To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from the Scottish Pre-School Play Association concerning core grant funding; and when he expects to be able to respond. [10666]

The association has applied under section 10 of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 for an increase in core funding from 1997–98. Its application is being carefully considered. We will shortly be advising it of the outcome at the same time as other grant applicants.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make an environmental assessment of the beach adjoining the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority plant at Dounreay to take account of reports his Department has received of the presence of plutonium particles. [10800]

[holding answer 13 January 1997]: The Scottish Environment Protection Agency, as regulator, is responsible to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State. It monitors the Dounreay site closely, including the environmental impact of discharges from the site and the strict independent assessment of routine beach surveys undertaken by UKAEA.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the estimated cost in 1996–97 to each water authority in Scotland of continuing the relief from water and sewerage charges given by former local authorities to (a) the premises of charitable organisations under the Water (Scotland) Act 1967 and (b) the premises of nursing and care homes under the Rating (Disabled Persons) Act 1978. [10451]

Water authorities cannot provide at reasonable cost accurate estimates of relief given to charitable organisations in 1996–97. Water authority estimates of the relief given for the premises of nursing and care homes are as follows:

• North of Scotland Water authority £1.3 million
• East of Scotland Water authority £1.6 million
• West of Scotland Water authority £1.9 million

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which local water and sewerage authorities gave discretionary relief under the Water (Scotland) Act 1967 to charitable organisations in 1995–96. [10440]

All former regional and islands councils gave discretionary relief to charitable organisations in 1995–96. The Water (Scotland) Act 1980 gave the relevant statutory power.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what was the value in 1995–96 of the rebate in respect of relief for water and sewerage charges granted under the Rating (Disabled Persons) Act 1978 in the area now covered by (a) North of Scotland Water Authority, (b) East of Scotland Water and (c) West of Scotland Water; [10442](2) what was the value in 1995–96 of rebate to each regional and islands council in respect of relief for water and sewerage charges under the Rating (Disabled Persons) Act. 1978 [10441]

The information requested is shown in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps are being taken to prevent further suicides at Cornton Vale prison; what is being done to deal with the drug problems among the prisoners there; and if he will make a statement. [11854]

The care of prisoners and the prevention of suicide in prisoners are operational matters for the chief executive of the Scottish Prison Service, and I have had full discussions with him about the recent cluster of suicides at Cornton Vale.The chief executive shares my concern at the number of suicides at the prison and joins me in offering condolences to the families of those who have died. I have reviewed with the chief executive the steps being taken to address the problem of suicide at the prison, in the light in particular of the recent recommendations from Her Majesty's chief inspector of prisons. The vast majority of those recommendations are already being implemented.As indicated in my response to the chief inspector when his report was published last year, the governor had already put in place new arrangements for the induction of remand prisoners, for extra time out of cell, and for increased access to education, physical training and other regime opportunities. A number of outside agencies are also now working in the prison, including the Samaritans, Rape Crisis, Cruse and Women's Aid, and a listeners scheme has been put in place. All remand prisoners now share a cell, to encourage mutual support.In addition to the extra staffing provided last year, more money is being provided to address the drug-related problems experienced by a very large proportion of the prisoner population. A further addictions worker post has been approved, together with additional psychiatric sessions; and the increased resources I have provided to the Scottish Prison Service for the forthcoming financial year will enable the governor to fund five additional posts to assist with drug reduction work and to expand the programme already in operation. The purpose of these changes is to ensure that all prisoners at Cornton Vale who have been identified as having a drug problem have the opportunity to address their addiction either on an individual basis or through organised group work as appropriate.If work on drug reduction undertaken in the prison is to be effective, it is important that there is adequate throughcare on release, and my officials are discussing with local authorities and voluntary agencies what steps may be taken to ensure that this is available. In particular, discussions are in hand with the City of Glasgow council on the provision of further drug rehabilitation facilities for Glasgow and what was before local government reorganisation the wider Strathclyde area.I have offered to provide through the 100 per cent. funding mechanism two additional posts to the council related to the delivery of addiction programmes. One post would be aimed at providing links between drug misusers, particularly those released from custody, and community-based programmes. The other post would be located in the stipendiary/sheriff court with a view to identifying and making arrangements for those for whom a non-custodial disposal might be appropriate. I also propose to extend bail information and supervision services to the stipendiary court in Glasgow.I have also offered £50,000 to convert properties operated by the Church of Scotland and Sacro for use as bail accommodation, and my officials are discussing with the City of Glasgow council financial support for the addition to existing provision of a further 15 bail bed spaces.An independent researcher is currently undertaking a six-month study to obtain detailed information on the extent and type of drug and alcohol misuse among women prisoners at Cornton Vale, both before and after conviction, and this will provide information in targeting resources for the future.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many deaf-blind people are supported in employment through the placement advisory council team scheme. [9474]

Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service Agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the final date on which teachers can apply for early retirement under the existing regulations. [11036]

Teachers do not apply for premature retirement under the regulations. Premature retirement is at employer's discretion. Arrangements whereby teachers express a wish to be granted premature retirement by their employers are for local determination. Under my right hon. Friend's proposals, employers would pay part of the pension to teachers under 60 to whom they granted premature retirement, for all those teachers whose date of retirement is 1 April 1997 or later.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list the funding, per pupil, of school children in Lancashire, allocated by Government, for 1994–95, 1995–96, 1996–97 and 1997–98 for (a) under five-year-olds, (b) five to 11-year-olds and (c) 11 to 16-year-olds. [11227]

The table sets out the education standard spending assessment per pupil in Lancashire for 1994–95, 1995–96, 1996–97 and 1997–98 for (a) under five-years-olds (b) five to 10-year-olds and (c) 11 to 16-year-olds.Education SSAs do not determine the level of school spending. It is up to local authorities to decide how much they spend on schools and other services within the resources at their disposal.

To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee what provision the House currently makes for the child care needs of hon. Members. [11352]

The Members' Families Room, off the Lower Waiting Hall, is available for use by hon. Members and their spouses on sitting days from 10 am until the Rising of the House, and on non-sitting days from 10 am until 6 pm. A colour television set is available. If space permits, it may also be used by the children, parents, brothers and sisters of hon. Members, but not by other guests.The Library maintains a small collection of books in the room for the use of hon. Members' children, and welcomes any suggestions about this collection from hon. Members.There is also a small changing room, with washing facilities, off the Families Room. A nappy changing table is available in the disabled persons' lavatory off the Lower Waiting Hall.Children of any age, accompanied by an adult, are admitted to the Galleries, provided they do not interrupt the business of the House.

To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee when the survey of the Serjeant at Arms Department is expected to be completed; and when it will be made available to hon. Members. [11328]

The Administration Committee was not directly involved in the Serjeant at Arms survey, which was completed in March 1996. I understand that all those who completed the questionnaire were sent a management summary of the results, and I have asked the Serjeant at Arms to send a copy to my hon. Friend.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the progress of the sale of custody services. [11693]

I have decided that Apax Partners and Co., the proposed acquire of the support services division of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency, should be granted exclusive access to further information about custody services, with a view to its supporting a final bid for the business. Three other indicative offers were submitted, but I considered these to be unacceptable as they did not meet the objectives for sale. The bid for custody services will be compared with the option of retaining the business in the public sector.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what studies his Department has (a) undertaken and (b) commissioned into the terrorist threat posed by non-state sub-groups threatening to use crude nuclear weapons. [10886]

My Department keeps the possibility of such a threat under constant review. It would not be appropriate, for reasons of national security and defence, to provide more specific details of any studies in this area and the information is therefore withheld under exemption 1 of the code of practice on access to Government information.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations were made to his Department at the seminar held in London on 27 November 1996 on the terrorist threat posed by crude nuclear weapons; and what plans he has to take any action following the information disclosed at the seminar. [10887]

A member of my Department attended this seminar. Conversations on a range of topics took place but no specific representations were made to the Ministry of Defence. Contingency plans exist for responding to terrorist threats which involve the threatened or actual use of nuclear material. In the interests of national security, and for the protection of the public, these plans are regularly reviewed, tested and updated in the light of changing circumstances.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current location of the tents used in Operation Granby in the Gulf war; how many were returned form the Gulf after hostilities ended; and how many were (a) burned and (b) buried in the Gulf area. [10897]

The information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the anti-malarial agents administered to troops and medical support personnel during Operation Granby in the Gulf war. [10895]

I will write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if all vaccinations and injections administered to service personnel during the Gulf war were recorded on their medical records; and if he will make a statement. [11222]

Details of the vaccinations administered to personnel during the Gulf conflict should have been entered on to individual medical records—form FMed4— by transcription from nominal rolls compiled in theatre. Details should also have been recorded on personal medical records—form BMed27—if available. Unfortunately, in many cases transcription of the relevant details has not taken place. Some nominal rolls have also been lost or destroyed since the conflict. A search has now been initiated for any surviving nominal rolls, and medical records of Gulf veterans which are currently incomplete will be updated to a more acceptable standard wherever possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if Gulf war veterans are being charged a fee to obtain a copy of their service medical records; and if he will make a statement. [11225]

