To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what evaluation his Department has made of the capacity of the planning system to absorb a new (a) low-impact and (b) permaculture use class into existing guidelines; and what assessment he has made of the advantages of this policy. [3368]

We have not conducted such research.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment his Department has made of the advantages of giving additional weight to environmental impact in determining planning restrictions on agricultural buildings. [3370]

We published research on planning controls over agricultural forestry development last December. The report "Planning Controls over Agricultural and Forestry Development and Rural Building Conversations" is available from HMSO.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what research his Department has (a) planned, (b) commissioned and (c) evaluated into the advantages of establishing a permaculture use class within the planning system; and if he will make a statement. [3236]

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to review (a) planning policy guidance and (b) other planning guidance on agricultural and other dwellings in the countryside in order to give greater weight to environmental and social sustainability; and if he will make a statement. [3299]

We are reviewing PPG7. We issued a draft revision for public consultation earlier this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on discussions his Department has had with North Lincolnshire council and North East Lincolnshire council regarding their standard spending assessment for 1997–98. [3221]

My officials have been in correspondence with the authorities on issues currently under consideration about possible changes in the standard spending assessment for 1997–98. Their views, and indeed those of others who have made representations to my Department, will be taken into account when we finalise our decisions on the 1997–98 settlement.I have also met a delegation from the area, led by the hon. Member for Glanford and Scunthorpe (Mr. Morley), which made representations about SSAs.All authorities will have the opportunity to make representations on the proposals for next year's settlement during the consultation period which follows the provisional local government finance settlement soon after the Budget statement, which will be made on 26 November.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the role of low-impact and self-built accommodation in the provision of affordable housing; and if he will make a statement. [3373]

In the last financial year, 7 per cent. of all new housing completions in the United Kingdom were self-built. My Department has grant-supported a number of charitable trusts and agencies promoting low-impact self-build accommodation in the belief that this represents a valuable contribution to the provision of affordable housing.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what research his Department has (a) planned, (b) commissioned and (c) evaluated into establishing practical criteria for assessing sustainable and low-impact developments, with particular regard to rural areas; and if he will make a statement. [3270]

We have commissioned good practice guidance on planning for sustainable development. Work on this continues, with a view to publication next year. We have no plans for research into "low-impact developments".

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment his Department has made of the capacity of the planning system to accommodate low-impact development; and if he will make a statement. [3359]

We have not conducted such research.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the advantages of amending the Building Regulations to make it obligatory to conform to the highest energy—saving standards; and if he will make a statement. [3188]

The Building Regulations require only that reasonable provision should be made for the conservation of fuel and power. They do not make it obligatory to conform to the highest energy—saving standards. The regulations were last amended in July 1994 and the changes came into effect in July 1995. In the normal way, arrangements have been made to assess the advantages gained from the changes after two to three years' experience.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has had with the chief executive of the Environment Agency concerning the agency's independent evaluation of Nirex's research on the suitability of sites near Sellafield for final disposal of intermediate-level radioactive waste; and what further discussions he plans. [3416]

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has had no formal discussions with the chief executive of the Environment Agency but does from time to time have discussions with the chairman, Lord De Ramsey, on various matters.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has in respect of the funding of the leasehold enfranchisement advisory service in the coming financial year.[3537]

The leasehold enfranchisement advisory service has submitted a proposal concerning future funding arrangements and this is being considered. No final decision will be made before the Budget when it will become clear what funds will be available to my Department in the coming financial year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has for a reformulation of the new rural business use class to a sustainable rural business use class; and what assessment he has made of the desirability of such a reformulation. [3503]

The Department's consultation paper describing the proposed rural business use class made it plain that the objective was to encourage development that sustained the character of rural areas while controlling business uses that were likely to generate excessive traffic. As such, the proposal is already consistent with the principles of sustainable development.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many operatives have been registered under the construction skills certification scheme to date, broken down to show (a) bricklayers, (b) roofers and tilers, (c) painters and decorators, (d) partitioning fixers and (e) piling operatives, indicating in each case what percentage those registered represent of the total numbers employed in each grade. [3538]

Information on registrations under the scheme is the property of Construction Skills Certification Scheme Ltd.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to publish the code of management practice in respect of leasehold property for which provision was made in section 87 of the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993. [3536]

