To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many village post offices and general stores he expects to benefit from business rates relief over the next 12 months. [35666]

Some properties of these kinds already benefit from discretionary rate relief on hardship grounds, but numbers are not held centrally. We estimate that up to 30,000 properties would be likely to benefit from our proposed scheme of rate relief for village shops, post offices and some other small rural businesses. The scheme would require primary legislation.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what expenditure his Department has incurred on redundancy payments; and what future additional pension liabilities have been incurred by early retirement within his Department since 1990. [36021]

There have been no compulsory redundancies in my Department during this period. The total cost since 1990 of early retirements on voluntary terms and of severance payments to staff leaving before the age of 50 on such terms is:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the reduction of staff in his Department since 1990; and how many staff have left as a result of (a) competitive tendering from the Department's services, (b) transfers under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 to next steps agencies, (c) premature retirement and (d) redundancy. [36022]

The numbers of staff employed by my Department have been reducing since 1990. The figures are published in my Department's annual report, a copy of which is in the Library of the House.Included in these figures are departures from. DOE (central) and the Government offices since 1990 in the following categories:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate his Department has made of the revenue required to be raised by council tax in 1996–97 to meet local government expenditure from the 1995–96 financial year. [36036]

Each year, billing authorities estimate the surplus or deficit on council tax collection from previous years which they propose to take into account in setting their council tax for the current year. A deficit would represent income to be raised in 1996–97 to meet expenditure from a previous financial year. However, in setting the council tax for 1996–97, billing authorities in aggregate assumed a surplus from 1995–96 and earlier years of £106 million, rather than a deficit.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the Government-approved council tax increase for local government for the years 1995–96 and 1996–97 in percentage terms. [36037]

The Government do not set an approved level of council tax increase.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list for each of the last five years the budget awarded by his Department to Cheshire county council. [36449]

The Department does not award budgets to local authorities. Each authority is responsible for setting its own budget taking into account a number of considerations, including the capping criteria announced by the Secretary of State. In each of the last five years, Cheshire county council set its budget requirements¹ close to the maximum amount permitted under the capping criteria:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the number of people currently employed in each of the local energy advice centres. [36549]

This is a matter for the local energy advice centres and the Energy Saving Trust, which is responsible for the management and funding of the centres.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total budget for local energy advice centres in each year from 1993 to date; and in each year how much of that budget was provided from (a) his Department, (b) the Energy Saving Trust and (c) other bodies. [36543]

The total expenditure, with the proportion provided by the Department of the Environment, on the local energy advice centre pilot study in each of the relevant years is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many people have received energy saving advice from local energy advice centres in each year since 1993. [36545]

The number—rounded to the nearest thousand—of clients who received advice from local energy advice centres in each year is as follows:

• 1993–94: 26,000
• 1994–95: 57,000
• 1995–96: 100,000

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment his Department has made of the work and effectiveness of local energy advice centres. [36547]

We monitored the efficiency and effectiveness of the local energy advice centres through regular reports from the Energy Saving Trust and reports from comprehensive market research running in parallel with the pilot study. The Energy Saving Trust has now taken over responsibility for this research programme. These reports demonstrate that the impartial and free advice provided by the pilot study centres has proved very effective, and substantial efficiency gains in its delivery have been achieved.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what proposals his Department has for (a) the funding and (b) other support for local energy advice centres after September; and if he will make a statement; [36548](2) what is his estimate of the amount of funding local energy advice centres will receive from

The Energy Saving Trust is responsible for the management and funding of the local energy advice centres. My Department has agreed the trust's proposals to use DOE funds to support the local energy advice centres up to March 1999. The trust announced its plans for the local energy advice centres at the local energy advice centres' annual conference on 8 July.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is (a) the financial saving on energy bills and (b) the savings in carbon dioxide emissions (i) per customer and (ii) in total, that has resulted from energy/saving advice given by local energy advice centres, to the latest available date. [36546]

Estimated savings attributable to advice from local energy advice centres are as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the estimated cost of setting minimum security standards for all prison establishments in England and Wales. [35864]

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 meeting the costs of taxi cab fares in the 1995–96 financial year. [36007]