No charge is made to general practitioners who request copies of service medical records to assist their treatment of ex-service personnel. Under the Access to Health Records Act 1990, a charge to cover the cost of retrieval, plus a photocopying charge per sheet may be made to individuals who themselves request their medical notes. The Ministry of Defence normally levies a charge of £10 plus 10p per sheet, as does the national health service.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Harrier pilots have applied for premature volunteer redundancy in each of the past 12 months; how many of these were turned down in each month and for what reason; and if he will make a statement. [11224]

In February 1996, one RAF Harrier pilot applied for premature voluntary release, and his application was accepted. Applications under the RAF's redundancy scheme were required to be submitted by November 1995.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many ex-service people who served in the Falklands conflict have (a) committed suicide and (b) been found guilty of criminal acts since 1982. [11038]

Statistics held by the Defence Analytical Services Agency indicate a total of 329 confirmed suicides by serving personnel, from January 1982 to the present time. The information requested in respect of ex-service personnel who served in the Falklands is not, however, available, as my Department does not keep records pertaining to ex-Service personnel, nor specifically to those who served in the Falklands conflict.Statistics on disciplinary convictions, are contained in "Tri-Service Personnel Statistics 16", copies of which are held in the Library of the House. The latest available are those for 1994. Such statistics have only been kept since 1986. Until 1991 they were contained in "Tri-Service Manpower Statistics 32".

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will reply to the letters from the hon. Member for Ashford sent to his Department on 4 October, 15 November and 30 December 1996, about the withdrawal of NATO medals when a WEU medal is awarded. [11040]

My noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Defence has replied to my hon. Friend.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the future of the Ty Gwyn centre in respect of his Department's support for ex-service people. [11221]

I will write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the use of lasers to develop a British anti-ballistic missile capability. [11223]

In our work to evaluate the options for active ballistic missile defence systems, we have studied a number of land, air and sea-based systems which, individually or combined, might provide a BMD capability. These included systems, at various stages of research and development, which employ laser technology.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what advice he plans to give to local planning authorities concerning their structure plans currently being considered to 2011 in the light of his intention stated in paragraphs 8.2 and 8.7 of "Household Growth: Where shall We Live?", Cm 3471, to revise planning policy guidance and to start to consider options immediately. [10845]

Local planning authorities should continue to prepare or update structure plans with reference to the current planning policy framework. Any policy changes that the Government consider necessary as a result of the current consultation on the Green Paper will need to be taken into account by local authorities when they are issued.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to publish statutory guidance on contaminated land. [11173]

A total of 299 responses have been received to the consultation on draft statutory guidance on contaminated land, to be issued under part IIA of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, inserted by section 57 of the Environment Act 1995. We are examining these responses, as well as the second report on the Environment Committee of this House, to see what changes are needed to the draft statutory guidance and my right hon. Friend will consider when to lay the final draft guidance once we have completed this.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to notify Caradon district council of his response to the two planning applications, 94/1331/0 and 95/282/0, about the proposed Broadmoor farm business park which were sent to the Government office of the south-west on 2 December 1996; and if he will make a statement. [11095]

As soon as the Secretary of State has completed his consideration of the issues raised; I regret that I cannot comment further on these applications.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to publish the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations. [11174]

We hope to do so before the end of January.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what response was received to the consultation paper on the appointment of valuation tribunals in the light of local government reorganisation in parts of England. [11855]

The list of responses received has been placed in the Library of the House; copies of individual responses may be obtained through the Library. Regulations will be introduced shortly to give effect to the following measures.

(i) That, with effect from 1 April 1997, the appointing bodies for the valuation tribunals listed in column 1 will be those authorities listed in column 2, who will be entitled to appoint members in the proportion given in column 3; the revised membership complement is shown in column 4.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans there are for the present Governor of Hong Kong to be involved in handover ceremonies on the return of Hong Kong to China; and if he will make a statement. [10888]

Mr. Patten will be in Hong Kong as Governor of Hong Kong until midnight on 30 June. We will naturally be a full member of the British team at the handover ceremonies.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he plans to reply to the letter of 3 December from the hon. Member for Walsall, North regarding the mother of a constituent. [10998]

I shall be replying to the hon. Member's letter by 20 January.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the amount of reparations made by the Japanese Government to British prisoners of war since 1966. [11176]

None. The question of reparations to the British Government was settled by the 1951 San Francisco peace treaty.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what income was obtained in each year since 1988 from the disposal of (a) houses, (b) other properties and (c) land which had been acquired for roads schemes but was no longer required. [10850]

The information is not available in the form requested. Total income from the sale of land in each of the years 1988–89 to 1995–96 was:

• 1988–89: £9.6m
• 1989–90: £17.5m
• 1990–91: £8.5m
• 1991–92: £15.3m
• 1992–93: £11.2m
• 1993–94: £21.4m
• 1994–95: £29.3m
• 1995–96: £43.1m

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what expenditure was incurred in each year since 1988 in acquiring (a) houses, (b) other properties and (c) land for road schemes. [10849]

The information is not available in the form requested. Total land and compensation expenditure in each of the years 1988–89 to 1995–96 was:

• 1988–89: £66.3m
• 1989–90: £95.2m
• 1990–91: £157.3m
• 1991–92: £179.9m
• 1992–93: £259.7m
• 1993–94: £273m
• 1994–95: £217.2m
• 1995–96: £185.7m

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much of the property purchased for the purposes of the roads programme is no longer required following the removal of schemes from the programme; and if he will list (a) the number of houses, (b) the number of other properties and (c) the extent of the land holdings involved. [10847]

The information is not available in the form requested. The number of properties and separately identified land holdings on schemes withdrawn from the roads programme in November 1996 is 1,055.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the total purchase price of property purchased for the purposes of the roads programme and now surplus to requirements; and what estimate he has made of the present value of this property. [10848]

We are still to complete the identification of all the surplus following the November 1996 budget. To date, on all schemes, we have declared surplus property and land which we purchased for £138.2 million. The purchase price excludes compensation payable for disturbance, home loss removal expenses and fees, and so on. The resale value of these properties will depend on the state of the property market at the time of sale.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list for each road scheme in the main and longer-term pre-1995 roads programme, the quantity and value of property (a) held, (b) acquired, (c) disposed of and (d) held but now surplus to requirements, incorporating the effects of the revisions to the programme in November 1995 and November 1996. [10851]

I have placed in the Library four lists showing every scheme for which the Highways Agency holds property, including withdrawn schemes, schemes under construction and completed schemes. The lists cover: (a) all property held, (b) all property acquired, (c) all property recorded as disposed of, (d) all property held but now surplus. Acquisitions and disposals do not record properties acquired under discretionary powers but immediately sold.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what training providers of public transport services and their employees receive in communicating and making contact with deaf-blind people. [9470]

We do not have details of the training programmes provided by individual transport operators. Many run disability awareness training covering many issues, including the particular needs of deaf-blind people.The Department has worked with Bus and Coach Training Ltd., the training arm of the Confederation of Passenger Transport, on a disability awareness training programme for bus drivers. It is intended that this will form part of the national vocational qualification training programme for the bus industry. The programme covers a wide range of disability issues, including those relevant to deaf-blind people.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many injuries have been caused by airbags in cars inflating too slowly on collision. [11015]

The Department has not heard of any injuries caused by airbags inflating too slowly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what safety checks are required by his Department on airbags in cars. [11014]

Airbags are not compulsory and there are no performance standards governing their performance. The vehicle manufacturer is considered to be best placed to specify the airbag characteristics to complement the vehicle's other crash protection systems.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if Marine Safety Agency fees are to be increased. [11799]

Some of the Marine Safety Agency's fees will change on 1 February 1997. The most significant change is an increase in the hourly rate for merchant ship and fishing vessel surveys from £45 to £60. This increase is required to comply with our aim of full cost recovery for services provided by the Government. We believe that the new fee is still competitive when compared with private sector rates for similar work, and this is the first significant increase for some years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he accepts the Civil Aviation Authority's recommendations on the future provision of air traffic control services, following the review of its two-centre strategy; and if he will make a statement. [11897]

The Civil Aviation Authority reported to me shortly before Christmas that its review had validated the strategy of providing air traffic control services through two centres based respectively at Fareham in Hampshire and Prestwick in Scotland. The Government are minded to accept this recommendation, but would wish the airlines and other interested parties to be consulted before a final decision is taken. I am now asking the chairman of the CAA to initiate this consultation and hope that it will be possible to announce the outcome in March.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library a dated copy of his response to the pensions ombudsman's provisional determination in respect of the former National Bus Company. [10880]

My Department made no comments to the pensions ombudsman on his provisional determination. The pensions ombudsman has not carried out any investigation or made any determination with respect to the Department or the former National Bus Company.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with British Airways regarding the slots into Heathrow from Plymouth. [8781]

[pursuant to his oral answer of 13 January, Official Report, c. 6]: I have now received a reply to my letter to the chief executive of British Airways in which he informs me that, as from 30 March, Brymon Airways will switch its London to Plymouth and Newquay service from Heathrow to Gatwick. At the same time, flights will be increased to five daily on weekdays and four daily at weekends, in both directions. I have placed a copy of the letter in the Library.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the Lord-Lieutenants together with their date of appointment and current date of expected retirement. [11070]

A list of Lord-Lieutenants, together with the dates of their appointment and expected retirement, at the age of 75, is set out in the table.

To ask the Prime Minister what visits he made to pensioners on low incomes during the recent cold weather. [11093]

I meet pensioners throughout the year. Our commitment to help during periods of cold weather is underlined by the fact that over 5 million cold weather payments worth more than £43 million have been made this winter.In addition to cold weather payments, the total extra help above normal upratings made available to pensioners on income-related benefits since 1988 is worth around £1.2 billion a year.

To ask the Prime Minister what discussions he had during his recent visit about the situation of the Biharis living in Bangladesh. [11246]

This issue was not raised during my visit. We regularly discuss human rights issues such as refugees and displaced people with the Bangladeshi authorities.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list those people created Companions of Honour since 30 November 1990. [11074]

Members of the order of the Companions of Honour appointed since 30 November 1990 are as listed:

• 13 April 1992: The right hon. Kenneth Wilfred Baker MP
• 13 April 1992: The right hon. Peter Leonard Brooke MP
• 13 April 1992: The right hon. Thomas Jeremy King MP
• 13 June 1992: Dame Elisabeth Jean Frink DBE
• 13 June 1992: Noel Joseph Terence Needham FRS
• 31 December 1992: Sir Victor Sawdon Pritchett CBE
• 12 June 1993: Charles Hubert Sission
• 12 June 1993: Dr. Elsie May Widdowson CBE FRS
• 31 December 1993: Francis David Longhorne Astor
• 31 December 1993: Dame Janet Abbott Baker DBE
• 31 December 1993: Sir John Lindsay Eric Smith CBE
• 11 June 1994: Sir Alec Guiness CBE
• 11 June 1994: Professor Reginald Victor Jones CB CBE
• 11 June 1994: The right hon. David Anthony Llewellyn, Baron Owen
• 31 December 1994: Cesar Milstein
• 31 December 1994: Professor Carel Victor Morlais Weight CBE
• 17 June 1995: Sir Denys Louis Lasdun CBE
• 17 June 1995: Sir Nevill Francis Mott FRS
• 30 December 1995: Sir David Frederick Attenborough CVO CBE
• 30 December 1995: Sir William Richard Shaboe Doll OBE FRS
• 30 December 1995: The right hon. Douglas Richard Hurd CBE MP
• 30 December 1995: The most Reverend Derek John Harford Worlock
• 15 June 1996: The right hon. Richard Edward Geoffrey, Baron Howe of Aberavon QC
• 31 December 1996: Alfred Leslie Rowse

To ask the Prime Minister what discussions he has recently had with the Governments of Pakistan and of Bangladesh about refugees and displaced people in their countries. [11245]

I discussed Afghan refugees in Pakistan during my recent meeting with the Prime Minster of Pakistan. I have not had any discussions recently with the Government of Bangladesh. However, we do discuss these issues regularly with the Bangladesh authorities.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the peerages created since 30 November 1990 together with the dates on which the holders were introduced. [11069]

The peerages created since 30 November 1990 are as listed, together with the dates on which the holders were introduced:

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many weapons prohibited under the terms of the Firearms (Amendment) Bill have been exported since the publication of the Bill. [11217]

The information requested is not available from the United Kingdom overseas trade statistics because the system of classification under which trade is recorded does not separately identify the relevant categories of weapons. Export licencing procedures cannot provide the information since the Department does not hold details of deliveries against licences.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what Government assistance will be made available to alleviate the effects of the loss of jobs resulting from the relocation of the Gallaher Ltd. factory from Hyde, Tameside. [11161]

The Government office for the north-west will first assess with local partners the type and level of needs to be met arising from Gallaher's recent announcement, and will then consider the appropriate resources to meet those needs.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade when (a) he and (b) officials from his Department last met representatives of Gallaher Ltd., what was discussed; and if he will make a statement. [11163]

I have not met with representatives of Gallaher Ltd. nor have officials from my Department.