To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has to limit the time between recording a death and the holding of an inquest. [5206]

None. I understand that coroners endeavour to hold inquests as soon as practicable following the death, but there are often factors outside the control of the coroner, which can affect the inquest date.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which (a) Minister, (b) officials from his Department and (c) officials from the integrated Government office in Leeds (1) gave and (2) were invited to give (i) oral and (ii) written evidence to the Bradford commission; and if he will make a statement. [6693]

No Minister, and no official from the Government office for Yorkshire and the Humber, gave evidence or was invited to do so. One official from the Home Office who was present in Bradford at the relevant time submitted written evidence based on her observations.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the contents of the Bradford commission report published on 20 November.[6714]

The report raises a number of important issues. As expected, most of these are for the consideration of the authorities in Bradford who are concerned with the development of policy and the delivery of services, but all those involved in the promotion of good community relations will wish to note the contents.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list the cases in which offenders have been convicted for the third or subsequent occasion of dealing in class A drugs in the past two years; [6687](2) how many individuals have been convicted of their third offence of dealing in class A drugs in each of the past five years. [6688]

The information requested is not collected routinely and data for individual years and cases are not available. On the basis of an analysis of all offenders convicted of drug trafficking offences during a three-month period in 1994, we estimate that around 120 of those convicted of class A drug trafficking offences in 1994 had two or more previous convictions for similar offences.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to publish statistics of scientific procedures on living animals in Great Britain for 1995. [7126]

I expect the report to be published on 18 December.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the consequences for data protection arising from the failure of computer systems to be millennium compliant; and if he will make a statement. [6667]

I am advised by the Data Protection Registrar that she considers that failures of computer systems to take account of the year change to 2000 could result in contraventions of the Data Protection Act 1984. She intends to issue advice.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to extend section 11 grants for bilingual education beyond the five-year expiry date of March 1997. [6425]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 13 November 1996. Official Report, column 242.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the prison education budget will be for each of the London prisons for 1997.[6211]

Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the cost to public funds of delivering general election material in 1992 (a) in total, (b) for poll cards and (c) candidates' mailings.[5952]

[holding answer 27 November 1996]: The cost to public funds of delivering general election material in 1992 was:

(a)a total of £17,940,315¹;

(b)for poll cards £2,632,479; and

(c)for candidates' mailings £12,692,751.

¹This includes £2,370,794 which was paid to the Royal Mail regional office at Bolton in respect of postal services delivered to constituencies in north Wales and north-west England, for which no breakdown between costs for delivery of poll cards and candidates' mailings is available, and certain miscellaneous staff and further postage costs.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the discovery of an impression of a master key in a prisoner's cell at Her Majesty's prison, Full Sutton; how this breach of security will be investigated; and what steps he is taking to prevent similar breaches of security in future. [5253]

[holding answer 21 November 1996]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on his policy for dualling the remaining single carriageway sections of the A1 trunk road. [6999]

As a result of the review just completed, the Willowburn-Denwick improvement remains in the programme, but the Morpeth to Lanehead improvement has been withdrawn.We are aware of the concerns about the adequacy and safety record of this road. In addition to the major schemes, a comprehensive programme of low-cost safety schemes has been undertaken over the last few years. We continue to assess the needs of the route to identify sections where further minor improvements could be taken forward, including shorter section of dual carriageway to provide safer opportunities for overtaking.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what (a) statutory powers and (b) financial options he exercises in respect of the conditions pertaining to bus design on routes let by tender by London Transport Buses to private route operators; and what discussions he has had with London Transport Buses concerning the continued use of the Routemaster bus in central London[5654]

The manufacture of Routemaster was brought to an end by the actions of the then Minister of Transport in 1968. Currently, Ministers have no specific powers on bus design for buses of operators franchised to run bus services in London. These are matters for London Transport, which has made it clear that it expects to see Routemasters continue on routes particularly in central London, so long as they remain available and in good condition.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made with the review of the existing higher maximum weight limit for lorries engaged in road and rail operations. [7359]