Information about the values of payments on taxi cab fares is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for each of the last five years the total budget allocated by his Department to Cheshire police. [36531]

Cheshire police authority's budgeted expenditure on policing for each of the last five years is set out in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the number of (a) constables and (b) special constables in the services of the Cheshire police for each of the last five years. [36532]

The information is in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions during the last 12 months private taxis have been used to transport prisoners (a) to and (b) from Doncaster prison; what category were the prisoners on each occasion; and if he will make a statement. [36295]

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 (1) if he will list the number of fire stations closed in the Cheshire fire service area in each of the last five years; [36472]

The position on 1 January in each of the last five years is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the number of police officers who have committed sexual offences against children from among those listed in "Sentencing and Supervision of Sex Offenders", while serving, and for which they were subsequently prosecuted, since 1972. [36514]

This information is not kept in the form requested, or for the period requested. However, records of the numbers of serving police officers in England and Wales convicted for sexual offences are available for the years 1993 and 1994. These show that one officer in 1993 and three officers in 1994 were convicted for sexual offences. The records are not broken down by type of offence and the 1993 records do not include the Metropolitan police.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the selection procedure for the new commandant in charge of the high-intensity training centre, Colchester; [36206](2) what training is being given

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 (1) what will be the Prison Service title of the high-intensity centre, Colchester; [36207](2) when he plans to open the high-intensity training centre Colchester; [36209](3) what is the current estimated unit cost per place at

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 (1) what arrangements will be made for the provision of through and after care at the high-intensity training centre, Colchester; [36212](2) how many hours out of cell will be provided to offenders at the high-intensity training centre, Colchester; and what will be the range of activities; [36217](3) how many

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 who conducts adjudications at private prisons in England and Wales. [36211]

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 plans he has to close young offender institutions. [36213]

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, pursuant to his answer of 17 April, Official Report, column 523, how many (a) arrests and (b) police cautions, there have been for driving without insurance in each of the last five years; how many (i) custodial sentences, (ii) fines and (iii) suspended sentences, have been handed down following prosecutions for driving without insurance in each of the last five years; what has been the reconviction rate for driving without insurance in each of the last five years; and what action he is taking to discourage drivers from driving without insurance. [36221]

Information on the number of people arrested for specific offences is not available centrally.The number of written warnings for the offence of driving without insurance cannot be distinguished from other insurance offences in the statistics available centrally. The following list gives the number of written warnings issued by the police in England and Wales for all vehicle insurance offences:Written warnings given for vehicle insurance offences in England and Wales

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many representations have been received from Raghbir Singh about (a) conditions in his prison and (b) on requests for escorted leave from prison for compassionate purposes; what action has been taken in respect of (a) and how many requests made under (b) were (1) accepted and (92) refused. [36402]

[holding answer 9 July 1996]: I have received one letter from Raghbir Singh which contains representations about his conditions in prison. He has made two requests for escorted leave for compassionate purposes. The details of these requests are contained in the reply given to the hon. Member for Walsall, North (Mr. Winnick) on 1 July, Official Report, column 312.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many bail applications have been made by Raghbir Singh and how many (a) have been refused and (b) are under consideration. [36403]

[holding answer 9 July 1996]: Raghbir Singh has applied once to the High Court and once to the Court of Appeal for leave to apply for judicial review, and for a writ of habeas corpus. On each occasion, the court refused the application and, although the written application to the court included a request for bail, that was not pursued in court.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many statutory instruments 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. [35041]

[holding answer 3 July 1996]: The information that the hon. Member requests is as follows:

• 1994
• 1994/3205: The Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 (Isle of Man) (Revocation) Order 1994
• 1995
• 1995/267: The Public Health (Ships and Aircraft) (Isle of Man) (Revocation) Order 1995
• 1995/376: The Recreation Grounds (Revocation of Parish Council Bylaws) Order 1995
• 1995/1296: The Air Navigation (Isle of Man) (Revocation) Order 1995
• 1995/1297: The Civil Aviation (Isle of Man) (Revocation) Order 1995
• 1 January to 1 May 1996
• 1996/1140: The Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1984 (Jersey) (Revocation) Order 1996

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many persons detained under Immigration Act powers were released on bail by the Immigration Appellate Authority in (a) 1994, (b) 1995 and (c) 1996 to date. [35600]