Two codes, entitled "Rent" and "Service Charges", concerning the management of residential property, have been prepared by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and submitted to the Secretary of State. They will be approved by order to be laid before Parliament on 21 November. A code of practice covering private sheltered leasehold housing, produced by the Association of Retirement Housing Managers, came into force on 1 January this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 5 November, Official Report, column 463, if he will list the criteria for the future operation of the Building Research Establishment specified by him in April which were not satisfied by the proposal from the Construction Industry Council for a national centre for construction. [3566]

My answer of 5 November made it clear that our judgment related to whether the package of proposals put forward by the Construction Industry Council provided a basis on which to take forward single tender sale negotiations, rather than whether the proposal for a national centre met particular criteria. It would be wrong, in any event, to enter into discussion about the merits of the NCFC proposal, when the Construction Industry Council bid for BRE, at its request, remains available for consideration, in competition with other bids that may come forward.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment by how much Ofwat has exceeded its budget in (a) the current year, (b) last year and (c) the previous year. [3110]

Ofwat did not exceed its budget in 1994–95. Regarding expenditure in 1995–96 and 1996–97, I refer the hon. Member to paragraphs 5 and 11 of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's answer of Monday 4 November 1996, Official Report, columns 346–48, to my hon. Friend the Member for Cheadle (Mr. Day).

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what meetings officials of his Department have had with officers of Hillingdon borough council to discuss the objections he has lodged with the council to its proposed changes to Hillingdon's draft unitary development plan; and what meetings are planned for the future; [3708](2) to which of its proposed changes to the Hillingdon draft unitary development plant his Department lodged objections with Hillingdon borough council; [3709](3) on what grounds his Department lodged objections with Hillingdon borough council to its proposed changes to the Hillingdon draft unitary development plan; [3710](4) if he will publish in the

Objections were made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment to 26 proposed modifications. The objections were made to modifications that appeared to bring the plan into conflict with national or regional policies without good reason and where that was proposed would result in the plan lacking clarity such that it could cause great difficulties to users later.Twelve modifications concerned green-belt and metropolitan open land; six modifications would produce policies or proposals that were unclear or imprecise; and three modifications conflicted with our preferred approach to planning and affordable housing. A further five modifications to which objections were made related to proposals for residential development on two recreation grounds.Objections to the published modifications in respect of the deposited Hillingdon unitary development plan are addressed to the council of the London borough of Hillingdon. I would be pleased to provide a copy of the objections made by my right hon. Friend, but the approach in the first place should be to the council.We encourage local authorities to meet objectors to discuss objections. These informal meetings are helpful, not least to consider how the plan might be changed to meet the objections. Officials in the Government office for London and those from Hillingdon have met recently to pursue the objections made by my right hon. Friend. Further discussion is likely once Hillingdon's response to the objections it has received is known.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has, following the consultation, to vary any of the proposals to tighten up the compulsory competitive tendering framework for local authority professional services and housing management which he announced in May. [4112]

The Secretary of State is today writing to the local authority associations to consult them on draft regulations which we intend to put before the House early in the new year. The Welsh and Scottish Offices are also writing in similar terms. These draft regulations will amend the existing CCT framework for local authorities, other than police authorities in England and Wales. The Government will be considering whether to make comparable changes to the CCT regime for police authorities and will be consulting the relevant associations.These draft regulations incorporate the proposals which we put forward earlier this year, except that they will include five main variations in respect of English authorities—there are minor differences in the variations for Scotland and Wales:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps have been taken to clean up land contaminated by lead-polluted water at the Barham base near Thetford. [3415]

I have been asked to reply, as this matter falls within my area of responsibility.I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of the letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what effluent reports have been prepared by the Laboratory of the Government Chemist in regard to (a) British military bases (b) bases made available to the United States in the United Kingdom and (c) British overseas territories in each year since 1979; and if he will place copies in the Library. [3281]

I have been asked to reply as this matter falls within my area of responsibility.I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of the letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what measures she is taking to increase tourism to the north-east of England. [3388]

Government support for tourism is channelled through the statutory British Tourist Authority and English tourist board. Through the ETB, support is made available to the 10 non-statutory regional tourist boards, including the Northumbria tourist board, which helps them undertake a variety of marketing and development activities of benefit to the tourism industry in their regions.The Northumbria tourist board has been instrumental in widening the appeal of the region. In 1995, the number of UK and overseas visitors to the region rose by over 20 per cent. on 1994. Overseas visitor spend showed an impressive increase of 53 per cent. on the previous year.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will list the rules and regulations she proposes to repeal or amend by means of a reference to the Deregulation Committee before the end of 1996; and if she will make a statement. [3443]

