To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation in respect of shotguns providing that (a) they are limited solely to use for pest control on agricultural land, (b) they require annually renewable licences held in the name of either the land-owner or tenant, (c) all users are named on the licence, (d) the maximum number of shotguns and registered users is determined in relation to the acreage owned or tenanted, (e) no more than one licence is issued in respect of any piece of land and (f) they must be stored in secure safe-type cabinets with at least two separate keys; and if he will make a statement [2199]

No. It is already a requirement that shotguns must be stored securely.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on progress in implementing the Government's policy in respect of eliminating the remanding of youths in prison. [2315]

We are committed to ending the remand of 15 and 16-year-old boys to Prison Service establishments as soon as there are sufficient secure local authority places to accommodate them. A building programme of 170 new secure places is under way for this purpose. The first places came on stream last December and all additional places will be available during 1997.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the cost to gun clubs of the increased security measures which will be required as a result of the Government's proposals. [1479]

The proposals will result in increased costs for clubs which choose to become licensed pistol clubs. The level of costs involved will depend on the extent of their existing security arrangements. These costs cannot currently be quantified.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish details of the present expenditure limits which candidates may not exceed in a general election campaign; and what plans he has to increase these limits before the next election. [1679]

The current maximum amounts for candidates' election expenses at a general election are set out in the Representation of the People (Variations of Limits of Candidates' Election Expenses) Order 1994. Those limits are as follows. Consideration is being given to increasing these levels before the next general election in line with inflation movements since they were last increased in 1994.

Parliamentary general election	£	Plus pence per elector
County constituency	4,642	5.2
Borough constituency	4,642	3.9

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to respond to the Law Commission report, "Legislating the Criminal Code: Involuntary Manslaughter", with particular reference to its implications for health and safety at work. [2012]

The Law Commission's report on involuntary manslaughter raises some important but complex issues, which the Government are still considering. A major element of that consideration is whether a failure to ensure the health and safety of persons employed in or affected by a company's activities should constitute a new offence of corporate killing. We will announce our response to the report in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what regulations his Department proposes to repeal by the end of 1996; if he proposes to conduct a compliance cost assessment on each regulation repealed; and what is the estimated cost of undertaking a compliance cost assessment to determine the advantages and disadvantages of each repeal. [1403]

I do not propose to repeal any regulations by the end of 1996, but on present plans the Licensing Act 1964 will be amended by the end of this year. Amendments to a number of other Acts should be made in the new year.The aim of each amendment will be to reduce rather than increase compliance costs, so a compliance cost assessment is not required. We do, however, seek to estimate approximate savings wherever possible. The cost of undertaking a CCA varies from case to case, but it is generally modest. Because part of the cost falls on the businesses consulted, a full CCA would be inappropriate for measures designed to reduce business burdens.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers are currently in detention; how many of them are detained in HM prisons; how many asylum seekers have been detained at the port of entry since July; and if he will make a statement. [1763]

As at 1 October 1996, a total of 864 persons, who had sought asylum at some stage, were detained, of whom 343 were held in Her Majesty's prisons.A total of 642 persons who had sought asylum at ports between 1 July and 30 September 1996 are recorded as having been placed in detention during that period.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to enable the Merseyside police authority to recruit more police officers in the years 1997 to 2000. [2472]

It is for the police authority and the chief constable to determine the number of police officers in the force, having regard to the resources available to them. On the present basis of allocation, Merseyside police authority's share of the additional funds being made available for the recruitment of 5,000 extra officers in England and Wales would be sufficient for it to recruit 110 constables between April 1997 and March 1999.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) speed cameras and (b) live speed cameras are currently installed in the UK. [2061]

The deployment of speed cameras is an operational matter for chief officers of police and highway authorities. The information requested is not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many people have taken up places on the modern apprenticeship scheme since the scheme was created. [2591]

As of August 1996, the latest date for which information is available, 46,100 had started on modern apprenticeships in Great Britain.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps she is taking to control the increase in administration costs in respect of teacher education allocations; and what is her estimate of the increase in those costs in 1996–97. [2243]

[holding answer 5 November 1996]: The Teacher Training Agency has reformed the allocations methodology in order to reward quality and increase the value for money obtained from its annual investment of over £160 million in initial teacher training. The agency's total running costs, which also cover the promotion of teaching as a career, the development of national standards and training for headteachers and teachers, and work on the new national curriculum for initial teacher training, are planned to increase by some £0.6 million in 1996–97. This reflects increased activity in pursuit of the agency's statutory objectives of raising the standards of teaching and improving the quality and efficiency of training.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many local education authorities in East Anglia increased the amount spent on administration and reduced the amount spent on schools in the last year for which information is available. [2049]

[holding answer 5 November 1996]: The following table sets out changes in spending on schools and on administration, in cash and in percentage terms, between 1993–94 and 1994–95, the latest years for which data are available. The table also shows the relevant pupil numbers. Figures are given for Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Essex LEAs. Pupils in, and expenditure on, grant-maintained schools in these areas are not included.

