To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of asylum seekers claimed asylum (a) at port of entry, (b) within three working days of arrival in the United Kingdom and (c) within 14 working days of arrival in the United Kingdom. [36655]

During 1995, there were 43,965 applications for asylum submitted in the United Kingdom, of which 14,410–33 per cent.—were made at the port of arrival and 29,555–67 per cent.—were made after entry. During the first six months of 1996, 14,860 applications for asylum have been submitted with 36 per cent. being made at ports and 64 per cent. made in country.Information regarding the length of time between arrival date and application date, for those who applied for asylum in the United Kingdom after having been previously granted leave to enter or remain under another section of the immigration rules, is given in the table.

Average time taken1 to apply for asylum by persons2 previously granted leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom under another section of the Immigration Rules, 1995 and January to June 1996
Percentage
Period of time between arrival and application	1995	1996 (January-June)
Within 3 days	10	5
Between 4 and 14 days	15	15
Over 14 days	75	80
Total	100	100
1 Estimated and rounded to the nearest 5 per cent.
2 Excludes those in-country cases for which arrival dates are not known.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the annual expenditure of his Department, including administrative expenditure, on the Isle of Wight; and what was the cost of the 1992 general election in respect of the Isle of Wight. [36916]

Expenditure from the Home Office votes in respect of the Isle of Wight in 1994–95—the latest year for which final outturn figures are available—was £51,619,183.The overall cost of the parliamentary election for the Isle of Wight constituency at the 1992 general election was £83,260.78. That total includes a sum of £27,942.44 for the cost of delivery of candidates' election material.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) firms and (b) people were employed in the manufacture of (i) bingo and lottery tickets and (ii) other gaming materials and equipment in 1992 and at the last available date. [36888]

We do not collect such figures but we have been able to obtain gaming machine and bingo ticket estimates from relevant trade associations.The British Amusement Catering Trades Association estimates that there were 97 amusement and gaming machine manufacturers and distributors in 1992 and there are 112 now.The Bingo Association for Great Britain is aware of six manufacturers of bingo equipment and three printers of bingo tickets, the same totals as in 1992.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the application of Asif Das for exceptional leave to remain in the United Kingdom. [37103]

It was decided when refusing Mr. Das's applications for asylum and for student status in the United Kingdom that there were no grounds for allowing him to remain exceptionally. An appeal against the refusal of asylum was dismissed by the independent appellate authorities on 4 March.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidelines he has issued in respect of the procedure for dealing with children who run away from (a) children's homes, (b) foster care, (c) educational residential establishments, (d) secure units, (e) boarding schools, (f) children's homes with education and (g) private fostering arrangements. [36515]

I have been asked to reply.Legislation gives local authorities a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of all children in need within their area, wherever they are living.Guidance issued on children's services planning (LAC(96)10) identifies young runaways as a specific group requiring strategic planning by local authorities with other agencies.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list for each of the last five years the total receipts received by Cheshire county council for the sale of council houses. [36450]

Cheshire county council does not have responsibility for the sale of local authority homes but the available information on the value, after discount, of such sales reported by each of the district authorities in Cheshire is presented in the following table. Actual cash receipts in any year will depend on the extent to which sales were financed by mortgage advances from the authorities.

Total capital receipts from the sale of council dwellings in Cheshire (net of discount)
(£000)
Local Authority	1991–92	1992–93	1993–94	1994–95	1995–96
Chester	1,205	1,492	1,063	978	1,275
Congleton	739	812	1,320	938	792
Crewe and Nantwich	848	620	1,173	976	952
Ellesmere Port and Neston	1,019	737	826	1,396	846
Halton	1,750	1,339	1,106	938	1—
Macclesfield	2,447	1,480	2,018	2,203	21,468
Vale Royal	1,422	1,442	1,630	1,882	1,341
Warrington	1,799	1,961	1,948	1,942	3602

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how much local authorities have written off in uncollected council tax in each year since its introduction; and if he will list the authorities and amounts in each case; [36835](2) pursuant to his answer of 1 July,

Estimates of uncollected community charge and write-offs of community charge and council tax are published regularly by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy: figures for 31 March 1995 are available in its "Revenue Collection Statistics 1994–95" publication, a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what reports have been (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated by the London Docklands development corporation concerning proposals for an east London river crossing; and what alternative proposals he is assessing for improvements to cross-river public transport. [36668]

The Government published "A Transport Strategy For London" on 30 April this year. It includes proposals for a package of new crossings to improve cross-river road and public transport links in east London. One potential component of that package is a local multi-modal crossing, incorporating a dedicated public transport corridor, linking the Royal Docks and Thamesmead. The London Docklands development corporation and Thamesmead Town Ltd. have recently completed a range of studies exploring the feasibility of such a crossing at Gallions Reach. The results of these studies will make an important contribution to the further development of the crossings package.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to ensure that major publications from his Department are accompanied by a simultaneous electronic release of the text on the Internet. [37232]