In carrying out this review, we have taken into account a number of other proposals that have been put forward for change to the present maximum lorry weights. We have published today a consultation paper which considers these various options and seeks views on a range of proposals. Copies of the paper have been placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will end the UK derogation to EU coach weight legislation. [6765]

I do not intend to end the United Kingdom derogation to European Union coach weight legislation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the impact of installing (a) double glazing, (b) air-conditioning and (c) retarder on the axle weight of a coach. [6770]

No assessment has been made of the impact of installing double glazing, air-conditioning or retarders on the axle weight of a coach.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what reports he has received on the presence of 18-tonne continental coaches on UK roads. [6766]

I have received no information about the presence of 18 tonne continental coaches on UK roads.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy in the period until the end of the derogation, to allow the UK coach industry to operate up to 18-tonne vehicles which comply with the 10.5-tonne rear axle limit.[6769]

The Department of Transport will shortly be issuing a consultation document looking into the feasibility of allowing coaches to operate at 18 tonnes with a 10.5 tonne maximum drive axle weight. Pending the results of this consultation a decision will be made on whether or not to permit such an increase.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list for each of the last five years the funding for local authority transport spending provided by his Department. [6945]

The provision was as follows:

• 1992–93: £999 million
• 1993–94: £1,187 million
• 1994–95: £1,008 million
• 1995–96: £960 million
• 1996–97: £830 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) when Railtrack intends to reach its engineering target of having 98 per cent. of the rail network covered by the national radio network; and if he will make a statement;[5339](2)When he proposes to introduce a timed and costed plan for the installation of cab secure radios in all locomotive units; and if he will place a copy of the plan in the Library; [5336](3)which rail lines are currently not covered by a fully operational radio system through which signal boxes can communicate with train drivers. [5338]

Installation of the lineside transmitter equipment for the national radio network is virtually complete. A planned enhancement of NRN will require conversion of radio frequencies. This has been authorised and is proceeding.Under a draft railway group standard on train radio communications, it will be obligatory for all driving cabs to be equipped with an operational radio which will enable communication between train drivers, signallers or control centres, in order for the stock to operate on Railtrack's infrastructure. This has an implementation date of April 1997, with dispensation until February 1998 where secure radio is being installed, subject to approval by Railtrack.All cabs will be equipped within this programme. Virtually all modern cabs are already fitted; older, former Network South-East stock and a few remaining heritage diesel units will be equipped within the programme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of his investment programme for the provision and maintenance of the national road transport system in each year since 1992–93 has been devoted to the repair and maintenance of existing roads. [6742]

The following table shows gross capital expenditure by the Department for the provision and maintenance of the national road system, the capital amount spent on road maintenance and repair of the national road system and this figure represented as a percentage of the total.

Year	Total capital expenditure £ million	Capital expenditure on the national road system maintenance and repair £ million	Percentage spent on road maintenance and repair percent
1992–93	1,874.2	364.5	19.4
1993–94	1,988.3	404.3	20.3
1994–95	2,008.5	402.2	20.0
1995–96	1,706.2	309.7	18.1

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what has been the cost to his Department of his investment programme for the provision and maintenance of the national road transport system each year since 1992–93, expressed in (a) cash terms and (b) real terms based on 1992–93 figures. [6740]

The following table shows gross capital expenditure by the Department for the provision and maintenance of the national road system in both cash terms and real terms since 1992–93.

year	Cash terms (£ million)	Real terms (£ million)(1992–93 prices)
1992–93	1,874.2	1,874.2
1993–94	1,988.3	1,932.4
1994–95	2,008.5	1,916.8
1995–96	1,706.2	1,584.7

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list, for the financial years 1993–94, 1994–95 and 1996–97, in Somerset, those road schemes costing more than £50,000 requiring his Department's approval, indicating the location or road number, the total spent on each scheme in each year and the contribution made by his Department in each year. [6912]

Local authorities do not require my Department's approval for their road schemes, but they may seek financial help under the transport policies and programme—TPP—system. The Department keeps records of individual schemes only where they cost at least £2 million. Details of the schemes that the Department supported in Somerset in the years quoted, and in 1995–96, including the amounts allocated to them