[holding answer 11 November 1996]: The Department of National Heritage does not plan any such repeals or amendments before the end of 1996.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when an environmental appraisal was produced using the guidance contained in the Department of the Environment's guide "Policy Appraisal and the Environment" for the National Heritage Bill [Lords]; and if she will place a copy in the Library. [3309]

[holding answer 11 November 1996]: My right hon. Friend has considered the guidance contained in "Policy Appraisal and the Environment" and is satisfied that an appraisal of the environmental effects in relation to the National Heritage Bill is not appropriate at this time. We will keep this decision under review as appropriate. The main purpose of the Bill is to extend the powers of the national heritage memorial fund so that it can support applications from a wider range of projects and applicants. There is nothing in the Bill that should have an adverse effect on the environment. On the contrary, the NHMF's new powers will provide greater protection for the environment. The Bill will allow the NHMF to provide support for recording schemes such as a survey of the flora and fauna of our rural areas. Also, privately owned scenic areas which may act as havens for wildlife will become eligible for funds.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will place in the Library all the bids submitted for the British academy of sport; and if she will make a statement. [3031]

[holding answer 11 November 1996]: The bids we received for the British academy of sport are commercially confidential to the bidders. I understand that a small number of bidders have made aspects of their proposals public, but it would be a breach of confidentiality for me to place copies of the bids in the Library.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what arrangements have been made to review Government funding of the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux and Citizens Advice Scotland. [4046]

My Department is the major provider of funds to NACAB and CAS. A financial, management and policy review of both organisations began in October. The review will take place in two stages, the first stage being a prior options review and the second an examination of efficiency and financial management and control systems. Pannell Kerr Forster Associates has been appointed to carry out the work and report its findings to my Department. The report on stage 1 will be submitted before the end of the year, with completion of the review and final report before the end of March 1997. The detailed terms of reference for each stage of the review have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many United Kingdom-based companies have adopted works councils as specified by the European social chapter. [2820]

The European works councils directive sets down requirements for European level information and consultation arrangements in companies which operate in more than one of the countries covered by the directive and are above a specified size. The directive was adopted under the agreement on social policy and therefore does not apply to the UK, but a number of UK-based companies are affected by it because they have employees above the threshold levels in the countries covered.My Department does not hold precise information on the numbers of companies affected, but I understand that approximately 40 UK-based companies had reached voluntary agreements by 22 September 1996.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assurances his Department has (a) sought and (b) been given from the Inland Revenue regarding its ability to deal with the volume of queries likely to arise regarding self-assessment of taxation. [3113]

The President of the Board of Trade is aware of the Inland Revenue's preparation for self-assessment which includes a programme to handle inquiries from taxpayers, employers and tax agents. A new telephone helpline has been established to assist taxpayers outside normal working hours.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what advice his Department has issued to small businesses regarding the need to plan for changing information technology systems for 2000. [3114]

Taskforce 2000, a cross-private group set up at my invitation to increase awareness of the century data change issue, has over recent weeks stimulated considerable media coverage. The task force is well on its way to ensuring that, by the end of March 1997, maid board level executives in every company in the UK are aware of the problem. The task force has recently produced an awareness pack which my Department will make available through our network of business links and on the web page. The pack contains a statement of the problem, advice to companies and sources of help.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment his Department has made of the percentage of small firms which are (a) in favour of and (b) against the end of the Post Office's monopoly on letter delivery. [3115]

None. I am, however, aware of the survey recently carried out by the Federation of Small Businesses on members' attitudes to the future delivery of mail.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what has been the cost of advertising business links. [3259]

The total cost of the national advertising campaign and supporting publicity activities for business link in 1996–97 will be £4 million. A survey of business link target client companies following the July wave of advertising showed that the campaign was increasing their awareness and understanding of business link. A further survey will be conducted following the present wave of advertising which ends in mid-November.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade 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. [3782]

My Department has consulted or is currently consulting on the following proposals for use of the deregulation order-making power:

Consumer Credit Act 1974—exempt lending and hiring to unincorporated business from the Act and modify notification requirements for consumer credit licence holders;

Companies Act 1985—reduce information required on shareholder details;

Electricity Act 1981—enable projects not linked to the electricity grid to benefit from the fossil fuel levy; and

Companies Act 1985—alter the law on disclosure of directors shareholdings.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list (a) the members of his Office who attended the Anglo-French summit in Bordeaux and (b) the positions they hold. [3615]

I was accompanied to the Anglo-French summit by three officials and four support staff.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 12 November. [2182]

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 12 November. [2183]

This morning, I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House, I shall be having further meetings later today.