The Department currently publishes the vast majority of its priced publications through HMSO. HMSO provides information on the Internet about these and other Government publications.Where appropriate, it carries a summary of the priced publication: it has, for example, summarised the housing White Paper, the Thames gateway planning framework and the Drinking Water Inspectorate's annual report, and will soon carry an executive summary of the environmental health action plan.Additionally, all departmental press notices are made available on the Internet.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when a substantial financial commitment will be forthcoming from the European regional development fund for economic regeneration in Kingsbridge, including the building of a swimming pool, bowling alley and associated facilities; and if he will make a statement as to what progress has been made with the European Commission to provide funding under objective 5b. [36954]

My right hon. Friend the Minister for Local Government, Housing and Urban Regeneration wrote to the hon. Member on 3 July. There are on-going discussions, including with the European Commission. A decision will be reached as quickly as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will place a copy of the area cost adjustment review team's final report in the Library; what consultation will take place on this report; what timetable he proposes for its implementation; and if he will make a statement. [37402]

The report of the review of the area cost adjustment was placed in the Library upon publication. The report will be discussed with the local authority associations. We shall also examine with them whether any consequential changes to other parts of the standard spending assessments would be required, if the recommendations of the review were adopted. We shall wish to consider the responses to the report in deciding what changes in the standard spending assessments should be made for 1997–98.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the total amount paid to United Kingdom local government from European Union sources in each of the past five years. [34867]

I have been asked to reply.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many representations he has received relating to the operations of Stagecoach in each of the last 12 months. [36852]

No central record is kept of the monthly total of representations received by my Department relating to specific transport operators, but about 20 letters have been received in the past year about the operations of Stagecoach or one of its subsidiaries.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the average age of (a) the locomotives and (b) the passenger rolling stock on the east coast and west coast main lines. [36832]

Precise figures would be available only at disproportionate cost. I have set out in the table details of the build dates of locomotives and passenger rolling stock on the east coast and west coast main lines.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the Civil Aviation Authority advised that Lariam should not be administered to airline pilots; and what factors underlay this decision. [36874]

The Civil Aviation Authority's medical division has been advising against the use of Larium in response to specific inquiries for some years. The first general advice against the use of Lariam by aircrews was contained in an aeronautical information circular on malaria—reference AIC 2/1995 (Pink 107)—published on 12 January 1995. The circular explains the reasons for that advice. I have arranged for copies of the circular to be placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many staff in his Department are employed in the Transport and Works Act 1992 processing unit. [37002]

Six—one grade 7, two HEOS, two EOs and one AO.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the applications made under the Transport and Works Act 1992 which have been subject to public local inquiry with in each case the date he received the inspector's report and the date of the Secretary of State's decision. [37004]

The applications listed in the table have been subject to a public local inquiry and reports have been made to the relevant Secretary of State by the inspector. Unless otherwise indicated, the decision whether to make the orders rests with the Secretary of State for Transport.

Application	Date of receipt of inspector's report	Date of Secretary of State's decision
Usk Barrage	1 March 1995 (Secretary of State for Wales)	13 September 1995
East London Line Extension	17 February 1995	"Minded" letters issued on 27 September 1995 and 13 June 1996
Greater Manchester (LRTS) (Eccles) Extension	15 January 1996	Not yet determined
Greater Manchester (LRTS) (Airport Extension)	29 February 1996	Not determined

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the terms of the redundancy settlement for former (a) directors and (b) other staff of the Highways Agency who (i) have left the service in the last 12 months and (ii) will be leaving in the next 12 months. [36897]

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport to what extent the Highways Agency overspent its budget in the last financial year; and what action was taken against those responsible for the overspend. [36896]

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what enforcement measures are available in respect of train operating companies that do not comply with their licence obligation to give impartial sales advice on competitive routes. [37084]

The regulator's powers of enforcement are set out in sections 55 to 58 of the Railways Act 1993. Section 55 states that, where he is satisfied that an operator is contravening, or is likely to contravene, any relevant condition of his licence, the regulator shall make an order to secure compliance. Section 55(5) states that no order need be made if, for instance, the regulator is satisfied that the relevant operator has agreed to take, and is taking all such steps as are appropriate for the purpose of securing or facilitating compliance with the condition in question.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will halt further sales of train operating company franchises until a review is made of impartial ticket sales. [37055]

No.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the temporary moratorium on the enforcement of the licence conditions for train operating companies to give impartial ticket sales advice on competitive routes was introduced; and when it ended. [37085]

No such moratorium has ever existed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action has been taken against train operating companies that have not complied with their licence obligation to give impartial sales advice on competitive routes in each month since January. [37116]

The enforcement of licence obligations is a matter for the independent Rail Regulator. He has said that he will consider carefully any evidence which suggests that train operators are failing to fulfil their licence obligations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will establish an independent national rail ticket sales organisation which can ensure that all rail passengers are given unbiased sales advice. [37054]

No. The sales of rail tickets is a matter for train operators, subject to the requirements on impartiality contained in their licences and policed by the independent Rail Regulator. The regulator has all the powers he needs to ensure that train operators comply with their licence obligations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will instruct the Rail Regulator to conduct an urgent review of rail ticket sales. [37053]