	1993–94	1994–95	Variance	Variance percentage
Cambridgeshire
Pupils (number)	86,480	84,063	-2,417	-2.8
Net current expenditure
Administration (£000s)	7,799	8,323	524	6.7
Schools (£000s)	162,551	163,096	545	0.3
Essex
Pupils (number)	160,305	139,815	-20,490	-12.8
Net current expenditure
Administration (£000s)	7,608	7,854	246	3.2
Schools (£000s)	354,345	313,766	-40,579	-11.5
Norfolk
Pupils (number)	93,114	92,657	-457	-0.5
Net current expenditure
Administration (£000s)	5,469	5,668	199	3.6
Schools (£000s)	190,063	191,726	1,663	0.9
Suffolk
Pupils (number)	91,060	93,002	1,942	2.1
Net current expenditure
Administration (£000s)	5,721	5,215	-506	-8.8
Schools (£000s)	188,864	196,896	8,032	4.3

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when she received the Government Actuary's report on the teachers superannuation scheme for the period 1 April 1986 to 31 March 1991; what estimates she has made of the contributions required to meet liabilities; if she will place a copy of the report in the Library; and if she will make a statement. [2471]

My right hon. Friend received the Government Actuary's report on 21 October 1996. The Department asked for the report to be drawn up on the basis that the cost of future premature retirements would be met directly by employers. On that basis, the report recommends the introduction from 1 April 1997 of a combined contribution rate of 13.2 per cent. of salaries—6 per cent. from employees and 7.2 per cent. from employers. The Government Actuary has indicated that if the cost of premature retirement continued to be borne by the scheme, the combined contribution rate would be 14.8 per cent. of salaries. The report was included as part of a package setting out proposals for the reform of the early retirement provisions of the teachers superannuation scheme, issued on 22 October 1996. I am placing copies of the consultation package in the Library. My right hon. Friend will lay the report formally before the House when she has taken decisions following the consultation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how Remploy has performed against its 1995–96 annual performance agreement. [3088]

Now that Remploy has published its report and accounts for 1996 and audited figures are available, my noble Friend the Minister of State has today confirmed that Remploy has exceeded its 1995–96 APA targets. The targets and achievements are contained in the following table:

	Target	Achievement
The average number of disabled people employed by Remploy	at least 9,200	9,334
Average number of disabled people employed in factories	no more than 7,200	7,144
The number of disabled employees to move from Remploy factories to Interwork having been employed there for at least one year, or from Interwork or factories to open employment	at least 125	177
The unit cost of Interwork to be	no more than £4,500	£4,242
Remploy to keep within a unit cost target (operating deficit per disabled worker) of	£10,400	£10,175
Choices programme1 to be in place in every factory	By end March 1996	Available in all factories
1 The choices programme is a programme designed to give new recruits to Remploy, as well as the company's existing employees, the opportunity, guidance and training to plan a career best suited to their individual needs.:
Copies of Remploy's 1996 annual report and accounts have been placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will make a statement on the progress made on piloting arrangements for education and training undertaken by people receiving jobseeker's allowance. [3089]

We have submitted proposals to the Social Security Advisory Committee. These are being discussed by the committee today. Copies of the papers submitted to the committee have been placed in the Library.The pilot would provide different arrangements for education and training undertaken by people receiving jobseeker's allowance. The pilots are intended to start, subject to parliamentary approval, in April 1997.In addition, we announced on 10 October the intention to extend the project work pilot approach to up to 100,000 people, in all parts of the country. The areas in which project work will began to operate early next year will be announced tomorrow.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make it his policy for all draft legislation to carry a compliance cost assessment relating to public and private sectors. [2723]

The Government require a compliance cost assessment for all draft legislation likely to affect business. The purpose of the assessment is to assess the costs likely to fall on business. Other costs, such as any cost to the public sector, must be included in the regulatory appraisal which must also be prepared for all legislative proposals likely to affect business. Guidance booklets on compliance cost assessment and regulatory appraisal are available in the House Libraries as follows:

"checking the Cost of Regulation: A Guide to Compliance Cost Assessment"

"Regulation in the Balance: A Guide to Regulatory Appraisal Incorporating Risk Assessment".

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what plans he has for the future administration of Crown copyright. [3220]

I am pleased to announce that my Department will be co—ordinating an inter—departmental review of the future management of Crown copyright, with the following terms of reference:

"To review the management of Crown copyright with a view to facilitating the growth of new information services both in printed and electronic formats, in line with the Government's policy of maximising public access to official information, and subject to the continuing need to protect the taxpayer's interest and the integrity of Crown copyright material."