Somerset County Council road schemes
All Figures—£000
	1993–94 Accepted Expenditure	1993–94 spend	1994–95 Accepted Expenditure	1994–95 Spend	1995–96 Accepted Expenditure	1995–96 Spend	1996–97 Accepted Expenditure
A361 Frome Bypass	330	201	—	—	—	—	—
A358 Ashill—Southfields Roundabout	324	334	—	—	—	—	—
A39 Glastonbury Western Relief Road	5,254	1,903	4,775	3,608	1,842	2,762	500
A3088 Lysander Road to Hendford	—	53	—	—	—	—	—
A39 Cannington Southern Bupass	2,030	1,008	490	769	233	89	—
East Mendip Quarry Strategy	2,283	285	345	204	389	806	—
A39 Wells Relief Road	—	—	1,000	649	4,500	4,367	4,856
A37 Yeovil to Dorset Boundary (Phase 1)	—	—	—	—	875	469	1,976

Minor Allocations
	Local Safety Schemes	Other Minor Works	Head
1993–94	300	861	1,161
1994–95	284	486	770
1995–96	423	768	1,191
1996–97	502	632	1,134

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the volume of traffic on the M20 between junctions 3 and 5 one year after it was first opened; what it is now; and what it is estimated to be on such future dates for which estimates are available. [6952]

[holding answer 29 November 1996]: I have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency to write to my right hon. Friend.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the (a) construction, (b) cost and (c) environmental criteria which determine where and when low noise, open-textured, road surfacing should be used on trunk roads or motorways instead of, or as a replacement for, concrete or standard bituminous construction. [6615]

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

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what research he has undertaken in the last three years on public defender systems. [5198]

No new research on public defender systems, whereby salaried staff provide legal services in criminal cases, has been commissioned by this Department in the last three years. Officials from this Department recently made a fact finding visit to north America to see how both criminal and civil legal aid are delivered in the USA and Canada. Among other services, they saw public defender systems in action and spoke to those responsible for running them.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will make a statement on the contracts awarded to (a) NM Rothschild for advice on the sale of student loan debt and (b) Shreeveport for advice on the contracting out of the work of the Student Loans Company, indicating (i) their costs and (ii) their duration. [6941]

We expect the duration of the contracts to be between nine months to a year. Costs are dependent on the daily fee rates charged and the use made of those companies by the Department. Individual fee rates negotiated between the Department and the advisers are confidential.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list (a) the breakdown of the allocations under each separate title of the grants for education support and training in 1996–97, (b) the planned breakdown for 1997–98, and (c) the change in numbers and percentage between the two years for each element and the total allocations for the above periods. [6937]

The following table sets out allocations under the grants for education support and training—GEST—programme for 1996–97. GEST allocations for 1997–98 will be announced in December.

Grants for education support and training 1996–97
Number	Grant	Programme £ million
1a	School Effectiveness	131.7
1b	School Improvement Initiatives	2.3
2a	NC Assessment—audit	8.4
2b	NC Assessment—supply cover	16.8
3a	Primary Teachers' Subject Knowledge	16.7
3b	Training for KS2 Teacher Assessment	2.9
4	Training for Special Educational Needs	10.5
5	School SEN Policies	9.9
6	SEN Parent Partnership Schemes	4.0
7	Licensed and Overseas Teachers	0.4
8	Vocational Qualifications	10.9
8b	Vocational Qualifications—pilot Part Ones	3.5
9A and B	Truancy and Disaffected Pupils	13.8
9C	Pupil Behaviour and Discipline	3.7
10	Training in Youth and Community Work	2.2
11	Bilingual Pupils	5.7
12	Training for Careers Teachers	4.0
13a	Drug Prevention and Schools (Formula)	4.5
13b	Drug Prevention and Schools (Bids)	1.4
14	Specialist Schools	6.9
15a	Literacy and Numeracy Centres	3.5
15b	Literacy and Numeracy (Books and Equipment)	1.5
16	Specialist Teacher Assistants	1.2
	Programme total	266.4

