To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee what plans he has to provide a unisex hairdresser in the House of Commons. [15184]

At its meeting on 28 January, the Committee recommended that the existing barber's shop become a unisex operation. The Serjeant at Arms has been instructed to consult all interested parties, with a view to implementing the Committee's recommendation at the earliest opportunity.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what measures he has introduced to reduce the manpower shortfall in the Army. [13713]

We have introduced a range of measures to improve recruitment and retention in the Army. These are already having an effect, with recruitment significantly improved on last year's performance.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is Britain's share of the world market for exports of defence-related equipment. [13728]

Provisional figures show that exporters of British defence equipment achieved around 25 per cent. of the world market in 1996, on all-time best for British industry.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to encourage cadet corps in (a) schools and (b) elsewhere. [13729]

The Government are considering ways of increasing the scope of the cadet forces to allow even more young people to benefit from voluntary membership. A thorough examination of where resources can be most effectively applied is currently under way.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current strength of the sea cadet, Army cadet and the Air Force cadet units. [13730]

The current strengths of these cadet forces total 22,375 adults, and 88,780 cadets. I have placed a breakdown of these figures in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent representations he has received on a replacement for the royal yacht. [13731]

A number of representations have been received concerning the future royal yacht, including several inquiries from industry and a substantial volume of letters from members of the public.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many contracts valued at over £1 million have been signed on the royal yacht Britannia in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [14635]

[holding answer 6 February 1997]: This information is not held centrally but, as an illustrative example, during Britannia's visit to Bombay in November 1993, contracts worth £1.2 billion were signed on board.I should explain that while other contracts have certainly been completed aboard Britannia, the primary purpose of her export promotion activities is in initiating and fostering commercial contracts rather than providing a venue for the formal signature of contracts.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whom he consulted prior to the announcement on the replacement for the royal yacht. [13721]

There were widespread consultations within Government, both at official and ministerial level, prior to the announcement on 22 January.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the commercial functions which took place on the royal yacht Britannia in each of the last three years and the companies involved; and if he will make a statement. [15010]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the right hon. Member for Swansea, West (Mr. Williams) on 10 February, Official Report, columns 2–4.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which United Kingdom companies made use of visits by HMY Britannia in 1996 to promote their business. [15204]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the right hon. Member for Swansea, West (Mr. Williams) on 10 February, Official Report, columns 2–4.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's estimate of the manpower of the Royal Navy on 1 April 1999. [13732]

It is estimated that the strength of the Royal Navy, including the Royal Marines, will be 44,000 on 1 April 1999.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement concerning the withdrawal of his Department's booklet in respect of the use by ramblers of the MOD estate. [13733]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 12 December 1996, Official Report, column 347.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the benefits resulting from the establishment of a joint rapid deployment force. [13734]

The establishment of the joint rapid deployment force has enhanced dramatically our fighting capability by creating a joint force trained and equipped to respond effectively and speedily to future crises.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to enhance the fighting capability of the Royal Navy. [13735]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 14 January, Official Report, column 223.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the Eurofighter will be ready for service. [13736]

Our intention is that the first Eurofighter will be delivered to the RAF in December 2001.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action his Department is taking to ensure that service men remain in the armed forces after marriage. [13737]

We fully recognise the importance of retaining married service personnel within the armed forces. Consequently, a wide range of incentives exists to retain and support service personnel who are married and who may have families. One of the most important is the provision of subsidised family accommodation that is located close to the service person's place of duty. These are usually in the form of married quarter estates, which allow service personnel and their families to live together in a safe and convenient community that is supported by voluntary welfare services. The armed forces also support home ownership by offering beneficial loans to service personnel and, in association with industry, a savings scheme and preferential mortgage package.Various allowances are also targeted at married service personnel and their families. These range from assistance with boarding school education for families who are most affected by frequent moves to allowances which provide financial recompense for the disturbance caused by moving and those which compensate for the extra cost of living when serving abroad.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent estimate he has made of Chinese military strength; and if he will make a statement. [13738]

The Chinese armed forces are the largest in the world, with a strength of about 3 million. These are being reduced in size as part of a wider modernization plan which aims to create better equipped and more mobile conventional forces and to update China's missile forces and strategic nuclear arsenal. The size of the People's Liberation Army and of the Chinese military-industrial complex none the less means that modernisation will be a selective and gradual process.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the role of cruise and Pershing missiles in the defence of NATO in 1983–84. [13739]

The introduction of cruise and Pershing missiles played an essential part in maintaining NATO's deterrent posture at a time when the Soviet Union was modernising and increasing its nuclear forces. Deployment of these systems paved the way for the successful conclusions of the intermediate nuclear forces treaty in 1987.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when United Kingdom forces last deployed land mines. [13740]

We do not give details of the operational deployment of mines. Any such deployments, however, would be in accordance with the international laws of armed conflict and prevailing Government policy.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the progress of the Trident programme. [13741]

The Trident programme continues to make good progress and remains on time and within budget. The third submarine of the class, HMS Vigilant, has been commissioned and is engaged in work-up and trials prior to entering service. The fourth boat, Vengeance, remains under construction and is due to enter service early in the next century.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the role of the West Indies guard ship in combating the drugs trade. [13742]

In addition to her other duties, the West Indian guard ship, WIGS, together with her Royal Fleet Auxiliary tanker, makes a very considerable and valuable contribution to the fight against drug trafficking in the Caribbean. WIGS has in recent years been directly involved in the interception of substantial amounts of illegal drugs in the region.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the role of an independent nuclear deterrent in the defence of the United Kingdom. [13722]

Our nuclear deterrent continues to provide the ultimate guarantee of this nation's security.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to maintain at its present annual value the provision under the armed forces individual resettlement refund scheme for service men and women to participate in a self development education scheme to prepare them for return to civilian life. [15107]