Following this internal review, the Government propose to publish next year a Green Paper inviting views from interested parties.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the progress which has been made on the Government's proposals to use information technology to deliver Government services electronically to (a) businesses and (b) individuals. [3241]

I informed the House on 11 July 1996 that the Government intended to produce a Green Paper on this subject. I have today presented to Parliament a Command Paper, Cm 3438, entitled! "government.direct—A Prospectus for the Electronic Delivery of Government Services". This paper sets out the Government's vision for the delivery of Government services to business and the citizen in the electronic age., harnessing the power of the information revolution to ensure that Government services are provided in the most effective and efficient way, making use of advanced technology to improve the quality of service and the value provided to the taxpayer.The vision set out in the Green Paper describes how access to Government can be made via personal computers, electronic terminals in public places and via ordinary TV sets. Three pilot projects are also launched today which exemplify the possibilities for the future.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to publish a report on the environment. [3180]

The "Environment in Wales Fifth Report", which is being published by my Department today, gives an overview of the state of the Welsh environment. It also provides details of the initiatives which are under way, or planned and places a particular emphasis on progress toward achieving sustainable development. I have arranged for copies to be placed in the Library of both Houses.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what additional resources have been given to each local authority in Wales to meet the recommendations of the Government working party on school security. [1491]

Measures to improve school security have been included in the grants for education, support and training programme for 1997–98. The overall level of local authority funding has yet to be determined.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what financial provision he has made for the expansion of Tir Cymen over the next six months; what was the figure for the previous six months; and if he will make a statement; [1587](2) what plans he has in respect of the expansion of Tir Cymen over the next six months; and if he will make a statement. [1586]

The Countryside Council for Wales was given £5.36 million grant in aid for Tir Cymen for the financial year 1996–97. The future shape of support measures for environmental conservation on farms is being considered by the agri-environment working group announced by my right hon. Friend in the rural White Paper. The Welsh Office Agriculture Department plans to issue a consultation paper later this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what progress has been made in ensuring that Welsh farmers are given access to the approved abattoirs authorised under the 30-month cattle cull scheme; and if he will make a statement. [1752]

The Intervention Board executive agency is ensuring that an appropriate proportion of cattle from Wales is slaughtered each week in both Welsh and English abattoirs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when are the necessary remedial works on the A5 between Betws-y-Coed and Corwen at Padog bends planned to be undertaken; and if he will make a statement. [1739]

The north Wales trunk road Agency, as agent of the Welsh Office, is currently engaged on the design of the retaining wall remedial works.It is planned to undertake the works in 1997 on completion of the necessary procedures, including land acquisition.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he is taking to encourage local authorities and health authorities in Wales to agree criteria plans for continuing health care needs of elderly people. [1933]

In line with guidance already issued, from 1 April this year health authorities should have in place policies and eligibility criteria for continuing health care which have been agreed with local authorities and GP fundholders.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when is the scheduled completion date for the current road improvement works on the A470 between Blaenau Ffestiniog and Betws-y-Coed; and if he will make a statement. [1751]

The Cancoed to Minffordd section of the A470 Lledr valley improvement is programmed for completion in autumn 1997.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assistance and advice is available to members of the farming community who seek to diversify operations in order to supplement income; and if he will make a statement. [1851]

The European agricultural guidance and guarantee fund, through the rural Wales objective 5b programme, 1994 to 1999, assists farming households to develop alternative sources of income and employment opportunities on and off the farm and includes provision for capital grants, advice and training. The Leader II programme also acts as a stimulus to encourage farmers to develop new and innovative enterprises.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what progress he is making in reviewing Conwy local education authority's LMS scheme; and if he will make a statement. [2003]

Approval of Conwy LEA's local management of schools scheme was conditional on the resolution of certain concerns about the authority's resource allocation formula. These are still under review.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on (a) the level of provision of Welsh-medium speech and language therapy for children in Wales, (b) the number of trained Welsh-medium speech therapists and (c) the establishment of a Welsh-medium speech therapy course at colleges in Wales. [1764]

The level of provision of Welsh-medium speech and language therapy for children in Wales is for health authorities to determine taking into account the health needs of their areas and their own assessment of priority. Information on the number of trained Welsh-medium speech therapists in Wales is not held centrally. Responsibility for training, including the provision of a Welsh-medium course rests with individual higher education institutions. A specific bilingual option for students during the third year of study already exists at the University of Wales institute, Cardiff.

Numbers of ordinary classes in maintained primary schools in Wales, by class size and local education authority
	September 1990	September 1991	September 1992	January 1994	January 1995	January 19961
Clwyd
Up to 15	78	68	74	71	54	52
16–20	113	103	118	100	89	85
21–25	290	310	302	273	260	275
26–30	510	513	534	518	506	516
31–35	290	294	265	328	355	373
36–40	38	34	46	47	60	51
41–45	2	1	4	3	4	4
46+	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total	1,321	1,323	1,343	1,340	1,328	1,356
Dyfed
Up to 15	251	284	256	202	186	176
16–20	269	350	369	315	268	252
21–25	391	394	398	428	423	452
26–30	259	243	261	318	355	350
31–35	67	71	61	70	84	83
36–40	8	7	4	3	6	9
41–45	1	0	0	0	1	1
46+	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total	1,346	1,349	1,349	1,336	1,323	1,323

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the current policy for accepting patients from Powys at the Royal Shrewsbury hospital. [1765]

This is a matter for the Dyfed/Powys health authority and the trust concerned. Currently the agreement reached is that all patients should be admitted in accordance with the Welsh patients charter standards.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the rules and regulations he proposes to repeal or amend by means of a reference to the Deregulation Committee before the end of 1996; and if he will make a statement. [2473]

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many and what percentage of five, six arid seven-year-olds were in classes of 31 or more, for 1995 and provisionally for 1996, per education authority and in Wales. [2425](2) what percentage of primary schools pupils were in classes of 31 or more for each year since 1990

