To ask the Prime Minister what proposals there are to change the 1997–97 cash limit or running costs limit for the Cabinet Office other services vote. [14203]

The cash limit for the Cabinet Office, other services, class XVIII, vote 1, will be reduced by £637,000 from £42,036,000 to £41,399,000 and the running costs limit will be reduced by £637,000 from £43,153,000 to £42,516,000. This is to reflect a transfer of provision to the Office of Public Service, class XVII. vote 1, for superannuation awarding services and accommodation services, partially offset by a transfer of provision from the Office of Public Service towards the cost of early staff departures.

To ask the Lord President of the Council what has been the average length of time taken by each Department to answer ordinary written questions in each of the last two sessions; and if he will make a statement. [12265]

The information is not available in the form requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the Scottish-based companies with an hon. Member as a director that have received grants or loans from Highlands and Islands Enterprise; and what was the value of the grant and loans in each case. [12986]

The provision of grants and loans to individual companies is an operational matter for Highlands and Islands Enterprise and I have asked the chairman of its board to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what discussions he has had with representatives from meat retail outlets regarding the hygiene changes recommended in Professor Pennington's report; [12989]

As I made clear in my letter of 16 January to all hon. Members, both the Government and Professor Pennington are still considering the interim recommendations regarding licensing and separation requirements. As a part of this process, I have asked my Department to examine the practical implications of these recommendations and in so doing to consult consumers, health professionals, environmental health officers, processors and retailers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many possible suicides there have been among patients attending Parkhead hospital since the hospital opened; what assessment he has made of security and staffing levels at Parkhead hospital; and if he will make a statement. [13211]

Since 1993, when formal arrangements for the recording of suicides at Parkhead hospital were introduced, there have been five in-patient suicides.It is fundamental to the treatment of patients with mental illness that, when ever possible, a therapeutic environment is provided with a level of security appropriate to the individual. The agreed level of staffing, observation and other precautions taken to prevent suicide are matters for clinicians to determine.Nurse staffing levels at Parkhead hospital have increased from 122 in October 1995 to a current level of 135. The hospital has 122 beds and the nurse-patient ratio is therefore at a high level.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to safeguard rural pharmacies. [13262]

The essential small pharmacy scheme already provides financial support to pharmacies where the monthly volume of NHS prescriptions is not more than 1,400 and where the pharmacy is located not less than two miles from the next nearest pharmacy by the route most convenient to the public.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what changes he intends to make to the cash limits and running costs provision for 1996–97 within his responsibility. [14211]

Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimates, I intend to make changes to five voted cash limits, two non-voted cash blocks and three running costs limits.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what changes the Lord Advocate proposes to the Crown Office cash and running cost limits for 1996–97. [14212]

Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for class VIII, vote 7, will be increased by £2,300,000 from £45,770,000 to £48,070,000.Within this total, the running cost limit will be increased by £1,300,000 from £42,718,000 to £44,018,000.The supplementary is required in order that the Crown Office can take up part—£1,270,000—of its running cost end-year flexibility entitlement of £1,898,00 as announced by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury to the House of Commons on 12 July 1996,

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what length of hedgerow has been lost in Scotland in each year since 1979 [12486]

[holding answer 24 January 1997]: Hedgerows are not measured annually in Scotland, but the overall change in the length of hedgerows meeting specified conditions can be estimated from sample information produced from time to time under the national countryside monitoring scheme. Between 1973 and 1988, the latest date for which a survey was carried out, rather less than 400 km of hedgerows were "lost" each year, on average, in Scotland. Current Government policy is to encourage all farmers to protect their hedgerows, and incentives for the restoration of hedges are available through my Department's agri-environment programme.

To ask the Lord President of the Council what changes he proposes to the 1996–97 cash and running costs limit for the Privy Council Office. [13170]

Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for class XVIII, vote 3 will be increased by £96,000 from £2,483,000 to £2,579,000 and the running cost limit is increased by £96,000 from £2,509,000 to £2,605,000. The increase will be offset by reductions in the Home Office class VII, vote 1 and Customs and Excise class XVI, vote 3, of £87,000 and £9,000 respectively and will not, therefore, add to the planned total of public expenditure.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals he has to change the Overseas Development Administration cash limits for 1996–97 [13930]

Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for class II, vote 5 will be reduced overall by £5,288,000 from £1,622,036,000 to £1,616,748,000 and the ODA running cost limit will be increased by £1,000,000 from £56,708,000 to £57,708,000.The overall reduction is the net effect of outward public expenditure survey transfers to the diplomatic wing of £5,500,000 in respect of the British Council and £750,000 in respect of the Bosnia peace implementation conference and £100,000 to the Office of Science and Technology in respect of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will list the (a) White Papers, (b) Green Papers, (c) consultation papers, (d) draft regulations and (e) circulars, for which her Department has been responsible issued in 1996 which her Department assesses could give rise, (i) directly and (ii) indirectly to significant environmental effects. [12707]

[holding answer 27 January 1997]: The only document issued by my Department in 1996 with potential environmental effects was the Green Paper, "Protecting Our Heritage," which was published jointly with the Welsh Office. The importance of the environmentally sustainable development of tourism is reflected in the Department's tourism strategy to be published on 5 February 1997.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what response Her Majesty's Government have made to the submission by the Church of England in respect of the future of the ecclesiastical heritage. [12974]

[holding answer 30 January 1997]: The Government have warmly welcomed the Church's submission and reaffirmed its commitment to preservation of the ecclesiastical heritage. My Department is now having discussions with the General Synod to explore the issues raised.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were (a) the costs incurred by his Department and (b) the costs awarded against him in the case: Sri Lankan asylum—Ravichandran and Sandralingham, in April 1996. [13481]

[holding answer 30 January 1997]: The available information is that, to date, the total legal costs incurred by the Home Office in the cases referred to amount to just over £24,000. This includes the hearing in April 1996 and other legal challenges in this case. At the hearing in April 1996 the appellants were awarded half the costs of the case, but the solicitors have not so far sought to enforce that order.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were (a) the costs incurred by his Department and (b) the costs awarded against him in the case: Al Fayed nationality—Mohammed al Fayed and Ali Fayed, in May 1995. [13477]

