To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been arrested since 9 February, and are awaiting trial in Great Britain for offences which can be regarded as related to the situation in Northern Ireland. [6746]

Fourteen.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the arrangements for co-ordinating the activities of the Security Service with those of police forces and other law enforcement agencies under section 1(2) of the Security Service Act 1989. [7171]

The arrangements, which were agreed between the Director General of the Security Service and the Director General of the National Criminal Intelligence Service, who was designated for this purpose, are set out in the annex to Home Office circular 46/1996 addressed to chief officers of police and others about the Security Service Act 1996. A copy of the circular is being placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what promotional and public information campaigns his Department is (a) currently running and (b) planning to run during the next six months; and for each campaign (i) how much it will cost, (1) in total and (2) to his Department, (ii) what agencies or bodies are undertaking the work and (iii) what is its planned duration. [7416]

My Department is currently running a campaign about the illegal carrying and use of knives. An information pack containing posters and background material has been sent to all schools and further education colleges in England and Wales, police crime prevention officers—CPOs—and local newspapers. A pre-recorded radio interview was sent to 110 local radio stations. Head teachers and college principals have been invited to display the posters and to consider using the support material in student project work. CPOs will invite local retailers and others to display the posters, and will work with local media to stimulate further cover.It is not possible to state an exact duration for the campaign because it does not use booked advertising space. Free site posters are displayed for varying lengths of time, but my Department's experience is that this can in some cases extend to several months. The total cost of the campaign is £24,265. My Department funded the £20,289 production costs and the Department for Education and Employment and the Welsh Office spent between them £3,976 on distribution. Euro RSCG WNEK Gosper carried out studio work for the poster and the Central Office of Information produced and distributed the radio tape.My Department plans to run two campaigns between January and February next year. These are:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much his Department has spent on promotional or public information campaigns in each of the last five years; and how much he estimates will be spent on these campaigns during the (i) current and (ii) next financial years. [7545]

My Department's spending on public information campaigns in each of the past five years and planned expenditure for the current year is set out in the table.Plans for publicity expenditure for 1997–98 have not yet been finalised and it is therefore not possible to provide estimates.

Year	Advertising (£)	Other information material and services
1991–92 Total	7,275,940	3,600,288
1992–93 Total	7,344,635	5,638,982
1993–94 Total	9,090,222	5,062,327

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he last met the chief executive of the Prison Service to discuss availability of prison places; and if he will make a statement. [7905]

I have regular meetings with the Director General of the Prison Service covering a wide range of issues. The availability of prison places is one of those issues.

Persons aged 10 to 16 convicted at all courts by age and month, 1995 England and Wales, all types of offence
Age	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	All aged 10 to 16
January	16	37	100	291	666	1,093	1,464	3,667
February	4	33	97	293	631	1,078	1,464	3,600
March	9	28	118	279	707	1,184	1,601	3,926
April	1	31	78	200	491	875	1,280	2,956
May	4	40	92	224	586	1,010	1,414	3,370
June	4	35	107	258	611	1,073	1,431	3,519
July	4	26	75	235	564	1,015	1,488	3,407
August	2	27	81	231	566	1,076	1,490	3,473
September	3	29	85	245	520	909	1,371	3,162
October	3	34	75	257	609	1,085	1,519	3,582
November	7	19	99	233	590	1,154	1,569	3,671
December	8	23	82	164	443	824	1,244	2,788
Total	65	362	1,089	2,910	6,984	12,376	17,335	41,121

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the results of pilot schemes on the electronic tagging of adults; and if he will include a statistical breakdown of the results. [7504]

The report of the Home Office's evaluation of the first year of trials of electronic monitoring is due to be published later this month. It will include the relevant statistics.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if compensation is to be paid to those released from prison arising form the Chahal case. [8120]

No.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the decision of the European Court of Human Rights in the case of Chahal [8121]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the number of (a) 10-year-olds, (b) 11-year-olds, (c) 12-year-olds, (d) 13-year-olds, (e) 14-year-olds, (f) 15-year-olds and (g) 16-year-olds who were found guilty of offences (i) in each of the last 12 months and (ii) in total which would have made them eligible for electronic tagging under the new proposals; and if he will make a statement. [7503]

Information on 10 to 16-year-olds found guilty of all offences in 1995 is given in the table. Information for 1996 will be available in the autumn of 1997.It is proposed that a curfew order, with electronic monitoring, will be available to the courts for use with juvenile offenders under the age of 16 convicted of any offence subject to the restrictions set out in section 6 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991. It will be for courts to decide whether to apply such an order in any particular case. It will be available initially on a pilot basis.