The information requested is not collected centrally. Data are collected about the number of classes by size band of class, but no data are collected about the exact number of pupils, or the age of pupils, in those classes. The following table shows the number of ordinary classes in maintained primary schools, by size band.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of Tornados have been grounded for each month of the last two years for failing to be in airworthy condition. [1154]

During the last two years the Tornado fleet has met all of its operational commitments and has not been grounded. RAF aircraft are only permitted to fly if it is judged safe for them to do so. To achieve and maintain this high safety standard all aircraft are subject to regular detailed engineering examination and assessment, and are subject to a rigorous scheduled maintenance programme. Although this work ensures the highest standard of safety, it does mean that the aircraft are unavailable to fly while the necessary work is being carried out. Allowance is made for this in the aircraft establishment figures. Those aircraft operating at the front line require scheduled minor maintenance. Minor faults which are discovered are usually rectified at the unit so that the aircraft can be available to fly at the earliest opportunity.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the adequacy of private refurbishment contracts of Tornado aircraft. [1155]

The overall performance of private contractors in carrying out maintenance work for the RAF is good—many of them helped build the aircraft in the first place. All first-line maintenance of operational fast-jet aircraft continues to be done by RAF trades men. However, some of the deeper maintenance of these aircraft is carried-out by contractors.We attach great importance to ensuring that contractors deliver work of the necessary quality. Contracting procedures are focused on achieving this and contracts are placed only with those suppliers who have been assessed by an accredited body to an appropriate quality management standard. The MOD aims to place full responsibility for the quality of products and services with its contractors.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the types and quantities of radioactive or other toxic substances which have been found in the cleaning of the seabed of the Holy Loch; and if he will make a statement on the purpose of this exercise. [1501]

There is no longer a defence requirement for Holy Loch. My Department plans, therefore, to clear debris from the bed of the loch to a suitable standard to allow responsibility for it to be transferred back to the appropriate civil authorities. We have received a number of local requests to carry out such a clearance.No clearance work has yet started. We have agreed to carry out an environmental assessment of the impact of the clearance process on the local area before any such work is undertaken, and to make public its results. Our plans have been discussed fully with the local authority and environmental agencies.Levels of radioactive contamination in the loch are extremely low. The report of a survey carried out by the defence radiological protection service and the US Navy in 1992 concluded that there is no public radiological hazard associated with the debris, or its removal. These conclusions have been confirmed by subsequent annual surveys. No toxic materials have been identified in the various visual surveys which we have carried out in preparation for the clearance operation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what liaison there is between his Department, the Department of Health and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on the subject of organophosphate dips and their use; and if he will make a statement. [1865]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food yesterday.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has in respect of the rail head at the Army vehicle depot at Ludgershall. [2224]

We intend to retain part of the Army vehicle depot at Ludgershall after its closure in March 1997 to provide railhead facility for land command units. The development of a railhead facility close to the Salisbury plain training area would facilitate future operational deployments and enhance pre-deployment training, as well as having had significant advantages for routine training, including a significantly reduced requirement for the use of public roads by heavy equipment transport vehicles.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was his Department's initial estimate of the costs of moving military air traffic control from West Drayton to the new national en-route centre at Swanwich; and what is the current estimate of the costs. [2589]

A detailed estimate was one of the stipulated products of a project definition study carried out by Lockheed Martin. The estimate that has resulted is dependent on a number of other factors currently being studied, and is commercially sensitive.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he plans to announce the future location of military air traffic control. [2588]

The Ministry of Defence places great importance on the joint and integrated nature of air navigation service provision by National Air Traffic Services Ltd. and the Ministry of Defence. The Ministry of Defence endorsed the National Air Traffic Services Ltd. two-centre strategy and is participating fully in the review of that strategy which aims to identify the most efficient and cost effective means of providing air navigation services. An announcement will be made once that review has been concluded.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to update his Department's 1991 environment manual. [2585]

A revised version of my Department's environment manual was published in October 1996 and is currently being distributed. A copy will be placed shortly in the Library of the House of Commons.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the rules and regulations he proposes to repeal or amend by means of a reference to the Deregulation Committee before the end of 1996; and if he will make a statement. [1402]

The MOD is not a regulator of business and has not, therefore, identified any such rules or regulations. My Department continues to contribute to the deregulation initiative by focusing efforts on relieving unnecessary administrative burdens on suppliers, streamlining contracts procedures, and improving communications with industry.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the slippage in the estimated time of the signing of the contract for the Bowman programme; and what is the latest estimated date for the granting of a contract. [1552]

The project definition phase of the Bowman programme is essentially complete and development standard equipment is currently being tested in field trials. Arrangements for proceeding to the production phase are under consideration and a decision on the way ahead will be taken as soon as possible. The estimated date of contract signature for production will depend upon the outcome of our considerations but it is unlikely to be before early 1999. This would represent a slippage of about 15 months compared with the date envisaged at the beginning of the project definition phase.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many offset contracts have been placed after the agreement to purchase AWAC aircraft; and what is the total amount of these contracts. [1553]