[holding answer 30 January 1997]: Up to 28 January 1997, the Home Office's legal costs were £58,174.78. Details of internal Home Office administrative and other costs are not available as they have not been recorded separately. Details of the costs awarded against the Home Office have not yet been received, but would be payable only in the event of our appeal to the House of Lords being unsuccessful.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were (a) the costs incurred by his Department and (b) the costs awarded against him in the case: Director General of Prison Service dismissal—Derek Lewis, in May 1996. [13483]

[holding answer 30 January 1997]: The costs incurred by the Department amounted to £16,428.95, excluding the costs of permanent Home Office staff. The sum to be paid to Mr. Lewis's legal representatives in respect of his costs has been settled at £41,000 in total.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were (a) the costs incurred by his Department and (b) the costs awarded against him in the case: granting of High Court appeal—Kenneth Richardson in October 1985. [13479]

[holding answer 30 January 1997]: Legal costs to the Home Department of Mr. Richardson's judicial review proceedings were in the sum of £8,731.58. Pursuant to the order in 1995 of the divisional court, an additional sum of £5,000 towards Mr. Richardson's costs has been paid to his solicitors. I understand that they are in touch with the Treasury Solicitor about any balance still to be paid.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were (a) the costs incurred by his Department and (b) the costs awarded against him in the case: Kashmiri students' sentencing-Quayyum Raja and Mohammed Riaz in November 1994. [13475]

[holding answer 30 January 1997]: The answer is (a) £4,359 in respect of services provided by the Treasury Solicitor and (b) £15,731.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were (a) the costs incurred by his Department and (b) the costs awarded against him in the case: prisoners' release for access to lawyer-Wallace Smith, in January 1995. [13476]

[holding answer 30 January 1997]: Mr. Smith discontinued this action. Home Office legal expenses totalled £1,699.64 and £7,500 was paid towards Mr. Smith's legal costs.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were (a) the costs incurred by his Department and (b) the costs awarded against him in the case: Rev. Moon immigration—Rev. Sun Myung Moon, in November 1995. [13480]

[holding answer 30 January 1997]: The information requested is (a) £12,813.97 and (b) £8,250.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were (a) the costs incurred by his Department and (b) the costs awarded against him in the case: Bulger sentencing—Jon Venables and Robert Thompson, in May 1996. [13482]

[holding answer 30 January 1997]: The costs paid so far total £36,991 in respect of services provided by the Treasury Solicitor. The final decision on the apportionment of costs awaits the outcome of the case, which is still before the courts.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were (a) the costs incurred by his Department and (b) the costs awarded against him in the case: IRA parole-Paul Norney, Stephen Nordone, Brendan Dowd, Sean Kinsella and Noel Gibson, in September 1995. [13478]

[holding answer 30 January 1997]: The costs paid so far total £20,522, in respect of services provided by the Treasury Solicitor. The issue of costs awarded against the Secretary of State has not yet been settled.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were (a) the costs incurred by his Department and (b) the costs awarded against him in the criminal injuries compensation case-ex parte Fire Brigades Union, in November 1994. [13474]

[holding answer 30 January 1997]: The total costs incurred by the Home Office in this case, which started in the High Court in March 1994 and concluded in the House of Lords in April 1995, were £103,338.77. This includes the respondent's bills of costs totalling £36,025.40.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from (a) the Roman Catholic Church and (b) other religious denominations about the implications of new police powers of surveillance contained in the Police Bill [Lords] for the right of secrecy of the confessional and other private counselling by priests and pastors. [13312]

[holding answer 30 January 1997]: We have received no representations from the Roman Catholic Church or other religious denominations on this matter.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide breakdowns of the number of asylum seekers currently detained under Immigration Act powers by (a) nationality, (b) gender, (c) place of detention, (d) length of detention and (e) immigration status at the time of application. [13263]

The requested breakdown of detained asylum seekers is given in the tables:

Table 1: Number of people recorded as being detained 1, 2 on 11 December 1996 who had sought asylum at some stage, by gender and immigration status
Gender	Port	Illegal entrants	Subject to deportation action	Total
Male	353	280	48	681
Female	52	13	8	73
Total	405	293	56	754
1 Persons detained solely under the powers contained in Schedule 2 or 3 of the Immigration Act 1971.
2 These figures include people who have been in detention for less than a month. Because of the delay in recording receptions into, and releases from, detention and the large number of persons detained for a short period, the figures should be used with caution.

Table 2: Number of people recorded as being detained 1, 2 on 11 December 1996 who had sought asylum at some stage by stage of application and immigration status
Stage of application	Port	Illegal entrants	Subject to deportation action	Total
Awaiting initial decision	90	54	8	152
Awaiting result of appeal	219	132	28	379
Awaiting removal after refusal	96	107	20	223
Total	405	293	56	754
1 Persons detained solely under the powers contained in Schedule 2 or 3 of the Immigration Act 1971.
2 These figures include people who have been in detention for less than a month. Because of the delay in recording receptions into, and releases from, detention and the large number of persons detained for a short period, the figures should be used with caution

Table 3: Number of people recorded as being detained1, 2on 11 December 1996 who had sought asylum at some stage by length of detention3and immigration status
Length	Port	Illegal Entrants	Subject to Deportation action	Total
0–1 month1	74	92	7	173
1–2 months	54	57	9	120
2–6 months	169	107	26	302
6–12 months	88	30	11	129
12 months4	20	7	3	30
Total	405	293	56	754
1 Persons detained solely under the powers contained in Schedule 2 or 3 of the Immigration Act 1971.
2 These figures include people who have been in detention for less than a month. Because of the delay in recording receptions into, and releases from, detention and the large number of persons detained for a short period, the figures should be used with caution.
3 In some cases the date a person enters detention may be understated due to the method of recording

