To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress he has made in releasing two bands of 5 MHz in the 410–430 MHz band for civilian use; and if he will make a statement. [14344]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 14 October 1996, Official Report, column 782, which should have made it clear that discussions between MOD and the Radiocommunications Agency, DTI identified channels on two bands of 5 MHz in the 410–430 MHz band that can be made available for civilian use by 1997. A large number of channels in the 410–430 MHz band have been released by MOD.As recognised in the radio spectrum review stage 3 report, there are military systems in the band 410–430 MHz, which cannot be given up or whose frequencies cannot readily be changed. This being the case there is no possibility, at present, of the complete release of all channels within two bands of 5 MHz in the 410–430 MHz band.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the basic elements of specification, with special reference to length, breadth, draught, gross tonnage and propulsion, of the proposed replacement for the royal yacht Britannia. [14421]

The outline specification for the new yacht is currently being drawn up. We expect this process to take about a year, following which an invitation to tender, specifying the detailed requirement, will be issued.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many miles members of the royal family have travelled (a) in the royal yacht Britannia and (b) by other modes of transport supported by public funds in each of the past five years. [14638]

[holding answer 6 February 1997]: The information for royal travel is not available in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the benefits to the United Kingdom of the attendance of the royal yacht Britannia at Cowes; how many days the yacht has attended Cowes in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement. [14509]

[holding answer 10 February 1997]: In the last 10 years Britannia has spent the following number of days at Cowes:

Year	Number of days
1987	0
1988	6
1989	7
1990	6
1991	7
1992	8
1993	7
1994	9
1995	8
1996	8

Britannia's attendance at Cowes has continued the traditional royal patronage of this event, and contributed to the growth of this prestigious international regatta. This in turn benefits the local community around Cowes, in addition to the yachting industry.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the places where the royal yacht has been used to promote British exports and to attract inward investment since 1989, indicating the number of days and dates at each place. [14642]

[holding answer 6 February 1997]: The information requested is as follows:

Date	City	Country	Organisation involved/event
1989
9 March	London	UK	British Invisible Exports Council (BIEC)
5 October	Port Klang	Malaysia	BIEC
1990
30 October	Rio de Janeiro	Brazil	BIEC
11 December	London	UK	General Council of British Shipping
12 December	London	UK	General Council of British Shipping
1991
26–27 April	Belem	Brazil	Environmental Seminar hosted by HRH The Prince of Wales
16 May	Miami	USA	The Motor Industry in Britain
21 May	Tampa	USA	Anglo-American Aerospace Summit (Non-military)
13 June	Lisbon	Portugal	Scottish Financial Enterprise/Locate in Scotland
25 September	London	UK	BIEC
1992
2 June	Civitavecchia	Italy	BIEC
26 June	Leith	UK	Scottish Financial Enterpise/Locate in Scotland
21 October	Stockholm	Sweden	BIEC
1993
25–26 March	Palm Beach	USA, Martinique/St. Lucia	Locate in Scotland/Scottish Office CARITAG— British Overseas Trade Board
12 May	London	UK	London Forum

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many events on the royal yacht Britannia have been sponsored by outside bodies in each of the last five years; if he will list the sponsoring bodies, categorised as in (a) commercial, (b) charitable and (c) other organisations; and if he will make a statement. [14510]

[holding answer 6 February 1997]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave today to the right hon. Member for Swansea, West (Mr. Williams) for the list of sponsored events held aboard Britannia since 1989. Due to the wide variety of organisations represented during individual engagements, it is not possible to categorise the list by groupings.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were the dates in 1977 of the germ warfare tests which involved spraying the city of Southampton with simulants chosen to mimic biological warfare germs; and if he will make a statement. [14599]

This is a matter for the chief executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many complaints about low flying incidents were received by the Royal Air Force centre at Welshpool in each year since 1992. [14848]

The numbers of complaints about military low flying received by the RAF community relations office (Wales) in each year since August 1993, when the post was established, are as follows:

	Number
19931	14
1994	169
1995	225
1996	216
1 August to December.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the effects of budget constraints on the operational effectiveness of the Territorial Army. [14918]

