To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment his Department had made of the presence of (a) hazardous materials and (b) ozone-depleting substances within those buildings his Department occupies; and if he will make a statement. [16311]

The Department is responsible for carrying out risk assessments under, among other things, the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1992, the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1994, the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 1987 and the Control of Asbestos at Work (Amendment) Regulations 1992. All buildings have an asbestos register where its presence has been identified. As far as ozone depleting chemicals are concerned, surveys of fire fighting and cooling equipment have been carried out and the use of these substances has either ceased or is in the process of being phased out.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the ways in which his Department has demonstrated the ability to improve efficiency and competitiveness through an environmental audit of (a) energy use and (b) waste management within those buildings his Department occupies; and if he will make a statement. [16421]

Environmental assessments are carried out for all new buildings and major refurbishment of existing buildings under the Building Research Establishment's environmental assessment method—BREEAM. These include energy use and waste management.As a result of energy surveys and auditing through a computerised database, a programme of energy efficient schemes has been initiated.Under our action plan for green housekeeping, there is a requirement on all our sites to minimise the generation of waste and implement recycling schemes. A series of formal audits of laboratories is planned for 1997–98.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many mink fur farms there are in England by county. [16406]

At 17 February 1997, there were the following mink farms in England:

County	Number of licensed mink farms
Cornwall	1
Dorset	1
Hampshire	1
Isle of Wight	1
Lancashire	5
Northumberland	1
Staffordshire	1
West Yorkshire	2
Total	13

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will introduce measures requiring pop-holes in housing associated with free-range poultry systems to be a minimum of 30 cm high and 75 cm wide; [16520](2) if he will ensure that laying hens in colony systems have their beaks trimmed only for therapeutic purposes; [16510](3) if he will ensure that sufficient pop-holes are provided in free-range poultry systems to allow all birds easy access into and out of the house; [16512](4) if he will require that perching space of at least 18 cm per hen is provided in colony systems; [16514](5) if he will ensure that the stocking rate of laying hens in colony systems does not exceed

These questions concern the implementation of recommendations in the Farm Animal Welfare Council's report on the welfare of laying hens in colony systems.As our detailed response to that report made clear, there is no overall benefit to farm animal welfare in introducing unilateral legislation where this would disadvantage our own producers while continuing to allow imports produced in systems with lower welfare standards. We have instead worked with our European partners to develop a new Council of Europe recommendation on the welfare of domestic fowl and will continue to press the European Commission to bring forward its overdue proposals for a directive laying down new or revised Community standards for laying hens.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will ensure that (a) hens in colony systems and (b) broiler chicken flocks are required to be inspected at least twice each day by those in charge of the units. [16763]

This question concerns the implementation of recommendations in the Farm Animal Welfare Council's reports on the welfare of laying hens in colony systems and the welfare of broiler chickens.As our detailed responses to these reports made clear, we accept that twice daily inspection makes good management practice. This will be reflected in our input into forthcoming negotiations on new Community standards for laying hens and nationally in the new welfare code for broilers which is currently in preparation.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will ensure that embryotomy is carried out only on dead lambs; [16504](2) if he will ensure that only qualified veterinary surgeons trained in the technique carry out trans-cervical artificial insemination in sheep; [16503](3) if he will prohibit combined castration and tail docking of lambs less than 24 hours old. [16507]

The Government response to the Farm Animal Welfare Council's report on the welfare of sheep made it clear that we agree with these points. We intend to address them in the revised welfare code on sheep which is currently in preparation.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will ensure that tail docking of lambs over the age of six weeks is carried out only by a veterinary surgeon for therapeutic purposes under anaesthetic; [16506](2) if he will ensure that surgical castration of lambs is performed only when the lambs are under anaesthetic by a veterinary surgeon. [16505]

We made it clear in our detailed response to the Farm Animal Welfare Council's report on the welfare of sheep that, in the absence of conclusive scientific evidence as to the best way forward, we thought it inappropriate to make changes to current legislation on tail docking and castration. We are funding further research and will review the position in the light of the results.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many holdings on which sheep are kept in England and Wales are registered with MAFF; and how many of those have been allocated with a flockmark in accordance with article 3 of the Sheep and Goats (Identification, Movement and Records) Order 1996. [16687]

A total of 70,742 holdings on which sheep are kept in England and Wales have been registered with MAFF under the terms of article 3 of the Sheep and Goats (Records, Identification and Movement) Order 1996. They have all been allocated with a flock mark.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many consignments of sheep for slaughter have been exported from the United Kingdom to the Republic of Ireland since 1 January; and in each case which ferry route was declared in the journey plan. [16684]

Since 1 January 1997 there have been two consignments of sheep exported from Britain to the Irish Republic for slaughter. The transporter declared that the Cairnryan to Larne ferry crossing would be used.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will introduce a maximum stocking density for broiler chickens; [16508](2) if he will require farmers to keep records of stocking densities of broiler chickens; [16509](3) if he will require the internal floor area available to each bird in a broiler chicken house to be clearly and permanently displayed at the entrance to the house. [16515]