Following the signature of the AWACS contract with the Boeing defence and space group in November 1986 some 250 United Kingdom companies have received contracts which discharged Boeing's industrial participation obligation of US$1.57 billion.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action is being taken by his Department (a) to monitor the amount and completion of offset defence purchasing agreements and (b) to assess the percentage of the agreements that are made as opposed to the amount agreed at the signing of the purchasing contract. [1631]

Companies with offset obligations are required to submit reports to my Department every six months, detailing relevant contracts awarded to the United Kingdom defence industry during the reporting period. A full audit of these reports is conducted in order to establish the validity of the claims and to ensure that the companies are complying with the terms and conditions of their offset commitment. All obligations entered into have been achieved within the period agreed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the establishment total of trained soldiers (a) at 1 October 1996 and (b) planned to be at 1 April 1997, including Gurkha trained personnel but excluding trained Royal Irish Regiment (Home Service) troops. [2486]

Manpower requirements are set at 1 April for each year. The requirement for trained British and Gurkha soldiers but excluding Royal Irish Regiment (Home Service) personnel at 1 April 1996 and the planned requirement at 1 April 1997 are as follows:

• 1 April 1996: 108,000.
• 1 April 1997: 106,200.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list each site in the United Kingdom and overseas territories where his Department has stored or located (a) radioactive or (b) toxic waste since 1966. [2622]

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what benefits have resulted to British industry from the order for 67 Apache attack helicopters. [2480]

The order for Apache attack helicopters will lead to significant benefits for British industry. Work worth some £2 billion will be undertaken in the United Kingdom and it is estimated that over 180 firms will receive contracts. The scope of the project and its high technology nature will provide excellent opportunities for British companies to benefit through the demonstration of their capabilities and cost effectiveness.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the defence helicopter flying school. [3032]

In my answer of 9 March 1995, Official Report, column 350–51, I outlined our plans, arising from the defence costs study, for the formation of a single, tri-service school with a strong contractorised element to provide those aspects of helicopter basic flying training common to the three services. The school will be established at RAF Shawbury and will commence training on 1 April 1997. I am now pleased to announce that we have awarded a 15-year contract to FBS Ltd. for the operation of the DHFS under contractor-owned, Government-operated arrangements.FBS is a joint venture, UK company, comprising FR Aviation, Bristow Helicopters and SERCO and was formed specifically to bid for this contract. Collectively, the company has extensive experience of working with the services; Bristow Helicopters and SERCO already provide services to Middle Wallop and RAF Shawbury respectively.The school will have the capacity to train approximately 230 pilot, navigator and crewmen students a year from our three services as well as a number from overseas. The helicopter fleet will consist of 38 AS350 Squirrel single engine and 9 Bell 412 twin-engine helicopters. Seventy-six military and 45 civilian flying instructors will be employed at the school. FBS will be responsible for the provision and maintenance of the helicopter fleet, all ground-school and support facilities and the provision of the civilian flying instructors.The DHFS project has been procured in line with the private finance initiative, thus demonstrating the Government's strong resolve to continue to achieve value for money in defence support and to concentrate resources on the front line. The formation of the DHFS, utilising more modern equipment and taking advantage of the efficiencies brought about through contractorisation will provide a value for money, high quality training facility for HM forces well into the future. Compared with the current system of delivering training this represents a saving of some £80 million over 15 years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about his Department's proposals for the introduction of a defence fixed telecommunications system. [3033]

Good communications are crucial to the efficient and effective operation of the armed forces. The defence fixed telecommunications system—DFTS—will provide, in a single UK-wide network, the telecommunications link and exchanges required by all defence users. It will integrate and rationalise the five existing UK networks, and provide connections to commercial networks and to those of allies. It will also reduce current equipment and manpower costs while achieving important operational benefits.The invitation to tender invited bidders to consider solutions based on the principles of the Government's private finance initiative to enable the MOD to transfer to the private sector the ownership, operation and maintenance of the network and thus relieve the MOD of the economic risks associated with changing technology and patterns of usage. The contractor will therefore assume responsibility for providing services at the required levels of performance. Two consortia submitted best and final offers.I am now able to announce that, subject to the satisfactory conclusion of contractual negotiations, I have approved the implementation and commercial management of DFTS services, under a 10-year contract with the INCA consortium, led by British Telecommunications plc, in conjunction with Lockheed Martin, OASIS and GEC-Marconi.Under the PFI arrangements, INCA will make maximum use of the infrastructure serving other customers. The contract will be worth in the region of £700 million, which makes it the MOD's biggest PFI deal so far. Taut contractual arrangements will be negotiated to provide incentives for INCA to meet required levels of performance. We estimate that this will result in savings to the MOD well in excess of £100 million.The implementation of the DFTS will entail placing under commercial management the work currently undertaken by staff in some 1,200 military and civilian posts at about 100 defence establishments throughout the UK. Detailed arrangements for this will be agreed during contracts negotiations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what levels of accuracy have been achieved by the meteorological office over each of the last 10 years; [2586](2) what was the income from the marinecall weather line in the most recent period for which was figures are available. [2587]

These are matters for the chief executive of the Meteorological Office. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many members of the (a) Army (b) Royal Air Force and (c) Royal Navy had applied for an interest-free advance of pay for house purchase as at 1 October; [1465](2) what annual budget has been set aside for his Department's interest-free advance of pay for house purchase scheme, and if he will make a statement. [1466]

The long service advance of pay scheme—LSAP—provides an interest-free advance of pay up to a maximum of £8,500 to assist personnel with house purchase. The advance is repaid over 10 years or a lesser period if personnel have less that 10 years to serve. The LSAP scheme has been available in the Navy since 1963, but on 1 August 1996 it was extended on a limited basis to the other two services primarily as a result of the demise of the married quarter discount sales scheme. The number of Army and RAF personnel who applied for an advance between 1 August 96 and 1 October 96 was as follows:

• Army: 335
• RAF: 224.

It is not known how many personnel in the RN have applied for an LSAP since 1963. However, there were 9,321 loans outstanding on 1 October 1996.The scheme in the Royal Navy is cost neutral with repayments broadly matching advances. A total of £6 million per annum has been earmarked to fund the scheme over the early years in the Army and Royal Air Force. However, the net outlay will reduce as repayments increase and the scheme in these two services is expected to be cost neutral after 10 years' operation.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the county councils' legal responsibilities and duties under the relevant legislation during the transition of services to unitary authorities. [1088]

The Government expect the local authorities involved in local government reorganisation to use their best endeavours to ensure a smooth transition of responsibilities to the unitary authorities. Most regulations are intended to facilitate this, for example by carrying over the powers, rights or liabilities of one authority to its successor.However, there are also specific legal responsibilities and duties placed on councils during the transition. Those which apply to county councils are listed; they are made using powers either in the Local Government Act 1992 or the Superannuation Act 1972.The Local Government (Compensation for Redundancy) Regulations 1994 (SI 1994/3025) set out the level of compensation which shall be paid to an employee between the ages of 18 and 50 who is made redundant during the period between the making of an order for a structural change and 18 months after the reorganisation takes place. The regulations also contain requirements regarding the notification of and payment of compensation.The Local Government Changes for England (Property Transfer and Transitional Payments) Regulations 1995 (SI 1995/402) require that authorities affected by reorganisation use their best endeavours to make agreements for the transfer of property, rights and liabilities, and the provision by county councils of information to facilitate such agreements.The Local Government Changes for England (Miscellaneous Provision) Regulations 1995 (SI 1996/1748) require all the local authorities involved in a structural change and their officers to co—operate with each other so as to facilitate the reorganisation. The county council must also supply a successor authority with all information which it may reasonably request for the purpose of reorganisation.Those regulations also provide that from the time of the elections to the successor authority which are provided for in the structural change order until the reorganisation, any requirements for the county council to prepare budgets or plans or consult any person shall pass to the successor authorities. This applies to the county council's functions in the areas of the future unitary authorities.The Local Government Reorganisation (Compensation for Loss of Remuneration) Regulations 1995 (SI 1995/2837) require a local government employer to pay compensation for loss of remuneration—detriment—in certain circumstances related to reorganisation.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if the Government will sign the Council of Europe's charter of local self-government. [1950]

As stated in the White Paper, "Government Response to the Report of the House of Lords Select Committee on Relations Between Central and Local Government 'Rebuilding Trust'", which was laid before the House on 4 November, the Government do not believe that a case has been made out demonstrating the need for the United Kingdom now to adopt this charter.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his Department's definition of permaculture; and if he will make a statement. [1594]

There is no statutory definition of permaculture.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from the Permaculture Association (UK); and if he will make a statement. [1595]

No correspondence has been received from an organisation of this name. However, representations have been made by the Permaculture Association (Britain) on the draft revision to planning policy guidance note 7, "The Countryside—Environmental Quality and Economic Development". We have received more than 400 responses to this consultation document. These are being considered carefully at present.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to encourage permaculture within national parks; and if he will make a statement. [2353]

The Government are committed to the concept of sustainable development in their rural planning policies. One of the key principles is to encourage environmentally-friendly economic activity while conserving the character of the countryside. It is for the national park authorities, as the local planning authorities for their areas, to determine issues of land use planning and to consider individual planning applications in the light of their wider responsibilities.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidelines are issued to local authorities about the use of financial derivatives. [1681]

The Department has not issued guidelines to local authorities about the use of financial derivatives. Local authorities are under a general fiduciary duty to their taxpayers to act prudently in investing funds. They should also have regard to the capital finance regulations and professional treasury management codes, as appropriate. Capital finance and approved investment regulations provide a strong incentive for authorities to make only very secure investments such as bank and building society deposits or gilts.