I have reviewed the cases affected by the judgment. I am considering what changes we might make to our appeals system to comply with the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the names of the 14 cases, representatives of which have received notification that they are being reviewed as part of Professor Caddy's inquiry; and in which cases Mr. lan Feraday was a Crown witness. [7229]

[holding answer 4 December 1996]: The representatives of the following individuals were advised that their cases would be examined by Professor Caddy as part of his inquiry.

• James Canning
• Derek Donerty
• Robert Fryers Patrick Hayes
• Hugh Jack Denis Kinsella
• John Kinsella
• Ethel Lamb (deceased)
• Pairic MacFhloinn
• Sean McNulty
• Gerard Mackin
• Nicholas Mullen
• Jan Taylor
• Vincent Wood.

My right hon. and learned Friend the Attorney-General will write to the hon. Member in relation to those cases in which Mr. Alan Feraday was a Crown witness.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many, and in respect of which judicial review application, his Department has been deemed to have acted illegally since May 1993. [7313]

[holding answer 4 December 1996]: Since May 1993, the Home Office has been involved in several thousand judicial review applications. It has been successful in over 90 per cent. of them. The detailed information requested is not readily available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when she will publish a Government position paper on higher level vocational qualifications; and if she will make a statement. [8633]

A document which sets out the Government's current position on this matter is being published today. Copies are being placed in the Library. The document "Higher Level Vocational Qualifications—A Government Position Paper" invites those who have an interest in higher level vocational qualifications, in particular professional bodies and higher education institutions, to engage with the Department for Education and Employment, the National Council for Vocational Qualifications (NCVQ) and the Scottish Vocational Education Council (SCOTVEC) to bring all vocational qualifications into the national qualifications framework.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans she has to improve education and training for 14 to 19-year-olds. 18634]

I have today published a White Paper, "Learning to Compete: education and training for 14–19 year olds" (SO Cm 3486)."Learning to Compete" builds on the Government's achievements over the past decade in increasing choice, participation and attainment by young people in education and training in England. It sets out the Government's vision for first-class education and training for the next century, based on the entitlement of all young people to learning, on the need for employability, and on the value of effective partnerships at national, regional and local level. It is designed to renew our drive towards the national targets for education and training, helping young people to play their part in a successful society, and Britain to strengthen its international competitiveness.The White Paper draws on extensive and invaluable consultations over the past year, in particular on the conclusions of Sir Ron Dearing's review of 16 to 19 qualifications. It proposes a wide-ranging programme of action for the Government and their key partners to improve young people's learning further, and to ensure their successful transition to employment and further learning throughout life. In particular, the White Paper:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list for each year since 1991, for all English secondary schools, on the same basis as her Department's annual school performance tables, the average GCSE point scores, in five percentile groups ranked by their 15-year-olds achievements. [6406]

School performance tables 1996 Percentage of 15-year-olds achieving
5 percentile group	Average point score1	5 A* to C (per cent.)	5 A* to G (per cent.)	1 A* to G (per cent.)	Number schools
1	60.8	98.8	99.4	99.6	218
2	55.8	93.6	97.1	98.1	219
3	50.1	83.5	92.2	95.1	218
4	45.0	70.3	93.5	95.9	219
5	42.8	62.1	93.8	96.3	218
6	41.5	57.2	93.7	96.5	219
7	40.0	53.3	93.6	96.6	218
8	38.5	49.5	92.4	96.2	219
9	36.9	46.3	91.2	95.8	218
10	35.6	42.9	90.6	95.3	219
11	34.1	39.7	89.1	94.5	218
12	32.3	36.1	86.3	93.3	218
13	30.6	32.6	85.5	92.6	219
14	29.1	28.9	84.0	92.0	218
15	27.2	25.0	81.4	90.6	219
16	24.9	21.0	77.4	88.1	218
17	22.3	16.0	73.4	86.1	219
18	14.9	6.5	52.6	76.8	218
19	1.3	0.0	0.0	27.1	219
20	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	218
1 The average point score has been calculated by using A*=8, A=7, B=6, C=5, D=4, E=3, F=2 and G=l.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many and what proportion of consultees who responded to the section on extending the freedom of grant-maintained schools in the White Paper, "Self-Government for Schools" were in favour of the proposed extensions. [6925]

[holding answer 28 November 1996]: We received 637 responses to the White Paper "Self-Government for Schools". More than three quarters were from LEAs and LEA-maintained schools. Less than 2 per cent. were from GM bodies and GM schools. The table gives the information requested.