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what proposals she has to ensure that newly qualified teachers starting their teaching careers are able to (a) identify and (b) give appropriate teaching to children at risk of specific learning difficulties and dyslexia.[6763]

The existing criteria for courses of initial teacher training require that newly qualified teachers should have acquired the necessary foundation to develop the ability to identify and provide for special educational needs and specific learning difficulties. We shall be consulting on revised requirements for initial teacher training in new year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the pupil to teacher ration in (a) 1979 and (b) the last year for which figures are available. [6760]

The overall pupil-teacher ratios for maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools in England were 18.9 in January 1979 and 18.5 in January 1996.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the average pupil to teacher ratio for (a) grant-maintained secondary schools and (b) local authority secondary schools.[6759]

The pupil-teacher ratios in grant-maintained secondary schools and local education authority secondary schools in England in January 1996 were 16.3 and 16.7 respectively.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will give a breakdown of spending on the Teacher Training Agency in 1996–97 and of planning spending for 1997–98.[6936]

The latest estimate of the Department's grant to the Teacher Training Agency in 1996–97 is £197.763 million, consisting of £190.090 million recurrent expenditure, £4.473 million on capital expenditure and £3.200 million on administration costs. Subject to parliamentary approval, we plan a total grant of £209.771 million to the TTA in 1997–98, including £204.778 million on programme expenditure and £4.993 million on administration. Decisions on the detailed distribution of these sums are for the TTA itself.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will give a breakdown

Youth Training England and Wales by TEC
February 1995 to January 1996 leavers
	proportion of leavers who:
TEC	Did not complete the course	Did not gain a qualification	Completed the course but did not find a job
Bedfordshire	58	56	9
Central and South Cambridgeshire	47	48	8
North Derbyshire	50	47	11
South Derbyshire	47	47	10
Leicestershire	53	56	12
Lincolnshire	52	47	14
Norfolk and Waveney	59	70	17
Northamptonshire	48	46	10
Greater Nottingham	55	52	11
North Nottinghamshire	48	55	12
Greater Peterborough	47	46	12
Suffolk	45	43	13
County Durham	56	46	12
Northumberland	52	48	19
Teeside	52	45	15
Tyneside	55	48	15
Sunderland City	n/a	n/a	n/a
Barnsley and Doncaster	56	48	13
Bradford	49	47	14
Calderdale-Kirklees	50	48	10

of spending on the grant-maintained sector in 1996–97 and of planned spending in 1997–98, showing (a) current funding and (b) capital funding and the percentage change between the two years. [6927]

The information requested is as follows:

	1996–97 £ million	1997–98 £ million	Percentage increase
Recurrent	1101	116.2	15.0
Capital	138	144.9	5.0
Total	239	261.1	9.6
1Funding to the Education Assets Board and Education Associations is not included in the 1997–98 recurrent baseline. It has therefore been deducted from the published recurrent amounts shown for 1996–97 so as to provide comparable figures.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what percentage of people on youth training (a) failed to complete the course, (b) failed to obtain a recognised qualification and (c) completed the course but failed to find a job, for each training and enterprise council in the financial year 1995–96. [6331]

The available information, which comes from the national follow-up survey of YT trainees, is given in the following table. These results are consistent with the national totals published in "Labour Market Trends". They relate to the period February 1995 to January 1996, the last full year for which data are available. The figures overstate the extent to which young people leave the programme early. They include a significant number who simply switched from one training provider to another, as well as trainees who left early having already achieved their full qualification. Those not gaining a qualification will include many who subsequently obtained a job, or continued in further education and training.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what amount was spent on training by the Department for each unemployed person in (a) 1989–90 and (b) 1995–96, (i) in cash terms and (ii) in 1995–96 prices.[6332]

As the programmes covered by training expenditure are by no means confined to the unemployed, it would not be appropriate to express expenditure per unemployed person.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she has made a decision on the future of committees for the employment of people with disabilities.[7400]