To ask the Secretary of Stare for the Environment what plans he has to promote the greater use of timber in the construction industry; and if he will make a statement. [1759]

My hon. Friend, the Minister for Construction and Planning launched Timber 2005 in February this year. This is a research and innovation strategy to promote the use of timber in construction. The Department of the Environment is now working with industry during its implementation. I am arranging to place a copy of the strategy in the House Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the Cabinet committees and sub-committees on which the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Croydon, Central (Sir P. Beresford), serves. [1989]

I currently serve on one Cabinet sub-committee, EDL(L)—the ministerial sub-committee on London.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will seek to amend section 108 of the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996 to provide that there is an obligation on all parties to submit to an adjudicator's decision; and if he will make a statement; [2193](2) if he will monitor the operation of section 110 of the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996 in respect of set-off procedures; and if he will make a statement; [2197](3) if he will monitor the operation of section 108 of the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996 in respect of procedures subsequent to the adjudicator's decision; and if he will make a statement. [2195](4) what plans he has to monitor the operation of part II of the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996 in respect of

The fair construction contract provisions in part II of the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996 have not yet commenced. The Government have no plans to amend legislation which received careful consideration during its passage through Parliament last Session. A means of monitoring the effect of the new legislation was outlined in the cost compliance assessment which was published in February 1996. A copy was placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) in which parliamentary constituencies there are opencasting sites in operation; [2216](2) in how many parliamentary constituencies there are opencasting sites in operation. [2249]

This information is not held centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many acres of land are currently the subject of opencast methods of extracting coal; and what proportion of this land was formerly green belt; [2210](2) how many acres of land are currently subject to planning applications for opencast coal extraction; and what proportion of this land is currently green belt. [2209]

This information is not held centrally. Statistics are published annually for the County Planning Officers' Society by Durham county council.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimates he has made of the cost to public funds (a) of local authorities and (b) of his Department of planning applications for opencast mining. [2214]

My Department has no information about the costs to local authorities of processing planning applications for opencast coal mining; costs to the Department would occur only in the event of a planning application being called in for determination by the Secretary of State and this is an extremely rare occurrence.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many, and which, parliamentary constituencies have opencast applications (a) pending and (b) at the appeal stage. [2213]

Information about opencast planning applications is not held centrally. Information about appeals is recorded only under the local planning authority and not parliamentary constitiuencies. The current outstanding appeals are as follows:

Cheshire 1, Staffordshire 1, Wakefield 1, Nottinghamshire 1, Durham 3 and Derbyshire 1.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many appeals have been heard by his inspectors in which opencast developers have sought to reverse local authority refusals of planning permission in each of the last five years; and what is his Department's estimate of the cost to public funds of these appeals. [2215]

The figures are as follows: 1992, 11; 1993, 12; 1994, 20; 1995, 4; and 1996, 9. Information concerning the cost of these appeals to the taxpayer is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total standard spending assessment for Hereford and Worcester county council, in both cash and real terms, for each year since 1990–91, after allowing for changes in statutory responsibilities and boundaries. [2187]

The information requested on Hereford and Worcester's standard spending assessment in cash and real terms is as follows. The adjusted figures are comparable with the year immediately following and take into account changes in function and geographical responsibilities. The figures in real terms have been rebased using the gross domestic product deflator for 1995–96.

£million
	SSA in cash terms	SSA in real terms
1990–91	317,834	377,959
1991–92	374,058	418,040
1992–93	397,044	425,812
1992–93 adjusted	363,391	389,720
1993–94	372,565	388,404
1993–94 adjusted	379,948	396,101
1994–95	388,036	397,423
1994–95 adjusted	359,668	368,369
1995–96	364,554	364,554
1995–96 adjusted	372,168	372,168
1996–97	384,187	375,733

Information on standard spending assessments from 1990–91 onwards in cash and real terms for all local authorities has already been placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his Department's estimate of the number of young people who were homeless in 1995. [2038]

Local authorities in England accepted responsibility to secure accommodation for 3,620 homeless households in priority need with a vulnerable young person, and 1,700 young single people not in priority need, under the homelessness provisions of the 1985 Housing Act in 1995.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the results of his policy initiatives (a) freedom of the cities and (b) initiative and trust councils. [2011]

We have no plans for a freedom of the cities initiative or for a trust councils initiative.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what research he has (a) evaluated and (b) commissioned of low-impact development in rural areas; and if he will make a statement. [2342]

No such research has been commissioned or evaluated. The draft revised planning policy guidance note 7, "The Countryside—Environmental Quality and Economic Development" aims to integrate the development necessary to sustain the rural economy with protection of the countryside.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment on how many occasions since 1973 nuclear safety inspectors from Euratom have visited United Kingdom nuclear plants to conduct an environmental audit, pursuant to the provisions of the health and safety article 35 of the Euratom treaty; and if he will place in the Library copies of all environmental reports forwarded by nuclear plant operators to the European Commission under articles 36 and 37 of the Euratom treaty. [2117]

Experts appointed by the European Commission have visited the United Kingdom on two occasions to verify the operation and efficiency of facilities for the monitoring of environmental radioactivity, in accordance with article 35 of the Euratom treaty. Following both visits, to the north of Scotland in May 1993 and to Cumbria in December 1993, the Commission concluded that the relevant monitoring facilities were operated in an efficient and satisfactory manner.Information supplied under article 36, on the levels of radioactivity to which the United Kingdom public is exposed, is published periodically in a Commission document entitled, "Environmental Radioactivity in the European Community". I have arranged to place the last two issues of this document, covering the years 1984 to 1990, in the Library. The next edition, covering 1991, is due to be published shortly and I shall place it m the Library once it is available.Submissions under article 37 Euratom are regarded as private communications of technical data between the Government and the Commission and are not normally in the public domain. However, I shall seek the agreement of the Commission and the current owners of the facilities concerned to placing in the Library copies of the submissions of data relating to decommissioning of Windscale advanced gas-cooled reactor 1995, Sizewell B 1992, THORP 1991, Windscale waste vitrification plant and vitrified product store 1989, Torness 1986 and Heysham B 1986.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the species included in the Darwin initiative and those currently under consideration for inclusion. [2566]