Proposal	Number of responses commenting on the relevant proposal	Number and percentage in favour
To remove the requirement for GM schools to publish statutory proposals to:
(a) open or close a nursery	176	7(4)
(b) open or close a sixth form	195	6(3)
(c) add or remove boarding provision	152	5(3)

[holding answer 28 November 1996]: The following list for 1996 shows the average GCSE point scores, in 5 per centile groups, ranked by their 15-year-old pupils' achievements. The figures are based on the school performance tables published in November and exclude data from the published schools that had fewer than 10 pupils aged 15. The averages quoted are simple averages, based on the sums of the percentages divided by the number of schools involved. Data for earlier years have been provided on a slightly different basis from those given in the reply to the hon. Member's questions of 7 November and 19 December 1995, Official Report, columns 960 and 1034 respectively.

Proposal	Number of responses commenting on the relevant proposal	Number and percentage in favour
(d) expand their capacity by up to 50 per cent.	188	5(3)

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will publish a breakdown of (a) the £830 million available for education in 1997–98, according to the statement by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, (b) the £875 million quoted in the departmental press release and (c) the £633 million available for local education authorities, showing how the above figures are intended to be spent. [7470]

The £875 million is the increase in provision for schools, colleges and universities between 1996–97, after adjusting for in-year changes, and 1997–98. Of this, £830 million relates to schools. The £633 million is the increase in local authority education standard spending-total education standard spending assessments plus recurrent specific grants to local authorities related to education-as announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment in his statement to the House on the local authority financial settlement on 27 November 1996.The breakdown of the £875 million increase is shown in the table:

Increase in:	£ million
Education standard spending assessments1	591
New money for the nursery voucher scheme	129
Assisted places scheme	22
GEST	22
GM recurrent	15
OFSTED	13
Schools capital2	9
Specialist schools3	7
Other smaller items4	22
Sub total—schools	830
Further and higher education institutions	45
Total	875
1 After adjustments for changes in function and funding, in particular the national introduction of the nursery voucher scheme
2 After allowing for contribution to LA challenge
3 Includes an increase in capital provision of £3 million
4 Including additional resources for ethnic minorities (section 11 grant), teacher training, changes to key stage 2/3 tests, the music and ballet scheme and literacy and numeracy centres.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when, by what mechanism and to which local authorities the £50 million in capital allowances announced in the Budget statement will be distributed. [7471]

I expect to make an announcement about the distribution of credit approvals to local education authorities and of grant to governors of voluntary-aided schools for 1997–98, including amounts over and above the previously announced baselines, later this month. A copy of the Department's letter setting out the basis on which these distributions will be made has been placed in the Library. Further support is also available through the specialist schools programme. The distribution of grant to the governors of grant-maintained schools is a matter for the Funding Agency for Schools.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much her Department has spent on promotional or public information campaigns in each of the last five years; and how much she estimates will be spent on these campaigns during the (i) current and (ii) next financial years. [7542]

Total spending on advertising and publicity for the Department is as follows in financial years. Before the merger in July 1995, the Department operated separately funded programmes of publicity. This continued until the end of the financial year 1995–96.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what is her policy in respect of the continuing payment of jobseeker's allowance to people who have refused to take a job in the personal services industry; [7993](2) if she will include in the next set of jobseeker's regulations an explicit provision that no jobseeker should have his or her benefit refused or reduced for refusing to take a job in the personal services industry. [7994]