The independent Rail Regulator has already said that he intends shortly to launch a wide-ranging consultation exercise on the practical application of train operators' obligations on impartial ticket retailing.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the current actual levels of expenditure on maintenance of the trunk road network; to what extent these accord with present public expenditure plans; and what assessment he has made of the adequacy of current levels of maintenance to prevent longer-term deterioration of the network. [36742]

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what reasons have been given to him by British Rail west coast for the recent withdrawal of stops at the Congleton station; what consultation was undertaken with the local business and residential community prior to implementing that decision; and what assessment he has made as to the extent to which withdrawal is consistent with his policy of improvements in passenger services. [35882]

[holding answer 8 July 1996]: I understand that InterCity West Coast withdrew the 08.30 service from Manchester to Euston and the 19.00 Euston to Manchester service, which both called at Congleton, from the summer 1996 timetable due to low passenger usage. Rail users consultative committees, Cheshire county council, Congleton borough council and Crewe and Nantwich borough council were consulted about the proposal to withdraw the services.The Government intend to improve passenger services by franchising them to the private sector. Franchise operators are contractually bound by the passenger service requirement—PSR—and the obligations set out in the franchise agreement. The PSR may not be changed without the franchising director's consent, and significant proposed changes are subject to consultation with rail users consultative committees and local authorities. The franchise agreement required franchise operators to consult RUCCs and local authorities about proposed significant timetable changes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will place in the Library copies of the terms of reference given to the admiralty salvage office of the Ministry of Defence in respect of its forthcoming investigation on site into the loss of the MV Derbyshire, together with the names of the independent technical assessors already appointed, stating which of the latter will be present on site; [37148](2) pursuant to the oral statement by the hon. Member for Epping Forest (Mr. Norris) of 3 July,

[holding answer 12 July 1996]: The terms of reference given to the officers of the admiralty salvage office appointed as project managers for the return expedition are as follows:

"to be responsible to this Department and the European Commission, taking account of advice from the technical assessors, Professor Douglas Faulkner and Robin Williams, and of the European Commission's assessor, Remo Torchio, for the co-ordination and operational management of the project, which we envisage will include:

• drafting the specification for the expedition;
• inviting and evaluating the bids received from contractors, and recommending who should carry out the work;
• any post-tender negotiations with the successful bidder;
• placing the contract;
• management and control of the contract on-site"

Those on board the survey vessel carrying out phase 1 are expected to include: Dr. Remo Torchio, European Commission technical assessor; Professor Douglas Faulkner and Robin Williams, UK technical assessors; David Keogh and James Ward, Ministry of Defence, salvage officers and project managers; and the staff of Oceaneering Technologies, the contractors.The UK assessors are paid for by my Department and Dr. Torchio by the European Commission. My Department and the European Commission are sharing the other costs of the project.No specific request to have representatives on board has been made by an interested party, other than the Derbyshire Families Association. However, solicitors representing British Shipbuilders have said that, if the DFA were represented, they would also wish to be.It is essential that the results of the evidence gathered is, impartial, objective and thorough. To have any party represented could lead to challenges that the return was partial, lacked objectivity and was undertaken with a specific purpose in mind. To have all interested parties represented would be impractical.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the Government's current policy in respect of entry into force arrangements for the comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty. [37130]

I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave to the right hon. Member for Livingston (Mr. Cook) on 27 June 1996, Official Report, columns 197–98.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Kuwait in respect of Robert Hussein; and if he will urge the Government to issue him with a new passport and to guarantee his safe passage out of the country. [36867]

We continue to keep in close touch at a senior level with the Kuwaiti authorities about this case. They have assured us that there are no restrictions on Mr. Hussein's freedom of movement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if a Kuwaiti citizen has formally taken the Ja'aferi judgment in respect of the apostasy of Mr. Robert Hussein to an imam for that judgment to be confirmed. [36868]

We are not aware of any such action.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the radioactive discharges into the atmosphere as a result of recent Chinese nuclear tests; and what measures he is taking to prevent the provision of technological assistance to China's nuclear weapons programme by firms in (i) the United Kingdom and (ii) its allies. [37009]

No such estimate has been made. The UK and our allies maintain export controls on nuclear and nuclear-related dual use equipment, material and technology in order to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons. The UK considers all exports to China on a case-by-case basis.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what requests he has received from the leader of the Isle of Wight council to represent the Isle of Wight internationally. [36915]

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to this letter of 30 April, to the hon. Member of Linlithgow, what progress has been made on assistance to counter the contamination of Lake Kojanovskoe. [36643]

It is still too early to consider what concrete assistance might be made available to counteract contamination of Lake Kojanovskoe. Information on progress will be given to the hon. Member for Linlithgow as soon as consideration of the conclusions of the EU-financed study has been completed by the Government Departments concerned and considered with our EU partners prior to discussion with the European Commission.