The three services are keen for their personnel to participate in self-development education schemes. Two key measures by which service men and women are encouraged and assisted to obtain recognised skills and qualifications that will help them in their transition to civilian life are the individual refund scheme and the individual resettlement training costs grant.The IRS allows service personnel to claim a refund of a significant proportion of the fees for approved education—personal development courses each year throughout their service. IRS may also be used specifically for resettlement purposes within the last 30 months of service. The regulations under which the IRS may be claimed were broadened in 1996 to accommodate a wider range of educational and vocational awards such as national vocational qualifications.The IRTC scheme provides eligible personnel with a source of funding for resettlement purposes—for example training courses of up to four weeks—undertaken in the last nine months of an individual's service. IRS and IRTC may not be used together during the final year, unless IRS is used to help fund an examination fee for a recognised qualification in civilian life.We have no plans at present to revise the value of these grants but, as with all aspects of the defence budget, they are subject to review to ensure that they continue to serve their purpose in the most cost-effective manner.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to make an announcement regarding the sale of Devonport dockyard; and if he will make a statement. [15249]

I am pleased to say that we will today be signing the sale contract for Devonport Royal Dockyard PLC, DRD, with Devonport Management Ltd., DML. This document also binds DML to agreed terms and conditions on project D154, the future facilities for the provision of nuclear refuelling and refitting at Devonport.DML will be paying £40.3 million for the dockyard. The sale represents value for money for the taxpayer in excess of £40 million over 10 years and will transfer responsibility to DML for the provision of fully operable and licensable nuclear facilities to support Trident and other nuclear submarines into the next century. It will also provide DML and its work force with greater opportunities for commercial diversification.We have completed consultation with the trade unions and will complete once we have received the necessary nuclear and other authorisations.I am also pleased to inform the House that, following the signature of Rosyth sale contract with Babcock International Group on 12 December, which my right hon. Friend announced to the Scottish Grand Committee on 25 November, the sale was completed on 30 January. Both these deals represent good value for money and are good news for the taxpayer.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 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. [14476]

My Department employs a total of 10 people in central branches to provide policy advice on the application of equal opportunities for both service and civilian personnel at a total annual salary cost of some £312,000. Additional advice is provided at working level throughout the Department and its agencies by service and civilian equal opportunities officers, many of whom undertake the task in addition to other duties. Information about the total number and cost of people employed in this latter role is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Promoting equal opportunities is something to which we attach a high priority in my Department, both among the armed forces and among civilian staff. We continue to make it clear, through policy statements and other initiatives, that this is an area where all personnel, irrespective of rank or grade, have responsibilities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many decisions by his Department were challenged through judicial review in Session 1995–96; and in how many cases (a) the Department's decision was upheld by the court, (b) the court found for the applicant, (c) the Department submitted to the judgment and (d) the Department appealed successfully against the judicial review decision. [14372]

Five decisions were challenged through judicial review in the Session 1995–96.My Department's decision was upheld by the court in one case; in another case the petitioner was refused leave to move for judicial review; and, in a third, the petitioner withdrew the application, after being given leave. Two further cases had yet to be considered by the court at the end of the Session. In one of these the application for leave had not yet been heard, and in the other it was substantive application that had not yet been heard.There were no cases in which the court found for the applicant. There were, therefore, no cases in which the question of an appeal by my Department arose.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will conduct a study of the financial costs of NATO enlargement. [14778]

I refer the hon. Member to the communiqué issued by NATO Defence Ministers in December 1996, a copy of which is being placed in the Library. The relevant NATO authorities have been tasked to undertake military analyses and resource assessments of the implications of NATO enlargement. Work is in hand to allow the UK to contribute fully to the continuing debate, in NATO and elsewhere.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence to which policy initiative he has devoted most funding in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement on progress with each initiative. [14668]

The information is not available in the form requested. Details of the Department's policy initiatives are set out in successive statements on the Defence Estimates, copies of which are in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the (a) planned expenditure in 1997–98 and (b) actual expenditure in the most recent year for which figures are available, by his Department and its agencies on defence-related research and development and contracts in Northern Ireland in 1997–98. [13951]

Central records show that over 100 defence-related contracts were placed in Northern Ireland in 1995–96, the last year for which figures are available. Research and development expenditure is not separately identified by geographical location and the information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the curriculum of combined cadet force groups in schools. [14040]

The curriculum of training undertaken by cadets in contingents of the Combined Cadet Force in schools is similar to that given to members of the other three cadet organisations: the Sea Cadet Corps, Army Cadet Force and Air Training Corps.The syllabus consists of 60 per cent. service training and 40 per cent. adventurous training activities. Contingents normally meet weekly on a day and time determined by the head, and usually have one or two whole days training each term. Camps are arranged in school holidays.I have arranged for a more detailed breakdown of the syllabus to be placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 5 February, Official Report, columns 620–21, if he will list those locations where information on the use of the royal flight by members of the royal family is held; by whom it is held; for what purpose; and for what reasons it is not centrally collated. [15363]

Information on use by members of the royal family of aircraft of No. 32 (The Royal) Squadron—and previously the Queen's Flight—is held by RAF Northolt and by RAF strike command at RAF High Wycombe. Unfortunately, given the format in which such data have historically been held, it would not be possible to derive the particular information originally sought without disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what measures he proposes to rectify current personnel shortages in the armed forces. [13717]

The restoration of the armed forces to full manning is one of the Government's highest priorities. We are rigorously pursuing this goal through a number of innovative recruiting and retention measures.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he proposes to take in respect of recent State Law and Order Restoration Council attacks on refugee camps on the Thailand-Burma border. [15197]

We are concerned at reports that recent attacks by State Law and Order Restoration Council-controlled troops on refugee camps on the Thai-Burma border resulted in the deaths of at least three refugees. We regularly raise concerns about human rights abuses against ethnic minorities in Burma with the SLORC. Our ambassador in Bangkok has also raised this issue with the Thai Foreign Minister. The Government of Thailand are urgently considering ways in which to improve the security of these camps.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will request the United Nations to take action to protect refugee camps housing Karen and Karennis people; and if he will make a statement. [15179]