I am satisfied that the legislation on refusal of employment already contains adequate safeguards. First a sanction can be imposed only when the opportunity of employment was notified to the jobseeker by a jobcentre adviser. Advisers will not suggest that people should apply for jobs that are obviously inappropriate, and Employment Service guidance is currently being strengthened to ensure that jobseekers are not submitted to undesirable or inappropriate vacancies. Secondly, no sanction is imposed if a jobseeker had good cause for refusing or failing to apply for an opportunity. Adjudication officers should take any relevant matter into account in deciding whether good cause was shown. Where appropriate, this must include the fact that the jobseeker refused the opportunity because of a sincerely held conscientious objection to the work concerned.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what criterion was used by the School Curriculum and Assessment Authority in determining who should receive the questionnaire with the consultation document in the consultation exercise on values in eduction and the community; and if she will make a statement. [8098]

The School Curriculum and Assessment Authority—SCAA—issued two separate questionnaires: one to a random sample of schools; the other to some 700 national and local organisations on SCAA's general mailing list. The questionnaires were designed simply to distinguish replies from these two samples. An independent research organisation is analysing the results. The consultation document remains available, although the consultation period ended on 29 November. SCAA will take account of all representations and will publish an analysis.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) how much money was raised by local education authorities in each year since 1992 (a) nationally, (b) in the west midlands and (c) in Coventry; and what was the percentage change from the previous year in each case; [7698](2) how much local education authorities are required to raise themselves for the years 1996 and 1997

Local authorities have discretion in setting council taxes. The revenue income of local education authorities between 1993–94 and 1996–97 has come primarily from the following sources: the authority's entitlements to revenue support grant and other special and specific grants; the authority's share of the amounts distributed from the non-domestic rates pool;

Council taxes 1993–94 to 1996–97
	1993–94 £ million	1994–95 £ million	Increase on previous year Per cent.	1995–96 £ million	Increase on previous year Per cent.	1996–97 £ million	Increase on previous year Per cent.
England	7,367.0	7,709.0	4.7	7,999.0	n/a	8,630.0	7.9
West midlands	401.0	401.0	0.1	432.0	7.8	471.0	8.9
Coventry	51.1	56.8	11.2	60.1	5.8	61.7	2.6
The figure for English local education authorities for 1995–96 is not comparable with 1994–95 because police services were transferred from shire counties to police authorities on 1 April 1995.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) how much money her Department provided for schools in each year since 1992 (a) nationally, (b) in the west midlands and (c) in Coventry; and what was the percentage change from the previous year in each case; [7697](2) how much money will be provided to schools for the years 1996 and 1997

The great bulk of money is provided by local education authorities. Since central Government support to local authorities is not hypothecated, it is not possible to say how much of this

(a) Education SSAs
SSA £ million
	1992–93	1993–94	1994–95	1995–96	1996–97	1997–981
Coventry	122.987	111.417	113.295	115.727	119.872	119.759
West Midlands	1,132.269	1,023.929	1,019.255	1,024.585	1,072.402	1,065.994
England	18,352.700	16,530.700	16,826.000	17,024.100	17,764.24	17,838.306
1 1997–98 figures are provisional.

(b) Underlying percentage changes over the previous year
	1992–93	1993–94 Percentage change	1994–95 Percentage change	1995–96 Percentage change	1996–97 Percentage change	1997–981Percentage change
Coventry	7.4	1.7	2.6	2.0	3.6	3.3
West	6.2	2.7	0.4	0.4	4.7	3.0
Midlands England	7.1	2.9	2.7	1.2	4.4	3.4
1 1997–98 figures are provisional.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when she expects to receive an application by Feversham college in Bradford for voluntary aided status; when she refused an earlier application; what were the main grounds for refusal; what contacts there have been since that refusal between her officials, representatives of the college and representatives of Bradford local education authority about the latest application: when she expects to announce a decision on the latest application; and if she will make a statement. [8005]

A previous application from the college was rejected last year, but my right hon. Friend indicated that she was ready to consider a fresh application. For the reasons for rejection, I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to him of 23 February 1995, Official Report, column 294. I understand that consultation is under way in Bradford on a possible new application from Feversham college for voluntary aided status. The officials met representatives of the promoters and Bradford LEA on 15 May 1996 and have kept closely in touch since then. We have made it clear that we are willing to offer such advice and help as we can. If the promoters decide to publish fresh proposals, these will come to my right hon. Friend for decision and will be considered on their merits.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list those museums and galleries which form part of universities in the United Kingdom and for which they have financial responsibility, direct or indirect, indicating the location, date of foundation, nature of governing body or bodies, name of the director, number of permanent staff, total annual running cost, number of visitor admissions per year, and any admission charge made, at the most recent convenient date. [8078]