To ask the Secretary of State for foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects guidelines for editing the "St. Helena News" and for access to broadcasting in St. Helena to be made public. [37249]

The Government of St. Helena plan to publish the guidelines during August 1996.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on licensing arms exports to the states of the former Yugoslavia following the lifting of the United Nations arms embargo. [37694]

On 18 June, the UN Security Council confirmed that the UN arms embargo on former Yugoslavia was terminated in accordance with UN Security Council resolution 1021. The Government have decided that, taking into account the overall situation in the states of the former Yugoslavia and the paramount importance of ensuring the safety of British and other troops deployed in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia, applications for arms export licenses will be dealt with on the following basis:

(a) for Slovenia and the Former Yugoslavia Republic of Macedonia, applications for licences to export military equipment listed in group 1 of part III of schedule 1 to the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994 and dual use equipment will be considered on a case-by-case basis;

(b) for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, our policy is not to allow the export of military equipment listed in group 1 of part III of schedule 1 to the Export of Goods (Control) Order of 1994 during the period of the NATO-led implementation force's deployment. Within this context, applications for export licences will continue to be considered on a case-by-case basis, as will applications for export of dual use goods.

The EU as a whole has adopted a common position along these lines. We will keep this policy under review, particularly in light of progress in implementing the peace agreement for Bosnia and Herzegovina.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department expects to receive from the salvage of the U-boats sunk to the north of Ireland in Operation Deadlight in 1945; if the proceeds will benefit wartime Royal Navy and Merchant Navy crews and their families who survived; and if he will make a statement. [37123]

This is a matter for the chief executive of the Disposal Sales Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to my hon. Friend.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much has been paid in compensation in each financial year since 1990–91 (a) to farmers whose cattle have aborted or been damaged and (b) to people who have been injured or whose health has been damaged by low flying aircraft. [36840]

It is not possible to provide details of compensation for cattle in the form requested without incurring disproportionate cost. My Department has paid the following amounts of compensation in respect of (a) livestock losses and (b) personal injury claims as a result of military aircraft activity since financial year 1990–91:

	(a) £	(b) £
1990–91	270,000	66,000
1991–92	320,000	33,000
1992–93	182,000	63,000
1993–94	379,000	51,000
1994–95	327,000	121,000
1995–96	196,000	35,000

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his ansfwer of 25 June, Official Report, column 64, if he expects his Department's consideration of the recommendations contained in the report of Sir Michael Bett to be completed by 21 September. [36860]

We have been studying all of the recommendations contained in Sir Michael Bett's report carefully, and hope to make a further announcement shortly on progress and our proposed way forward.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of his Department's jobs there were at each Navy, Army, Air Force and reserves defence installation in Scotland for the year ended 1 April 1996. [37543]

I will write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many new armed forces married quarters and single quarters accommodation are currently being built by his Department. [37066]

[holding answer 12 July 1996]: Sixty-one married quarters and 14 single accommodation projects are currently under construction.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list his Department's 25 most expensive current procurement projects; what was the original estimated cost of each of these projects at today's prices; what is the current estimated final cost of each of the projects; and if he will list the delays in the in-service dates of these projects. [33999]

Pursuant to my answer of 27 June 1996, Official Report, columns 247–48, I regret to say that the most recent major project report—MPR95—has not been placed in the Library of the House owing to the confidential classification of the document. An unclassified version is being prepared and will be placed in the Library of the House. The projects covered by the report are:

1. Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile AMRAAM

2. Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile ASRAAM

3. Bowman radio system

4. Bridging for the 90s—BR90

5. Challenger 2

6. Common New Generation Frigate—GNGF

7. COBRA

8. EH101 Merlin

9. Eurofighter

10. Hercules C-130J

11. Infra Red Counter Measures —IRCM

12. Landing Platform Dock (Replacement)—LPD (R)

13. Landing Platform (Helicopter)—LP(H)

14. Rapier—Field Standard C

15. Sea Harrier attrition buy

16. SKYNET 4 Phase 2

17. SKYNET 5

18. Spearfish Torpedoes

19. Swiftsure and Trafalgar class submarines—update

20. Tornado GR1 Mid Life Update

21. Trafalgar Class Submarines—Batch 2

22. Trident

23. Tracked utility vehicles—TUL/TUM/TUM(HD)

24. Medium range TRIGAT

25. Vertical Launch Seawolf.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 25 June, Official Report, column 62, if he will (a) place in the Library a copy of the International Maritime Organisation guidelines to which he refers and (b) set out the considerations as a result of which the United Kingdom has not yet ratified the UN law of the sea convention of 1982; and when United Kingdom ratification is expected to take place. [35928]

I have placed in the Library of the House copies of the International Maritime Organisation guidelines and standards for the removal of offshore installations and structures on the continental shelf.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the regulatory organisations within his Department which have a responsibility in relation to composite insurance companies; and if he will indicate their responsibilities. [36035]

The regulatory responsibilities of the Department in relation to composite insurance companies as such fall to the insurance directorate of the DTI, which carries out prudential regulation including, in the case of long-term business, safeguarding the reasonable expectations of policyholders under the Insurance Companies Act 1982 and related legislation.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what initiatives he has taken to facilitate aerospace sales abroad. [36060]

The Department of Trade and Industry actively pursues its responsibilities to promote the United Kingdom's civil aerospace industry overseas. We support and fund missions by sector trade associations to important overseas markets, particularly in the US and the fast-growing Asia-Pacific region. Ministers also take opportunities to promote aerospace initiatives during their visits overseas. Aerospace companies use the market information and help available through the DTI's geographical market desks and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's overseas posts. The DTI's aerospace and defence industries directorate also supports the industry and its trade associations in their overseas efforts. For some key markets, there are export promoters, seconded from industry, who focus on helping aerospace companies to develop their overseas business.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many directors of the north-west industrial development board have declared business interests; and to what value. [36249]