The Territorial Army continues to make an important contribution to the operational effectiveness of our fighting forces. We are confident that the funding it receives is commensurate with the tasks placed upon it.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many items and what percentage of armed forces recruitment publicity material is published in the Welsh language; and if he will make a statement. [14849]

The naval service and the Army produce one general information publication in a number of languages, including Welsh, aimed at parents, teachers and opinion formers. In addition, a Welsh language leaflet is produced for the Welsh Guards. Army advertising in regional newspapers and on local radio is also carried out in Welsh. Certain Welsh regiments produce recruiting material in Welsh. Percentage figures are not available and could be produced only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of armed forces recruitment and publicity material is printed in the Urdu language. [14851]

Each service produces one general information publication in a number of Asian languages, including Urdu, aimed at parents, teachers and opinion formers. Percentage figures are not available and could be produced only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the referrals of the Gulf war veterans to Dr. Kocen at Queen's Square hospital for nervous disorders. [14157]

Following the disclosure that organophosphate pesticides had been used more widely in the Gulf than previously thought, 10 patients whose case histories suggested that they could have, or had, been exposed to pesticides were invited to return to the medical assessment programme—MAP—for a further assessment and a subsequent examination by Dr. Kocen at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery.Six of these patients have either declined the invitation or failed to attend the MAP; all of these have been offered second appointments. Two patients have been seen by the MAP and by Dr. Kocen. One patient has been seen by the MAP and referred to Dr. Kocen; this patient did not attend for his first appointment with Dr. Kocen and cancelled his second appointment. The remaining patient has been given an appointment for the MAP on 10 February.Another 44 veterans, who display certain symptoms which could be consistent with OP pesticide exposure but where there is no indication of exposure, have also been invited to re-attend the MAP, and if clinically appropriate, they will be referred to Dr. Kocen. These patients have all been offered appointments in February or March, except for two patients who have been given appointments in April at their request. Three patients have already been seen by the MAP and one has been referred to Dr. Kocen; the other two did not require further neurological referral.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the investigation into the alleged air near-miss incident over Inverness airport on 29 January involving a Tornado jet; and if he will make a statement. [15186]

This incident is under investigation and a report will be published by the Civil Aviation Authority in due course. Copies of such reports are routinely placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the key targets for 1997–98 for the chief executive of the Army Base Repair Organisation. [15412]

The chief executive of the Army Base Repair Organisation has been set the following key targets for 1997–98:

1. To deliver a responsive repair service, which matches the needs of the customer both in peace and for operations to the agreed timeliness, quantity and quality criteria and offers value for money.

2. To remain with ABRO's allocated budget.

3. To maintain the 1997–98 ratio of labour costs to hours of production at 23 per cent. below the rate of agency launch.

4. To prepare full and cash costs for the significant base repair programmes by 31 March 1998.

5. To Include in ABRO accounts, closing balances as at 31 March 1998 for the cost of spare parts held by the agency.

6. To implement the ABRO system for handling customer feedback and conduct a customer survey.

7. To achieve ABRO land command support market test vesting day within nine months of final ministerial announcement.

8. To evaluate and recommend the CFQ strategy for ABRO Donnington to DGES(A) by 30 April 1997.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to announce the list of those who will serve on Sir Angus Stirling's committee which is to consider the future of the Royal Naval college, Greenwich; and if he will make a statement. [15462]

The Government decided last September to create a charitable trust to take over the responsibility for protecting the Royal Naval college, Greenwich, ensuring that it will be used in a fitting way to reflect the importance of the college to the nation's heritage and enhancing public access and enjoyment. It subsequently announced that Sir Angus Stirling would be the chairman of the trust.We have now agreed that the body known as the Greenwich Foundation for the Royal Naval college should be registered as a charitable company limited by guarantee, with its stated objective as

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS dentists derive (a) more than 75 per cent. and (b) more than 90 per cent. of their fee income from orthodontic work. [12379]

The information requested is not available centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 28 January, Official Report, column 161, how many dentists were attached to the dental reference service in each year since 1990. [15137]

The information requested is shown in the table.

Date	Number of dental reference service dental officers
31 March 1990	31
31 March 1991	26
31 March 1992	29
31 March 1993	30
31 March 1994	34
31 March 1995	37
31 March 1996	38
31 March 1997	158
1 Estimate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what information has been obtained by his Department about the policy and procedures adopted by local authorities in respect of access to pre-1989 personal social services records; [13507](2) if he will make a statement on access to pre-1989 personal social services records in respect of each local authority for which information is available. [13502]

Legislation made in 1987 and 1989 gives people specific rights of access to, respectively, computerised and manual records held on them by social services departments, subject to some exemptions. While there is no statutory right of access to information compiled before these dates, the Department's general policy set out in various guidance from 1987 onwards is that authorities should give access to as much personal information as possible.It is the responsibility of each local authority to implement the Department's policy on access to personal social services records and information on practices of individual authorities is not held centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what guidance his Department has given local authorities concerning access to personal records subsequent to, and in the light of, the Graham Gaskin case; [13505](2) what is his Department's policy on access to pre-1989 personal social services records; and how that policy has changed since the 1989 judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in the Graham Gaskin case. [13504]

Legislation made in 1987 and 1989 gives people specific rights of access to, respectively, computerised and manual records held on them by social services departments, subject to some exemptions. The Department's general policy set out in various guidance from 1987 onwards is that authorities should give access to as much personal information as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what obligations there are on local authorities to make public their policies and procedures on access to personal records; and how such matters are monitored by his Department. [13501]

Guidance to local authorities on access to personal records—local authority circular (89)2—says that authorities should publicise the fact that individuals have the right to information subject to certain safeguards and tell people how to apply for access. Authorities should also consider whether special publicity is needed for people unable to speak English. It is the responsibility of each local authority to implement the Department's policy on access to personal social services records and information on practices of individual authorities is not held centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he or his officials will seek to obtain the views on access to pre-1989 personal social services records of persons currently seeking access to such records. [13503]

No. We have asked all local authorities to implement the Department's guidance on access to social services records.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what work his Department has undertaken in respect of compliance measures following the judgment in Graham Gaskin's case; what were the number and level of officials involved; what time scale was imposed by Ministers for the work; and what steps have been taken by Ministers in consequence of the work. [13506]

In their White Paper on open government, the Government proposed to create new rights of access to personal information held by Government and other public sector organisations, and to establish an independent review body to consider any cases where access is refused. This would meet the issues raised by the European Court of Human Rights' judgment in the Gaskin case. The Government are still committed to introducing legislation to implement these proposals as soon as the parliamentary timetable allows.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the hospitality budget for (a) his Department and (b) the NHS management executive for each year since 1989. [13755]

There is no hospitality budget for the Department and its agencies or the national health service executive, which is part of the Department.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many casualty units there were in each year since 1989. [13648]

The information is not available in the form requested.Casualty unit is not a term used in the national health service. It is a colloquialism which could cover anything from minor injuries unit to a full trauma centre.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if there is compulsory competitive tendering in the national health service. [14346]

Since 1983 there has been a requirement to market test cleaning, catering and laundry services, at regular intervals, through a competitive tendering process.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to extend the practice of prostate brachytherapy within the NHS. [14356]

None. The practice of prostate brachytherapy is a matter for clinical decision in discussion with the patient.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what instructions he gives to health trusts regarding visits to (a) hospitals and (b) other medical centres, with special reference to when the closure of the hospital or centre is being considered; [14673](2) what steps he proposes to take

Visits to trust premises are a matter for local management. Health authorities are however required to consult local interests over any proposal substantially to change services.The code of practice on openness states:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons hospital beds in Norfolk are currently being closed. [14824]

It is for health authorities and trusts locally to calculate the number of beds needed to respond to the needs of patients, taking account of a wide range of factors. The hon. Member may wish to contact Mr. John Alston, CBE, chairman of East Norfolk health authority and Mr. John Durance, chairman of North-West Anglia authority, for details of changes in bed provision for that area.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many operations have been postponed in Norfolk in the last year for which figures are available. [14825]

The number of operations cancelled in Norfolk can be found in "Information on Cancelled Operations and Breaches of the Patient's Charter Standard". Copies of this document are available in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the annual change in the number of patients in the Trent region who have had operations cancelled (a) on the day they were due to go into hospital and (b) after admission since 1994–95. [15017]

Information on operations cancelled for non-medical reasons on the day a patient is due to be admitted, or after admission, is available in the Library.

Deaths at Rotherham District General Hospital, by day and by age
11995
Age group	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday
1	1	1	1	3	—	4	4
1–19	—	—	2	—	—	—	—
20–39	2	—	3	5	4	4	1
40–59	18	12	13	15	15	14	9
60–64	7	14	12	10	17	19	17
65–69	22	16	22	22	21	20	15
70–74	30	33	33	39	34	32	32
75–79	35	26	32	38	30	34	40
80–84	33	30	45	30	38	27	30
85 and over	39	33	33	36	45	27	25
All ages	187	165	196	198	204	181	173
1 In 1995, there were 53 Sundays and 52 occurrences of each other weekday.

11996
Age group	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday
1	—	—	2	1	1	—	—
1–19	1	1	—	1	1	1	1
20–39	1	—	—	—	1	1	—
40–59	8	1	4	3	10	3	4
60–64	9	3	1	6	2	4	4
65–69	16	13	5	7	10	6	9
70–74	10	18	23	14	21	12	15
75–79	21	18	9	17	19	24	12
80–84	23	21	21	23	15	27	19
85 and over	19	14	19	28	17	17	20
All ages	108	89	84	100	97	95	84
1 During the period covered in this table (January to June), each weekday had 26 occurrences.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when his Department ceased collecting and holding centrally details of total numbers of hospital closures; what is the latest period since 1979 for which such figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [15170]

Information was collected on hospital closures until 1991. From that time responsibility for local closures has been devolved to health authorities and trusts, taking into account local priorities. A list of those substantial variations in services that have been contested by community health councils is available in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list, by age, the number of deaths occurring at Rotherham district general hospital in 1995 and 1996 on (a) Monday, (b) Tuesday, (c) Wednesday, (d) Thursday, (e) Friday, (f) Saturday and (g) Sunday. [14278]

I have been asked to reply.The information requested falls within the responsibility of the chief executive of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list those EU countries with lower perinatal mortality rates than the United Kingdom. [12035]

I have been asked to reply.The information requested falls within the responsibility of the chief executive of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) on how many occasions she or her Department have approached lottery distribution boards or grant recipients to arrange for her to make presentations of awards; what were the occasions; and who were the recipients;[14593](2) how many lottery awards she has personally presented; who were the recipients; on what dates the presentations were made; and what sums were involved. [14594]

It is central to the role of Ministers that they promote the work of the Department and its associated bodies. The national lottery, and the awards made by the independent distributing bodies, are an important part of that work. It is only right, therefore, they should take the opportunity to draw attention to the excellent work being done by these bodies around the country. This can include involvement in the presentation of lottery awards.The Department does not keep records of the occasions when Ministers have been associated with such presentations.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage is she will provide a regional breakdown of lottery grants in respect of each of the five good causes.[14368]

Awards totalling over £2.8 billion have been made to 18,769 projects throughout the United Kingdom. I have arranged for a regional breakdown to be placed in the Libraries of the House.

To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, representing the Church Commissioners, if the commissioners have received the memorandum "Reasons why the Draft Pensions Measure is not Expedient" from the Parishes Protection Group; and if he will make a statement. [14973]

The commissioners have received this memorandum which has, I understand, been circulated to members of the parliamentary Ecclesiastical Committee. The commissioners do not accept the assertions in the memorandum, and will advise the Ecclesiastical Committee accordingly. I am arranging for a copy of a note setting out the position to be sent to the hon. Member.The proposals for the new arrangements for financing clergy pensions come with the support of the Church Commissioners, the Church of England Pensions Board, the Central Board of Finance, the Diocesan Boards of Finance and the General Synod, which gave final approval to the draft measure in November 1996 on an almost unanimous vote. The proposals reflect detailed and prolonged consultations and independent actuarial advice.

To ask the Attorney-General (1) how many occasions, in the last year for which figures are available, the Crown Prosecution Service acted on the suggestion of a defendant that in exchange for pleading guilty to the charge of careless and inconsiderate driving, proceedings against the defendant on the charge of causing death by dangerous driving would be dropped; [14881](2) if he will list the number of occasions in the past five years on which drivers who have caused a driving-related fatality have been charged with the offence of careless and inconsiderate driving in place of causing death by dangerous driving by the Crown Prosecution Service in order to ensure that a conviction is obtained; [14877](3) how many occasions, in the last year for which figures are available, the Crown Prosecution Service offered defendants the opportunity to enter a guilty plea to the charge of careless and inconsiderate driving in substitution for proceeding against the defendant on the indictment of causing death by dangerous driving. [14880]

Charges in any particular case should reflect the seriousness of the offending and should give the court adequate sentencing powers. The selection of charges is governed by the evidential and public interest criteria contained in the code for Crown prosecutors; and prosecutors are assisted in relation to offences of the nature mentioned by the hon. Member by the driving offences charging standard adopted in March 1996 by the Crown Prosecution Service in agreement with the Association of Chief Police Officers.Where the Crown Prosecution Service subsequently decides not to pursue all the charges originally preferred, this will usually be because changed circumstances have made it impracticable to proceed or have brought about a revised assessment of the evidential or public interest test.Detailed information of the nature sought by the hon. Member is recorded only on individual case files and is not collected or collated centrally. It could therefore be made available only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many times a year on average the interdepartmental Cabinet and Ministerial Sub-committee on Health Strategy has met since it was formed. [13376]

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 proceedings of Cabinet committees are not published.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on developments in relation to financial support from the Government for the rebuilding of Manchester city centre following the IRA bombing. [15100]

I was delighted to announce this morning that the Government will give Manchester the funds required to implement the scheme chosen to regenerate Manchester city centre. We shall provide £43 million over the next three years, in addition to £20 million of European funds announced last summer.I expect these contributions to unlock very substantial investment by the private sector—around £345 million in total.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the result of the discussions with the Department of Health on post mortem and pathology guidelines referred to in his answer of 16 April 1996, Official Report, column 362; and if he will make a statement. [14420]

Specific discussions about the disposal of body organs removed in the course of a coroner's post mortem await the outcome of a wider assessment of coroners' pathology arrangements, and liaison between the Departments on these matters continues.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list each voluntary group part or wholly funded by his Department in the last two years for which the information is available and the amount of money received by each group in that period. [14147]

Home Office funding of voluntary organisations amounted to £59,204,588 in 1993–94 and to £61,043,280 in 1994–95. I have placed in the Library lists of such organisations funded by the Home Office in each of those two years and the amounts which they received. The lead responsibility within Government in relation to the voluntary sector transferred to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for National Heritage on 1 May 1996.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many asylum seekers were held at Her Majesty's prison, Doncaster in each month since January 1996; [14596](2) what was the average length of time spent in custody by asylum seekers held at HMP Doncaster during 1996. [14589]

Information on the number of asylum seekers detained—under sole Immigration Act powers—at Her Majesty's prison, Doncaster for selected dates during 1996 is given in the table.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals he has to discuss the zero rating for VAT purposes of recombinant factor 8 blood products with the EC Commission. [11206]

None. We are not permitted to extend the scope of our existing VAT zero rates under the terms of the EC sixth VAT directive agreed in 1977 by the then Labour Government.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer Luxembourg what representations he has received from Customs and Excise about the role of the north-east regional crime squad in the cases of R v. Beriman and R v. Charrington and others; and if he will make a statement. [13584]

HM Customs and Excise tells me that an inquiry was initiated into the conduct of two of the police officers after they had given evidence in the R v. Beriman trial. Aspects of the R v. Charrington and others case are the subject of an inquiry commissioned by the chief constable of Cleveland.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the rates of VAT in each of the member states of the European Union for each of the main commodities and services. [13758]

The table details the standard rate and reduced rates of VAT in each member state of the European Community, with the main items that are subject to those reduced rates. All other goods and services, unless exempt from VAT, are ordinarily subject to the standard rate.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the number of people who have taken out travel insurance from (a) an insurance broker and (b) a travel agent in the last month for which figures are available. [13658]

Calculations of revenue changes resulting from the Budget proposal were derived from information on premiums published by the Association of British Insurers.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 29 January, Official Report, columns 234–35, (1) concerning insurance, if he will state (a) the extent of the increase in margins resulting from inflating the price of VAT-exempt insurance supplied in association with vatable goods and services, and (b) the normal margins in (i) the retail and (ii) the tour operating part of the travel industry; and what evidence he has that margins on insurance provided by the travel industry have changed since the introduction of insurance tax, and that such change has resulted from tax avoidance; [14112](2) if he will publish the data which supports his statement that there is a widespread practice of inflating the price of VAT-exempt insurance supplied in association with vatable goods and services; and if he will list

[holding answer 3 February 1997]: The practice of inflating the price of VAT-exempt insurance premiums is commonplace in certain industry sectors, including the travel industry, and cases are too numerous to list. A mark-up of 100 per cent. on travel insurance is regularly applied by tour operators and travel agents and mark-ups of this size have been reported in the travel press. The basic pricing structure of the industry—low margin on holiday, high margin on insurances—is not disputed by industry representatives. The result of this pricing policy is that a typical travel insurance policy for a two-week European holiday purchased from a travel agent or tour operators costs about £30. A similar policy can be purchased elsewhere for half that price. There has never been any suggestion that the margins on insurance products provided by the travel industry were materially changed by the introduction of insurance premium tax.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what external legal advice he took before introducing a differential rate of insurance premium tax; and with which external bodies he consulted on this matter. [11468]

[holding answer 22 January 1997]: Extensive consultations with industry took place prior to the Budget concerning measures to counter VAT avoidance by various sectors that were misusing the VAT exemption for insurance. However, as is usual with tax-raising Budget measures, no external consultation took place on the insurance premium tax rate changes before the Budget announcement. Since that announcement, Ministers and officials have had numerous meetings with representative bodies for those affected by these changes.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received about the advantages enjoyed by insurers, brokers and agents over independent travel agencies in respect of rates of insurance premium tax; and if he will make it his policy to impose a common rate of tax in the holiday insurance market. [13342]

[holding answer 4 February 1997]: I have received a number of representations about the proposal to apply a higher rate of insurance premium tax to travel insurance sold through travel agents. This is an important element of the proposed higher rate which will address, on a wider front, the current VAT loss caused by certain suppliers applying disproportionately high margins to VAT-exempt insurance when sold with vatable goods and services. Since this VAT loss cannot arise when insurance is sold in isolation by insurers or specialist insurance intermediaries, such sales have not been included within the scope of the higher rate.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much value added tax is paid by the Government of the Isle of Man to the Exchequer; and if he will make a statement. [13873]

In normal circumstances, the Government of the Isle of Man do not pay any VAT to the Exchequer, but under the revenue-sharing agreement of the Isle of Man Act 1979, the Isle of Man has contributed the following amounts of net VAT receipts during the past three financial years.

• 1993–94: £20,157,399
• 1994–95: £24,100,764
• 1995–96: £22,481,096.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the effect of his Department's policies on the residents of Bournemouth since 1992, with special reference to the effects of changes in the resources provided in real terms. [14945]

Bournemouth is sharing fully in the success of the British economy, which is enjoying a combination of low inflation, falling unemployment, low mortgage rates and rising living standards not seen for a generation. Claimant unemployment in Bournemouth has halved in the past four years, from 11.9 per cent. of the work force in December 1992 to 5.8 per cent. in December 1996, and is now well below the national average. The Treasury does not provide resources directly to local areas.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what factors underlie the decision of Her Majesty's Customs and Excise to decline to allow exemption from landfill tax for all construction sites where contaminated soil is removed; how many such refusals of exemption have so far been indicated; what tax revenues he expects to raise as a result of those decisions; and if he will indicate the legal basis for those decisions. [11366]

[holding answer 20 January 1997]: In granting the exemption, Her Majesty's Customs and Excise needs to be satisfied that the applicant is carrying out, or intending to carry out, a reclamation of land rather than simply carrying out a construction project. It takes into account the presence of pollutants in the waste, the amount of waste being removed compared with the amount that needs to be removed in order to carry out the construction, and whether all the waste would be removed from an area wider than the actual construction area. Each case is individually considered, bearing in mind all relevant factors.It is not possible in the time available to break down the number of refusals by reason. As at 6 January 1997, the total number of applications refused was 83. Applications that are not eligible for the exemption do not raise additional landfill tax revenue. The potential landfill tax payable if wastes arising from refused applications are landfilled amounted to £35,595,713 as at 6 January 1997. The legal basis for decisions to refuse an application for exemption is failure to meet the qualifying provisions contained in sections 43A and 43B of the Finance Act 1996 as inserted by article 3 of the Landfill Tax (Contaminated Land) Order 1996 (SI 1996 No. 1529).

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many applications have so for been received for landfill tax exemption certificates; in how many of those cases such a certificate (a) has been granted, (b) has been refused and (c) is still under consideration; and in how many cases of refusals applicants have lodged, or indicated an intention to lodge, an appeal. [13598]

[holding answer 30 January 1997]: HM Customs and Excise has received 542 applications for landfill tax exemption certificates. Certificates have been granted for 153 applications, refused for 92 applications, and 297 applications are still under consideration. An applicant who wants customs to reconsider a refusal must ask in writing for a formal review within 45 days of the refusal. Customs has received five such requests. Applicants who initially voice their dissatisfaction with a decision may choose not to take the matter any further, and customs does not record informal indications that an appeal is being considered.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his reply of 23 January, Official Report, column 685, if his statement that eligibility for exemption from landfill tax of construction sites where land is contaminated was never intended to be automatic is consistent with Her Majesty's Government's previous statements on these matters; what recent representations he has received on this point; and if he will make a statement. [13596]

[holding answer 30 January 1997]: It was, and remains, the Government's intention that all waste arising from the reclamation of contaminated land, where the reclamation qualifies for exemption under the Landfill Tax (Contaminated Land) Order 1996, should be exempt from Landfill tax. Waste arising from construction after the land has been reclaimed is not exempt, nor was it ever intended that it should be. I understand the Building Employers Confederation is in correspondence with HM Customs and Excise on some issues of interpretation of the dividing line between reclamation and construction.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the implications of the legal case Pepper v. Hart for the interpretation of the Landfill Tax (Contaminated Land) Order 1996 in the context of previous correspondence with the construction industry; and if he will make a statement. [13597]

[holding answer 30 January 1997]: I understand that the Building Employers Confederation, in correspondence with HM Customs and Excise, has quoted Pepper v. Hart in questioning customs' interpretation of the Landfill Tax (Contaminated Land) Order 1996. Pepper v. Hart establishes that statements made by a Minister or other promoter of a Bill with, if necessary, such other parliamentary material as was necessary to understand such statements and their effects, may be relied upon to interpret a statutory provision which is ambiguous, obscure or which leads to absurdity. The case did not concern interpretation of a statutory instrument. In Pickstone v. Freemans—PLC (1989) AC 66—the House of Lords, in construing a statutory instrument, had regard to what was said by the Minister who initiated the debate on the regulations. Neither Pepper v. Hart nor Pickstone v. Freemans considered whether correspondence from a Minister prior to the introduction of the relevant legislation could be relied upon. Such correspondence does not constitute parliamentary material.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what method the overseas trade statistics listing exports of live farm animals by species have been derived for (a) 1993, (b) 1994, (c) 1995 and (d) 1996. [13551]

[holding answer 31 January 1997]: Overseas trade statistics for exports from the United Kingdom to countries outside the European Community are compiled from customs declarations made to HM Customs and Excise by exporters and their agents.Overseas trade statistics for dispatches from the United Kingdom to other members of the European Community are compiled from returns sent by traders and their agents to the tariff and statistical office of HM Customs and Excise through the Intrastat system. The Intrastat system was established in 1993.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will arrange for the number of electors in each constituency to be placed in the Library following the publication of the final electoral registers on 16 February. [14252]

[holding answer 6 February 1997]: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the chief executive of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the 1995–96 outturn figure for the external financing requirements of each of the nationalised industries. [14513]

[holding answer 6 February 1997]: The 1995–96 outturn figure for the external financing requirements of each nationalised industry was given in the "Financial Statement and Budget Report" published on 26 November last year. The latest figure will be published in "Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses" on 20 March.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what factors underlay the differences in hisestimate for the first year revenue yield from the 50 per cent. rate of income tax on taxable incomes as between his answers of 1 November 1996, Official Report, column 279, and 28 January, Official Report, column 143. [14490]

[holding answer 6 February 1997]: The main factor affecting the change in estimated yields is that the answer of 28 January refers to 1997–98 income levels whereas the answer of 1 November 1996 refers to 1996–97 income levels. Earnings are estimated to grow between the two years, which increases the number of taxpayers affected and therefore increases the yield.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the running costs of Dorneywood in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [14618]

[holding answer 7 February 1997]: Dorneywood is financed and administered by the Dorneywood Trust, a private trust for which I am not responsible.

To ask the Prime Minister how many people are employed by his Department to provide advice on the application of equal opportunities, and at what cost, in the last year for which figures are available. [14463]

For these purposes my office is part of the Cabinet Office. I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Paymaster General, Office of the Public Service, on 7 February, Official Report, columns 734–35.

To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 5 February, Official Report, column 609, concerning travel costs, for what reasons comparable data for 1983 to 1987 are not available; and if he will make a statement. [15169]

Comparable data for 1983 to 1987 are not available because it is departmental policy, which accords with the guidance in "Government Accounting" and the requirements of the National Audit Office, to destroy financial records after five years.

To ask the Prime Minister how his salary compares in percentage terms, after adjusting for inflation, with that of the Prime Minister of 30 years ago; what is the corresponding figure for Cabinet Ministers; and how much average real incomes for the population as a whole have increased in percentage terms over the same period. [15018]

The information requested is as follows:

• Prime Minister's salary: decrease 48.3 per cent.
• Cabinet Minister's salary: decrease 36 per cent.
• Average earnings: increase 66.7 per cent.

All percentages are adjusted for inflation and are taken between December 1970—the earliest for which average earnings information is available—and December 1996.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will provide a breakdown of the spending by the Cabinet Office on external advice in relation to the Scott inquiry, indicating how much has been spent on legal advice and from whom it was obtained. [14533]

[holding answer 6 February 1997]: No payments have been made by the Cabinet Office for external advice, including legal advice, in relation to the Scott inquiry.

To ask the Prime Minister what was the total cost of salaries since 1992 paid to persons in the Cabinet Office employed on a part-time or full-time basis in any capacity relating to the Scott inquiry. [14532]

[holding answer 6 February 1997]: The direct salary cost of officials within the Cabinet Office wholly employed on matters relating to the Scott inquiry from December 1992 to September 1996 was approximately £554,500. Since October 1996, no officials within the Cabinet Office have been wholly employed on Scott inquiry-related matters, although some officials have inevitably been involved on an occasional basis as part of their normal duties; the direct salary cost of their involvement is unquantifiable.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list by country the ministerial visits made to Latin America by his Government in (a) 1995 and (b) 1996. [14854]

[holding answer 7 February 1997]: Visits made by Ministers to Latin America were as follows:

Month	Country	Minister
1995
January	Brazil	Secretary of State for Employment (Mr. Portillo)
February	Brazil Panama Colombia	Minister of State Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Mr. Davis)
March	Uruguay	Baroness Trumpington
May	Argentina	Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Welsh Office(Mr. Richards)
	Brazil Mexico	Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Mr. Hunt)
	Peru Colombia	Minister of Trade (Mr. Needham)
July	Argentina	Baroness Trumpington
	Peru	Minister of Defence (Earl Howe)
September	Mexico	Minister of State, Department for National Heritage (Lord Inglewood)
	Mexico	Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Sir Nicholas Bonsor)
	Peru Argentina Brazil Chile	Secretary of State for the Environment (Mr Gummer)
	Venezuela	Minister of State at the Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Fraser)
	Argentina Brazil	Minister of State for Education(Lord Henley)
	Cuba	Minister of State at the Department of Trade and Industry (Mr. Taylor)
November	Peru Colombia	Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Sir Nicholas Bonsor)
	Colombia	Minister of Health (Mr. Sackville)