The Higher Education Funding Council for England—HEFC—provides financial support for 23 museums, galleries and collections at 13 universities. In addition, it provides financial support for earth sciences collections at four of these institutions. The table lists the higher education museums, galleries and collections that receive support."The Museums Yearbook", published by the Museums Association gives details of location, date of foundation, nature of governing body, name of director, permanent staff, number of visitor admissions each year and

Pupils taking free school meals in maintained nursery, primary, secondary and special schools by region in England 1991 to 1996
Position in January each year
	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996
North	88,703	95,102	99,500	101,456	100,589
North West	191,052	207,690	217,154	218,516	226,072
East Anglia	27,657	33,369	35,868	36,607	37,019
Yorkshire and Humberside	120,243	130,571	136,066	137,382	140,239
West Midlands	133,311	148,944	155,509	154,062	154,677
East Anglia	68,415	78,212	83,624	85,763	86,604
Greater London	169,787	196,965	219,229	230,650	241,705
Other South East	134,528	167,783	184,492	185,469	186,062
South West	68,272	82,690	85,684	84,932	87,459
England	1,001,968	1,141,326	1,217,126	1,234,837	1,260,426

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will update her answer of 11 December 1995, Official Report, columns 536–38, indicating the number of children in receipt of free school meals, by region, in each of the last five years. [8184]

Information on the take-up of free school meals in maintained schools in England in the years 1992 to 1996 is shown in the table.

To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee if he will list the locations of the space set aside for overnight accommodation; what facilities are provided; what was the number of times the facilities have been used in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [8299]

This is a matter for the Serjeant at Arms. I have asked him to write to my hon. Friend.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the units of British forces in Cyprus, indicating their combat capability. [7658]

The units of British Forces Cyprus are as listed. All are assessed as achieving a satisfactory level of combat capability.

• Headquarters British Forces Cyprus
• Headquarters Episkopi Garrison
• Headquarters Dhekelia Garrison
• 62 Support Squadron Royal Engineers
• 9 Signal Regiment
• 259 Signal Squadron Royal Signals
• 1st Battalion The Royal Gloucestershire Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment
• 1st Battalion The Kings Regiment
• 16 Flight Army Air Corps
• Cyprus Logistic Unit
• The Princess Mary's Hospital
• Episkopi Garrison Medical Centre
• Medical Reception Centre Dhekelia Garrison
• RAF Akrotiri Medical Centre
• Joint Services Health Unit
• Cyprus Engineering Unit
• Dhekelia Garrison Workshop
• Command Pay Office
• Headquarters Education and Training Services
• 54 Army Education Centre
• 55 Army Education Centre
• Cyprus Defence Animals Support Unit
• Royal Military Police Cyprus
• 11 Dental Group
• Cyprus Joint Security Unit
• Cyprus Joint Services Adventure Training Centre
• Troodos Station
• RAF Akrotiri
• 12 Signals Unit RAF
• 33 Signals Unit RAF
• 84 Squadron RAF
• Provost and Security Services Cyprus
• Defence Fire Service
• Security Force Police.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent contacts he has had with representatives of the Greek Cypriot Government in London. [7669]

During the course of this year, the Secretary of State for Defence has had discussions in London with President Glavkos Clerides, Foreign Minister Michaelides, and High Commissioner Markides.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what overseas visits he has made in an official capacity since June. [7670]

Since 1 June 1996, the Secretary of State for Defence has visited the following countries in his official capacity:

• Australia
• Belgium
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Bulgaria
• Croatia
• Denmark
• France
• Indonesia
• Kuwait
• Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
• Malaysia
• Norway
• Oman
• Poland
• Qatar
• Romania
• Russia
• Singapore
• Slovenia
• United Arab Emirates
• USA.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about defence agency status for the Royal Air Force Logistics Support Service. [8296]