Table 4: Number of people recorded as being detained 1, 2 on 11 December 1996 who had sought asylum at some stage, by nationality and immigration status
Nationality	Port	Illegal entrants	Subject to deportation action	Total
Nigeria	58	26	22	106
Algeria	26	48	5	79
India	10	64	1	75
Sri Lanka	30	19	2	51

Table 4: Number of people recorded as being detained 1, 2 on 11 December 1996 who had sought asylum at some stage, by nationality and immigration status
Nationality	Port	Illegal entrants	Subject to deportation action	Total
Zaire	35	4	3	42
Ghana	20	17	3	40
Pakistan	14	21	4	39
China People's
Republic of	29	9	0	38
Turkey	21	11	0	32
Romania	4	13	0	17
Cyprus	15	0	0	15
Israel	15	0	0	15
Angola	10	1	3	14
Bangaldesh	4	7	0	11
Gambia	9	1	1	11
Yugoslavia	3	6	1	10
Iran	6	2	1	9
Jamaica	1	5	3	9
Russia	4	4	0	8
Columbia	6	1	0	7
Ethiopia	4	3	0	7
Poland	6	1	0	7
Tanzania	4	1	2	7
Uganda	6	0	1	7
Kenya	5	1	0	6
Liberia	6	0	0	6
Lithuania	4	2	0	6
Sierra Leone	3	3	0	6
Ecuador	4	1	0	5
Ivory Coast	3	2	0	5
Morocco	1	3	1	5
Iraq	3	0	1	4
Lebanon	2	2	0	4
Slovakia	3	0	0	3
South Africa	2	0	1	3
Bulgaria	1	1	0	2
Cameroon	1	1	0	2
Congo	2	0	0	2
Eritrea	1	1	0	2
Philippines	0	2	0	2
Somalia	2	0	0	2
Tunisia	2	0	0	2
Zimbabwe	2	0	0	2
Other	11	7	1	19
Nationality doubtful	7	3	0	10
Total	405	293	56	754
1 Persons detained solely under the powers contained in schedule 2 or 3 of the Immigration Act 1971.
2 These figures include people who have been in detention for less than a month. Because of the delay in recording receptions into, and releases from, detention and the large number of persons detained for a short period, the figures should be used with caution.

Table 5: Number of people recorded as being detained 1, 2 on 11 December 1996 asylum at some state, by location of detention and immigration status
	Port	Illegal entrants	Subjects to Deportation action	Total
Prisons
HMP Rochester	74	50	13	137
HMP Haslar	34	48	4	86
HMP Birmingham	3	10	2	15
HMP Wormwood
Scrubs	4	4	0	8
HMP Magilligan	0	6	0	6
HMP Manchester	0	4	1	5
HMP Brixton	0	4	1	5
HMP Greenock	0	4	0	4
HMP Wandsworth	0	0	2	2
HMP High Down	0	1	1	2
HMP Elmley	0	2	0	2
HMP Doncaster	0	2	0	2
HMP Armley	0	2	0	2

Table 5: Number of people recorded as being detained 1, 2 on 11 December 1996 asylum at some state, by location of detention and immigration status
	Port	Illegal entrants	Subjects to Deportation action	Total
Other prison	7	5	4	16
Other Places of Detention
Campsfield House	98	52	12	162
Tinsley House	66	38	8	112
Harmondsworth	62	22	3	87
Police Cells	10	22	4	36
Meadvale Buildings	25	8	0	33
Queens Building	12	2	0	14
Manchester airport detention suite	1	7	1	9
Dover Harbour	5	0	0	5
Other places of detention	4	0	0	4
Total	405	293	56	754
1 Persons detained solely under the powers contained in schedule 2 or 3 of the Immigration Act 1971.
2 These figures include people who have been in detention for less than a month. Because of the delay in recording receptions into, and releases from, detention and the large number of persons detained for a short period, the figures should be used with caution.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the average time currently taken to reach an initial decision on (a) asylum applications submitted prior to the implementation of the Asylum and Immigration Appeals Act 1993, (b) asylum applications submitted since implementation of that Act and (c) all asylum applications; [13265](2) what is the average time currently taken to hear and determine an appeal against a refusal of asylum. [13266]

Information on the times taken at the various stages of the asylum process are given in the table.

Average time involved in deciding applications for asylum (October-December 1996)
	Months
Time taken for an initial decision to be made (pre-Act applications)	48.2
Time taken for an initial decision to be made (post-Act applications)	12.7
Time taken by the Home Office to process an appeal	1.2
Time taken by the Immigration Appeals Authority to determine an appeal	10.0

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 10 December 1996, Official Report, column 144, what was the total number of cases of a person detained under Immigration Act powers that were reviewed by a director of the immigration service in 1996; and what criteria determine which cases are reviewed by the directors of the immigration service. [13280]

Taking their respective caseloads together, the two directors of the immigration service reviewed detention in 718 cases in 1996. Cases are referred for review by the directors once detention exceeds six months, and monthly thereafter.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he has taken in the case of Danny McNamee following the submission made to him in September 1994. [13301]

Since receiving representations in September 1994, my officials have made inquiries of the police and Crown Prosecution Service and are currently awaiting a response from Mr. McNamee's solicitors to a request for some additional information which is needed before our consideration can be taken any further.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what new evidence he has received since mid-1994 in respect of the case of Danny McNamee; and if he will make a statement. [13302]

The hon. Gentleman wrote to my right hon. and learned Friend on 7 September 1994 in support of representations from Mr. McNamee's solicitors and, in the light of those, seeking a referral of Mr. McNamee's case to the Court of Appeal. Since that time Mr. McNamee's case has been under consideration by officials, who are currently awaiting further information from Mr. McNamee's solicitors.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has for changes to the 1996–97 cash limits within his responsibilities. [14202]

Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for class VII, vote 1—Home Office administration, police, probation, immigration and other services. England and Wales—will be increased by £10,395,000 from £4,599,693,000 to £4,610,088,000. This increase is the net effect of the partial take-up of running costs end-year flexibility of £10,395,000, as announced by the Chief Secretary, 12 July 1996, Official Report, columns 326–31, transfer of running costs to the Department of National Heritage, transfers to the Scottish Office, Welsh Office, Northern Ireland Office, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Customs and Excise and Cabinet Office central drug co-ordination unit, transfer from non-voted probation credit approvals. This transfer from non-voted provision reduces the non-voted cash limit—HO/LACAP—by £180,000 from £97,892,000 to £97,712,000.In consequence of the above changes, the Home Office gross running cost limit will be increased by £10,383,000 from £1,813,815,000 to £1,824,198,000.The increases will be offset by savings, transfers or charges to the reserve and will not, therefore, add to the planned total of public expenditure.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on changes to the cash limits of the Public Record Office, class VIII, vote 3 for 1996–97. [14206]

Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for class VIII, vote 3, has been increased by £1,034,000 from £31,559,000 to £32,593,000. This increase reflects in the main partial take-up of end of year flexibility for running costs or £298,000 and capital expenditure or £731,000). The increase also includes a £5,000 transfer from the Security Facilities Executive—SAFE—to fund the purchase of security advice. The increase will be offset by savings or charged to the reserve and will not, therefore, add to the planned total of public expenditure.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what are the penalties for breaching legal aid regulations. [13804]

The Legal Aid Board has power to revoke or discharge a civil legal aid certificate where information comes to light that the assisted person has intentionally failed to comply with the legal aid regulations. The assisted person may also be prosecuted under section 39 of the Legal Aid Act 1988 leading, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale—currently £2,5000—or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding three months, or to both.Where an assisted person's solicitor has failed to comply with any provision of the legal aid regulations, and as a result the fund incurs a loss, the Legal Aid Board may defer all or part of the solicitor's profit costs until the solicitor has complied with such provisions. If the board refers the solicitor's conduct to the solicitors' disciplinary tribunal and the solicitor is disciplined, the board may retain any deferred profit costs.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department by what means his Department is able to waive costs under the statutory charge when an investigation reveals legal aid has been fraudulently claimed and made the legal liability of the assisted party. [13802]

The Lord Chancellor does not have a power to waive costs under the statutory charge. The operation of the charge is provided for in section 16 of the Legal Aid Act 1988 and the relevant regulations, and the Legal Aid Board must comply with these provisions.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will conduct an investigation independent of the Legal Aid Board into the circumstances relating to the transfer of legal aid certificate No. 05/01/89/23181J on 10 September 1990 and subsequent amendments to that certificate through to its discharge. [13803]

Under the Legal Aid Act 1988, the Legal Aid Board is responsible for the administration of the civil legal aid scheme in England and Wales. Neither the Lord Chancellor nor I comment on or intervene in the award of legal aid in individual cases.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department by what mechanisms his Department investigates and rectified (a) identified abuse of civil legal aid and (b) miscarriages of civil legal procedure resulting from the abuse of legal aid regulations. [13805]

Under the Legal Aid Act 1988, the Legal Aid Board is responsible for the administration of the civil legal aid scheme in England and Wales. Investigations into the abuse of legal aid are the responsibility of the Legal Aid Board.If abuse of the legal aid scheme is identified, the Lord Chancellor may consider changes to regulations where necessary. One recent example of this is the introduction of new regulations to assess the financial means of "apparently wealthy" applicants. The Lord Chancellor also asked the Legal Aid Board to establish a special investigations unit to investigate the means of applicants whose financial circumstances are particularly complex.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department who is responsible for investigating allegations that a person not qualified as a licensed solicitor is presented to the client, assisted party, and Legal Aid Board as the nominated and conducting solicitor; and who would be responsible for prosecuting such a case. [13801]

If allegations are received that the nominated solicitor is not qualified to act, the board will investigate. If the unqualified person has been admitted to the roll but does not have a practising certificate, the board will refer the matter to the office for the supervision of solicitors which will take appropriate disciplinary action.If the unqualified person has never been admitted to the roll and has held him/herself out to be a qualified solicitor, the matter will be referred to the Law Society. The Law Society will consider the case and, in conjunction with the police, decide whether to prosecute under sections 20 and 21 of the Solicitors Act 1974.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what proposals there are to change the 1996–97 (a) cash limits and running costs limit for the Office of Public Service. [14209]

Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for the Office of Public Service, Class XVII, vote 1, will be increased by £4,223,000 from £178,627,000 to £182,850,000 and the gross running cost limit will be increased by £3,485,000 from £82,649,000 to £86,134,000.The changes reflect the transfer of £687,000 from Cabinet Office other services, Class VXIII, vote 1, in respect of the transfer of responsibility for the superannuation awarding system and accommodation costs, an extra £486,000 to meet the cost of functions remaining in OPS following the sale of the Stationery Office, the Recruitment and Assessment/Services Agency and the Occupational Health and Safety Agency, offset by the take-up of running cost end-year flexibility of £486,000, the transfer of Cabinet Office, other services, class XVIII, vote 2, of £50,000 to fund OPS early departures, and a claim on the reserve of £3,050,000 for the costs falling to OPS of accommodation and the vote balance left after the sale of RAS. This is partially offset by a reduction of £50,000 in the cash limit on the Stationery Office, class XVII, vote 4.The net running cost limit for the Civil Service College has increased from nil to £300,000. This is the result of lower than expected trading.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what proposals there are to change the 1996–97 cash limit for the Office of the Parliamentary Commissioner and health service commissioners. [14210]

Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for the Office of the Parliamentary Commissioner and health service commissioners, class XVIII, vote 4, will be reduced by £2,500,000 from £16,173,000 to £13,673,000. The reduction is in response to the Health Service Commissioners (Amendment) Act 1996 generating initially a lower than anticipated workload.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environmental what is the total estimated cost in the financial year 1997–98 of redundancy payments and pay in lieu of notice for staff made redundant as a result of the winding up of the Rural Development Comission's advisory service for small businesses in rural development areas. [13886]