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

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many appeals against a refusal of asylum are currently outstanding with the Immigration Appellate Authority. [35608]

As at the end of June 1996, there were 16,809 appeals outstanding.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what estimate English Heritage has made of the cost of rebuilding the St. Mary Axe facade of the Baltic exchange; and if she will permit the listing of the building to be withdrawn. [35898]

English Heritage has not estimated the cost of rebuilding the St. Mary Axe frontage of the Baltic exchange. I have asked English Heritage to let me have a report on the exchange's listed status. However, it should be borne in mind that such a review can consider only evidence relating to the building's architectural or historic interest. Commercial or economic considerations would not be relevant; these are matters which can be addressed in the context of an application for listed building consent. General guidance on requests to delist buildings is given in paragraphs 6.26 and 6.27 of planning policy guidance note 15.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when she expects the BBC to introduce a weekly cash instalment scheme for payment of the television licence fee. [36942]

The Government laid a regulation yesterday that will enable the BBC to introduce an easy entry scheme for payment of the television licence fee. This scheme will enable people in receipt of at least one income-related state benefit to pay for their first licence in small weekly cash instalments over a period of six months, in arrears. The BBC intends to launch a national pilot of the scheme later this summer.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will list the recent decisions which have been made concerning the funding and organisation of the national millennium exhibition. [33889]

[holding answer 21 June 1996]: This is a matter for the Millennium Commission. I shall reply to the hon. Member in my capacity as chairman of the commission and place copies of my reply in the Libraries of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many statutory instruments her 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. [35043]

[holding answer 4 July 1996]: None.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much (a) his Department and (b) the Monopolies and Mergers Commission have spent in total in carrying out investigations into Stagecoach Holdings plc; and how much his Department has spent defending actions taken by his Department against the company in the courts of law. [36019]

Information about (i) could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. In relation to (ii), information about the total costs incurred by the Department in defending court actions brought by Stagecoach could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will withdraw the sale of British Energy if the sale proceeds are less than the lowest market capitalisation value as set out on page 9 of the share offer prospectus. [36557]

I am confident that the privatisation of British Energy will achieve value for money for the taxpayer.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade under what export licence category electric shock weapons are classified. [36483]

Entry PL5001.d of the Export Goods (Control) Order, 1994, as amended.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 18 June, Official Report, columns 459–60, if Mr. Kenneth Holmes was chairman of his Department's South West industrial development board at the time of (a) the offer and (b) the payment of regional selective assistance to Marine Projects (Plymouth) Ltd. for (i) the first and (ii) the second project. [35264]

[holding answer 1 July 1996]: Mr. Holmes was a member of the industrial development board from January 1980 and chairman from January 1984 until January 1991. I explained in my answer of 18 June, Official Report, column 460, that he played no role in the granting of regional selective assistance to Marine Projects (Plymouth) Ltd. during that period. But to amplify that answer, Mr. Holmes—in view of potential conflict of interest—saw no departmental papers relating to the applications and absented himself from the relevant board discussions.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 18 June, Official Report, column 463, if he will state (a) the amount that had already been paid to the eight companies by his Department, (b) the amount remaining unpaid and (c) the amount that has been recovered by (i) date of last payment and (ii) date of the receiver's appointment or the company liquidation. [35261]

[holding answer 1 July 1996]: In all eight cases, the amounts paid and remaining unpaid were the same on the date of last, if any, payment and the date on which receivers or administrators were appointed.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 18 June, Official Report, columns 461–64, what assessment he has made of the effect on the effectiveness of Mr. Roger Harris, as chairman of his Department's South West industrial development board, of the number of occasions on which he is caused to absent himself from board meetings due to a potential conflict of interest; and if he will make a statement. [35262]

[holding answer 1 July 1996]: Since becoming chairman of the board in February 1991, Mr. Harris has absented himself from discussion of 35 cases because of potential conflicts of interest, but the board has discussed 77 other cases during that period as well as a wide range of other industrial development issues affecting the south-west and Mr. Harris has proved a very effective chairman. When he has had to absent himself, other board members have stood in for him and the board has continued to be able to provide valuable advice.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons the files with the class marks ESI/367–380 recorded at the Public Record Office concerning effluent from a pipeline to the River Thames are currently retained by his Department; and if he will release them. [36137]