The RAF Logistic Support Services will become an agency from 9 December 1996.The agency will provide a comprehensive logistic service to a range of customers including all three services, the procurement executive and the aerospace industry. This will include policy advice; the introduction to service and in-service support of aircraft and associated equipments; logistics consultancy and information technology services. The agency will employ approximately 1,100 staff, comprising RN and RAF personnel and civil servants.The first chief executive will be Air Commodore Ian Sloss who will be afforded the powers, responsibility and flexibility to build on the current organisation's expertise and high performance standards. The chief executive will be directly accountable to the Secretary of State for Defence and to Parliament for the conduct and performance of the agency.The agency has been set the following key targets for the first year of operation:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the Army's requirement for a combined arms tactical trainer. [8449]

A contract has been awarded to Lockheed-Martin Information Systems for two combined arms tactical trainers—CATT—to meet the Army's requirement for a new training simulation system. Lockheed-Martin was selected as the prime contractor following a full evaluation of the procurement options. The company has gained considerable experience of such systems through its development of the US Army's close combat tactical trainer. The contract, supported by a memorandum of understanding between my Department and the US Department of Defence, provides for substantial UK industrial involvement in high-quality work. GEC Marconi has been selected by Lockheed-Martin as its lead United Kingdom partner. It is planned that the British company will take over as prime contractor from 2003. The award of the CATT contract will initially sustain or create about 90 jobs ma)inly at GEC Marconi at Donnibristle, Fife. Further jobs will be created in the United Kingdom when CATT enters its production phase.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel have been medically discharged in each of the past 10 years because of allergic reactions. [6630]

This answer could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the United States and Canadian Governments concerning low flying; and if he will make a statement. [7591]

My right hon. Friend has not recently discussed military low flying with representatives of the United States and Canadian Governments. My officials, however, have regular discussions with their counterparts from these countries on a wide range of topics including low flying.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the scale of the proposed reduction in the size of (a) the Army, including the Gurkhas but excluding the Royal Irish Regiment, (b) the RAF and (c) the Royal Navy between (i) 1 April 1990 and 1 April 1999 and (ii) 1 April 1992 and 1 April 1999, under the Government's current plans; and if he will make a statement. [7590]

The total strength, trained and untrained, of the armed forces, including Gurkhas and other locally employed personnel, on 1 April 1990 and 1 April 1992 was:

	RN	Army	RAF
1990	63,500	161,500	89,700
1992	62,400	154,100	86,000

Under current plans, the total intended strength of the armed forces, inclusive of LEPs, on 1 April 1999 will be:

RN	Army	RAF
44,000	115,000	55,500

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total trained strength of the British Army at (a) 1 April 1990 and (b) 1 April 1992, including the Gurkhas but not including the Royal Irish Regiment. [7589]

The trained strength of the British Army including Gurkhas but excluding the Ulster Defence Regiment and locally employed personnel was 144,800 at 1 April 1990 and 140,800 at 1 April 1992.

To ask the Prime Minister on what occasions, and through what arrangement he or his office has had communications with the IRA since 1 September 1994. [7199]

None.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list by Department each occasion when Her Majesty's Government have entered a scrutiny reserve at Council of Minsters meetings, indicating the matter concerned. [7531]

Arrangements exist to prevent items coming forward for decision in the Council of Ministers where a member state's parliamentary scrutiny procedures have yet to be completed. The presidency may, nonetheless, occasionally place an item on a Council agenda for decision which is still subject to parliamentary scrutiny in a member state. Information on the occasions when the United Kingdom has as a consequence maintained a scrutiny reserve at the Council of Ministers is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library (a) a copy of the letter recently sent to him by the hon. Member for Foyle (Mr. Hume); and (b) any documents which accompanied the letter or his reply. [7818]

[holding answer 6 December 1996]: It is not my practice to reveal correspondence, either letters or accompanying documents, which are sent to me in confidence. As for my reply to the hon. Member for Foyle (Mr. Hume), I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Basingstoke (Mr. Hunter) on 28 November, Official Report, columns 460–61.