Committees for the employment of people with disabilities—CEPDs—were first set up under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act 1944 to perform specific functions related to the Act. In recent year's they have mainly been involved in providing advice and assistance to the Employment Service. The current terms of appointment of CEPD members cease on 31 March 1997.The employment provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995—DDA—which come into force today, make fundamental changes to the way we approach the employment of disabled people, and will establish a new era of opportunity for them. In view of these new provisions, we have been considering whether the ES still requires local advisory arrangements. Consultations showed the value of partnership working between the ES and a range of local organisations and individuals able to influence positive developments in disabled people's employment in the local labour market.We have taken into consideration the new opportunities that the DDA brings, the range of views expressed and the need to make best use of available resource. We have decided that the relevant provisions of the 1944 Act, under which CEPDS are appointed, will be repealed and that, with effect from April 1997, the ES will set up in each region a non-statutory regional disability consulting group.These new regional consulting groups will provide a fresh, more streamlined approach to partnership working between the ES and relevant local organisations and individuals. The groups will be encouraged to contribute actively to the ES's regional and local initiative to promote improvements in the employment of disabled people.I should like to take this opportunity to record my thanks for the important contribution made by current and past members of CEPDs and their predecessors. The new era which opens up today owes much to their willingness to work with the ES over many years to help improve the employment prospects for disabled people.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the arrears from (i) rents and (ii) other income currently outstanding to each local authority; what incentives are used to encourage local authorities to reduce these debts; and if he will make a statement. [4903]

Information on local authority rent arrears is collected from authorities on their housing subsidy claim form returns. A ranked listing of authorities' cumulative arrears as a percentage of rent roll is released each year in a DOE news release. Copies of the DOE news release, the latest of which provides statistics on the position at the end of March 1995 and was released on 12 January 1996, are in the Library of the House.Other arrears relate primarily to uncollected community charges and council taxes, but may also result from a range of other sources such as outstanding insurance claims, trading activities, mortgage arrears and so on. Information on uncollected community charge and council tax for each local authority is not available centrally. However, the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy regularly publishes estimates for individual authorities: figures for 31 March 1995 are available in its "Revenue Collection Statistics 1994–95" publication, a copy of which is in the Library of the House. No information is available centrally on any other forms of arrears.The Government expect local authorities to pursue all arrears of rent, community charge and council tax and so on that are collectable. It is in the interests of authorities to do so to restrict their level of borrowing and council tax bills overall. Authorities have a range of powers enabling them to enforce recovery of rent arrears, community charge and council tax arrears. They use these powers at their discretion and my Department has provided general guidance through practice notes and other advice. For example, in October 1994, a research report, "Rent Arrears in Local Authorities and Housing Associations" was issued by the Government to all local authorities; this contains good practice advice on preventing and managing rent arrears.The Government have introduced a range of measures to encourage authorities to maximise revenue collection, for example the ring-fencing of housing revenue accounts, penalising poor performers in the distribution of housing investment programme allocations and requiring publication of rent arrears information under the citizen's charter performance indicator regime set up by the Audit Commission.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if the assessment of his Department's energy efficiency voucher scheme has been completed; when he intends to publish the results of the assessment; and if he will make a statement. [6543]

Evaluation of my Department's Wasting Energy Costs the Earth domestic energy efficiency campaign, of which the energy efficiency voucher scheme formed a part, is expected to be complete by mid-December.The energy efficiency voucher scheme and associated promotions have formed an integral part of a wider drive to increase the level of energy efficiency awareness among domestic consumers and to encourage the purchase of energy efficiency goods. We are continuing this work through the Energy Saving Trust, and have recently announced an extra £21.5 million in its allocation over the next three years to enable it to pursue it.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the extent to which growth in the housebuilding sector is inhibited by the practice that show homes can be assessed for the uniform business rate; and if he will make a statement. [6683]

No such assessments have been made.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has made of the total annual additional costs to purchasers of new houses as a result of the practice of subjecting show houses to the uniform business rate.[6684]

The House-Builders Federation estimates that the total yearly rates bill of show houses in England and Wales is about £8 million. If show houses were subject to the council tax and not rates, the federation estimates that the year's bill would be £3.4 million. The rates are generally paid by housebuilders because they occupy show houses. It is for the builder to decide the extent to which non-domestic rates, and other costs, are passed on to house purchasers.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those local authorities which currently levy the uniform business rate on show houses.[6685]