I am informed by the Rural Development Commission that the total estimated cost of redundancy payments in the financial year 1997–98 for staff made redundant as a result of winding up the commission's business service is £1,096,186.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much money was distributed by the Rural Development Commission to small firms in rural areas in the financial year 1995–96 in the form of rural counselling grants; how many businesses were in receipt of these grants; and what is the proposed expenditure on rural counselling grants in 1996–97. [13888]

I am informed by the Rural Development Commission that rural counselling grants are given to business advisory agencies, such as local enterprise agencies, not direct to small firms. In 1995–96 £301,000 was given to 39 agencies for them to provide business advice to 2,887 small firms in rural development areas. The expected expenditure on rural counselling grants in 1996–97 is £364,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many small firms in rural development areas are currently clients of the Rural Development Commission's business service. [13885]

I am informed by the Rural Development Commission that there are currently 8,529 small firms in rural development areas that are clients of the commission's business service.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what savings will be achieved in 1997–98 by the winding up of the Rural Development Commission's advisory service for small businesses in rural development areas, taking into account expenditure incurred by the proposed creation of rural development officer posts. [13889]

I am informed by the Rural Development Commission that its estimate of net savings of salary and associated costs in 1997–98 to be achieved by the winding up of the commission's business advisory service is £624,000. This allows for expenditure incurred by the creation of additional rural development officer posts. A further £1,185,000 of programme expenditure will be saved by the ending of the commission's marketing support scheme and specialist consultancy support service.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the Government will respond to the first report of the House of Lords Select Committee of the European Communities on freedom of access to information on the environment (HL9). [14041]

Shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has to change the 1996–97 cash limits and running cost limits for which he is responsible. [14301]

Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for class VI, vote 1—housing and construction, England—covering sections A, D to G and J to L of that vote, will be decreased by £7,172,000 from £331,468,000 to £324,296,000. An increase in the cash limit of £3,057,000 is offset by a decrease of £10,229,000. The increase consists of £557,000 to meet additional administration costs the corporation is expected to incur in preparing the loan portfolio for possible sale, funded from any receipt of the sale; a transfer of £2,000,000 from the non-voted Department of the Environment/new towns cash limit, and an offset of £500,000 from class VI, vote 8, Ordnance Survey. The decrease is a transfer from a number of programmes, principally £3,179,000 from gipsy site grant and £3,030,000 from the estates renewal challenge fund, to fund increases in Housing Corporation tax relief and supplementary management grants, which fall outside the cash limit.The Department of the Environment/Housing Corporation non-voted cash limit will be increased by £2,000,000 from £1,035,868,000 to £1,037,868,000 in compensation for receipts which would normally have been recycled within the Housing Corporation and which may now be lost due to the proposed sale of the loans portfolio.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the categories of vehicle currently exempt from payment of road fund licences. [13760]

Currently, the following are exempt from vehicle excise duty:

• emergency vehicles—ambulances, fire engines, fire service, mine rescue, lifeboat haulage and lighthouse authority vehicles;
• police vehicles;
• Crown vehicles;
• NHS vehicles;
• vehicles used by or on behalf of disabled persons in receipt of certain DSS allowances;
• vehicles used by organisations providing transport for disabled persons;
• vehicles used for short journeys between different parts of land occupied by the same person for agriculture, horticulture or forestry;
• vehicles over 25 years old—except goods vehicles and buses used commercially;
• diplomatic and consular vehicles;
• vehicles of visiting forces and international defence organisations;
• vehicles visiting the UK temporarily and for personal export.

In addition, there is temporary exemption from VED for vehicles travelling to or from a pre-arranged roadworthiness test or weighing.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what projections he has made as to the change in the number of heavy goods vehicles if 44-tonne lorries are allowed on to British roads. [13552]

Our consultation document, "Lorry Weights", published in December, explained the uncertainty of any estimates, but concludes that eventually there might be between 3,200 and 6,500 fewer heavy lorries on our roads than would otherwise have been the case, depending on the extent to which 44-tonne lorries would cause some goods to be switched from rail to road.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what has been the change in the number of bus passenger journeys made outside London since 1985–86. [13666]

Local bus passenger journeys made outside London have declined by 29 per cent. since 1985–86. The following table summarises the available figures.

Million passenger journeys
Year	London	Great Britain outside London	Great Britain
1985–86	1,152	4,489	5,641
1986–87	1,164	4,177	5,341
1987–88	1,207	4,085	5,292
1988–89	1,211	4,004	5,215
1989–90	1,188	3,886	5,074
1990–91	1,178	3,672	4,850
1991–92	1,149	3,516	4,665
1992–93	1,129	3,351	4,480
1993–94	1,117	3,268	4,385
1994–95	1,167	3,253	4,420
1995–96	1,205	3,178	4,383
Percentage change since 1985–86	5	-29	-22

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has to change his Department's cash limits and running costs limits for 1996–97. [14129]

Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimates, the following changes will be made:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his latest assessment of the railway industry's performance in 1996–97. [14130]

The railway industry's recent performance has been particularly good. For example, in the last four months, levels of punctuality and reliability have been higher than for the same period in any previous year since data for British Rail's passenger charter began to be collected in 1991–92. On average, 91.8 per cent. of trains arrived within five to 10 minutes of their schedules arrival time and 99.1 per cent. of scheduled services ran. These high levels of performance reflect the success of the new performance regimes, which give all parties direct financial incentives to ensure that services run to time. The franchising director is consequently making payments to the train operating companies for their improved performance. These payments are reflected in the additional provision for passenger rail services included in the proposals I have announced today for changing my Department's cash limits and running costs limit for 1996–97.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what instructions he has given to the Rail Regulator to ensure that Railtrack provides the contractual level of maintenance of the rail network. [13429]

None. The Rail Regulator's duties are contained in the Railways Act 1993. He has recently published a statement setting out the regulatory objectives for Railtrack's infrastructure renewal and investment programme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received on the implementation of English language speaking requirements under EU directives on seafarer training; and what progress has been made with implementing the directives. [13425]