In line with the open government initiative, arrangements are being made to review the papers listed at the Public Record Office under references ESI/367–380 to see whether release into the public domain is now possible. I will write to the hon. Member on completion of the review process.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons the file with the class mark AIR 28/1317 recorded at the Public Record Office concerning RAF Wittering between January 1959 and December 1960 is currently retained by his Department; and if he will release it. [36138]

In line with the open government initiative, arrangements are being made to review the papers listed at the Public Record Office under reference AIR 28/1317 to see whether release into the public domain is now possible. I will write to hon. Member on completion of the review process.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department spent in meeting the costs of taxi cab fares in the 1995–96 financial year. [36009]

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many studies have been carried out by the Atomic Weapons Establishment, Aldermaston since 1966 to examine the effect of an accident involving nuclear weapons; and how many of these studies have examined the dispersal of nuclear materials in the event of such an accident. [36135]

Rather than individual studies, the Atomic Weapons Establishment maintains a continual programme of research into, and assessment of, the effects of a nuclear weapons accident, including dispersal of nuclear materials. Numerous weapon accident exercises are conducted to test procedures and personnel.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the names of the exercises held since 1966 for testing the Department's arrangements for dealing with an accident involving nuclear weapons controlled by (a) Britain and (b) the United States of America; in what year each of these exercises was held; and which service was primarily in charge of each of these exercises. [36136]

The 1995 "Statement on the Defence Estimates" described the programme of regular nuclear accident response organisation exercises and the basis on which these are categorised. The definition of these categories has developed over the years but, from the records which are available, the following exercises since 1986 would have been commensurate with what we currently consider to be major or medium level.Information on exercises before 1986 and on minor exercises is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how frequently the Nuclear Weapons Safety Committee produces a report on its activities; when the first such report was produced; and what are the current security classifications of each of these reports. [36490]

The Nuclear Weapons Safety Committee does not produce a regular series of reports. However, meetings of the committee have been minuted since it was established in 1959. The preparation of separate reports would be dependent on the nature of committee business but this is invariably sensitive. The security classification of the committee's paperwork ranges from restricted to top secret.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the annual cost of the Army Base Repair Organisation in each of the last 10 years. [36165]

This is a matter for the Army Base Repair Organisation under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to reduce or expand the Army Base Repair Organisation. [36164]

This is a matter for the Army Base Repair Organisation under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 4 June, Official Report, column 341, on environmental assessments of former RAF stations, if land quality statements are made available to local councils and members of the public if requested. [36186]

My Department will make available, upon request, copies of individual land quality statements to local authorities and to members of the public.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of repairs, maintenance and servicing of Army vehicles is carried out by private sector contractors. [36166]

This is a matter for the Army Base Repair Organisation under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 2 July, Official Report, column 387, if he will give a breakdown of the £700 million yet to be spent on the Trident programme. [36231]

The £700 million of committed expenditure which has yet to be spent forms part of an estimated £1.61 billion of remaining expenditure on the Trident acquisition programme. A breakdown of the estimated remaining expenditure figure is:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the number of dwellings owned and occupied by service personnel in Cheshire. [36456]

My Department does not record nor does it need to hold this information.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of his Department's married housing quarters at Lulworth camp, Dorset, are to be sold as part of the MOD's housing sell-off. [36205]

None. The quarters concerned are held by my Department on a lease which may be assigned.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all the consultants providing advice to his Department relating to the sell-off of the married quarters estate. [36480]

Apart from independent advisers, the following consultants have provided advice at various stages since we began to develop the proposal to transfer the married quarters estate to the private sector announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence on 30 November 1995, Official Report, columns 810–11:

• Financial and accountancy advice
• NatWest Markets
• Coopers and Lybrand
• Price Waterhouse
• Legal advice
• Government Property Lawyers
• Herbert Smith
• Property advice
• Savills
• Cluttons
• Knight, Frank and Rutley
• Chestertons
• DTZ Debenham Thorpe
• Public relations advice
• Brunswick