The main aim of the Darwin initiative is to fund United Kingdom biodiversity institutions in collaborative projects with countries rich in biodiversity but lacking sufficient financial resources or capacity. The projects are varied and it is not possible to list all the species covered. There are projects which concentrate on the taxonomy of one particular species. Others study the options for sustainable use of several species. There are also projects carrying out inventories of all the species in a specific area such as a nature reserve. So far the range of species has been wide, from parasitic wasps to seahorses and from rare ferns to fungi.We have recently called for applications for fifth round of funding to start from April 1997. We will consider all proposals which fit the principles of the initiative and which are received by 29 November 1996. I have sent my hon. Friend our Darwin information package.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what mechanism he is proposing for aligning parish council and local council election dates. [2592]

The Local Government and Rating Bill proposes amendments to the Local Government Act 1992 which will enable the Secretary of State by order to alter permanently the cycle of parish council elections where there is, or is to be, a unitary county council.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are his proposals for the regeneration of areas affected by coalfield closures; and if he will make a statement. [2924]

British Coal non-operational properties will be transferred to English Partnerships which will take forward their regeneration, reclamation and development. English Partnerships has prepared a detailed investment plan, including a development strategy for each site. The aim is to achieve area regeneration, environmental improvements and secure new employment opportunities in the coal closure areas. Receipts from sales will be used to fund the costs of reclaiming and servicing other sites in the portfolio. A total of 2,250 acres of land will be reclaimed for residential, commercial and retail uses and a further 2,750 acres will be developed for forestry, leisure and agricultural purposes. About 55,000 jobs will be created and £850 million of private sector investment attracted.A managed disposal strategy will ensure that the market is not flooded with development land. In this way considerable benefits will accrue to the coalfields communities in the next 10 years.This is a challenging programme for English Partnerships but it has already shown itself capable of the challenge. The agency has quickly established itself as a key player in economic and physical regeneration throughout England with its activity carefully directed to achieve the maximum impact in areas of greatest need. I am convinced that the benefits for the coalfields communities will be considerable and that this new agreement ensures the best possible future for the coalfield sites in the north of England.Regeneration will start immediately on a number of the sites including Agecroft in the north-west, Dawdon in the north-east, Glasshoughton in Yorkshire and the Humber and Manton Wood in the east midlands.English Partnerships will receive £12.5 million from British Coal in a detailed agreement which has, as a key requirement, a balanced package where the cost of meeting enforceable liabilities and reclaiming sites to a minimum standard is offset by the positive value within the portfolio. The arrangements provide for an appropriate allocation of liabilities and risks between English Partnerships and British Coal.I am today laying details of the sites being transferred in the House and copies will also be available in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to extend the city pride initiative. [2925]

I am today announcing a challenge to seven new areas to join the successful city pride initiative. The seven areas are:

• Bristol;
• Leeds;
• Liverpool, Birkenhead, Wallasey and Bootle;
• Newcastle upon Tyne;
• Nottingham, Ashfield, Broxtowe, Gedling and Rushcliffe;
• Plymouth;
• Sheffield.

City pride has already forged partnerships in Birmingham, London and Manchester in an unprecedented way. Local people have come together with a vision for their areas and have agreed the practical steps for achieving that vision. City pride has already produced considerable benefits in terms of a shared understanding between public and private sector partners about the opportunities, priorities and needs of their areas. I want to challenge other great industrial or port cities of regional importance to match this achievement.I am writing today to the civic leaders in these seven areas to invite them to come forward with city pride proposals. I want them to develop a vision for their areas and set out the steps needed to achieve it.Each of the seven areas is served by a Government sponsor Minister, whose responsibilities include encouraging regeneration initiatives in their area and providing a link with Whitehall Departments. I know that sponsor Minister colleagues will be working closely with the civic leaders of their areas to make city pride a success. Part of their task will be to encourage central Government programmes to work effectively alongside the local vision.Before working up a full prospectus, city pride areas will need to satisfy four conditions. First, city pride partnerships must show that they have the capacity to deliver what they promise to local people, including a clear understanding of what each partner is prepared to contribute. Secondly, there must be a clear vision and planned targets, with an emphasis on achieving results and effective arrangements for tracking progress. Thirdly, the geographical area and population which city pride is intended to cover should be defined and be appropriate to the vision. Fourthly, there must be arrangements for involving and accounting to local people in achieving city pride goals.I am not ruling out other areas coming forward with city pride proposals, but putting together a successful city pride prospectus and making it work requires a good deal of concentrated effort on the part of areas themselves and by Government offices for the regions and we therefore need to limit numbers. There is, of course, nothing to stop other areas from applying city pride principles, and, indeed, some are already doing so.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what will be the impact on local authority contracted-out services of the restrictions placed by Customs and Excise on the ability of bodies to recover VAT retrospectively; what is the estimated cost to local authorities and if he will make a statement. [2620]