All members must notify the Department of their business interests, including directorships and significant shareholdings, on appointment to regional industrial development boards. Changes are also notified during membership. Values are not placed on business interests.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the directors of the north-west industrial development board in the last five years. [36247]

The information requested can be found in the Industrial Development Act 1982 annual reports, copies of which are available in the Library of the House.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many grants, and of what value, have been given by the north-west industrial development board in the last five years. [36248]

Grants are not given by the north-west industrial development board.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what factors underlay his Department's decision to send trade missions to Indonesia on 26 August, 23 September, 7 October and 11 November in 1996; and what is the projected cost of each mission to public funds. [36829]

The missions have been planned to concentrate on sectors that have been identified as having the most potential for UK industry. The sectors are aerospace and airports; health care; oil and gas; power generation; and transport. The plan also recognises that opportunities exist in agribusiness; automotive components; environment and ports and harbours. The missions aim to take a group to the market focusing on one or more of these sectors.The projected costs to public funds of these missions is as follows;

To ask the President of the Board of Trade which members of the Indonesian military met members of the trade missions carried out in 1996; for what purpose; and what representations were made to them concerning Indonesia's human rights record. [36767]

Meetings with the Indonesian military do not form part of the formal programme for Department of Trade and Industry sponsored trade missions to Indonesia. I am not aware that any members of these mission met the military.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the cost to public funds of trade missions to Indonesia on 19 February, 15 April and 24 June. [36765]

All of these missions visited two markets—Indonesia and Thailand. An eligible British company visiting only one of these markets receives a subvention of £600. For companies visiting both markets with the mission, grant is increased to £660. The costs to public funds of grants to British companies to travel with missions to Indonesia and Thailand was, therefore, as follows;

The mission on 19 February, sponsored by the Leeds and Bradford chamber of commerce and industry—£13,080.

The mission of 15 April sponsored by the Northern Development Company and the Railways Industries Association—£10,920.

The mission on 24 June sponsored by the London chamber of commerce and industry—£9,060.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade which public relations companies assisted the trade missions to Indonesia on 19 February, 15 April and 24 June; and when he last met personnel from each company. [36766]

None. However, the missions were sponsored and administered by the Leeds and Bradford chamber of commerce and industry, the Northern Development Company in co-operation with the Railways Industries Association and the London chamber of commerce and industry respectively. I would not expect to meet individual members of DTI-supported trade missions as a matter of course.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade when his Department last conducted an appraisal of human rights conditions in Indonesia; and in what circumstances companies which participate in trade missions to that country are made aware of the human rights record of the Indonesian military. [36768]

I have been asked to reply.We continually monitor the human rights situation in Indonesia. The British embassy in Jakarta briefs visiting missions on the general political and economic situation in Indonesia, including, where relevant or specifically requested, its human rights record.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make it his policy, when appraising British companies intending to participate in trade missions, to notify them of the human rights record of the country involved. [36830]

British diplomatic posts brief visiting missions on the general political and economic situations in the country concerned including, where relevant or specifically requested, its human rights record.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the cost to the Export Credits Guarantee Department of underwriting the sales of arms to Iraq in (a) 1987–88, (b) 1988–89 and (c) 1989–90. [36613]

The ECGD did not underwrite any arms exports to Iraq in these years.However, a relatively small amount of equipment with possible defence application—in particular communications equipment—was underwritten under the so—called "Defence Allocation" under the Iraq protocols; there are currently claims outstanding of £26 million in this respect.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the DTI investigations which have been completed in the last three years and for which the report will not be published; and if he will make a statement. [37383]

In investigations leading to a report in respect of which there is a statutory provision allowing for publication that no reports have been completed in the last three years remain unpublished.My Department undertakes a number of confidential investigations for which there is no provision for the report to be published.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has for a design initiative involving business links, universities and private sector companies. [36999]

The Government are convinced that design is fundamental to winning in world markets and that goods design is a crucial part of competitiveness. At national level, Design Council activities include research at leading universities to develop knowledge and tools which will help business managers to make better use of design. At local level, design services are being made available to companies by business links. Business links have been invited to bid for Government funding to employ design counsellors. To date, 51 bids have been approved, and 28 design counsellors are in post.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many statutory holidays there are in (a) Wales, (b) Scotland, (c) Northern Ireland and (d) England every year; and what are the equivalent figures in other European Union countries. [37088]

There are currently eight bank and public holidays in England, Wales and Scotland, and 10 in Northern Ireland. The following table, based on information in the Official Journal of the European Communities (No. C 45, 1996, item 7), lists the number of current public holidays in other European Union member states.

Number of public holidays in other EU member states
	Number
Austria	13
Belgium	11
Denmark	10
Finland	13
France	11
Germany	110 to 14
Greece	12
Ireland	10
Italy	9
Luxembourg	12
Netherlands	8
Portugal	15
Spain	110 to 15
Sweden	11
1 A range of numbers indicates local variations.