To ask the Prime Minister if the present visit to Great Britain by President Mary Robinson is an official visit. [7817]

[holding answer 6 December 1996]: No.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects the oil-for-food deal between Iraq and the United Nations agreed in August to be implemented; and if he will make a statement. [7523]

UN Security Council resolution 986 (1995) will come into operation when the UN Secretary-General believes that conditions for its effective implementation have been met. We believe that it might be as early as this week.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made this year to countries in south America and the Caribbean about the anti-drug work of the West Indies guardship, its access to territorial waters and its powers to board vessels registered in these countries; and if he will make a statement. [7950]

We have made no such representations regarding the West Indies guardship—WIGS. I have, however, made representations to the Venezuelan Government, following the refusal by the Venezuelan authorities to grant permission to the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Gold Rover, which operates in support of WIGS, for US law enforcement officers embarked on the RFA to board a Venezuelan flagged vessel suspected of drug trafficking. I made clear this Government's view that article 17 of the 1988 UN drugs convention, which the United Kingdom and Venezuela have ratified, provides the legal framework for maritime anti-narcotics co-operation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with EU Ministers in respect of rescinding the concessions granted to French fishermen to fish in the Minquies. [7791]

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received about the unauthorised sale of items formerly held by the national museum of Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement. [8015]

We have received no such representations in recent years about the unauthorised sale of items formerly held by the national museum of Afghanistan. However, we regard the preservation of Afghanistan's cultural heritage as important.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to promote Government policy in support of the European Union. [6507]

The Government are tireless in promoting their European policy in the House and in public. Their overall position was set out in a White Paper, "A Partnership of Nations", earlier this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what resources have been allocated to clear land mines in Bosnia-Herzegovina. [6526]

The UK has contributed £428,000, including our share of EU assistance, to humanitarian mine clearance work in Bosnia and Herzegovina. We also seconded military personnel to assist in the establishment of the UN mine action centre in Sarajevo.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs by whom a senior official at the British high commission in Islamabad was recently invited to visit Bradford; what was the purpose of the visit; if he will list those with whom the official had meetings; and if he will make a statement. [8004]

No official of the British high commission has recently visited Bradford. An official from this Department called on councillors, community centres and the Bradford racial equality council in August as part of his preparation for taking up a post in Islamabad.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to relocate which operational facilities from GCHQ Cheltenham; and to where. [7756]

None. However, GCHQ is currently undertaking a study into its requirements for future accommodation and related services. This study includes consideration of whether those requirements can be satisfied through the private finance initiative, and will include investigation of the possibility of collocating all the work currently carried out on the two Cheltenham sites.

Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 surpluses/deficits on DLO/DSO activity in 1994–95 in £s
Local authority	New construction over £50,000	New construction under £50,000	Building maintenance	General highways work	General water and sewerage work
Aberdeen DC	—	—	220,410	—	—
Angus DC	—	—	—	—	—
Annandale and Eskdale DC	—	—	—	—	—
Argyll and Bute DC	—	—	55,000	—	—
Badenoch and Strathspey DC	—	—	—	—	—
Banff and Buchan DC	—	—	59,444	—	—
Bearsden and Milngavie DC	—	—	—	—	—
Berwickshire DC	—	—	—	—	—
Borders RC	—	—	—	337,000	—

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what matters were discussed at the European Union General Affairs Council on 25 November; and what decisions were taken. [8188]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 29 November to my hon. Friend the Member for Harlow (Mr. Hayes), Official Report, columns 461–63.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the report "Helping Business to Help Stop Child Labour", produced by Anti-Slavery International; and what guidelines are provided to British Government employees working in, or visiting, foreign countries, with regard to the employment and treatment of children. [7246]

I have been asked to reply.It is Government policy that wherever British missions and British officials overseas employ local staff, it is done in complete accordance with local law.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will list by authority and service area the recorded deficits made by local authority direct labour or services organisations in Scotland that have failed to meet the rate of return requirements operating under the terms of the Local Government (Planning and Land) Act 1980 and the Local Government Act 1988 for the financial year 1994–95 in both cash and constant prices; [7140](2) if he will list, by authority and service area, the surplus achieved on trading accounts by local authorities' direct labour or services organisations in Scotland for those services covered under the terms of the Local Government (Planning and Land) Act 1980 and the Local Government Act 1988 for the financial year 1994–95 in both cash and constant prices. [7141]

[holding answer 2 December 1996]: A detailed list, taken from annual reports submitted by authorities, of the surpluses and deficits achieved by direct labour and direct service organisations of Scottish local authorities in 1994–95 is as follows: