To ask the Lord President of the Council how many right hon. and hon. Members employ (a) no staff, (b) one member of staff, (c) two members of staff and (d) more than two members of staff. [13088]

The information requested is as follows:

(a) eight Members

(b) 92 Members

(c) 249 Members

(d) 299 Members

These figures relate to the 648 right hon. and hon. Members currently sitting at 31 January 1997.

To ask the Lord President of the Council how many staff are employed by right hon. and hon. Members. [13087]

At 31 January 1997 there were 1,753 staff employed by right hon. and hon. Members.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary. Lord Chancellor's Department what are his current proposals for the amalgamation of magistrates courts in England and Wales; if he will list the consultation processes on those proposals with starting dates and deadlines for submissions, what representations he has received so far (i) in favour and (ii) against the proposals; if he will list the costs of the proposed amalgamations, what account has been taken of (a) the number of cases to be heard in and (b) the catchment areas of and maximum travel distances to, the newly amalgamated courts; and if he will make a statement. [14108]

I have no proposals for the amalgamation of magistrates courts in England and Wales. Magistrates courts are provided by the local paying authority for the use of the magistrates courts committee. Closure decisions are for the MCC to determine, after consultation with the paying authority. The paying authority can appeal to the Lord Chancellor against the MCCs decision within one month of its receiving written notice of the determination.The following magistrates courthouse closures are currently the subject of appeal: Biddulph, Blaenau Ffestiniog, Cheadle, Kidsgrove, Llangollen, Otley and Pontadawe. There have been a number of written and oral representations both in favour and against these appeals. Costs, work load, catchment areas and maximum travel distances are all taken into account in reaching decisions on appeals.

To ask the Prime Minister what have been the running costs of Chequers for each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement. [13612]

[holding answer 31 January 1997]: Chequers is established under the Chequers Estate Acts 1917 and 1958 and is administered by independent trustees who receive an annual grant from public funds towards its maintenance in accordance with the Acts. In the last five years the grant has been:

• 1992–93: £260,000
• 1993–94: £266,000
• 1994–95: £226,000
• 1995–96: £233,000
• 1996–97: £226,000.

The Government also contribute to the cost of the household staff at Chequers. Over the same period expenditure—net of VAT refunds—has been:

To ask the Prime Minister how many days he has spent in residence at Chequers in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [13613]

[holding answer 31 January 1997]: In the last five years, my family and I have made regular use of Chequers for a variety of purposes, in accordance with the wishes of the donor, Lord Lee, and the Chequers Estate Acts.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 4 February. [12877]

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 4 February. [12878]

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

To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the impact on the Lockerbie case of the recent acquittal by the United States authorities of Mr. Juval Aviv on charges of deception. [13089]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply he received from the Minister of State, Scottish Office, my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Edinburgh, West (Lord James Douglas-Hamilton), on 27 January, Official Report, columns 70–71.The acquittal of Mr. Juval Aviv by a jury after trial in the New York southern district court on charges of deception has no bearing on the validity of the case against the two Libyans accused in respect of the Lockerbie bombing.

To ask the Prime Minister whether Ministers leaving office immediately following the general election will have their severance payments based on the salary scale in force on polling day or that applicable on the day after polling day. [14150]

I have been asked to reply.Severance payments will be made in accordance with the Ministerial and other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991 and will, therefore, mean that severance pay to former Ministers is based on the same rate as the salaries paid to new and continuing Ministers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress there has been on inviting industrial consortiums to provide a permanent joint services command and staff college. [14588]

I am pleased to announce that the Joint Services Command and Staff College will be at Shrivenham from September 1999. The college will be a centre of military excellence, building on the worldwide renown of its prestigious predecessors to maintain our global reputation for command and staff training.A Serco/Laing consortium, Defence Management, has been selected as the preferred bidder. We shall be assisted in the academic support for the new college by Kings college London which is world renowned for its contribution to military studies.The new college will be in purpose built accommodation on a greenfield site within the perimeter of the Royal Military college of science. Subject to successful detailed negotiations Defence Management will be awarded a contract for the provision of the accommodation, facilities management and academic support required for the new college, in June 1997. Until the permanent site is available, we shall run courses at interim sites, mainly at Bracknell.The staff college at Camberley has played an important and historic role for the Army. We intend to identify a fitting and appropriate military use for this historic building. I intend to report on our plans for its future occupancy before the summer recess.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the number of cigarettes purchased at discounted or duty-free prices by service personnel serving outside the United Kingdom in each of the last three years; and what is the number of people eligible for those supplies. [12409]

[holding answer 28 January 1997]: I have made no such estimate. The figures requested are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the arms sales to Turkey assisted by the Defence Export Services Organisation in each of the last three years. [13936]

[holding answer 3 February 1997]: DESO facilitates contact between British industry and Turkish Government officials to help them promote their products and services. Comprehensive records are not kept of those export orders which result directly or indirectly from DESO involvement and such information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what were the running costs of Admiralty house for each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [13618]

[holding answer 31 January 1997]: Responsibility for Admiralty house transferred from the Department of the Environment to the Cabinet Office on 1 April 1996. The approximate running costs for each of the last five years are as follows:

• 1992–93: £779,000
• 1993–94: £755,000
• 1994–95: £601,000
• 1995–96: £723,000
• 1996–97 (to date): £184,000.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister on what date he chaired the Ministerial Committee on Co-ordination and Presentation of Government Policy which considered the outcome of the competition for the food supply contract for the armed forces. [14122]

In accordance with the principle of collective responsibility for Government decisions, including the need to maintain the frankness and candour of internal discussion and advice, details of the proceedings of Cabinet and Cabinet Committees are not published.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) on what dates in December 1996 and January 1997 he attended the Ministerial Committee on Co-ordination and Presentation of Government Policy: [14124](2) what dates in December 1996 and January 1997 the Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury attended the Ministerial Committee on Co-ordination and Presentation of Government Policy. [14123]

[holding answer 3 February 1997]: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to him yesterday by my right hon. Friend the Lord President of the Council.

To ask the Minister without Portfolio on what dates in December 1996 and January 1997 he attended the Ministerial Committee on Co-ordination and Presentation of Government Policy. [14125]

[holding answer 3 February 1997]: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to him yesterday by my right hon. Friend the Lord President of the Council.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received about the impact of the Budget on housing. [12506]

We receive representations and pursue discussion on all issues relating to housing.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is his latest estimate of the total number of houses in multiple occupation in England and the total number of occupants of such accommodation using the categories contained in his Department's consultative paper on the licensing of multi-occupied houses; [13786](2) what is his latest estimate of the total number of (a) multi-occupied houses in England which are occupied by no more than three persons other than the responsible person and any other member of his household and

The following information on numbers and occupants of houses in multiple occupation is available from my Department's survey of English local authorities in 1995. All figures relate to 1995.

Category of house	Number of houses	Number of occupants
Traditional HMOs	110,642	631,467
Shared houses/flats	100,043	343,187
Households with lodgers	41,272	106,645
Purpose built HMOs	17,399	246,354
Hostels, guest and boarding houses	16,665	237,717
Converted self contained flats	352,285	1,533,597
Totals	638,306	3,098,967

According to this survey, a total of 47,171 HMOs were owned by housing associations.The other information requested is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table on a similar basis to the one included in the 1995 White Paper, "Housing: Our Future Homes", showing the total expenditure planned for 1997–98 and equivalent figures for 1978–79, breaking down expenditure to show (a) capital investment by local authorities, (b) capital investment by housing associations and other social landlords, (c) general and means-tested subsidies to home owners, (d) general and means tested subsidies to council tenants and (e) means-tested subsidies to private and housing association tenants. [13794]

The information is as follows:

£ billion in 1996–97 prices
England	1979–80	1995–96	1997–98
Capital investment by local authorities	7.8	2.1	1.7
Capital investment by housing associations and other social landlords (public finance element, excluding capital investment by local authorities)	1.1	1.3	0.8
General and means-tested subsidies to home owners	3.8	3.9	n/a
General and means-tested subsidies to council tenants	8.4	5.4	5.3
Means-tested subsidies to private and housing association tenants	0.5	5	5.6
Total	21.6	17.8	n/a
n/a = not available.

The table summarises help given towards housing costs through public spending and mortgage interest tax relief on the basis requested. Information for 1978–79 is not kept in this format. Figures for 1997–98 are preliminary forecasts and such forecasts are not available for mortgage interest tax relief.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the local reference rent for (a) a self-contained one bedroomed flat and (b) a single room in shared accommodation for each local authority in England. [13782]

My Department produces the "Rent Officer Statistics" publication on a quarterly basis which includes averages of all the rent determinations made by rent officers for private lettings, by property type and size, in each registration area in England and Wales. The publication covering the first quarter of 1996 was published on 17 January 1997. Copies are available in the Library. The only statistics produced at the local authority level are those for the London boroughs.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the total number of homes for renting from local authorities, housing associations and other registered social landlords which will be started in (a) 1997–98, (b) 1998–99 and (c) 1999–2000. [13790]

My Department does not make forward estimates of the total number of homes for renting which will be started by local authorities, housing associations and other registered social landlords. The Housing Corporation's central estimate of the number of approvals which will be granted to registered social landlords under the rental component of its approved development programme over the three years 1997–98 to 1999–2000 is 48,100. The Corporation will be publishing details of its approved development programme shortly. Further homes for rent will also be started under other programmes including local authority housing association grant, the single regeneration budget and the rough sleepers initiative.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the total number of council homes sold (a) under the right to buy and (b) otherwise in each local authority area in England, in the periods (i) 1979 to 1983, (ii) 1984 to 1987, (iii) 1988 to 1992 and (iv) 1993 to 1996. [13792]

Tables showing the available information on total right-to-buy sales in each English local authority for each financial year from 1979–89 are in the Library. An update of the tables including data for sales in the period April to September 1996 will be placed in the Library in the next few weeks.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many homes have been acquired under the rents-to-mortgages scheme in (a) 1994, (b) 1995 and (c) 1996; and what is his estimate of the number likely to be acquired in 1997. [13787]

Local authorities in England have reported seven sales under the rent-to-mortgage scheme in 1994, nine in 1995 and seven in the first nine months of 1996. My Department has made no estimate of future sales.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the total number of new lettings which will be generated for social housing purposes in (a) 1997–98, (b) 1998–99 and (c) 1999–2000. [13789]

On current plans, we estimate that the total number of new lettings for social housing purposes will be (a) 58,500, in 1997–98, (b) 47,200 in 1998–99 an (c) 42,000 in 1999–2000.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many new rented housing starts he estimates will be created by (a) housing associations and (b) local authorities in (i) 1995–96 and (ii) 1996–97. [12510]

In England, the Housing Corporation granted approvals to housing associations for 38,700 new rented homes in 1995–96 and 38,900 in 1996–97. These figures include new build and rehabilitation using funding from the approved development programme and local authority housing association grant. Further homes are provided through single regeneration budget funding and housing associations' own resources. Local authorities started around 500 new homes in England in 1995–96 and a similar figure is expected for 1996–97.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent representations he has received regarding the regulations on producer responsibility for packaging waste. [12514]

The regulations were laid on 29 January and are based on the industry agreement reached on 15 December 1995. The final version of the regulations took into account responses representing more than 53,000 businesses.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received concerning regional government in the south-east. [12518]

I receive representations on regional government from time to time. The Government see no case for setting up new bodies to provide regional government which would simply add an unwanted and unnecessary additional tier of bureaucracy and cost to existing arrangements.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the revenue support grant settlement for Manchester. [12519]

The local government finance report for 1997–98 was laid before the House on Monday 27 January and was debated yesterday.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent representations he has received regarding the guidance that his Department gives on contaminated land. [12520]

We have received some 300 responses to the consultation document published on 18 September on draft statutory guidance to be issued under part IIA of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what contribution his Department has made to the publication of environmental information under the terms of the open government code. [12521]

On more than 40 occasions environmental information was made available when policy proposals and decisions were announced.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent representations he has received regarding air pollution. [12523]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Hammersmtih (Mr. Soley) earlier today.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received on proposed changes to the calculation of the area cost adjustment. [12524]

During the consultation period on the 1997–98 local government finance settlement I received 87 representations proposed changes to the calculation of the area cost adjustment.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many councils have spent above their capping limit. [12525]

Legally no authority can set a budget above its cap. However, an authority can set a budget above the level of its provisional cap and be designated by the Secretary of State at a level at or below its budget. A total of 46 authorities have done so since 1991–92, of which 17 have been designated at a level above their provisional cap. A local authority's budget for capping purposes excludes some types of spending, such as spending financed by specific grant.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list for each local authority in England the total amount of (a) usable and (b) set-aside capital receipts estimated to be held at 31 March 1996. [13791]

A list of the amounts of accumulated usable capital receipts for each local authority in England at 31 March 1996 has been placed in the Library of the House.Figures for the amounts of set-aside capital receipts are not available. These form part of the provision for credit liabilities, which is reported to the Department, but which also includes amounts set aside from revenue.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total amount spent on local government in North Yorkshire in the year (a) before and (b) after reorganisation. [12526]

The total budgeted net revenue expenditure by authorities in North Yorkshire was (a) £546.3 million in 1995–96 pre-reorganisation, and (b) £568.9 million in 1996–97 post-reorganisation.Comparable pre-and post-reorganisation estimates of capital expenditure are not yet available. However, central Government support—credit approvals and grants—for capital expenditure by authorities in North Yorkshire is estimated as

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he next plans to visit the London borough of Redbridge to discuss local authority spending plans. [12527]

:: I met the London borough of Redbridge on 7 January to discuss its local authority spending plans. I have no plans at present to visit Redbridge My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced details of the 1997–98 local government finance settlement, affecting the spending plans of all local authorities in England, in a written answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Croydon, (Mr. Congdon) North-East on 27 January 1997 Official Report, column 11.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will consult the local authority associations on the arrangements for persons appointed by local authorities to sit on outside bodies being indemnified for their costs in legal actions relating to such bodies. [12528]

The Government have no plans to consult the local authority associations on this matter but will, of course, consider any representations that they may wish to make.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment for how many posts in non-departmental bodies he is responsible for making appointments. [12529]

I am responsible for 962 appointments to 61 non-departmental public bodies.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what account he will take of the Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee report on Nirex's proposals for publication and peer review in his consideration of the inspector's report on Nirex's application to build a rock characterisation facility. [13516]

I am considering the matter.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the amount (a) spent by British Waterways on maintaining the Swansea canal and (b) received by British Waterways from the sale of water to INCO in Clydach, Swansea, in each of the last five years. [13315]

It costs British Waterways £180,000 each year to maintain the canal, of which about half is met by income from the sale of water to INCO.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what sum the Government propose to allocate for maintaining the safety of British waterways in 1997–98. [13445]

British Waterways' grant in aid allocation for 1997–98 is £50.89 million. This includes an extra £5 million in recognition of the backlog of maintenance. It is for the board of British Waterways to determine its priorities for maintenance and ensure the safety of the network.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consultations he has had with (a) environmental, (b) industrial and (c) other non-Governmental organisations, on the United Kingdom's input to the proposed agenda for the United Nations General Assembly special session on the environment to review progress since the Rio earth summit in 1992; and what future consultations he plans. [13851]

My Department issued on 30 December a consultation paper entitled "Five Years On From Rio: Special Session of the UN General Assembly: UK Position Paper". This was sent to a wide range of bodies, including those from industry, environmental and other non-governmental organisations. A copy of the paper was placed in the Library. I will consider the need for further steps in the light of comments received.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the value of grants and financial support (a) disbursed and (b) administered by the Government office for the south-west for each year since its inception. [13881]

Information on GOSW's programme expenditure for 1994–95 and 1995–96 is contained in the office's annual reports. I have arranged for copies to be sent to the hon. Lady.The figures for funding administered through the Government office, as recorded in the annual reports, were: 1994–95—£293.835 million; 1995–96—£324.463 million. The budget for 1996–97 is £388.363 million. This excludes European funding which is not administered on a fiscal basis. The precise manner in which funding is disbursed differs between individual programmes.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what have been the (a) capital and (b) administration costs of the Government office for the south west in (i) Bristol and (ii) Plymouth for each year since its establishment. [13880]

GOSW's running cost expenditure for 1994–95 and 1995–96 is contained in the office's annual reports. I have arranged for copies to be sent to the hon. Lady. More detailed information is available in GO-MINIS 1 and 2, copies of which are available in the Library of this House.For 1994–95 records are not split between Bristol and Plymouth because funding was via the 4 Departments and not through the single accounting system. Capital costs were nil and the final outturn for administrative expenditure was £6,778,000. In 1995–96 the published costs are: £317,000 capital spend in Bristol, £44,700 capital spend in Plymouth; £5,802,400 Bristol and £1,866,300 Plymouth administrative expenditure. To date, the budget allocations for 1996–97 are: for capital spend £68,200 Bristol and £48,300 Plymouth; for administration, £5,252,100 Bristol and £1,886,000 Plymouth.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the schemes funded by his Department relating to energy conservation for retirement pensioners; and what his proposals are in respect of these schemes. [13659]

Our home energy efficiency scheme provides grants for basic home insulation and energy advice for householders aged 60 or over, as well as householders receiving income-related benefits or certain disability allowances. More than 2 million grants under this well-regarded scheme have increased comfort and improved energy efficiency for vulnerable people; £75 million has been allocated for 1997–98, an increase of 3 per cent. on 1996–97, and later this year a revised, improved scheme will be launched. A wider range of energy efficiency measures will be available, giving greater benefits because more appropriate improvements can be offered to individual homes.In addition, we are paying the Energy Saving Trust grant towards a pilot scheme to demonstrate how local authorities and private finance providers in partnership can help pensioners to make energy efficient improvements to their homes.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many applications for planning consent he has called in in each of the years 1994 to 1996, in (a) London and (b) each other region of England; how many of these involved housing; what percentage of these involved (i) mixed tenure and (ii) special needs housing; what was the average length of time taken to reach a decision on the application; how many are still awaiting a decision; and what percentage of those decided have been (1) approved and (2) refused. [13778]

The number of planning applications called in in each Government office region in England in the years 1994 to 1996 is as follows:

	1994	1995	1996
North East	9	4	7
North West	7	10	9
Yorkshire and the Humber	12	15	12
Merseyside	0	4	6
West Midlands	24	7	9
East Midlands	14	17	16
Eastern	25	30	17
South West	34	160	29
South East	5	15	15
London	12	15	14
1 Some 30 of these cases relate to a single site in Devonport. Further applications were called in in 1994–96 in Cornwall. Following the Lees report on the operation of the planning system in North Cornwall, the Government has been monitoring development control in Cornwall as a whole.

In total, the number of call-ins per calendar year for 1994, 1995 and 1996, excluding the Devonport and Cornwall cases, was some 120, 133 and 120 respectively.Of those shown in the table, 85 applications involved housing development of which approximately 9 per cent. involved mixed tenure housing and approximately 13 per cent. special needs housing. Of those applications that have been decided, 38 per cent. were approved and 62 per cent. were refused permission. The Department does not keep information centrally on the average length of time to reach a decision. However, from Government offices' records of those cases called in in 1994 to 1996, the average time to reach a decision following receipt of the inspector's report was 15 weeks; 37 applications are awaiting determination following receipt of the inspector's report.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what guidelines he issues to local authorities concerning the management of their pension funds; [13773](2) if he will collate information on the pension fund managers used by each local authority in England. [13772]

The Local Government Pension Scheme Regulations 1995 set out comprehensive statutory requirements under which local authorities are required to manage their pension funds. The regulations allow authorities to select and appoint to select and appoint external fund managers authorised under the Financial Services Act 1986. Collated information on fund managers is available commercially.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the findings contained in the United Nations environment programme's first global environmental outlook report published on 27 January, in respect of its relevance to the United Kingdom environment and United Kingdom involvement in environmental technology and policy abroad; and if he will place a copy of the report in the Library. [13850]

The Government welcome the first UNEP global environment outlook report, a copy of which I am arranging to have placed in the Library. Assessment and monitoring of the global environment is a core function of UNEP. We very much hope that the current session of the governing council will endorse a refocusing of its overall mandate enabling UNEP to concentrate on its core functions. I shall be attending the governing council myself to set out the United Kingdom's position on this important issue.Overall, the report is pessimistic about the state of the global environment. The UK can, however, be proud of its achievements both at home and in the international arena. We will ensure that the UK continues to implement Agenda 21. We were one of the first countries to publish both a sustainable development strategy and indicators, and annual reports on progress. We will also continue to play a leading part in international discussions on environmental issues, and in encouraging a climate of policy and programmes which stimulates a positive and active contribution by business, for example, in the provision of environmental technology to developing nations.The Prime Minister's recent announcement that he will attend the special session of the United Nations General Assembly in June, demonstrates the Government's commitment to sustainable development and preservation of the environment.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what Her Majesty's Government's policy is on the European Community's SAFE programme; and what position he intends to adopt on it at the Council of Ministers meeting on 25 February. [13917]

The Government supports the general aims of the SAFE programme, but there are a number of detailed budgetary and procedural issues relating to the Commission's amended proposal which have yet to be resolved. The SAFE programme is not on the agenda for adoption at a Council of Ministers meeting on 25 February. It is not clear whether it will appear on the agenda for the Labour and Social Affairs Council meetings on 17 April or 12 June.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions his Department has had with private sector firms during the last year about the possible opencasting of coal in north Warwickshire. [14226]

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he plans to visit the green belt areas on the northern borders of the London borough of Harrow in the constituency of Harrow, East. [12847]

I have no current plans to visit the green belt areas in my hon. Friend's constituency, although I have committed myself to protect them along with the rest of the green belt.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what (a) guidance and (b) resources he is giving to local authorities in respect of the implementation of the Noise Act 1996; and if he will make a statement. [12975]

My Department will be issuing a circular to local authorities to give guidance on the implementation of the Noise Act 1996.We have estimated that the overall additional cost to local authorities in England to enforce the night noise offence would be in the region of £1 million in 1997–98, rising to £3 million in 1999–2000. This assumes a gradual rate of adoption and takes account of the extent of out of hours noise services currently being provided. This was taken into account in the 1997–98 local government finance settlement and in the baselines for future settlements.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when and how he will use his powers under the Housing Act 1996 to help council leaseholders in difficulty with high service charges. [14460]

Research published in 1995 showed that, while the great majority of people who bought their council flat saw it as good value for money, a small proportion were in particular difficulties with service charges which were often much higher than they expected when they bought. Sometimes costly works were needed to maintain or repair large system-built blocks and leaseholders received little or no benefit from the work. In some cases, the landlord had received special assistance—for example, from the estate action programme—to carry out the works, but his leases still obliged him to charge leaseholders.Following public consultation, we have today introduced two measures which will come into force later this month. They will lead to reductions in some of the highest bills for maintenance, repair and improvement works.The first measure is the Social Landlords Discretionary Reduction of Service Charges (England) Directions 1997. This allows local authorities and other social landlords to reduce or waive service charges for past, current and future works of repair, maintenance or improvement carried out with assistance from estate action, city challenge, the single regeneration budget challenge fund or the estates renewal challenge fund, where the assistance was applied for before 25 February. It will also allow them to reduce or waive charges for works—even if they did not receive such special assistance—so that total service charges do not exceed £10,000 for the same property over any five-year period. Landlords will be able to reduce bills, including those which have already been sent out, and they will be able to offer refunds. We have set out criteria that they will have to consider in deciding whether and by how much to reduce charges.The second measure is the Social Landlords Mandatory Reduction of Service Charges (England) Directions 1997. This requires social landlords to charge no more than £10,000 for the same property over any five-year period for repair, maintenance or improvement works carried out with assistance from the single regeneration challenge fund or the estates renewal challenge fund, where assistance is bid for on or after 25 February. They may only charge more if the benefit to the leaseholder from the works exceeds that amount. In some cases, they must charge less. The cost of complying with the mandatory directions can be included in the bid for assistance.The measures use our new powers in sections 219 and 220 of the Housing Act 1996. They will come into force on 25 February 1997. They are being sent to English local authorities and other social landlords, together with detailed guidance on how to comply. This will enable them to bring relief to some of their leaseholders who face difficulties with high bills.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if the Government have responded to the House of Lords Select Committee report on freedom of access to information on the environment. [14498]

I have today published the Government response and I have thanked the committee for its timely report. The Select Committee's report has helped the Government in reviewing the workings of our own environmental information regulations and in reporting to the Commission on the implementation of the EC directive.I am happy to accept most of the committee's recommendations although the majority of these involve revisions to the directive rather than to our own regulations. Although I accept that certain revisions to the regulations and guidance are desirable, I am less clear as to when these might best be made. There are external factors to consider.The Commission is reviewing the directive and changes are possible. We will need to respond to these. However, there is a further complication. Negotiations are proceeding on a UN-EC convention on access to environmental information etc. The final agreed to text will probably necessitate further changes to both the directive and the regulations.That does not mean, though, that we should do nothing now. As the report indicates, the regulations and the open government code of practice are providing the public with improved access to environmental information. I would like this improvement to continue.I accept that access will be significantly extended if there is a more satisfactory machinery for appeals and enforcement. I propose, therefore, to seek ways to establish an independent appeals procedure as a matter of urgency and will give serious consideration to the Select Committee's preference for an information commissioner. I will also ensure that the guidance is revised to cover this change and to improve clarity elsewhere.I have placed copies of our response in the Libraries of both Houses.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will provide assistance to North Devon district council under the Bellwin scheme for the costs incurred in dealing with exceptional storms in October 1996. [14499]

I am satisfied that financial assistance under the Bellwin scheme is justified given the exceptional nature of the storms on 28 October 1996. A scheme will, therefore, be established under section 155 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989. Grant will be paid to cover 85 per cent. of eligible costs which are above a threshold, and which have been incurred by North Devon district council in dealing with the immediate aftermath of those storms.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the statutory functions for which non-metropolitan county councils have ceased to have financial responsibility since the beginning of the financial year 1993–94, indicating in each case the date on which financial responsibility ceased. [13174]

[holding answer 28 January 1997]: Responsibility for funding further education colleges was transferred to further education funding councils on 1 April 1993; responsibility for the Careers Service was transferred to the Secretary of State for Education and Employment on 1 April 1994; the special educational needs tribunal took over responsibility for special educational needs appeals on 1 September 1994; responsibility for police services passed to the new police authorities established on 1 April 1995; and responsibility for waste regulation transferred to the Environment Agency on 1 April 1996.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the Government's policy on referring cases to the European Court of Human Rights following receipt of the opinion of the Commission; and what are the procedures for implementing that policy. [13569]

The handling of each case is decided on its merits, taking into consideration factors such as the opinion of the European Commission of Human Rights and the desirability of obtaining a Court ruling having regard to the potential wider significance of the case.Referral of a case by the Government is by letter from the Government agent to the registrar of the Court in Strasbourg.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what records are kept by his Department of cases brought against the United Kingdom before (a) the European Commission and (b) the European Court of Human Rights; and if he will publish such records. [13567]

The case files relating to each case are of necessity confidential to the Government as a party to the litigation. Proceedings before the Commission are, under its own rules, confidential save to the extern that the Commission publishes its decisions. Court proceedings are in principle public and application for information concerning them may be made to the Court registry.We do not keep a complete record of judgments affecting the UK. A comprehensive list is openly available from the registrar of the European Court of Human Rights. The publication is entitled "Statistics".

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what compliance measures have been taken and by whom in respect of the 1989 European Court of Human Rights case concerning Graham Gaskin; what obligation there is on his Department as regards the timing of compliance measures; when he expects measures to be introduced in respect of the Graham Gaskin case; and what conclusions he has drawn from the Graham Gaskin case as regards policy on compliance. [13574]

We are aware that there has been a delay in implementation of the judgment in the Graham Gaskin case. This is an exception to what is in general an excellent record of prompt compliance with judgments of the European Court of Human Rights. Under the convention, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe oversees the implementation of judgments. Payment of any compensation and costs awarded must be made within three months of the judgment. There is no set limit for any other measures of implementation required, but the committee expects them to be introduced within a reasonable time. We expect measures in respect of the implementation of this case to be in place within the next year.As this is exceptional, the Government see no reason to alter their current practice in relation to the implementation of judgments.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many cases against the United Kingdom before (a) the European Commission and (b) the European Court of Human Rights have involved friendly settlement negotiations in the past 10 years; which cases were settled as a result of friendly settlement negotiations; what were the terms of such settlements; and what is the Government's policy on friendly settlement. [13577]

We keep no consolidated records of the numbers of cases brought against the United Kingdom before the European Commission and Court of Human Rights where friendly settlement was attempted or achieved, nor of the terms of those settlements.We address each case before the ECHR organs on its merits. We support the friendly settlement mechanisms and employ them wherever the circumstances of the case suggest that such a settlement would be negotiable and in the interests of both parties.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the cases brought before the European Court of Human Rights since 1 January 1975 which have resulted in a finding of a violation of the convention on human rights against the United Kingdom, indicating when such findings were made. [13571]

The list is published in the Council of Europe reference charts, "Judgments of the European Court of Human Rights", published in 1995, which is available from the House of Commons Library.The list is accurate to October 1994. Since then, violations have been found in the following cases:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what account is taken of (a) costs of litigation and (b) the consequences of any adverse finding by the European Court of Human Rights in determining the Government's approach to such litigation, including its policy towards friendly settlements. [13579]

We deal with each case before the European Commission and Court of Human rights on its merits. We take a variety of factors into consideration in deciding how to respond to applications, including whether to attempt friendly settlement negotiations. Potential costs and legislative consequences of adverse decisions are two such factors. Their relative weight in deciding the Government's approach will depend on the circumstances of the case under consideration.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will list for each European Court of Human Rights finding requiring United Kingdom legislation or other compliance measures the time taken to introduce such measures, indicating in each case the Government Department principally responsible; what were (a) the average and (b) longest times taken; in how many cases legislation or other compliance measures have not yet been introduced; and what obligations there are on the Government in respect of the time taken to introduce compliance measures; [13572](2) what legislation or other compliance measures have been introduced as a result of findings of violation of the convention on human rights against the Government, specifying in respect of each case the date of the finding and the date and nature of the legislation or other compliance measures introduced. [13580]

We have no consolidated record of the time taken to introduce legislation or other compliance measures in each violation found against the United Kingdom at the European Court of Human Rights.The Council of Europe reference chart book, "Judgments of the European Court of Human Rights," which is available from the House of Commons Library, contains some details of the measures taken by states parties, including the United Kingdom, to implement judgments of the Court, up to the end of 1994.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many cases against the United Kingdom have been referred to the European Court of Human Rights since 1 January 1975; and how many of these were referred by (a) the European Commission and (b) the Government. [13568]

A total of 87 cases against the United Kingdom have been referred to the European Court of Human Rights since 1 January 1975.We do not keep records of the additional information, but whether the Government or Commission or both have referred a case to the court is stated in each judgment, as published by the Council of Europe. These are available in the Library of the House of Commons.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what procedures there are for obtaining advice from other Departments in respect of cases before the European Court of Human Rights. [13578]

The Government agency, who is an FCO official, consults other Government Departments as necessary on cases before the European Court of Human Rights.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the Government's policy as regards the timing of the implementation of legislation or other compliance measures following European Court of Human Rights findings; what guidelines exist for officials in implementing such policy; what steps are taken to ensure that the necessary work is undertaken; and what performance-related sanctions or bonuses exist for officials in this respect. [13573]

According to article 54 of the European convention on human rights, the Committee of Ministers is responsible for supervising the execution of the judgments of the Court. It is Government policy to implement the judgments of the Court as soon as practicable.Responsibility for the effective implementation of ECHR judgments falls to Ministers and not to officials. There are no performance-related bonuses or sanctions for officials in respect of implementation of ECHR judgments.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in how many cases in the past 10 years the Government have considered referring a case to the European Court of Human Rights but decided not to do so; and if he will list each such case. [13570]

We keep no consolidated record of such matters. The formulation of an answer to this question would require considerable research. We have assessed the volume of work involved and concluded that it would involve disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to discuss with British companies the problems associated with investment in Burma. [14003]

Through our officials in London and our embassy in Rangoon we regularly brief UK companies considering investment in Burma on the political and economic factors which may affect their decision.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those satellites controlled by Her Majesty's Government indicating their owners. [13154]

I have been asked to reply.The following satellites are controlled and owned by the UK Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures have been introduced since 1992 to reduce crime; and what assessment he has made of their effectiveness. [13513]

Since 1992, we have continued to develop and implement measures designed to make life more difficult for criminals and easier for law abiding citizens. This has involved major new legislation; substantial changes in the criminal justice system, including the creation of new offences and the revision of penalties so as to ensure that the courts have the powers they need to deal with criminal behaviour; new money for the police and for closed circuit television; the development of new ideas on crime prevention; and the targeting of persistent offenders.We are determined to fight crime effectively and, with full backing for the police, the support of the community, proper emphasis on crime prevention and severe punishment for serious persistent and dangerous offenders, we have demonstrated that progress can be made. Through partnership initiatives to combat crime and the steadfast work of the police, we have seen recorded crime fall by 10 per cent.—a reduction of over half a million offences—for the last three years for which figures are available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for each metropolitan city in 1994–95 and 1995–96 (a) the crime figures and (b) the detection rate by category of crime. [13300]

The table gives the available information for the City of London as a whole, which comprises the Metropolitan police and the City of London police force areas. Information for other cities is not available since the statistics collected centrally on recorded crime are broken down only as far as police force area.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the investigation into transcripts of telephone taps missing from the National Criminal Intelligence Service; and how many transcripts are unaccounted for. [13405]

The Director General of the National Criminal Intelligence Service invited John Stevens, formerly the chief constable of Northumbria police, to conduct an inquiry following a case in which telephone intercept material was supplied unlawfully to defence counsel. He also looked at administrative processes for handling intercept material and future safeguards. The inquiry found no evidence of corrupt practice at NCIS and all the intercept material has been accounted for. The director general has welcomed the inquiry's review of procedures for handling intercept material and all its recommendations are being taken forward.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received about the role of the north-east regional crime squad in the cases of R v. Beriman and R v. Charrington and others; and what action he has taken; and if he will make a statement. [13585]

I have received representations from hon. Members in the case of R v. Charrington but not in the case of R v. Berriman. I have taken no action in either case: the issues raised are within the responsibility of the chief constables of the forces concerned.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what training is given by the Prison Service to people recruited to fill governor grade positions. [13898]

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

Establishment	Type	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997
Acklington	Category C	1					1
Albany	Category B					1
Ashwell	Category C			2
Aylesbury	Young offender institute						1		1
Bedford	Male local	2				1	2
Belmarsh	Male local				1		2
Birmingham	Male local	1	3	1		1	2	1
Blakenhurst	Male local						1	2
Blundeston	Category B						2
Brinsford	Male remand centre			1		1		1
Bristol	Male local	3	1	1	2		1	1
Brixton	Male local	6	1	1	1	3		1
Buckley Hall	Category C							1
Bullingdon	Male local			1			1	1
Camp Hill	Category C	1
Canterbury	Male local				1
Cardiff	Male local		2			2
Chelmsford	Male local					1	1	1
Dartmoor	Category B	1			1	1		2
Deerbolt	Young offender institution			1

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the rate of self-inflicted deaths which have occurred in (a) each prison, (b) each prison type and (c) the prison estate for each year since 1990. [13821]

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