Holiday entitlement in the United Kingdom is not generally a statutory right but a matter covered by the contract of employment between the individual employer and employee.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the outcome of the British Energy share offer. [37788]

I am pleased to report that the Government's UK public offer and international offer of shares in British Energy plc were successfully completed this morning, when dealings in interim rights started on the London stock exchange.As a result of bids received in the international offer, the prices of the second instalments for all investors in the UK public offer and the international offer were set at 98p per interim right.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the cost of the Quigley review into the joint working arrangements of the research councils. [37396]

Costs incurred by the working group on cross-council efficiency relate primarily to the time of group members from the office of science and technology and the research councils in respect of five meetings between August 1995 and January 1996, and widely distributed small proportions of staff time relating to data gathering and analysis. These costs could be calculated only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much the research councils will contribute to the funding of the procurement function resulting from the Quigley review; and what savings have been projected for each of the research councils as a result of the new procurement arrangements over the next five years. [37397]

The intention is that improvements in the procurement function resulting from the Quigley review should be self-financing.The Quigley review saw scope for potential savings in the region of £1.75 million from spending on payroll systems, travel and subsistence and computer support. A group of senior representatives of the research councils, chaired by the office of science and technology, has been set up to implement the recommendations of the Quigley review. The group has already begun the process of recruiting a procurement adviser. One of the tasks of the adviser will be to identify specific savings in all areas of procurement.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what discussions his Department has had with small businesses about the compliance costs of the Asylum and Immigration Bill. [36657]

The Asylum and Immigration Bill is the responsibility of my right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary. This Department has had no discussion with small businesses or their representative organisations.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what estimate he has made of the cost to public funds of his Department's current consultation with small firms regarding whether large companies should report payment practice in their annual report. [36656]

I refer the hon. Lady to the reply I gave her on 4 July 1996, Official Report, column 496.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has made to the World Trade Organisation concerning trade in goods produced by child labour; and if he will make a statement. [36321]

[holding answer 10 July 1996]: The Government deplore any exploitation of children and are fully committed to international action to stop it, for example through the UN and the International Labour Organisation, but do not consider that action through the World Trade Organisation would be an appropriate means to achieve this.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what restrictions are placed on the importing of goods produced by child labour; and if he will make a statement. [36317]

[holding answer 10 July 1996]: I have nothing to add to the answer I gave to the hon. Member on 19 June 1996, Official Report, column 508.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what funding was provided by his Department's export market research scheme for the market report, "Police and Public Security Requirements for Equipment and Services in the countries of the Arabian Peninsula" published in June 1994, and what proportion this was of the total cost of the report. [36362]

[holding answer 10 July 1996]: The report was partially funded through the export marketing research scheme—EMRS—under the terms and conditions applicable at the time for trade associations using the scheme for the first time—75 per cent. The total cost of the project was £63,920, the EMRS contribution was £47,940. The report covered six countries in the Arabian peninsula and was restricted to marketing research only.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is his policy on the distribution of orphan funds between insurance policyholders; and what sums have so far been identified and apportioned. [37022]

[holding answer 12 July 1996]: My policy remains as set out in the answer given by the then Under-Secretary of State for Corporate and Consumer Affairs on 24 February 1995, Official Report, columns 362–63.The following companies have made announcements in the light of the policy:

Company	Long-term business assets £ billion	Amounts reserved solely for benefit of shareholders £ billion
United Friendly Insurance	2.4	0.3
Legal and General Group	21.8	see below
Pearl Assurance	12.1	1.0

The remaining amounts within the long-term funds are largely for the benefit of policyholders, save that shareholders are entitled to receive a defined share of any surplus in the funds declared in future. For the bulk of the funds, the defined share is 10 per cent.In the case of Legal and General, policyholders have rights to receive at least 90 per cent. of any distributed surplus, except that directors have discretion over surplus arising from a sub-fund of some £200 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will list the total grants provided by the Arts Council for organisations in (a) Crewe and Nantwich and (b) Cheshire for each of the last five years. [36386]

Between 1991–92 and 1995–96, North West Arts made 25 awards totalling £63,735 to arts organisations in Crewe and Nantwich. In Cheshire as a whole, 324 awards, totalling £1,896,975, were made to arts organisations during the same period. I have today placed a full list of awards in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will list the total grants provided by her Department for museums and galleries in (a) Crewe and Nantwich and (b) Cheshire for each of the last five years. [36387]

My Department, through the museums and galleries improvement fund, and the Museums and Galleries Commission—MGC—which is funded by the Department, has awarded the following amounts to museums and galleries in Cheshire over the past five years. The north-west museum service, funded by the MGC, also made awards. They include one of £1,480 to the Nantwich museum in 1993–94.