To ask the Prime Minister what recent representations Her Majesty's Government have made to the Government of Burma regarding abuses of human rights; and if he will make a statement. [3178]

We have recently issued several statements about violations of human rights in Burma, and did so again yesterday.In addition, our ambassador in Rangoon has expressed our grave concern at recent events in Burma on several occasions.The EU presidency and troika Foreign Ministers also raised these concerns at meetings with the Burmese Foreign Minister on 22 July and 26 September.

To ask the Prime Minister what representations he has received from UNICEF concerning land mines in (a) Cambodia and (b) Thailand; and if he will make a statement. [3175]

As far as I am aware, none.

To ask the Prime Minister what assistance (a) Her Majesty's Government and (b) non-governmental organisations have given to (a) Cambodia, (b) Laos and (c) Thailand in respect of the clearance of land mines; and if he will make a statement. [3176]

Since 1 April 1993, the British Government have committed over £5.1 million for humanitarian mine clearance activities in Cambodia, £543,000 in Laos and £5,000 in Thailand, concentrating on specific clearance projects addressing urgent humanitarian needs. Some of these projects are managed by British non-governmental organisations.We do not have details of all non-governmental organisations' commitments to mine clearance in Cambodia, Laos and Thailand.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what factors underlay his Department's decision that the reported sightings of unidentified flying objects on 5 November 1990 and 31 March 1993 were not of defence significance; [2898](2) for what reasons his Department assessed the sightings of an unidentified flying object over RAF Shawbury, referred to in his answer of 24 July,

I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave him on 8 July 1996, Official Report, column 26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if supplies of vaccine 10HO3A supplied to the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment were used in circumstances relating to the Gulf war. [1674]

This is a matter for the chief executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) on what date vaccine 10HO3A was received by United Kingdom military personnel in the Gulf; [1675](2) if named patient requirements as required by the manufacturer were used in the case of vaccine 10HO3A while used in circumstances relating to the Gulf war; [1673](3) on what date Her Majesty's Government purchased from the Miles Drug Company, Miles Pharmaceuticals or Bayer UK vaccine 10HO3A; and which was used in the Gulf war; [1672](4) how many British Aerospace personnel

At present, details relating to biological warfare medical counter-measures remain classified for operational reasons.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence at what time on 20 and 21 January 1991 United Kingdom personnel were brought into contact with chemical or biological agents near Dhahran. [1677]

No chemical or biological agents were detected at Dhahran on 20 and 21 January 1991.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence at what time on 20 and 21 January 1992 chemical agent monitors indicated sarin in the air in the vicinity of United Kingdom personnel at Dhahran. [1676]

There is no evidence of sarin being detected at Dhahran on 20 and 21 January 1991.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Gurkha troops will be stationed in Britain as a result of the handover of Hong Kong; where they will be stationed; what will be their remuneration relative to British troops of similar rank; and if he will make a statement. [3205]

On the completion of the restructuring of the Brigade of Gurkhas, some 2,000 Gurkha troops will be garrisoned in the UK, including those on long leave in Nepal. On current plans they will be stationed as follows:

• First Battalion, Royal Gurkha Rifles: Church Crookham;
• Gurkha Demonstration Company: Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst;
• Gurkha Demonstration Company: Brecon;
• Queen's Gurkha Engineers: Maidstone;
• Queen's Gurkha Signals: Blandford;
• Queen's Own Gurkha Transport Regiment: Colchester

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many wives and children of Gurkha troops will be returning to Nepal as a result of the handover of Hong Kong; and if he will make a statement. [3206]

Between June 1996 and June 1997 some 359 wives and children of Gurkha troops will have returned to Nepal as a direct result of the drawdown. In addition, 74 dependants of those Gurkha soldiers who have completed their service will return to Nepal, and a further seven will return as a result of postings to other units. Future arrangements for married accompanied service for Gurkhas are under review.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received regarding the Gurkha troops who will be moving to Britain; and if he will make a statement.[3207]