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his Department's policy for its married housing stock; what has been the total cost to date of payments to consultants advising on the privatisation of this stock; and what is the percentage change in rent charge for this stock between 1995–96 and 1996–97. [34965]

[holding answer 8 July 1996]: The Government's policy is to improve the quality and management of service housing. The sale of the married quarters provides the right basis for real improvements in service housing which are long overdue. The total cost to date of the employment of consultants since we began to develop this proposal, which was announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence on 30 November 1995, Official Report, columns 810–11, amounts to some £3.8 million, exclusive of VAT, on the basis of invoices received at 4 July 1996. The percentage increase in families' accommodation charges payable by service personnel between 1995–96 and 1996–97 was between 10 and 25 per cent., depending on the type of quarter occupied; the average increase was some 14.5 per cent. This increase was recommended by the independent Armed Forces Pay Review Body which also makes recommendations on pay. All personnel received a net increase in pay despite the increases in accommodation net charges. Two examples, based on the increase between 1 April 1995 and 1 December 1996 would be a major—depending upon pay scale and type of quarter—receiving a basic pay increase of £122.40 and accommodation charge increase of £33, giving a net gain of £89.40 per month and a lance corporal receiving a basic pay increase of £60.60 and accommodation charge increase of £22.20, giving a net gain of £38.40 per month. Both the Government and the review body have made it clear that the increases in charges have no connection with the sale of the married quarters estate or the way in which charges are set.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what provision his Department has made for the rehousing of families of service personnel living in married quarters at RAF Finningley. [36122]

[holding answer 9 July 1996]: Families were provided with alternative accommodation, as they were posted to other stations. To ensure minimum disruption, however, some families were allowed to remain at Finningley until the end of the school year before making a permanent move.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the provision of married quarters housing for members of his Department serving at RAF Cranwell. [36123]

[holding answer 9 July 1996]: My Department is committed to providing married quarters to all eligible service families including those at RAF Cranwell. Works to improve the standard of living accommodation are under way, including modernisation of 230 officers' and 157 airmen's quarters. We have plans to build 34 new houses.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many jobs are provided by the Defence Exports Services Organisation; and at what cost to public funds. [36593]

During 1996–97, the Defence Export Services Organisation will employ 686 staff—including project staff whose costs do not come out of public funds—at an estimated cost to public funds of £12.784 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the cost to public funds of the Defence Exports Services Organisation in each year since 1991. [36596]

Final outturn figures for the Defence Export Services Organisation for 1991–92 to 1995–96 are as stated.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the contract for the development of the life extended Sting Ray torpedo will be placed. [36866]

I am pleased to announce that we have today placed a contract worth some £109 million with GEC-Marconi underwater weapons division for the development of the life extended Sting Ray.The Sting Ray lightweight anti-submarine torpedo has been in service with the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force since 1983 and it is planned to extend its life by replacing expired components, and by so doing to improve its performance to maintain the weapon's effectiveness in the first two decades of the next century.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will designate the Menai strait as a marine nature reserve. [36998]

I published the requisite notice today. Representations should be made by 23 August. If, at the end of that time, there are no objections, the order designating the area as a marine nature reserve may be made with or without modifications.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what progress has been made in taking forward motorway and trunk road improvement schemes under the private finance initiative. [36997]

I have decided that the A55 dualling from Llanfair PG to Holyhead—an important improvement to which my predecessors and I have consistently attached great priority—should be taken forward as a design, build, finance and operate scheme under the private finance initiative. Subject to the satisfactory completion of statutory procedures, I expect construction of the whole of the improvement across the island of Anglesey will commence in autumn 1998, and that the scheme will be completed some three years later at around the same time as would have been the case if the construction had been undertaken by means of conventional procurement.Preparatory work is continuing on the A465 dualling between Abergavenny and Hirwaun, and the M4 relief road between Magor and Castleton, but it will be some time before decisions are required on the method of procurement. Nevertheless, it is my intention that these schemes should also be pursued as potential design, build, finance and operate contracts.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take steps to ensure that a resident vet is available to serve the outer north islands of Orkney; and if he will make a statement. [35870]