Grants for museums in Cheshire 1991–92 to 1995–96
	1991–92 £	1992–93 £	1993–84 £	1994–95 £	1995–96 £
Museums and Galleries Improvement Fund	0	37,500	7,500	7,500	25,000
MGC capital grants	0	2,200	0	0	10,000
MGC Victoria and Albert museum purchase grants	13,250	7,500	22,162	12,300	391
PRISM1	1,300	7,700	7,064	3,800	0
North-West Museums Service	44,518	42,101	43,167	36,202	2—
Total	59,068	97,001	79,893	59,802	35,391
1 Preservation of industrial and scientific material.
2—Not yet available.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when the European Commission will publish its second monitoring report on the implementation of articles 4 and 5 of the European broadcasting directive; and if she will make a statement. [36941]

The European Commission has published its report today. The document will be deposited in Parliament and my Department will submit an explanatory memorandum in accordance with the usual arrangements for the scrutiny of European Community documents.I welcome the Commission's work on this subject, which shows that many of the television channels licensed in this country which qualify for meeting the quota regime are exceeding the minimum requirements set out in the broadcasting directive for programming of European origin and for independent European production. The report also notes the good progress being made by those satellite services which have yet to achieve the quota targets.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he last met the Finance Ministers of other EC countries; and what subjects were discussed. [36268]

I represented the UK at the Economic and Finance Council—ECOFIN—of the European Union in Brussels on 8 July.The Council debated the incoming Irish presidency's work programme in open session. The programme will focus on European monetary union—EMU—employment, fraud, taxation issues, financial services and Community lending to third countries.I emphasised the importance we attach to tackling unemployment in the Community, through sound public finances, low inflation and labour market reform. I also urged the need for budget discipline in the Community and rejected any increase in the financial perspectives of the EU budget. I said the UK would continue to play a full and constructive part in discussions of EMU. I strongly supported the presidency's emphasis on fighting fraud. Recalling the UK's long-standing support for EU enlargement, I urged early consideration of reforms to the common agriculture policy and the structural funds so that enlargement could go ahead on the right terms.The Council welcomed the Austrian convergence programme. It also agreed recommendations to 12 member states—Austria, Belgium, Germany, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden, Finland and the UK—with excessive budget deficits.The Council heard Commission and European Investment Bank—EIB—proposals to modify guarantee arrangements for the bank's lending operations outside the EU.The Council agreed the conclusions of the Commission's 1995 annual report on the fight against fraud and noted progress with the SEM 2000 initiative designed to improve the Commission's financial management.There was a meeting with Ministers from the associated countries of central Europe, within the framework of the "Structured Dialogue", on the implications for the financial sector of eventual EU membership. The discussion focused on pension reform, EIB work in the region, and the implications of extending the transit regime.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to improve the accounting and financial reporting to Parliament of United Kingdom unfunded pension liabilities. [36351]

The Government are planning to improve the accounting and reporting of the main occupational public service pension schemes administered by central Government. This will take place in the context of the development of resource accounting and budgeting. For each scheme, there will be a scheme statement attached as a note to the departmental resource account. There is further work to be done on the details of these statements, and this will be taken forward in accordance with the timetable for resource accounting published in the White Paper "Better Account for the Taxpayer's money"—Cm 2929.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if products designed for sufferers of ulcerative colitis are exempt from VAT; [36692](2) what revenue the Treasury received from VAT on products designed for the sufferers of ulcerative colitis in the last year for which figures are available; [36693](3) what medical products are currently exempt from value added tax. [36691]

Medical products, including those designed for sufferers of ulcerative colitis, are exempt from VAT when they are supplied in connection with the provision of care or medical or surgical treatment in any hospital or other institution which has been registered or exempted from registration pursuant to an Act of Parliament. Incontinence products which are supplied directly to disabled people are also zero rated. There are no official figures available for VAT receipts on medical products designed for sufferers of ulcerative colitis.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 4 June, Official Report, column 355, when he will be in a position to give the cost of answering (a) oral and (b) written questions in April. [36566]

The average cost of answering questions in April this year will be calculated after data on movements in earnings become available in October. I expect the information requested to be available by the end of November.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 21 March, Official Report, column 257, about parliamentary questions, what method would be used by his Department in collating the information requested. [37431]

The examination of more than 20,000 files dating back to 1987.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the future of the Paymaster agency. [37789]

The report of the prior options review of the Paymaster agency that I announced on 4 December 1995, Official Report, columns 15–16, has now been completed. I have accepted its recommendations and am placing copies of the report in the Library of the House.Briefly, the report confirms that Paymaster has made itself much more cost-efficient and responsive to customer needs since it achieved agency status on 1 April 1993. It has won a number of market tests for its existing work against private sector rivals, but remains constrained by statute from taking on work for the private sector. If it transferred to the private sector, it would be free to seek new work in both private and public sectors, thereby strengthening its long-term viability.The review showed that a small part of its banking business is concerned with work that must stay with the Government. The rest, including all its pensions business and IT support, could be contracted out to the private sector. Given that the agency has already proved its competitiveness against private sector rivals, the Government intend to privatise all but any non-divestible elements as a going concern.The proposal is that both the pensions and the banking business should be offered, jointly or separately, for a trade sale, with the present management, staff, IT support and their building in Crawley. At least the pension business—which constitutes some 85 per cent. of the whole—should be privatised within the current financial year. The preparations for the banking business may be more complex, but every effort will be made to have it ready for privatisation in the same timeframe.It is expected that the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 will apply to protect staff in the transfer, which will be achieved with initial contracts for existing work. To prepare itself for operating from the private sector in future, the agency will be allowed to seek new work in the pensions area in the private or public sectors at once.I believe that this represents a good outcome for the agency's existing customers and its staff, by keeping their expertise intact and granting access to new markets, and for the taxpayer, through reducing the cost of providing these public services. The pension schemes will, of course, continue to be funded, and have their rules set, by sponsoring Government Departments. It is the administrative functions that are to be contracted out. Where necessary, Parliament's approval will be sought under the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994 before the privatisation is effected.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how the Central Statistical Office performed against its key targets in 1995–96. [37790]