All local authorities in England and Wales are obliged to charge non-domestic rates on show houses.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he last met housebuilders to discuss the impact of the case of Ideal Homes v. Ian Walker at the rating tribunal in 1995; and what response he has made to the representations made to him on this matter.[6686]

We regularly meet the house building industry. I have recently received representations from the House-Builders Federation requesting that show houses be subject to the council tax and not non-domestic rates. I am currently considering my response.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what recent representations he has received concerning the levying of business rates and council tax on show homes; and if he will make a statement;[6904]

I have recently received representations from the House-Builders Federation requesting that show houses be subject to the council tax and not non-domestic rates. I am currently considering my response.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total amount paid in the latest year for which figures are available in respect of (a) uniform business rates and (b) council taxes levied on show homes.[6905]

The House-Builders Federation estimates that the total yearly rates bill on show houses in England and Wales is about £8 million. Show houses are not subject to the council tax.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the 20 largest printing contracts currently being carried out by The Stationery Office, Cardiff; and if he will specify which of them are bilingual printing jobs.[7147]

The Stationery Office is a privately owned company carrying out work for a variety of customers. Its contracts are its own commercially confidential business.Details of printing contracts let by Government Departments are not collated or held centrally. At the point of sale of The Stationery Office, on 30 September 1996, no contracts or arrangements between Government Departments and HMSO Wales Print Services were transferred to The Stationery Office. One customer contract and one customer arrangement previously held by HMSO Wales Print Services were transferred. The contract was with the Metropolitan police for the provision of printed matter and the arrangement was with Health Promotion Wales for a warehousing and distribution service.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what representations he has had with respect to the closure of the HMSO printing plant at Llanishen, Cardiff. [7149]

The business of HMSO, including the property at Llanishen, Cardiff was transferred to The Stationery Office and sold on 30 September 1996. I have had no representations relating to Llanishen.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade when there will be an announcement on the membership of the new Human Genetics Advisory Commission; and if he will make a statement. [7383]

I am delighted to announce that the following have agreed to serve on this important new group.

Sir Colin Campbell (Chairman)	Vice Chancellor, University of Nottingham
Professor Cairns Aitken	Chairman, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh NHS Trust
Dr. Micheala Aldred	Director, Retinoblastoma Society
Professor Martin Bobrow	Professor of Medical Genetics, Cambridge University
Mrs. Doris Littlejohn	President, Central Office of Industrial Tribunals, Scotland
Dr. Onora O'Neill	Chairman, Nuffield Council on Bioethics
Reverend Dr. John Polkinhorne	Chairman, Advisory Committee on Genetic Testing
Dr. George Posts	Chairman, Research and Development, SmithKline Beecham
Ms Moria Stuart	Newsreader, British Broadcasting Corporation

The chairman of the Gene Therapy Advisory Committee will also be a member. The current acting chairman is Professor Norman Nevin of the Department of Medical Genetics, Belfast City health and social service trust.The advisory commission will be considering the broad social, ethical and/or economic consequences of developments in human genetics, for example, in relation to public health, insurance, patents and employment. They will also advise on ways to build public confidence in the new science. The group has been asked to give early consideration to how it can make itself open to wider public views.Human genetics is developing rapidly. It offers major opportunities for improving the quality of life and for wealth creation, but also raises sensitive and complex issues which need to be addressed. The advisory commission will be able to approach these matters from a broad perspective, reporting direct to Industry and Health Ministers and supported by a secretariat based in the Office of Science and Technology. The first meeting will be held as soon as possible in the new year.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list for each Department in 1995–96 the percentage of bills paid within 30 days or in accordance with agreed terms. [6719]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Mid-Staffordshire (Mr. Fabricant) on 18 July, Official Report, column 613–14 on this matter.The hon. Member will also wish to be aware that my hon. Friend the Economic Secretary to the Treasury will be publishing soon the first league table of Government Departments and their agencies based on the revised monitoring arrangements.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 7 November, Official Report, column 701, what were the proposed annual savings for the information technology projects in the bands above and including £1 million to £2 million, undertaken since 1992; and what have been the realised annual savings.[6697]