[holding answer 30 January 1997]: We have received four representations on the draft regulations which are intended to implement the English language requirements in directive 94/58/EC. We have also received representation from the European Commission about the implementation of this remaining provision of the directive into UK law. The draft regulations covering the language provision are currently being finalised following consultation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimates her Department has made in respect of the changes in (a) pupil numbers and (b) primary class size levels in maintained schools in England by 2000. [12191]

The number of pupils in maintained schools in England in January 1996 was 7,370,000 full-time equivalents. By the year 2000, this is expected to increase to 7,596,000.The Department does not make estimates of class size levels. Class size is determined by the head teachers and governors of individual schools.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what policies have been introduced to encourage more people to enter (a) higher and (b) further education in Lancashire since 1992. [13278]

Government policies, as set out in the 1991 White Papers, "Education and Training for the 21st Century". CM 1536, and "Higher Education: A New Framework", CM 1541, have led to a substantial increase in participation in further and higher education since 1992. Numbers in further education in England have increased by 25 per cent. between 1992–93 and 1995–96. The proportion of young people entering higher education in Great Britain has increased from nearly 28 per cent. in 1992 to one in three. Separate figures for participation rates in Lancashire are not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many people went into (a) higher and (b) further education in Lancashire in each year since 1992. [13277]

The information, based on location of institution rather than the domicile of students, is as follows:

Entrants1to further and higher education in Lancashire
Thousands
Academic year	Entrants to FE	Entrants to HE
1992–93	72.3	219.9
1993–94	73.1	20.9
1994–95	76.6	20.0
1995–96	n/a	321.0
n/a=not available.
1 Full-time and part-time students in their first year of study.
2 Excludes part-time students in "old" universities of which there were some 1,000 in 1993–94.
3 Includes estimates of HE students in FEIs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the cost per medical student for each year of study in each year since 1992; and for each year what was the percentage change on the previous year. [12973]

[holding answer 29 January 1997]: Figures are not available in the form requested.The Higher Education Funding Council for England publishes each year the figures that higher education institutions report for the average council grant for teaching allocated to each academic subject category. The figures for pre-clinical and clinical medicine are shown in the table, together with figures for the average level of tuition fee for medical students.

Academic year	1992–93	1993–94	1994–95	1995–96
	£	£	£	£
Average unit of council funding1 (clinical/pre-clinical medicine)	4,209	4,203	5,719	5,769
Tuition fees2	4,099	4,099	2,320	2,320
Total	8,308	8,302	8,039	8,089
Percentage change	—	-0.1	-3.2	0.6
1 Taken from 'Average Units of Council Funding', published annually by HEFCE.
2 Average fee for all medical students, assuming constant distribution of students across the five years of study.

Data collected on maintenance awards and student loans do not distinguish between subject of study. Hence the average expenditure on awards and loans per medical student is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) for what reasons staffing reductions were made to the nursing and healthcare employment service in 1996; and which posts were affected; [13391](2) what professional advice was sought before the decision to make reductions at the nursing and healthcare employment service; [13393]

Responsibility for the subject of the questions 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 recent representations she has received from the Further Education Funding Council concerning the state of college finances; and if she will make a statement. [13697]

The Department is in regular contact with the funding council on a range of matters.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list for each FE college in England the number of (a) teaching and (b) other posts lost through redundancy for each year since incorporation. [13698]

This information is not collected centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she plans changes to cash limits and running cost limits on votes within her responsibility for 1996–97. [14254]

Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for class IX, vote 1—Department for Education and Employment: programmes and central services—and class IX vote 3, Employment Service, will be amended as follows:

Class	Vote	Existing cash limit	Change	New cash limit
		£	£	£
IX	1	8,745,142,000	-58,515,000	8,686,627,000
IX	3	1,288,977,000	-20,303,000	1,268,674,000

The cash limit for class IX. vote 1, will be decreased by £58,515,000 from £8,745,142,000 to £8,686,627,000 This is the result of a transfer of £56,000,000 from section A, I and J to the non-cash-limited demand-led element of funding for further education, section B; £8,100,000 in expenditure from section A is to be transferred to the non-voted DfEE/LACAP cash limit.Transfers to other Departments and votes include £17,000 to the Department of the Environment as a contribution to the Manchester bomb appeal. £60,000 to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office for salary-related costs of British teachers working in overseas countries, £2,300,00 to the Department of Social Security in respect of bridging allowances, £190,000 to the Employment Service in relation to post-merger administrative changes, £165,000 and £66,000 of running costs and capital provision respectively to the Office for National Statistics in respect of machinery of Government changes and premises costs.These transfers have been partially offset by the take-up of £7,000,000 running costs end-year flexibility entitlement, as announced by the Chief Secretary to the House of Commons on 12 July 1996,

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of levels of consumption of toothpaste in the north-west relative to the south of England. [12471]

We have made no such assessment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to issue guidance to water companies regarding fluoridation of public water supplies; if he will list those (a) individuals and (b) organisations consulted on this guidance indicating the date of consultation: and if he will place in the Library copies of all responses. [12631]

We have no plans to issue guidance to water companies about the fluoridation of public water supplies.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the number of children not cleaning their teeth (a) in Bolton and (b) nationally. [12472]

We have no plans to make such an assessment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 28 January, Official Report, column 162, what was the income of the highest earning NHS dentist in 1995–96 carrying out primary non-orthodontic work. [13903]

The largest gross fee payment in 1995–96 to a national health service dentist who had no other dentist working for him and who carried out primarily non-orthodontic work was £363,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 28 January, Official Report, column 162, how many (i) adult patients and (ii) children were registered with the highest paid NHS dentist in 1995–96. [13856]

The dentist with the highest level of gross fee earnings in 1995–96 who had no other dentists working for him had no registrations and was engaged mainly in orthodontic treatment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 28 January, Official Report, column 162, how many practices the highest earning NHS dentist has; and in which counties they are located. [13855]