The Central Statistical Office's performance for 1995–96 is described in the agency's annual report and accounts, which are being laid before the House and published today. Copies have been placed in the Library of the House.The CSO achieved 29 of the 34 published targets, including 18 of the 20 targets relating to the quality of key economic statistics.

To ask the Prime Minister at what time he first informed the Dean of Westminster of his intention to make a statement to the House about the Stone of Scone; and what consultations previously had taken place with the dean and chapter. [36913]

My discussions with the dean and others before the announcement were confidential.

To ask the Prime Minister what representations he has received from the Isle of Wight council calling for independence. [36917]

As far as I am aware, none.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will undertake a study on the future status of the pound sterling as legal tender on the Isle of Wight following the council's call for independence. [36919]

No. The Isle of Wight is part of the United Kingdom and sterling continues to be the only legal tender on the island.

To ask the Prime Minister when he proposes to take action if the EU committee of experts fails to agree to lift the ban on British beef exports to third countries. [37488]

We expect the Commission and other member states to act fully in accordance with the framework for removing the ban agreed unanimously at Florence.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many duplicate registrations were eliminated by the Dental Practice Board in each six-month period between January 1990 and January 1994 and in each month since January 1994; and what estimate he makes of the number of duplicate registrations in place in January of each year since 1990. [35088]

The table sets out the number of duplicate general dental service registrations that were eliminated by the Dental Practice Board in each six-monthly period between January 1990 and January 1994 and in each month since January 1994.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will include in the patients charter a requirement for each GP practice to include in its annual report the number of patients removed from its list at the general practitioner's request; and if he will make a statement. [35841]

General practitioners routinely supply this information to health authorities and there are no plans to make publication of it a patients charter requirement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will ensure that health authorities are able to commission primary care services from general practitioners according to locally expressed needs., and if he will make a statement. [36188](2) what action he is taking to ensure that primary care services are developed according to local community needs and priorities; and if he will make a statement. [36159]

Health authorities are responsible for developing strategies in consultation with local people for improving health and health services, including supporting and developing primary care. A major consultation exercise is also under way to identify how primary care services might be further developed in future.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health ( 1 ) what guidance is issued to health trusts on the necessity for consultation with the public; and if he will make a statement; [35980](2) what courses of action are open to members of the public in circumstances where a health trust declines to attend a public meeting to discuss changes in health care and its provision; and if he will make a statement; [35981](3) what courses of action are open to members of the public if a health trust refuses to meet them to discuss changes in the level and provision of local health care; and if he will make a statement; [35982](4) what guidelines are issued by his Department on the need for, and the extent of, consultation with patients about changes in availability or quality of health care and its delivery; and if he will make a statement. [35983]

It is for health authorities to assess the health needs of their population and purchase services to meet those needs. Where substantial changes in services are proposed, the health authority is required to consult with its local community health council. If the CHC objects to the resultant proposal, it is normally referred to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health for a final decision—regarding English HA proposals. Members of the public of course have the opportunity to put their views forward to the CHC. Copies of relevant guidance are in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evidence he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated of health risks incurred by those who sleep rough, with particular reference to Victoria street, London SW1.[36003]

The Government recognise the health problems associated with rough sleeping and have developed two key initiatives to help homeless people, including those who sleep rough, obtain the health and personal social services that they need.The homeless mentally ill initiative provides accommodation and psychiatric care for rough sleepers with mental health problems in central London where the problem of rough sleeping is most acute.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department spent in meeting the costs of taxi cab fares in the 1995–96 financial year. [3601 I

The cost of taxi cab fares is not separately identified in the Department's accounts and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what he has done to increase funding for (a) treatment and support services for haemophiliacs infected with hepatitis C through NHS treatment with contaminated blood products, (b) research into this problem, (c) recombinant products and (d) core funding for the Haemophilia Society to provide services and support on a continuing basis. [36131]

The Department does not allocate money to support specific treatments for particular patient groups. National health service funds are allocated to purchasers of health care who are in the best position to decide what services (including treatments) they wish to purchase to meet local needs.An additional £1 million has been made available by the Department's research and development division to fund research into improving our understanding of hepatitis C.The Haemophilia Society receives grants totalling £155,000 from the Government in the current year. This compares with £126,900 in 1995–96.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effect of the sale of pharmaceutical products in supermarkets on the availability and opening hours of dispensing chemists. [35989]

None. Health authorities have a statutory responsibility to provide adequate and accessible pharmaceutical services to meet local requirements.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the locations of dedicated case managers for (a) head injury patients, (b) cancer patients and (c) fertility patients. [35991]