Under the highlands and islands veterinary services scheme, veterinary services to the outer north islands of Orkney were provided for a considerable number of years by a resident vet who was a member of a large practice based in Kirkwall. The practice subsequently withdrew the resident vet for purely commercial reasons. The practice has not, however, withdrawn its service, operating now exclusively from Kirkwall. Following the revised arrangements for this scheme introduced recently, there is now a second practice, again operating from the mainland, which provides a veterinary service to these islands. My noble Friend's responsibility in operating this scheme is not to ensure the actual physical location of veterinary practitioners, only that adequate services are made available at reasonable cost to crofters and persons of like economic status in designated areas of Scotland. In the case of the outer north islands of Orkney, I am satisfied that such a service is readily available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what research has been commissioned by (a) his office and (b) Highlands and Islands Enterprise to estimate the job retention and creation of the proposed Cairngorms funicular railway; and what alternative options for the upgrading of the skiing facilities have been evaluated. [35161]

No research into such matters has been commissioned by the Scottish Office. The research commissioned by Highlands and Islands Enterprise is an operational matter for that organisation and I have asked the chairman to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the total number of children registered as working by each local authority in (a) the current year and (b) 1986. [36313]

This information is not collected centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to update the Government expenditure and revenue in Scotland report, last published in October 1995; and if he will make a statement. [37121]

It is intended that the Government expenditure and revenue in Scotland report should become an annual publication. The next edition, covering the period 1994–95, is scheduled to be published on 21 October 1996.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what consideration has been given to the use of synthetic factor 8 for the treatment of haemophilia; and if he will make a statement. [37122]

Synthetic, or recombinant, factor 8 is a new treatment considered appropriate for some patients with haemophilia. The treatment is an alternative to the plasma-derived factor 8 currently in use and supplied free of charge to the NHS by the Scottish national blood transfusion service. To assist with the costs involved in the acquisition of the new product, which is available only from commercial sources, I have agreed to make available funding of £1.1 million in the current year. Future arrangements will depend on the speed and extent of the transition from plasma-derived factor 8 to recombinant. This will be kept under review.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish the results of research undertaken by his Department into industrial injuries in respect of the income and resources of recent claimants. [35683]

The results were published in December 1995 by Social and Community Planning Research, which was commissioned to carry out the research on behalf of the Department. A copy of the report, "Survey of Claimants of Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit", by Nigel Tremlett and David Dundon-Smith, is in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the cost of disregarding family credit in the calculation of (a) housing benefit and (b) council tax benefit in the next financial year. [35682]

The estimates are £230 million and £75 million respectively.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much his Department spent in meeting the costs of taxi cab fares in the 1995–96 financial year. [36010]

The information is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many months the widening scheme for the M25 between junctions 6 and 8 is behind schedule; [35585](2) how much of the additional costs incurred on the delay in the M25 widening construction project between junctions 6 and 8 will be borne by

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 25 June, Official Report, column 80, if he will list the names of the companies involved in the wet lease applications received in 1995. [35274]

The following companies were involved in wet lease applications in 1995:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to receive the report of the inquiry into the Sea Empress disaster. [35961]

The chief inspector of marine accidents intends to report to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State within one year of the incident.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made in the clean-up operation following the Sea Empress oil spill off the Pembrokeshire coast; and if he will make a statement. [36996]

The clean-up operation has made excellent progress. The majority of beaches have now been cleaned of the heavy pollution immediately following the spill. Pembrokeshire's prime resort beaches at Tenby and Saundersfoot were restored in time for the Easter break and Tenby north beach has recently been awarded the prestigious European blue flag for high standards of cleanliness and water quality. It is one of only four beaches in Wales to achieve this.The main efforts in the on-going clean-up operation are now concentrated on the most inaccessible areas of coastline. However, the strong winds and high waters of the Pembrokeshire coastline continue to reveal isolated patches of buried oil, tar balls from oil broken down at sea and some sheening effects as oil residues are washed out. All beaches continue to be monitored closely and "hit squads" are immediately brought into action to deal with any localised problems of this kind. Resources will continue to be deployed for as long as is necessary to complete the clean-up operation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the extent of his responsibilities in respect of partnership agreements between United Kingdom and foreign airlines. [35917]

