
Barking and Dagenham	1,891	2,353

Net institutional expenditure per pupil 1994–95	(a) Pre-primary and primary £	(b) Secondary £
Barnet	1,763	2,415
Bexley	1,536	2,232
Brent	1,718	2,033
Bromley	1,634	2,231
Croydon	1,725	2,165
Ealing	1,969	2,457
Enfield	1,761	2,359
Haringey	2,300	2,986
Harrow	2,043	2,598
Havering	1,715	2,570
Hillingdon	1,777	2,625
Hounslow	1,931	2,582
Kingston upon Thames	1,730	2,518
Merton	1,931	2,663
Newham	1,711	2,623
Redbridge	1,678	2,553
Richmond upon Thames	1,884	2,373
Sutton	1,860	2,514
Waltham Forest	1,792	2,395
Birmingham	1,721	2,356
Coventry	1,705	2,418
Dudley	1,575	2,205
Sandwell	1,666	2,244
Solihull	1,605	2,225
Walsall	1,664	2,314
Wolverhampton	1,648	2,341
Knowsley	1,575	2,227
Liverpool	1,634	2,603
St. Helens	1,521	2,247
Sefton	1,487	2,227
Wirral	1,567	2,294
Bolton	1,646	2,261
Bury	1,492	2,032
Manchester	1,558	2,435
Oldham	1,621	2,293
Rochdale	1,552	2,225
Salford	1,507	2,151
Stockport	1,566	2,152
Tameside	1,447	2,046
Trafford	1,477	2,319
Wigan	1,474	2,130
Barnsley	1,550	2,102
Doncaster	1,444	2,025
Rotherham	1,719	2,220
Sheffield	1,612	2,110
Bradford	1,681	2,041
Calderdale	1,651	2,104
Kirklees	1,607	2,256

Net institutional expenditure per pupil 1994–95	(a) Pre-primary and primary £	(b) Secondary £
Leeds	1,645	2,223
Wakefield	1,590	2,046
Gateshead	1,638	2,257
Newcastle upon Tyne	1,660	2,314
North Tyneside	1,636	2,145
South Tyneside	1,623	2,062
Sunderland	1,576	2,142
Isles of Scilly	2,471	4,484
Avon	1,613	2,336
Bedfordshire	1,674	2,231
Berkshire	1,630	2,238
Buckinghamshire	1,636	2,256
Cambridgeshire	1,540	2,160
Cheshire	1,529	2,176
Cleveland	1,505	2,172
Cornwall	1,615	2,202
Cumbria	1,541	2,034
Derbyshire	1,596	2,290
Devon	1,554	2,203
Dorset	1,510	2,061
Durham	1,757	2,122
East Sussex	1,692	2,359
Essex	1,734	2,321
Gloucestershire	1,274	1,937
Hampshire	1,645	2,177
Hereford and Worcester	1,643	2,063
Hertfordshire	1,717	2,264
Humberside	1,652	2,304
Isle of Wight	1,607	2,030
Kent	1,555	2,276
Lancashire	1,661	2,345
Leicestershire	1,612	2,274
Lincolnshire	1,588	2,384
Norfolk	1,600	2,342
North Yorkshire	1,577	2,180
Northamptonshire	1,618	2,265
Northumberland	1,528	1,944
Nottinghamshire	1,692	2,396
Oxfordshire	1,680	2,285
Shropshire	1,605	2,413
Somerset	1,660	2,113
Staffordshire	1,565	2,104
Suffolk	1,690	2,182
Surrey	1,744	2,234
Warwickshire	1,665	2,349
West Sussex	1,668	2,240
Wiltshire	1,548	2,125
England	1,661	2,270

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the amount of grant for Kirklees metropolitan council for the education revenue budget for each year since 1979–80. [34798]

[holding answer 27 June 1996]: It is not possible to identify a portion of revenue support grant for the education revenue budget since RSG is not hypothecated to particular services. Details of the education standard spending assessment for Kirklees from 1990–91 to 1996–97 are set out in the following list. The previous system of local government finance that applied before 1990–91 was different in structure and coverage from the current system and comparable figures are therefore not available.