To give this information would be in breach of the open government code of practice, which exempts information which could facilitate an unwarranted invasion of privacy.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) casualty and (b) accident and emergency consultants there were in each of the last five years. [13246]

The information requested is:

Accident and emergency consultants in England
	Number
1991	220
1992	230
1993	250
1994	260
1995	290

Whole-time equivalents, rounded to the nearest 10; latest available figures; figures were as at 30 September in the relevant year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the sale and development of the site of the Fulwood hospital, Sheffield. [13305]

Fulwood hospital is surplus to the requirements of the national health service and has been placed on the market for sale. A number of offers have now been received, which will be evaluated before selecting the preferred purchaser. Proceeds from such sales are reinvested in health care projects.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what changes will be made to the cash limits of his Department in 1996–97. [14207]

Subject to the approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for class XI, vote 1—hospital, community health, family health and related services, England—will be reduced by £16,641,000, from £27,807,821,000 to £27,791,180,000. This reduction allows for a transfer of £124,896,000 following a reappraisal of drugs budget requirements and a transfer of £8,000 to Department of Health and Social Services Northern Ireland for the National Poisons Information Service. The reduction is partially offset by increases of £81,121,000 in respect of the take up of entitlement under the end-year flexibility scheme; £25,000,000 for a claim on the reserve to support priority services, and by a transfer of £2,142,000 from class XVIII, vote 4—Office of the Parliamentary Commissioner and health service commissioners—as an offset for previously funded activity not now required.The cash limit for class XI, vote 2—Department of Health, administration, miscellaneous health and personal social services, England—will be reduced by £169,000, from £1,208,599,000 to £1,208,430,000. This reduction allows for transfers of £494,000 to class XII, vote 3—Department of Social Security: administration—made up of £366,000 (£329,000 running costs) for accommodation charges, £68,000 running costs for telecommunications and £60,000 for services provided by staff at Richmond house and a transfer of £117,000 to DHSS, Northern Ireland to obtain advice and information about medical devices. The reduction is partially offset by a transfer of £442,000 from class XII, vote 3—Department of Social Security, administration and miscellaneous services—made up of £352,000 running costs for the production of milk tokens, £70,000 running costs for the provision of petty cash services at Richmond house and £20,000 towards the administrative costs of Age Concern.The Department's gross running cost limit will be reduced by £5,099,000 from £280,057,000 to £274,958,000. This reflects a reduction of £5,124,000 mainly to meet shortfalls on receipts, partially offset by the transfers listed.All increases will either be offset by savings, increased receipts or transfers to or from other votes or charged to the reserve and will not, therefore, add to the planned total of public expenditure.

To ask the Secretary of State Health what assessment he has made of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs in its report on volatile substance abuse. [14208]

The Government welcome this thoughtful and thorough report and its recommendations. A copy of the Government's response has been placed in the Library.The Government share the advisory council's view that although volatile substance abuse has characteristics in common with other types of drug misuse, it has particular problems of its own which merit specific attention.While the number of deaths associated with VSA has fallen from 151 in 1990 to 57 in 1994, the Government are committed to continuing the pressure to reduce and ultimately eliminate such deaths. Since the advisory council's report was presented to Ministers, a wide range of action which broadly reflects the ACMD's recommendations has been taken, including:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will list those regions of the NHS for which he has requested reports on emergency care and intensive care; and if he will place copies in the Library; [13884](2) when he intends to publish the report to Alan Langlands on intensive care provision in the North West region of the NHS. [13883]

All regional offices of the National Health Services Executive were asked to report to the chief executive of the NHS on intensive care in their regions. We regard these reports as internal discussion and advice and do not intend to publish them.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the size of the resident-leased waiting list for elective admission at the second quarter of 1995–96 for (a) ordinary admission, (b) day care admission and (c) all admissions; and how many patients have been awaiting admission for (i) 0 to five months, (ii) six to 11 months, (iii) 12 to 17 months and (iv) more than 18 months, for each specialty and for each health authority separately. [13701]

This information is contained in "Hospital Waiting List Statistics: England (Resident Based)—at 30 September 1995", copies of which will be placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the proposal to develop St. Thomas's hospital under the private finance initiative was included in the calculation of the Departmental total in table 5.5 of the "Financial Statement and Budget Report"; what was the value of that proposal; and if he will make a statement on its current status. [13807]

The figure in table 5.5 of the "Financial Statement and Budget Report" does not represent a control total—it represents an estimate of the anticipated spend on private finance schemes. In deciding the level of the estimate my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health took account of all private finance initiative schemes being prepared within the national health service including the St. Thomas's scheme. Approval has just been given for the trust to draw up a revised outline business case in the light of changed purchaser requirements.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the life expectancy in each region for (a) men and (b) women in each year since 1992. [13704]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave him on 23 January 1997, Official Report, columns 703–4. The reply referred to figures for 1992, which is the most recent year for which regional analyses are available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many employees there were in the NHS in England by (a) NHS trust, (b) health authority and (c) general practice surgeries in the last year for which figures are available. [8491]

[holding answer 12 December 1996]: Information on the number of staff employed by each national health service trust and health authority, and the number of general medical services practice staff by each family health service authority, will be placed in the Library. Information on the number of staff employed by individual general practice surgeries is not available centrally.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many cases of illnesses connected with organophosphate toxicity have been reported to his Department in the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [13872]

I refer the hon. Gentleman to my reply to him of 10 December 1996, Official Report, column 107. Numbers of incidents of human suspected adverse reactions to all veterinary medicines are contained in the annual reports of the appraisal panel for human suspected adverse reactions, all of which have been published and are available in the Library of the House. Since 1 January 1992 there have been 516 reports of human suspected adverse reactions to organophosphate veterinary medicines, of which 416 related to sheep dips.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment his Department has made of the reasons behind the recent outbreaks of Newcastle disease in (a) Ross on Wye and (b) Sussex; and if he will make a statement. [13607]