[holding answer 28 November 1996]: Within my Department, project appraisals consider both qualitative and quantitative benefits. Individual projects will reflect both the business priorities of the time and the Department's strategic framework for IT. Some requirements are for pilots, to trial facilities on a small scale, and there are proposals which are a matter of operational necessity—for example, remedial work for the century date change—or provide for cost avoidance, for example, in the replacement of existing IT systems where the option of a return to a manual system is impracticable.In my answer of 7 November,

To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 7 November, Official Report, column 701, what are the proposed annual savings for the planned information technology projects in the bands above and including £1 million to £2 million. [6696]

[holding answer 28 November 1996]: In my answer of 7 November, Official Report, column 701, I identified three planned projects costing £1 million or above. Of these, the business case for one is still under development, another concerns remedial work arising from the century date change, and the third is a major enhancement to an existing system. This enhancement provides new quantifiable savings which will accrue primarily to the private sector, due to the deregulatory nature of the project, and at the same time maintains the benefits of the existing system over an extended period giving savings totalling £27 million over eight years, with the average annual saving for the remaining life of the system being estimated at £4.2 million.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if (a) his Department and (b) the industrial tribunals have completed their consideration of the employment provisions contained in the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 with regard to the composition of industrial tribunals hearing cases under that Act; and if he will make administrative arrangements in a manner similar to those pertaining under race relations legislation,

Table 1: Current secondees under the continuing Interchange Programme
	Start date	Finish date	Parent Company
Mr. Arthur McQuillan, Engineering Automotive and Metals	1.10.95	30.11.96	Amec Process and Energy Ltd.
Mr. Adrian John Luckins, Oil and Gas	30.9.96	29.12.96	ARCO British Limited
Mr. John Fitzgerald, Government Office South West	7.10.96	6.10.97	Avon Rubber plc
Mr. Rupert Harris, Investigations	6.3.97	5.3.97	Baker Tilly
Mr. Sean Higgins, Business Link	26.2.96	25.12.96	Baker Tilly
Dr. Jenny Benson, Nuclear Industries	24.11.96	24.11.97	BNFL
Ms Clare Wallace, Nuclear Industries	2.12.96	1.12.97	BNFL
Mr. Brian Gane, Oil and Gas	1.10.96	31.12.96	BN Exploration Ltd.
Mr. Stephen Austin, Offshore Supplies Office	15.4.96	14.12.96	British Gas plc
Mrs. Peta Walmisley, Office Science and Technology	3.6.96	2.5.97	British Computer Society
Mrs. Kerry Somerset, European Commission	15.4.96	14.4.98	BSI
Mr. Keith Inglis, Post Office, Retailing and Textiles	29.4.96	28.4.97	Burton Group
Mr. Geoffrey Cook, Estates and Facilities Management	13.2.96	1.4.97	Chesterton International plc
Mr. Anwar Ahmed, Investigations	1.4.96	31.3.98	Coopers and Lybrand
Mr. Simon Robinson, Insurance	9.9.96	8.9.98	Coopers and Lybrand
Miss Jean Quinney, Insolvency	14.11.94	31.3.97	Ernst and Young Services Ltd.
Ms Anna Blackburn, Insolvency	12.9.94	31.3.97	Ernst and Young Services Ltd.
Mr. Brendan Barnes, Chemicals and Biotechnology	10.4.95	31.12.96	Glaxo plc
Mrs. Phyllis Harvey, Insolvency	1.8.94	31.3.97	Grant Thornton
Mr. Andrew Smith, Insolvency	5.9.96	13.12.96	Grant Thornton
Mr. Stuart Parfitt, Small and Medium Enterprises Policy	1.2.96	28.3.97	Grant Thornton
Ms Suzanne Deery, Insurance	1.10.96	30.9.97	Guardian Royal Exchange Assurance plc
Mr. David Gavaghan, Regional Assistance	2.9.96	1.9.98	Hambros Bank Limited
Mr. Les Owen, Engineering Automotive and Metals	22.1.96	21.6.97	Honda
Mr. Robert Simpson, Nuclear Industries	2.1.96	31.12.98	Huntings Engineering Ltd.
Mr. Charles Hughes, Communications and Information Industries	18.4.95	17.4.97	ICL
Mr. Stan Melrose, Engineering, Automotive and Metals	1.12.95	30.11.96	IMI Refiners Ltd.
Mr. Stewart Wright, Insolvency	4.9.95	29.3.97	Kidsons Impey
Mr. Trevor Lacey, Engineering, Automotive and Metals	5.2.96	4.2.97	Lockstair Ltd.
Mr. John Bilton, Engineering, Automotive and Metals	1.7.96	30.6.97	Mechandyne Limited
Dr. Nick Veck, British National Space Centre	2.10.95	1.10.97	National Remote Sensing Centre Ltd.
Mr. Mike Whysall, Business Links	18.11.96	17.5.98	Natwest
Ms Joanne Wilkinson, Communications and Information Industries	1.7.96	31.12.96	Nel
Ms Tracey Holbein, Communications and Information Industries	17.7.96	31.12.96	Nel
Mr. Arthur David, Engineering, Automotive and Information Industries	3.7.95	31.12.96	Nissan
Ms Beth Rees, Insurance	3.7.95	2.7.97	Price Waterhouse
Miss Elaine Lydon, Regional Assistance	16.1.95	15.1.97	Robson Rhodes
Mr. Tom Girn, Investigations	29.2.96	28.2.98	Robson Rhodes
Mr. Andrew Hooper, Nuclear Industries	6.11.95	5.11.97	Rolls-Royce and Associates

so that wherever possible a member who has special knowledge or experience of disability issues in the employment field will sit on tribunals hearing cases raised under disability legislation. [6949]

We are considering the matter with the president of the industrial tribunals and I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the industrial attachments to his Department, by departmental section, specifying (a) the commencement and finishing date, (b) the names of the individuals and their company or organisation and (c) the nature of the work undertaken. [6118]

[holding answer 26 November 1996]: I list in table 1 the names, parent companies, start and finish dates and the directorates within the Department for those individuals who are on temporary secondment as part of our continuing programme of interchange of staff with the private sector. At table 2, I list the name, parent companies and start and finish dates for those individuals currently on temporary secondment to the Department as part of the export promoter initiative.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will request the Director General of Fair Trading to refer the newspaper distribution system to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission. [6402]

It is the long-standing and consistent policy of successive Secretaries of State that the making of monopoly references to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission is normally a matter for the Director General of Fair Trading in areas of economic activity within his jurisdiction. He has said that he is not persuaded that this is the best way forward for the industry, but that he is continuing to monitor the newspaper distribution industry and is open to further representations.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he last met representatives from the Multiple Newsagents Association; what was discussed; and if he will make a statement. [6405]

I last met representatives of the Multiple Newsagents Association on 31 January 1996 to hear about the progress of industry talks concerning newspaper distribution.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he last met representatives from the Newspaper Publishers Association; what was discussed; and if he will make a statement. [6404]

Neither my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade nor I have met representatives of the Newspaper Publishers Association. The then Minister for Consumer Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Mr. Hamilton), met the NPA on 28 June 1994 to discuss the provisions of the industry code of practice for newspaper supplies.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will now publish the research he has commissioned from Professor J. M. Harrington on the issue of working time and its impact on health. [6799]

As indicated in the reply by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade to the right hon. Member for Derby, South (Mrs. Beckett) on 20 November 1996, Official Report, columns 573–74, a copy of the report has been placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations have been made to the Government of Singapore in respect of participation by UK-based non-governmental organisations at the World Trade Organisation interministerial conference in Singapore. [7009]

Representations to participate in the conference are made to the World Trade Organisation secretariat in Geneva. Twelve UK-based non-governmental organisations have requested registration forms from the secretariat to participate in the conference.