I have received a number of representations regarding the move of Gurkha troops from Hong Kong to the United Kingdom. Possible changes to the terms and conditions of service of Gurkha soldiers are under review.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when further documents on the wartime occupation of the Channel Islands are due to be released into the public domain; and if he will make a statement. [3668]

A number of previously closed files concerning the wartime occupation of the Channel Islands will be made available at the Public Record Office on 19 November 1996.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how his Department performed against performance measurements in the period 1 April 1995 to 31 March 1996; and if he will make a statement. [3887]

My Department has today published a performance report covering the period 1 April 1995 to 31 March 1996. A copy has been placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the total value of his Department's contracts with the private sector; and how many people are employed to carry out those contracts. [3239]

My Department publishes each year in table 1.14 of "UK Defence Statistics", a copy of which is in the Library of the House, details of numbers and values of contracts placed by headquarters contract branches. Table 1.10 of the same publication gives estimates of the number of UK jobs dependent on my Department's expenditure.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons, his Department does not collate information on the number of written and oral parliamentary answers issued by his Department that require correction. [3222]

Where a correction to a parliamentary answer is necessary, it is usually our practice for this to be done by means of a pursuant answer in the Official Report. My Department has not thought it necessary to record such corrections centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made on the quadrilateral armaments structure with France, Germany and Italy; and if he will make a statement. [3975]

I am pleased to announce that today the UK signed a memorandum of understanding for the establishment of a quadrilateral armaments agency with France, Germany and Italy. The UK is now fully involved on an equal basis in the agency's formation, operation and subsequent development. This important initiative will lead to a more efficient and effective approach to the management of collaborative defence programmes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the circumstances leading to the injury to Mr. Kashieris of Isleworth on 1 June 1993; if he will investigate the work of the Civil Aviation Authority in attempting to identify the aircraft involved; and if he will ensure that Mr. Kashieris is compensated. [3790]

My noble Friend the Minister for Aviation and Shipping wrote to my hon. Friend about this on 20 October 1995. There have been no new developments since that time.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations the Minister for Transport in London, local transport and road safety has received from the leader of Manchester city council on redrawing the traffic area boundaries; what reply he is sending; what action he will be taking; and if he will make a statement. [2034]

Two letters dated 30 July and 3 October have been received from the leader of Manchester city council about redrawing the traffic area boundaries. Replies were sent on 10 August and 20 October respectively. I hope to make an announcement about traffic area boundaries shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will repeal the provision to suspend motor cycle licences upon failure to pass a test at the same time as implementing the provisions of the second EC directive on driving licences. [3083]

The provision under which licences are suspended if a motor cycle test is not passed within two years was introduced in 1981 in order to improve motor cycle safety by providing an incentive for learner motor cyclists to take training and become qualified early in their riding careers. There are no plans to repeal it.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what factors underlie the differential in fuel duty between private bus companies and private rail companies. [2600]

In 1993, operators of rail passenger services were charged duty on diesel at a rate of 2.33p per litre. Bus operators of registered local bus services were eligible for fuel duty rebate and effectively paid no duty on diesel. In 1993, my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer froze the level of fuel duty rebate for buses at 25.14p per litre. This coincided with the strategy of increasing fuel duty by on average at least 5 per cent. per annum above inflation every year, to contribute to the UK's Rio target that levels of carbon dioxide emissions should be at 1990 levels in 2000. It was important that the UK bus industry also played its part in improving fuel efficiency and in meeting the Rio target. It would not be possible for the red diesel scheme set up for rail, agricultural and construction uses to be applied to buses, or to charge different rates of duty for different uses of red diesel. This creates practical difficulties in changing the taxation of diesel used by rail in response to changes in the fuel duty regime for buses.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action he has taken to implement Council directive 94/56/EC establishing the fundamental principles governing the investigation of civil aviation accidents and incidents. [3997]

This directive will be implemented by the Civil Aviation (Investigation of Air Accidents and Incidents) Regulations 1996 which come into effect on 21 November 1996.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what objectives he has set for the new chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority. [3974]

I wrote to Sir Malcolm Field on 11 November and have today placed a copy of my letter in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will arrange for (a) a register of MEPs' interests, (b) a list of MEPs' attendance records and (c) copies of debates in the European Parliament to be placed in the Library. [3242]

(a) The European Parliament agreed arrangements for a register of Members' interests in July 1996. We understand that the register will be complete around the end of the year.Arrangements for consulting the register have not been finalised.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the range of charges for applications for visas; what is the average cost of processing each application; what is the reason for the policy of making no refunds, in whole or in part, in the event of an application being refused; and what was the difference between the income from visa applications and the expenditure in processing them in the last year for which figures are available. [2035]

Details of the fees for receiving applications for entry clearance for the United Kingdom are given in the Consular Fees Order 1996, SI 1996 No. 1915. The average cost of processing an application ranges from £25 for a direct airside transit visa to £230 for a settlement visa. Application fees are not refundable because it is Government policy to recover the full cost of processing an application irrespective of the outcome. However, if at a preliminary assessment stage the entry clearance officer believes that an application probably will not succeed, the applicant is informed and given the opportunity to decide not to make a formal application. In that case, no fee is paid. In 1995–96, the income from fees was £42 million; the global entry clearance operation cost £48 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many potential applicants in (a) 1995 and (b) January to October 1996 seeking visitors' visas at (i) Islamabad, (ii) Delhi, (iii) Bombay and (iv) Lagos have been advised not to pursue their application; and if he will make a statement. [3209]

The numbers of entry clearance applicants who, following preliminary assessment advice, chose not to proceed were:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the number of pre-sifted withdrawals for entry clearance from (a) Islamabad, (b) New Delhi, (c) Bombay and (d) Lagos for 1995; and if he will make a statement. [3208]

The numbers of entry clearance applicants who following preliminary assessment advice chose not to proceed were:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on missing Kuwait prisoners of war held in Iraq. [3172]

Britain remains concerned about the plight of over 600 Kuwaitis and other nationals missing in Iraq since the Gulf war. We strongly support Kuwait's efforts through the International Committee of the Red Cross to establish the whereabouts of its missing citizens and will continue to play an active role.Sadly, the Iraqis continue to show no interest in making progress. We have made it clear to Iraq that this is unacceptable.I discussed this issue with Ministers in Kuwait in October.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what restrictions his Department places on the religious affiliation permissible to a head of mission to the state of Israel. [3339]

There are no restrictions on the religious affiliation of a British ambassador accredited to the state of Israel.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what reasons his Department appoints only non-Roman Catholics as head of mission to the Holy See. [3338]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Southwark and Bermondsey (Mr. Hughes) on 11 July 1994, Official Report, column 428.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures his Department is taking to prevent human rights abuses against Tamils in Sri Lanka.[3516]

We believe that the Sri Lankan Government have made genuine efforts to improve their human rights record, which was very poor under the previous Government. Reports of abuses cause us great concern. We have raised our concern with the Sri Lankan Government on a number of occasions, most recently during the visit by my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and by me, and stressed the importance of ensuring that violators are prosecuted.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the measures from which the Government withheld agreement in the Council of Ministers under their policy of non-co-operation which have not yet been agreed. [3672]

As a consequence of the policy of non-co-operation announced by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 21 May, the UK did not sign the EC convention on insolvency proceedings. The deadline for signatures passed on 23 May.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers have been dedicated to traffic division operations in each of the past five years in the South Yorkshire police force; and what percentage this is of the total South Yorkshire police force.[2674]

The information is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list by year for each of the last five years, and by sex, the number of persons successfully convicted under section 139 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988; [2721](2) how many

The information is given in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many crimes ended in a court conviction in each police force area of England and Wales in (a) 1993, (b) 1994 and (c) 1995. [2232]

[holding answer 11 November 1996]: Information available centrally on the number of offenders found guilty is published annually in "Criminal Statistics England and Wales", supplementary tables, volume 3. Tables S3.2(A) and S3.4(A) refer to that subject.Copies of the publication are available in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many crimes ended in a caution in each police force area of England and Wales in (a) 1993, (b) 1994 and (c) 1995. [2233]

[holding answer 11 November 1996]: Information available centrally on the number of offenders cautioned is published annually in "Criminal Statistics England and Wales", supplementary tables, volume 3. Table S3.6(A) refers to that subject.Copies of the publication are available in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many crimes were cleared up by the police in each police force area of England and Wales in (a) 1993, (b) 1994 and (c) 1995. [2234]

[holding answer 11 November 1996]: The information requested is given in the following table.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on (a) the terms of reference of his Department's review of the area cost adjustment as applied to the police service, (b) the alternative methods of measuring the local costs of policing which are being considered to replace the area cost adjustment, (c) the nature of the proposed regional salary premium for the police service and (d) the date on which the outcome of this review will be published. [2896]

We have commissioned no such review, but the review of the area cost adjustment commissioned by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Local Government, Housing and Urban Regeneration considered the adjustment as it affects all local authority services including the police. The Under-Secretary of State for the Environment, my hon. Friend the Member for Croydon, Central (Sir P. Beresford), announced the publication of the report of the review on 12 July, column 350, and a copy has been placed in the Library.The report proposed that all local authority services should receive a regional pay premium to reflect the difference in average wages in different parts of the country. The police and local authority associations are being consulted about the recommendations. No further alternatives to the present adjustment for the police are currently being considered, although work continues on methods of taking into account any extra costs associated with the policing of sparsely and densely populated areas.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many full-time equivalent (a) police officers and (b) civilian staff were employed by each police authority in England and Wales; and what was each police authority's annual expenditure on the salaries and other employment costs of (i) police officers and (ii) civilian staff in the latest year for which figures are available. [2897]

The latest available information on police and civilian staff numbers relates to those in post at 31 March 1996. The latest available data on police expenditure on salaries and other employment costs cover the financial year 1994–95. The information is set out in the tables.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what adjustment was made in (a) percentage and (b) cash terms to the budget of each police authority in England and Wales in 1996–97 as a result of the area cost adjustment. [2895]

The area cost adjustment is applied to the share of police principal grant and standard spending assessment allocated to individual forces. The following table shows how the allocations in 1996–97 would have varied if area cost adjustment had not been applied, and there had been no change in the total amount allocated.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he plans to take in response to resolution 1099 (1996) of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe concerning the sexual exploitation of children; and if he will make a statement. [2746]

The Government are studying the terms of the recommendation, which appears broadly in line with the agenda for action adopted by the world congress against the commercial sexual exploitation of children, held in Stockholm last August. The United Kingdom played a leading role at the congress, and in encouraging other states to adopt the agenda and to bring their law and procedures into line with its requirements.Stringent laws already exist in this country in regard both to the sexual abuse of children and to child pornography. Legislation planned for this Session of Parliament will extend that protection further by giving Untied Kingdom courts jurisdiction over acts of child sex abuse committed abroad by British nationals or residents, and by requiring paedophiles and other serious sex offenders to register changes of name and address with the police.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to review the Government's policy towards the sixth protocol to the European convention on human rights concerning the abolition of the death penalty; and if he will make a statement. [2747]

The Government have no plans to review its policy towards the sixth protocol to the European convention on human rights. The Government believe that the question of the reintroduction of capital punishment for murder or its abolition for those offences for which it is still available are matters for Parliament to decide.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many people have been arrested for non-payment of television licence fines in each of the last five years;[2801](2) how many single mothers in receipt of income support have been arrested for non-payment of television licence fines in each of the last five years. [2803]

The information is not available centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce provisions to allow single mothers in receipt of income support to have free television licences. [2802]

I have been asked to reply.No.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now remove Pakistan from the list of designated countries under the Asylum and Immigration Act 1966; and if he will make a statement. [3042]

We have no plans at present to remove Pakistan from the list.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions since his conviction for manslaughter in 1986 Mr. Kenneth Noye has been used by the Metropolitan police as an informer. [3276]

This is an operational matter which is the responsibility of the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of recorded offences of (a) burglary in a dwelling, (b) burglary elsewhere, (c) theft of a vehicle or taking and driving away and (d) theft from a vehicle in each police force area of England and Wales in the year to June 1996. [2235]

The information requested is given in the following table.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many applications to enter the United Kingdom for temporary purposes have been made in each year since 1994; how many have been refused; and if he will list the refusal rate for each year as a percentage of the whole; [3336](2) if he will list the number of refusals for applications to enter the United Kingdom for temporary purposes according to geographical region or country in each year since 1992; and if he will list the refusal rate for each year and geographical region as a percentage of the whole; [3337](3) if he will list the number of known applications and refusals for entry clearance to the United Kingdom in 1995; and if he will make a statement. [3334]

Information on applications to enter the United Kingdom, refusals and the refusal rate, 1994–95, is contained in table 1.Information on refusals to enter the United Kingdom for temporary purposes by geographical region, 1992 to 1995, is contained in table 2.