• 1990–91: £128.823 million
• 1991–92: £148.129 million
• 1992–93: £157.647 million
• 1993–94: £140.873 million
• 1994–95: £138.275 million
• 1995–96: £136.679 million
• 1996–97: £141.523 million

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) how many nursery units have been provided at Church-aided schools through the private finance initiative; [34829](2) how many nursery units have been provided at local education authority schools through the private finance initiative; and if she will make a statement. [34830]

We are aware that many local education authorities and voluntary aided schools are exploring the use of the private finance initiative or similar arrangements for education projects, including nursery units. PFI in schools and nursery units is at an early stage, and as yet we are not aware of any nursery units provided through the PFI.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) if she will list the professions where unemployed people are able to seek employment in their chosen occupation while receiving unemployment benefit without being asked to seek alternative employment; and if she will make a statement; [35003](2) what is the maximum time during which actors and actresses are able to claim unemployment benefit before being asked to seek alternative employment; and if she will make a statement. [35102]

Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service Agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will make a statement on the visit of a Minister from her Department to the area covered by the Barnsley and Doncaster TEC to discuss measures to reduce unemployment in the travel-to-work areas of Doncaster and Mexborough. [34984]

My noble Friend the Minister of State undertook the most recent visit of a Minister from the Department to the area covered by the Barnsley and Doncaster training and enterprise council on 8 May 1996, in his capacity as a sponsor Minister. He visited sites in the Barnsley north-east corridor city challenge area and attended the launch of the Dearne Valley college, at the University of Sheffield. The visit was not specifically to discuss measures to reduce unemployment in the travel to work areas of Doncaster and Mexborough. However, he did meet a representative of the Barnsley and Doncaster TEC during the visit. He will be visiting the Doncaster area again, on 1 July 1996, to hold a reception for excellent, good and improving schools in the Yorkshire and Humberside region identified by Ofsted inspections.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) when she last met the chief inspector to discuss admission policy for secondary schools;[34771](2) what advice she received from Office of Standards in Education on the re-introduction of admission by selection to secondary schools. [34772]

My right hon. Friend meets the chief inspector regularly, most recently on 5 June, to discuss a range of education matters.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she or her ministerial colleagues have recently visited Germany to study the selection methods under which pupils are allocated to each type of secondary school in that country; and if she will make a statement. [35085]

No such visits have recently taken place. The White Paper "Self-government for Schools", Cm 3315, stresses the value of many different kinds of selection and specialisation in extending diversity and so giving parents more choice.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many persons have been (a) challenged and (b) apprehended for being found in (i) a school or college building and (ii) the precincts of a school or college, without any lawful authority, in each eduction authority area for each month in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [34843]

This information is not collected centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) how many claimants in 1995–96 were referred to (a) jobplan workshops, (b) restart courses and (c) workwise and worklink; and for each how many attended and what were the outcomes; [35276](2) how many claimants had reductions in their income support for non-attendance or failure to complete

Responsibility for the subject of the questions has been delegated to the Employment Service Agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many restart interviews took place in 1995–96; and from these how many claimants (a) were placed in a job, (b) claimed other benefits and (c) entered other programmes and signed off the claiming benefit. [35281]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many claimants are currently participating in the voluntary jobsearch element of the project work pilots. [35284]

The most recent figures available, covering the period from the start of the pilots up to 13 June, show a total of 2,012 people in the Hull and Medway and Maidstone pilot areas have had their initial restart interview, and entered the first 13 weeks of the pilot process.

To ask the Secretary' of State for Education and Employment how many claimants have participated in each of the four jobmatch pilots in each quarter since inception; and what have been the outcomes of those who completed. [35283]

The following table gives the number of long-term unemployed people who have participated in each of the four jobmatch pilots. The table shows the number of new participants in each 12 week period since the pilots began on 3 April 1995 and until 24 May 1996.

Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many claimants were (a) referred to 1–2–1 interviews in 1995–96, (b) attended and completed these interviews and (c) received sanctions for non-attendance or failure to complete their programme. [35280]

Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service Agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.