The State Veterinary Service is actively investigating the current outbreaks of Newcastle disease, but no source of infection has yet been identified.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will set out his policy on compensation for farmers whose poultry are slaughtered for (a) contracting and (b) coming into contact with birds affected with Newcastle disease; and if he will make a statement. [13611]

The Animal Health Act 1981 makes provision for the slaughter of diseased or suspected poultry or poultry exposed to the infection of disease. The Act requires the Minister to pay compensation for poultry, other than diseased poultry, at the value of the bird immediately before it was slaughtered.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how long a vaccine against Newcastle disease has been available; for what periods it has been withdrawn; and if he will make a statement. [13610]

Newcastle disease vaccines have been available in the UK for more than 30 years. Both live and inactivated vaccines are currently available. However, on the advice of the independent scientific Veterinary Products Committee, which advises the Government on all matters relating to the authorisation of veterinary medicines, live La Sota and Clone 30 vaccines were suspended in 1981. This was because of concerns that high virulence strains of these vaccines could interfere with the diagnosis of disease and could spread to non-vaccinated flocks. In 1993 the VPC reviewed the suspension in the light of Commission decision 93/152/EEC on the criteria for vaccines in the EU. Vaccines containing low-virulence strains of live Clone 30 were re-authorised on the basis of the VPC advice and are therefore also currently available.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of (a) chickens and (b) turkeys on farms in England are currently vaccinated against Newcastle disease; and if he will make a statement. [13600]

There is no statutory requirement for routine vaccination against Newcastle disease and the information requested is not held centrally.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the vaccine against Newcastle disease on (a) farmed poultry and (b) other captive birds; and if he will make a statement. [13604]

All veterinary medicines marketed in the UK must satisfy statutory criteria of safety, quality and efficacy. The licensing authority is advised on this by the independent scientific Veterinary Products Committee. Newcastle disease vaccines currently marketed in the UK are authorised for use in fowls, whether farmed or otherwise kept. Veterinary surgeons have discretion to use such vaccines on other captive birds under their care in accordance with the provisions of the Medicines (Restrictions on the Administration of Veterinary Medicinal Products) Regulations 1994. Veterinary surgeons may wish to consult the manufacturer of the product on the dose to be administered and whether there is any information on the safety and efficacy of the product in captive birds other than fowls.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recommendations his Department makes to farmers with regard to the vaccination of poultry against Newcastle disease; and if he will make a statement. [13609]

Poultry farmers are advised to vaccinate their flocks against Newcastle disease. This advice has been confirmed in the recent press releases concerning the current outbreaks of the disease.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if any of the birds involved in the (a) Ross on Wye and (b) Sussex outbreak of Newcastle disease had been given the vaccine prior to contamination; and if he will make a statement. [13605]

Of the five cases identified up to 29 January, in only one involving turkeys had the birds been vaccinated. It is not yet known whether or not the vaccination took place before contamination with Newcastle disease, but in any event the vaccine would not have had sufficient time to develop protection in the birds.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment his Department has made of the risks to farmed ostriches from Newcastle disease; and if he will make a statement. [13620]

Ostriches are susceptible to Newcastle disease, as are other birds. The risk to ostriches will depend on the virulence of the strain of the disease concerned.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recommendations his Department issues to people farming ostriches; and if he will make a statement. [13622]

The welfare of farmed ostriches is protected by legislation. This is supplemented by guidelines issued by the Farm Animal Welfare Council. We are, in addition, working with colleagues in the Council of Europe on a recommendation to the welfare of farmed ratites—ostrich, emu and rhea—which we hope will be adopted later this year.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the number of ostrich farms in operation in each of the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement. [13621]

None. Information on ostrich farms is not collected centrally.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proportion of quarantine premises state veterinary staff will inspect before compiling the information required for his Department's voluntary code of practice; and if he will make a statement. [13540]

All quarantine premises that have undertaken to comply with the voluntary code of practice for the welfare of dogs and cats in quarantine premises will be inspected by the State Veterinary Service to ensure compliance.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects information to be published regarding the quarantine kennels which comply with the welfare standards set out by his Department's document voluntary code of practice on welfare standards in quarantine premises; and if he will make a statement. [13541]

Information on the quarantine premises that comply with the voluntary code of practice for the welfare of dogs and cats in quarantine premises will be included in the literature sent out to prospective importers of pet dogs and cats after all the premises that have undertaken to comply with the code have been inspected by the State Veterinary Service.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many (a) sheep, (b) calves and (c) pigs were rejected as unfit to travel prior to export from the United Kingdom in each month of 1996. [13542]

The numbers of animals rejected as unfit to travel from Great Britain were as follows:

	Ovine	Bovine	Porcine
January	471	103	128
February	204	251	60
March	131	28	69
April	0	0	80
May	1	0	71
June	14	4	27

	Ovine	Bovine	Porcine
July	379	7	62
August	574	0	27
September	608	0	42
October	410	0	130
November	547	1	20
December	390	2	55

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food who takes legal responsibility for unaccompanied consignments of livestock that are ferried from Dover port from the time a driver leaves his consignment of livestock at Dover port to the time he rejoins his vehicle at the continental port of arrival. [13545]

None of the consignments referred to are unaccompanied.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) in cases where consignments of livestock cannot be accompanied by their driver during the sea crossing from Dover to continental ports, what steps he takes to ensure that the person in charge of the animals during the journey is declared in accordance with articles 7 or 8 of the Welfare of Animals During Transport Order 1994; [13546](2) when unaccompanied vehicles containing livestock are permitted to leave the port of Dover on the MV Cap Afrique, what steps he takes to ensure that the animals' journey is not delayed because of the absence of drivers at the port of arrival. [13547]

The operators of the Cap Afrique employ a competent stockman who takes responsibility for animals which are not accompanied by their drivers. The cross-channel travel arrangements for the drivers who cannot be taken on the Cap Afrique are such that they should arrive in time to meet the vessel at the port of destination.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food where on the MV Cap Afrique provision has been made for isolation of ill or injured animals during the voyage. [13548]