Partnership agreements and other forms of alliance between UK and foreign airlines are commercial matters for the airlines concerned, subject to UK and EC rules on ownership and control. Competition aspects are matters for the UK and EC competition authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what investigations the Civil Aviation Authority has undertaken into allegations of unsafe operations during flights operated by Excalibur Airways. [35977]

The CAA advises me that all but one of the complaints it received concerning flights operated by Excalibur were related to contractual and commercial arrangements between the airline and its customers. The single safety complaint concerned a faulty door. An inspection for the aircraft confirmed that, although the normal electrical method of opening one of the aircraft doors had an intermittent fault, it could still be operated both manually and pneumatically. The CAA does not consider that passenger safety was compromised.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the implications for the United Kingdom of the Council of Ministers' decision to empower the EU to negotiate with the United States of America on behalf of EU states regarding air rights. [35955]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to the hon. Member for Bournemouth, East (Mr. Atkinson) on 8 July, Official Report, columns 76–77.As noted in that reply, member states retain the right to conduct bilateral negotiations with the US while Community-level negotiations are under way.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has to restart the Bermuda II negotiations with the United States of America. [35918]

Negotiations are scheduled to resume in the week beginning 15 July.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will receive a delegation from the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers, RMT, to discuss the Save Our Ships campaign. [35914]

Ministers and officials regularly meet representatives of shipowners and the seafaring unions to discuss issues of common interest. My hon. Friend the Minister for Aviation and Shipping would be happy to consider a request from the RMT for a meeting.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what provision will be made for public consultation on the cost-benefit analysis and environmental and traffic impacts of motorway widening schemes; [35829](2) if he will list the motorway widening schemes currently in the national roads programme; and which of these will undergo

All motorway widening schemes are subject to public consultation and statutory procedures when details of cost-benefit analysis and environmental and traffic impact assessments are available for public scrutiny and debate.The following motorway widening schemes are currently in the programme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is Her Majesty's Government's response to the European Commission's paper on maritime strategy; and if he will make a statement. [35951]

We aim to send a response to the Commission in September. We are currently consulting interested parties and shall listen carefully to views expressed by Members of the House in Committee on 10 July. I shah arrange for a copy of the response to be placed in the House Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has to ensure British seafarers are employed on the same terms and with the same incentives as are available to employers resident in other nations of the EU. [35960]

Terms and conditions of employment are primarily a matter of negotiation between employer and employee.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the (a) statutory instruments and (b) guidance notes his Department issued since January relating to local authorities. [35937]

The statutory instruments relating to local authorities issued since January are:

• The Public Airport Companies (Capital Finance) Order (SI 604).
• The Road Traffic Act 1991 (Amendment to Schedule 3) (England and Wales) Order (SI 500).
• The Road Traffic (Special Parking Area) (London Borough of Newham) (Amendment) Order (SI 1112).
• The Road Traffic (Special Parking Area) (Royal Borough of Kingston Upon Thames) (Amendment) Order (SI 1110).
• The Deregulation (Parking Equipment) Order (SI 1553).
• The Local Authorities (Goods and Services) (Public Bodies) (Trunk Road) Order (SI 342).

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the new air traffic control system for the United Kingdom to come into operation; and if he will make a statement. [35923]

The Swanwick air traffic control centre, which will control aircraft flying over England and Wales, is due to come into operation in December 1997. The new Scottish air traffic control centre at Prestwick, which will control aircraft over Scotland and Northern Ireland, is expected to become operational in the winter of 2000–01.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the future of light rail funding (a) nationally and (b) in the Greater Manchester area. [36282]

Bids for light rail schemes are submitted to my Department during the annual transport policies and programme round. I am prepared to consider supporting light rail schemes, including extensions to the Greater Manchester metrolink, provided it can be demonstrated that light rail is the most cost-effective solution to a particular urban transport problem. Schemes must attract significant private sector and local investment and be put forward as part of a package bid, incorporating a coherent transport strategy to achieve modal shift from the private car. However, light rail is expensive and not the only solution to urban transport problems. The difficulties and costs associated with developing schemes should not be underestimated.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will exercise his discretionary powers to grant compensation to those dwellings in Barstow lane affected by his proposals to widen the M42. [35999]

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on his proposals to widen the M42. [35998]

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