We are concerned at reports that recent attacks by State Law and Order Restoration Council-controlled troops on refugee camps on the Thai-Burma border resulted in the deaths of at least three refugees. We regularly raise concerns about human rights abuses against ethnic minorities in Burma with the SLORC. Our ambassador in Bangkok has also raised this issue with the Thai Foreign Minister. The Government of Thailand are urgently considering ways in which to improve the security of these camps.The Thai Government have not requested assistance from the United Nations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received relating to the withdrawal of Thai military protection from border camps housing Karen and Karennis refugees. [15183]

We are concerned at reports that recent attacks by State Law and Order Restoration Council-controlled troops on refugee camps on the Thai-Burma border resulted in the deaths of at least three refugees. We regularly raise concerns about human rights abuses against ethnic minorities in Burma with the SLORC. Our ambassador in Bangkok has also raised this issue with the Thai Foreign Minister. The Government of Thailand are urgently considering ways in which to improve the security of these camps.We have received no indications that the Thais are planning to withdraw military protection.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of China about the trade in tiger bones. [14998]

The UK and China are both parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. As vice-chairman of the CITES standing committee, the UK was instrumental in securing agreement at the committee's meeting in December 1996 that tiger range and consuming states should make further efforts to tackle this international illegal trade. China was present and supported that decision.

£000
	1992–93	1993–94	1994–95	1995–96	1996–97	Remainder of lifetime of scheme
Awarded to Kirklees MC
Urban Programme	1,070	720	370	—	—	—
Urban Partnership Fund	—	1,140	—	—	—	—
Route ways to Success SRB Challenge Fund Scheme	—	—	—	890	1,420	6,210
Estate Action	2,870	4,141	3,030	1,970	2,040	—
English Partnerships	898	2,058	2,406	1,444	880	—
Capital Challenge	—	—	—	—	—	6,440
Housing Improvement Programme	11,300	11,700	8,700	9,066	9,400	—
Housing Partnership Fund	—	—	160	331	241	—
Flats over Shops	—	55	102	—	—	—
Housing Revenue Account subsidy	23,640	28,201	28,679	28,869	28,992	—
City Challenge	—	6,500	8,500	7,790	7,210	7,500
SRB Challenge Fund	—	—	—	1,020	2,720	23,820
English Partnerships	611	2,403	—	590	2,838	—
Housing Corporation	12,645	12,136	8,916	5,019	6,128	—

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the number of (a) private, (b) council and (c) housing association properties currently under construction in each of the London borough authorities; and if he will make a statement. [14333]

The publication, "Local Housing Statistics" shows estimates of the number of new dwellings under construction, by sector, for each local authority area in England. This includes all the London boroughs. The figures shown are as reported to the Department, either in the most recent quarter, or as projected up to the most recent quarter using reported housebuilding starts and completions information. The figures cover only new build, they do not cover properties under construction in the course of the rehabilitation of existing buildings.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received concerning the conclusion of the United States presidential commission on aviation security and terrorism in respect of Juval Avir's employment by the intelligence service of the state of Israel. [13937]

[holding answer 3 February 1997]: Mr. Aviv is not mentioned in the report of the President's commission on aviation security and terrorism of 15 May 1990.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the central Government funding, other than rate support grant payments awarded to (a) Kirklees council and (b) other bodies within the Kirklees area for each year since 1992. [14237]

Funding from my Department—including funding through the Housing Corporation and English Partnerships—is provided in the following table:Table 1 of "Local Housing Statistics" issue number 118 provides the most recent published figures. A copy of this publication is in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will reinstate the funding withdrawn from the area cost adjustment for children's services in Merseyside in April 1994. [14502]

My right hon. Friend announced in the House on 3 February that we intend to undertake further work on the area cost adjustment and the standard spending assessment for children's social services during 1997. We will consider whether any changes are required in the light of that work.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what account is taken of the social index in determining the Government's allocation of funding to local authorities. [14503]

The social index is one of the indicators used to allocate the sub-block of the all other services standard spending assessment for services provided predominantly by non-metropolitan district

Other personal social services
£ per head
	Population aged 18–64	Other social services index	Morbidity	Area cost	Other PSS total SSA
Harrow	19	4	8	3	34
Bournemouth	18	3	10	0	31
Richmond	20	1	7	3	31
Knowsley	18	-1	17	0	34
Liverpool	19	-1	17	0	34
Sefton	18	-4	12	0	26
St. Helens	19	-5	15	0	29
Wirral	18	-3	12	0	27

District level all other services
£ per head
	Enhanced population	Population density	Social index	Economic index	Population sparsity	Area cost	District services total SSA
Harrow	74	22	7	-6	0	11	109
Bournemouth	81	19	5	2	0	0	109
Richmond	76	25	1	-7	1	10	106
Knowsley	77	22	-1	23	2	0	124
Liverpool	80	31	-1	24	0	0	135
Sefton	77	20	-7	4	1	0	95
St. Helens	76	18	-7	6	2	0	94
Wirral	75	20	-5	7	1	0	98

Rows may not sum to totals due to rounding

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in respect of the assumed level and costs of capital expenditure referred to in paragraphs 4.59 to 4.61 of the "Local Government Finance Report (Surplus) 1997–98", HC 203 of 1996–97, he will state the mathematical basis used in respect of the assumed amounts referred to in each paragraph. [14591]

The basis for calculating assumed outstanding debt at 1 April 1990 was set out in appendix 1 to annex VII of "Standard Spending Assessments: Background and Underlying Methodology", published by the Department of the Environment in 1990. A copy of this document was made available in the Library.A description of the basic and supplementary credit approval data used in calculating standard spending assessments is given on pages 64 and 65 of "The Local Government Finance Report (England) 1997–98" (HC203). Pages 63 and 64 of the report describe how credit approval information for years prior to 1997–98 has been used to derive the estimate of assumed outstanding debt at 1 April 1997. Further information is given in "Standard Spending Assessments: Specification of Indicators for 1997–98", a copy of which is in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the impact of the social index on the allocation of funding to (a) Harrow, (b) Bournemouth, (c) Richmond and (d) Merseyside. [14504]

The social index is one of the indicators used in two elements of the standard spending assessments: other personal social services; and other services. The amounts allocated by each of the components of these formulae are given in the table.The formula for calculating the assumed cost of financing capital expenditure is set out in paragraph 4.64 of "The Local Government Finance Report (England) 1997–98". The interest rate used in the calculation is defined on page 64 of the report.Additional information on the calculation of the SSA element for capital financing, including a sample calculation, was provided in chapter 8 of "Standard Spending Assessments: Guide to Methodology 1996–97", published by the Department of the Environment in 1996. A copy of this document is in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the link between decreasing population and relative local economic decline; and what account is taken of that link in the standard spending assessment forumla. [14506]

I have not made any recent assessment of the link between decreasing population and relative local economic decline. There is no explicit indicator of such an effect in the standard spending assessment formulae. However, the formulae include the population of the local authority and indicators of economic deprivation, which might reflect any such an effect.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has to implement the recommendations of the York university study into ethnicity and the cost of children's services. [14501]

The Department of Health plans to take forward York university's work on the standard spending assessment for children's social services during 1997.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recognition is made in the Government's allocation of funding to local authorities of the provision by some authorities of universal nursery education; and if he will make a statement. [14505]

The element of the standard spending assessment related to the education of under-fives is based on the resident population aged 0 to four an indicator of additional educational needs, adjustments for variations in cost and boundary changes, and a deduction related to the number of four-year-olds in local authority provision in a recent year. The SSA formulae are the subject of discussions each year with representatives of local government.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what research he has commissioned into the effect of the area cost adjustment on social service provision for (a) children and (b) the elderly; what conclusions were reached in such research; and what proposals he has for changes as a result of that research. [14507]

I commissioned an independent review of the area cost adjustment element of standard spending assessment during 1996. It proposed a new method of calculating area cost adjustments which could be used for all local authority services. The review's proposals were not implemented for 1997–98 SSAs. Further work to consider the concerns that remain about the area cost adjustment will be carried out during 1997.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his oral statement of 3 February, Official Report, column 677, what assumptions underlay his provision of a 3.6 per cent. increase in education spending. [14793]

In deciding each year on appropriate levels of total standard spending in each of the main service blocks—including education—we take into account the spending pressures facing local authorities as well as the scope for efficiency savings and what the country as a whole can afford. We discuss these spending pressures with representatives from local government. Local spending decisions, however, are entirely a matter for individual local authorities which have considerable freedom to decide on their own priorities in the light of local circumstances.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the incidence of E. coli in drinking water supplies in England and Wales during the latest three years for which information is available; what research has been carried out to isolate the E. coli strain which caused the recent deaths in Scotland; what assessment he has made of whether the E. coli strain in Scotland is the same as that found in water supplies; and if he will make a statement. [14592]

There are various strains or serogroups of Escherichia coli—E. coli—bacteria, most of which are unlikely to cause infection in humans. A variety of E. coli strains are present in the faeces of almost all human beings and warm-blooded animals but the incidence of the strain associated with the recent deaths in Scotland—known as 0157—is rare although it has been isolated from cattle in the UK. E. coli in general are used as indicator organisms in checking that drinking water is free from contamination.Water quality regulations require water companies to test for a group of bacteria known as faecal coliforms which include E. coli. The majority of faecal coliforms reported by water companies will be E. coli but there is no requirement to test specifically for this organism. Whenever faecal coliform bacteria are detected in water supplies, precautionary action is taken, usually through the issue of an advice to boil water notice. The figures for the number of times that faecal coliform bacteria have been found in compliance samples taken in water supply zones in England and Wales is as follows:

	1993	1994	1995
Number of tests	164,241	159,869	156,306
Percentage in which faecal coliforms detected	0.1	<0.1	<0.1

The drinking water inspectorate has promoted research to ensure that an effective method of detecting E. coli 0157 in water is available.All public drinking water supplies in England and Wales are disinfected at the water treatment works and all strains of

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list for each local authority (a) total central Government funding in 1997–98 for registered social landlords' housing programmes, (b) the total number of new lettings that this funding will generate, (a) the estimated number of new lettings that registered social landlords will be able to provide with funding received in 1997–98 from local government and (d) the estimated number of new lettings that would be needed in order to achieve a national target of 60,000 new lettings annually; and if he will make a statement. [14628]

The Housing Corporation will publish in April full details by local authority area of its expenditure allocations for 1997–98 and the number of new lettings which this will generate under the approval development programme. In the meantime I have arranged for a summary table of expenditure allocations by local authority area to be placed in the Library of the House. My Department does not produce estimates by local authority area of the number of new lettings which registered social landlords will be able to provide with funding received from local government of the number of new lettings which would be required in order to achieve a national figure of 60,000 new lettings annually. Over the decade 1991–92 to 2000–01 I expect new social lettings on current plans to be in the range of 58,000 to 60,000 per annum, in line with our estimates of housing need.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate the number and percentage of private sector properties for each district council in England which have been unoccupied for longer than six months. [14689]

Local authorities in England are requested to provide information on the number of private sector properties within the authority that are unoccupied, together with the number that have been vacant for more than 12 months. Data are not specifically collected on the numbers of properties unoccupied for more than six months.The latest available figures relate to the position on 1 April 1996 and are given in the 1996 "HIP 1 All Items Print", a copy of which is in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what research he has commissioned on fire risks in houses in multiple occupation; by which organisations the research is to be carried out; under what terms of reference; from whom evidence will be taken on this matter; and when the outcome of the research programme will be available to him [14814]

In December 1996, Entec (UK) Ltd. was awarded a research contract to undertake a study of the fire risk associated with different types of houses in multiple occupation—HMOSs. This contract followed a feasibility study carried out earlier in the year by the fire research station of the Building Research Establishment. The terms of reference for the research are to identify the factors which are most likely to cause fires in HMOSs, and those factors which increase or decrease the likelihood of death and injury arising from such fires. The initial stages of the research sought evidence from local authorities and others with an interest in HMOSs and fire safety. The main evidence will be gathered about from about 90 case studies in which the views of relevant fire brigades will be sought. Entec's report is expected in August this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the operation of the Environment Information Regulations 1992; how many applicants for information under the regulations over the past year have been refused the information requested; and if he will list the reasons for not providing the information in each available case. [14919]

This information is not normally held centrally, but from a recent review of the operation of the regulations within central Government Departments, non-departmental public bodies and executive agencies, it was ascertained that during the calendar year 1996 there were at last 25 refusals to supply information under the regulations. Where cited the reasons for refusal were discretionary exemption (7), mandatory exemption (3), information not environmental (1), request formulated in too general a manner (1), and information supplied in part (1).

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has made of the number of private sector properties that fail to meet the current fitness standards and are occupied. [14690]

The latest available information is from the 1991 English house condition survey, which found 1,089,000 occupied private sector dwellings to be unfit under the current fitness standard. Results from the 1996 EHCS should be available later this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what use his Department and its agencies make of postcodes for the collection of data and in formulas for the distribution of grants and awards; and when such usages were last reviewed. [14806]

Postcodes are used in connection with the collection of some data relating to housing and other functions. They are also used in connection with the collection of data by other Government Departments and agencies which are used in some formulae for the distribution of grants. The data used have been reconsidered whenever appropriate.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what regulations govern the recovery of oil from oiled cuttings arising from offshore rig and platform activities by vacuum distillation. [14871]

[holding answer 10 February 1997]: Vacuum distillation is one option for recovering oil from oiled cuttings. I understand that no such oil recovery occurs offshore, largely due to the size of the necessary recovery equipment. Where oiled cuttings are brought onshore for recovery distillation, such distillation is a process prescribed for control under the integrated pollution control regime established by part I of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will call for a report from the Environment agency on the proposed use of petroleum coke in the Drax power station and the possible effects of emissions of varidium and nickel on the health of the local population in (a) Hull and the East Riding and (b) Scandinavia. [14882]

No. it is for the Environment Agency to decide these matters. It would be inappropriate for a Minister to intervene in the way proposed, since any decision the agency might make could subsequently come before the Secretary of State on appeal.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many (a) incinerators and (b) power stations have been tested for emissions by the Environment Agency in connection with the burning of cattle carcases or rendered remains of BSE beasts. [15407]

The Environment Agency has tested one incinerator and one tyre burning plant for the burning of rendered materials, four incinerators for burning tannery waste, one incinerator for burning over-30-months scheme cattle and one for burning BSE carcases. In addition, testing of burning rendered materials has taken place at the small test rigs operated by National Power and PowerGen. No power stations burn this type of material.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment on how many occasions and where have (a) incinerators and (b) power stations failed to satisfy the Environment Agency with regard to emission levels in connection with the burning of BSE cattle. [15408]

On no occasion.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the chairmanship and deputy chairmanship of the Housing Corporation. [15599]

I am delighted to announce that Peter Cooke, who is currently deputy chairman of the Housing Corporation, has agreed to take over as chairman of the corporation for six months from 1 April. This will provide proper continuity for the corporation at time of change. Mr. Cooke has a fund of relevant experience in banking and public administration, including nine years on the board of the corporation.At the same time, George Cracknell, who is already a board member, will become deputy chairman. He is currently chairman of the corporation's finance and audit committee. In his capacity as deputy chairman, Mr. Cracknell will take over from Mr. Cooke as chairman of the registration and supervision committee.Sir Brian Pearse, the current chairman of the corporation, has indicated that he wishes to stand down when his term of office ends on 31 March 1997. He has led the Housing Corporation very effectively, gaining the respect of everyone in the housing world.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagement for Tuesday 11 February. [14038]

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 11 February. [14039]

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 which Departments have responsibility for assessing the National Disability Council's representations for action to stop building societies converting to banks without paying bonus shares to disabled people who are not the first named on their account; what response has been made to the council; what action has been taken by the Government; and if he will make a statement. [14666]

Officials from Her Majesty's Treasury, the Department responsible for overseeing building societies, and the disability unit of the Department of Social Security have been working together with the independent National Disability Council on this issue. A report of their progress was given to the National Disability Council's meeting on 27 January. My hon. Friend, the Minister for Disabled People hopes to respond to the council in the near future.

To ask the Prime Minister what role the Interception of Communications Tribunal and the commissioner have in the handling of (a) complaints of interceptions not authorised by warrant and (b) surreptitious surveillance of telephone calls by methods not prohibited by the definition of interception of the Court of Appeal in R v. Ahmed (1984); and what changes there have been to their role, with special reference to the area of unauthorised interception, since the statement by the Home Secretary on 7 February 1985, Official Report, column 1121. [15441]

The tribunal and commissioner have no statutory power to investigate allegations that interception has taken place without a warrant issued under the Interception of Communications Act 1985. That would fall to be investigated by the police. The Act, which defines the roles of the tribunal and commissioner, is concerned only with the interception of communications in the course of their transmission by post or by means of a public telecommunications system. It does not apply to private telecommunications systems. There has been no change to the roles of the tribunal and commissioner since the introduction of the Act.

To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 20 January, Official Report, column 448, who the 48 representatives of British industry were who accompanied him on his recent visit to India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. [15000]

The following list details those commercial organisations who were represented on various stages of my visit to India, Pakistan and Bangladesh:

Alfred McAlpine, SAGG, ANZ Gringlays, ABI, BAT, BOC, BAe British Airways, British Council, CBI, Commercial Union, Courtauld, Deutsche Morgan Grenfell, Eagle Star, Foster Wheeler, GEC, Grand Met, HSBC, Hyder Consulting Group, ICI Paints, Kvaerner, Mott McDonald, Nat West Markets, PowerGen, Premier, Robert Fleming, Rolls Royce, Royal Sun Alliance, The 600 Group, Scotch Whiskey Association, Standard Life, W S Atkins, Asia House, Caparo Group, GEC Alsthom, General Accident, GPT, John Laing International Ltd, Prudential, RTZ/CRA, T&N, University of Warwick, Cable and Wireless, Midland Electricity, Hardy Oil, LASMO, Nat West Securities, Siemens Plessey, Shell UK, Balfour Beatty, Barclays Bank, Barclays BZW, Biwater, ICI-Polyester, National Grid.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what use his Department had its agencies makes of postcode areas for the collection of data; and when such usages were last reviewed. [14984]

Neither the Department nor its agencies uses postcode areas directly for the collection of data. The Land Registry records postcodes as part of property descriptions and in the addresses of registered proprietors; postcodes can be used to search for individual title numbers. In some other data collections conducted by the Department and its agencies addresses with postcodes are sought—for example, on some court forms. Postcodes are also generally used in addresses when sending requests for data by post.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on the progress of the quinquennial agency review of the Public Record Office. [15601]

The second stage of the agency review-the prior options review—will begin on 12 February and will be completed by 30 September 1997.The Lord Chancellor has appointed a steering group to oversee the prior options review, comprising officials from his Department, the Public Record Office and the Office of Public Service, and representatives from his Advisory Council on Public Records and from the business community. The review will be led by the Public Record Office in liaison with his Department.It will follow Cabinet Office guidelines and will include an update of the evaluation of the Public Record Office's performance as an executive agency.Comments and contributions from those with an interest in the Public Record Office and its work would be welcome and should be sent by 5 April 1997 to Elizabeth Honer, Secretary to the Public Record Office Agency Review Steering Group, Public Record Office, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 4DU.

To ask the Attorney-General what use his Department and its agencies make of postcode areas for the collection of data; and when such usages were last reviewed. [14985]The Attorney-General: My Departments and agencies make no such use of postcode areas.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will list (a) the organisations and (b) the individuals which the Sports Council has consulted during its current review of sports to be eligible for grant aid. [13525]

There is no current review of sports eligible for grant aid. Work was undertaken in 1995–96 to co-ordinate the activities provided by the Sports Council's regions and units which assist in the development of excellence.The English Sports Council will be providing a high-quality range of services, including specialist advice, to all recognised governing bodies of sport. At the same time, the council is to give an enhanced set of additional services to a core group of 23 priority sports, dependant on specific needs.Governing bodies and organisations recognised by the Sports Council have been consulted on the review of services provided and all were invited to a briefing day meeting held on 8 May 1996. The other home country sports councils have also been consulted.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many sports have benefited from grant aid from the Sports Council; and if she will list them together with the amount of money they have received since 1994. [13519]

In the financial year 1994–95, a total of 62 sports received grant aid from the Sports Council amounting to £10,005,034; in 1995–96 a total of 65 sports received grant aid from the Sports Council, amounting to £10,956,247; and in 1996–97 65 sports will receive grant aid planned at £9,899,957. Assistance has also been provided to sport and physical activities through the national sports centres and regional sports development schemes. Full details are provided in the table.

Spoil	1994–95	1995–96	1996–97
Angling	54,125	81,750	72,500
Archery	55,000	109,000	80,000
Association football	0	11,250	45,000
Athletics	332,500	410,000	326,500
Badminton	320,000	365,000	332,000
Baseball	32,500	43,000	43,000
Basketball	364,000	355,000	272,250
Bobsleigh	100,000	100,000	100,000
Bowls	42,250	41,250	22,000
Boxing	80,875	153,125	128,500
Canoeing	320,000	380,000	320,000
Caving	30,500	29,125	23,750
Cricket	238,334	172,500	220,450
Croquet	28,500	29,500	27,250
Curling	0	28,000	32,000
Cycling	311,750	548,625	513,250
Disabled sport	566,500	803,250	625,500
Equestrian	145,000	178,000	165,000
Fencing	175,000	175,000	175,000
Fitness/aerobics	0	45,000	75,000
Flying	10,000	2,500	0
Gliding	42,500	37,500	28,500

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many sports are currently eligible to receive grant aid from the Sports Council; and if she will list them. [13517]

Ninety-five sports are currently eligible to be considered for the purposes of receiving grant aid. They are:

• Aikido
• American football
• Angling
• Archery
• Association football
• Athletics
• Badminton
• Ballooning
• Baseball
• Basketball
• Billiards and snooker
• Bobsleigh
• Bowls
• Boxing
• Camogie
• Canoeing
• Caving
• Chinese martial arts
• Cricket
• Croquet
• Curling
• Cycling
• Disability sport
• Dragon boat race
• Equestrian
• Fencing
• Fives
• Flying
• Gaelic football
• Gliding
• Golf
• Gymnastics
• Handball
• Hang/para gliding
• Highland games
• Hockey
• Horse racing
• Hovering
• Hurling
• Ice hockey
• Ice skating
• Judi
• Ju jitsu
• Karate
• Kendo
• Korfball
• Lacrosse
• Lawn tennis
• Life saving
• Luge
• Modern pentathlon
• Motor cycling
• Motor sports
• Mountaineering
• Movement and dance
• Netball
• Orienteering
• Parachuting
• Petanque
• Polo
• Pool
• Quoits
• Racketball
• Rambling
• Real tennis and rackets
• Roller hockey
• Roller skating
• Rounders
• Rowing
• Rugby league
• Rugby union
• Sailing/yachting
• Sand and land yachting
• Shinty
• Shooting
• Skiing
• Softball
• Sombo wrestling
• Squash
• Sub aqua
• Surfing
• Surf life saving
• Swimming
• Table tennis
• Taekwondo
• Tang soo do
• Tenpin bowling
• Trampolining
• Triathlon
• Tug of war
• Volleyball
• Water skiing
• Weightlifting
• Wrestling Yoga

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when she expects the Sports Council's review of which sports are to be eligible for grant aid to be completed; and when she expects the revised guide lines to be published. [13524]

The English Sports Council is not undertaking such a review.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what estimate she has made of the extra revenue which the BBC will receive as a result of its decision to implement the legal advice that a TV licence cannot cover more than one property. [15419]

The BBC announced on 29 March 1996 that, in the light of legal advice, it could not continue the long-standing previous practice whereby the use of TV in second homes was deemed to be covered by a licence for the main residence, provided that there was no simultaneous use at both places. At that time, the Licensing Authority had some 38,000 second homes registered as not needing a second licence under that— incorrect—interpretation of the licensing legislation. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will shortly lay new, consolidated licence fee regulations, which will bring next year's licence fees into force from 1 April. These regulations will also amend the licensing requirements so that a licence for a main residence covers use of TV by members of the household in any vehicle, vessel or touring caravan and, provided there is no simultaneous use, by any member of the household in any static caravan or mobile home. Use of TV in permanent structure second homes will continue to require a separate licence.If TV continues to be used at all the 38,000 second homes previously registered with the Licensing Authority as not requiring a separate licence, this should raise over £3 million extra licence fee revenue for the BBC each year. If colour licences were needed, and paid for, in all the fixed second homes in the United Kingdom—an estimated total of some 200,000—the maximum extra revenue accruing would be around £18 million, though some of these homes may already by licensed.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many sports are currently eligible to assistance from the Sports Council lottery fund; and if she will list them. [13523]

One hundred and eleven sports are currently eligible to assistance from the English Sports Council lottery sports fund. They are:

• Aikido
• American football
• Angling
• Archery
• Arm wrestling
• Association football
• Athletics
• Australian rules football
• Badminton
• Ballooning
• Baseball
• Basketball
• Baton twirling
• Bicycle polo
• Billiards and snooker
• Bobsleigh
• Boccia
• Bowls
• Boxing
• Camogie
• Canoeing
• Caving
• Chinese martial arts
• Cricket
• Croquet
• Crossbow
• Curling
• Cycling
• Disability sport
• Dragon boat racing
• Equestrian
• Fencing
• Fives
• Hying
• Gaelic football
• Gliding
• Golf
• Gymnastics
• Handball
• Hang-gliding and paragliding
• Highland games
• Hockey
• Horse racing
• Hovering
• Hurling
• Ice hockey
• Ice skating
• Jet skiing
• Ju jitsu
• Judo
• Kabaddi
• Karate
• Kendo
• Korfball
• Lacrosse
• Lawn tennis
• Life saving
• Luge
• Modern pentathlon
• Motor cycling
• Motor sports
• Mountaineering
• Movement, dance, exercise and fitness
• Netball
• Orienteering
• Parachuting
• Petanque
• Polo
• Pony trekking
• Pool
• Quoits
• Racketball
• Rackets
• Raquetball
• Rambling
• Real tennis
• Roller hockey
• Roller skating
• Rounders
• Rowing
• Rugby league
• Rugby union
• Sailing/yachting
• Sand/land yachting
• Shinty
• Shooting
• Skateboarding
• Skiing
• Skipping
• Snowboarding
• Softball
• Sombo wrestling
• Squash
• Street/skater hockey
• Sub-aqua
• Surf-life saving
• Surfing
• Swimming
• Table tennis
• Taekwondo
• Tank soo do
• Tenpin bowling
• Trampolining
• Triathlon
• Tug of war
• Unihoc
• Volleyball
• Water skiing
• Weightlifting
• Wrestling
• Yoga

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) if she will list (a) the bodies and (b) the individuals which the Sports Council lottery fund has consulted during the current review of which sports are eligible for lottery awards; [13521](2) when she expects the Sports Council lottery fund's review of what sports are eligible for lottery awards to be completed; and when she expects the revised guidelines to be published. [13520]

The English Sports Council lottery unit is not currently conducting a review of those sports eligible for lottery funding.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how she plans to take forward the proposals for extension of legal deposit to electronic and other non-profit publications from the British Library, the other legal deposit libraries and the British Film Institute in January 1996; and if she will make a statement.[15563]

The Government have today published a consultation paper which seeks views on the present arrangements for legal deposit of printed publications with the British Library and the other legal deposit libraries; invites comments on the availability and use of legal deposit material in Northern Ireland; and seeks views on a range of voluntary and statutory options for deposit of electronic publications, sound recordings, films and video recordings, and microform publications. The paper also seeks views on establishing a mechanism for further extension of legal deposit without the need for fresh primary legislation.The main purpose of legal deposit is to establish as comprehensive an archive as possible of our national published output for use by future generations. As publication technology, and non-print forms of publication, develop the Government regard it as essential that some way is found to ensure that published material in forms other than print is deposited in our national archives. The consultation paper addresses the scope for building on existing voluntary arrangements and extending statutory deposit. Legal deposit imposes a burden on publishers, and it is essential that we consult fully on the issues with the publishing and film industries, as well as with libraries, their users and others with an interest. The consultation paper addresses the circumstances in which published material can be accessed and preserved without infringing publishers' intellectual property rights or damaging their business interests. It also includes a draft assessment of the additional costs which publishers, film producers and film distributors might incur in complying with an extended system of legal deposit.I have today placed a copy of the consultation paper in the Libraries of the House, and the Government are arranging for copies to be sent to a wide range of bodies and individuals with an interest in legal deposit. Further copies are available, on request, from my Department. The consultation paper seeks responses by 11 April. Anybody wishing to comment on the issues raised in the consultation paper, including the additional burden which extended legal deposit would place on business, should write by that date to my Department. In the light of the responses which we receive, the Government will consider whether to introduce legislation on legal deposit.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what is her Department's estimate of the percentage breakdown of transport use by visitors to the Greenwich millennium exhibition. [10867]

This is a matter for the Millennium Commission. I shall write to the hon. Member in my capacity as chairman of the commission and place copies of my reply in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many people are employed by her Department to provide advice on the application of equal opportunities; and at what cost in the last year for which figures are available. [14464]

Advice on equal opportunities is an integral part of the personnel function and is not separately costed.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what use her Department and its agencies make of postcode areas for the collection of data and in formulas for the distribution of grants and awards; and when such usages were last reviewed. [14805]

The Department of National Heritage uses postcodes to collate information on national lottery awards and last reviewed their usage in November 1996.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what is the Sports Council's policy towards sporting events held on public highways. [13925]

I understand the English Sports Council encourages sports bodies to stage sporting events at the most appropriate venue. Where events are held on the public highway, the council wishes to see that the safety of competitors is ensured by careful planning and organisation.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what meetings she has held with the Home Secretary regarding the policy of the Association of Chief Police Officers towards sports events held on public highways. [13924]

None. I understand the policy of the Association of Chief Police Officers has been, for a number of years, to encourage organisations to hold events away from the highway in local parks or sports stadiums. This stems from their concerns about the safety of participants, and the danger to other road users. There are certain events which are treated as exceptions to the policy, the most notable example being the London marathon, where the police and the highway authorities are content that the event cannot be held off the road.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is her latest estimate of (a) the total number of people who have received jobmatch payments, (b) the total number applying, (c) the number refused, by reason of refusal, (d) the total cost of the scheme and (e) the annual cost of extending the pilot scheme to all age groups nationally. [15089]

The information available is as follows: (a) over 6,000 people have joined the jobmatch programme since April 1995, (b) we do not keep records of the numbers applying for jobmatch, or (c) the number of people refused, but the only circumstances in which this would happen would be where either the person was not eligible or the job was not a qualifying one, (d) the estimated cost of the jobmatch pilots which end in March 1997 is £8 million and, (e) the cost of extending jobmatch to all age groups nationally would be about £50 million per year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what representations she has received regarding the continued training of teachers with special reference to the teaching of children with special needs; and if she will make a statement. [15094]

In March 1996, the Secretary of State was presented with the report, "Professional Development to meet Special Educational Needs" by the special educational needs training consortium. In response, she asked the Teacher Training Agency to take forward a range of measures to improve the training of teachers of all children with special educational needs.We are very pleased with the TTA's progress and with the priority that it is giving to training in special educational needs within its overall framework for teacher training. I understand that the TTA will be reporting to the Secretary of State on its work later this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment she has made of the impact of (a) introducing regulations relating to the severe hardship payments scheme for 16 and 17-year-olds, (b) administering the scheme through (i) Benefits Agency local offices and (ii) jobcentres and (c) introducing a right of appeal in respect of the scheme. [15079]

The jobseeker's allowance—JSA—replaced income support for jobseekers on October 7 1996. Under JSA, 16 and 17-year-olds attend the careers service and jobcentre. They no longer have to attend the Benefits Agency office.We are carrying out a full evaluation of JSA. There will be a range of surveys, including qualitative research on the effect of JSA on 16 to 17-year-olds, covering both young people who would otherwise be in severe hardship and those in prescribed circumstances. Also included will be surveys of Employment Service and Benefits Agency staff involved in the delivery of JSA.JSA continues the policy whereby unemployed 16 and 17-year-olds who would otherwise be in severe hardship may be awarded benefit at the Secretary of State's discretion. There are no plans to change this.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is her estimate of (a) the number gaining and (b) the cost of extending the period during which income support is payable to a young person who has left local authority accommodation provided under part III of the Children Act 1989 to (i) 13 weeks, (ii) 26 weeks and (iii) the relevant child benefit extension period. [15077]

The jobseeker's allowance—JSA—replaced income support for jobseekers on 7 October 1996. We do not have information on the number of young people—16 and 17-year-olds—who claim JSA immediately after leaving local authority care. These people may be entitled to JSA for up to eight weeks. When this period finishes, a young person may apply for JSA on the ground that he would otherwise be in severe hardship. If the claim is successful, the Secretary of State will direct that JSA should be paid for a specific period—usually eight weeks. This direction may be renewed at the Secretary of State's discretion. At all times the young person will have to meet the entitlement conditions for JSA.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when she expects to make a decision on the proposals by Loudwater combined school to establish a new nursery. [14981]

[holding answer 10 February 1997]: Officials have today informed the chairman of governors of Loudwater combined school that the Secretary of State has approved the governors' proposal to establish a nursery.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate she has made of the cost for each local education authority area of installing seat belts in vehicles used for transporting children; and if she will make a statement. [15337]

The costs to authorities of implementing the new requirements were taken into account by the Government when determining the total allowed for education in the local government finance settlement.It is for each local authority to determine its own level of education expenditure, both in aggregate and on the different areas of its education service, including transport, on the basis of its assessment of local needs and priorities and within its capping limits.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the average age

PRC and Crombie payments
England and Wales	£000
	1990–91	1991–92	1992–93	1993–94	1994–95
Corporation of London	0	0	0	3	3
Camden	0	0	0	0	0
Greenwich	0	0	0	0	0
Hackney	0	0	0	0	0
Hammersmith and Fulham	0	0	0	0	0
Islington	0	0	0	0	0
Kensington and Chelsea	0	0	101	139	161
Lambeth	0	0	134	0	44
Lewisham	0	0	0	449	230
Southwark	0	0	0	0	0
Tower Hamlets	0	0	409	0	847
Wands worth	0	0	0	0	359
Westminster	0	0	0	0	0
Barking and Dagenham	605	290	751	601	635
Barnet	1,344	1,425	1,475	1479	1,731
Bexley	0	0	0	0	0
Brent	0	0	0	0	0
Bromley	981	586	551	557	509
Croydon	248	630	474	443	405
Ealing	861	479	636	1,077	619
Enfield	0	0	705	0	0
Haringey	474	541	583	612	551
Harrow	353	534	397	466	635
Havering	0	0	0	0	0
Hillingdon	0	1	0	0	0
Hounslow	11	208	253	349	405
Kingston upon Thames	304	358	454	428	477
Merton	0	0	0	0	0
Newham	769	269	364	440	489
Redbridge	288	387	405	416	585
Richmond upon Thames	0	0	0	0	0
Suttton	0	0	0	0	212
Waltham Forest	324	5	13	374	0
Birmingham	3,422	3,947	5,443	4,911	4,557
Coventry	12	2,982	2,137	450	2,201
Dudley	884	851	791	995	1,137
Sandwell	0	0	0	0	0
Solihull	0	0	553	575	507
Walsall	0	643	1,567	676	1,945
Wolverhampton	94	195	326	73	165
Knowsley	0	957	945	1,132	1,157
Liverpool	2,727	3,780	3,058	2,684	2,826