These questions concern the implementation of recommendations in the Farm Animal Welfare Council's report on the welfare of broiler chickens.As our detailed response to that report made clear, there is no overall benefit to farm animal welfare in introducing unilateral legislation where this would disadvantage our own producers while continuing to allow imports produced in systems with lower welfare standards. We have instead worked with our European partners to develop the new Council of Europe recommendation on the welfare of domestic fowl. This was adopted in 1995 and will serve in due course as the basis for EU legislation.In addition to implementing many of the Farm Animal Welfare Council's recommendations, the new welfare code for broilers, which is currently in preparation, will take the new Council of Europe requirements into account.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will require that carcases and cuts from animals slaughtered by religious methods be clearly labelled at the point of sale. [16518]

Following a comprehensive review of labelling issues in 1990, the Food Advisory Committee recommended that there should be no statutory requirement to provide information about slaughtering methods. The Government accepted this advice and have no plans to reconsider the issue. Such information may be provided voluntarily if it is true and not misleading.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to ensure the legal exemption from pre-stunning livestock before slaughter is withdrawn in respect of animals slaughtered for religious purposes. [16519]

The Government have no plans to withdraw this exemption which recognises a fundamental matter of religious belief to communities that are an important part of our national life.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on his plans in respect of badger removal programmes. [16685]

Professor Krebs and his committee are conducting an independent review of the scientific evidence relating to badgers and tuberculosis in cattle. It would be inappropriate to consider changes to the current policy until Professor Krebs has reported.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the (a) current reported outbreaks of bovine tuberculosis and (b) current and proposed badger removal programmes in Gloucester. [16686]

There are currently 37 herds in Gloucestershire under movement restrictions due to bovine TB. There are 13 badger removal operations in progress. A further seven badger removal operations have been approved and investigatory work has commenced on three of these.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will place in the Library a copy of the report received by him from the European Commission following a visit from an inspector from the Commission between 4 to 7 November 1996. [16688]

A report from the European Commission has not been received.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 14 February, Official Report, column 321, what plans he has to consult the British Veterinary Association on possible changes to the United Kingdom's rabies control arrangements when his Department's consideration of the matter has been concluded. [16846]

Should the review conclude that alternative options to quarantine are available, the views of the British Veterinary Association would be sought.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what qualifications were required in the appointment of a livestock transport adviser; when this position was first established; and if he will list the names, qualifications and experience of each holder of the post. [16689]

I will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many owners of quarantine kennels have agreed to abide by the voluntary code of practice on welfare standards in quarantine premises; and how many of those premises have been inspected by the state veterinary service to date. [16690]

Seventy-one owners of quarantine premises have agreed to abide by the voluntary code of practice. Of these, 59 have been inspected by the State Veterinary Service to date.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects the inspections by the state veterinary service of quarantine premises that agree to abide by the voluntary code of practice on welfare standards to be completed. [16692]

The majority of inspections by the State Veterinary Service to ensure compliance with the voluntary code of practice have been carried out. But the programme will not be completed as early as originally planned due to the urgency of work connected with the outbreaks of Newcastle disease and the BSE accelerated cull programme. It will be completed as soon as possible.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many quarantine premises have (a) indicated that they will not comply and (b) have not yet responded to the Minister's invitation to comply with the voluntary code of practice on welfare standards. [16693]

Four quarantine premises have indicated that they do not wish to comply with the voluntary code of practice at this stage. Two have not yet responded to the invitation.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many ports and airports through which cats and dogs may be imported into the United Kingdom have facilities for holding animals prior to them being taken into quarantine. [16694]

Five ports and nine airports.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress has been made in implementing the challenge for agriculture programme in English objective 5b areas. [17476]

Six areas in England are designated for support under objective 5b of the EC structural funds. They are:

The South West—Cornwall, the Isles of Scilly and parts of Devon and Somerset;

The Marches—most of Shropshire and parts of Hereford and Worcester;

The Northern uplands—parts of Lancashire, parts of north and east Yorkshire, Durham, Cumbria and Northumberland;

Lincolnshire—Most of northern and eastern Lincolnshire, excluding the city of Lincoln and other mainly urban areas;

East Anglia—the Fens, rural Norfolk, Lowestoft and rural east Suffolk; and

Midland uplands—Peak district of Staffordshire and Derbyshire.

The challenge for agriculture programme is formed of those elements of the objective 5b programmes which are part-financed by the guidance section of the European agriculture guidance and guarantee fund—EAGGF. The programme also attracts national public funding, mainly from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, and levers in substantial amounts of private sector funding to support the investments that it encourages.Assistance is available for a wide range of farm-related activities that will promote economic development in the objective 5b areas, in particular, farm tourism, agricultural and horticultural development and diversification, protection and enhancement of the environment, generation of energy from alternative sources by the agricultural industry and the promotion and marketing of local and regional products.The first EAGGF projects under the challenge for agriculture programme in England were approved in March 1995. In the two years since then, a total of 144 projects have already been approved across the six designated areas with EAGGF grant of £13 million and MAFF grant of £10 million committed to them. As these projects are implemented, they will lead to the eventual total investment of almost £50 million in the objective 5b areas concerned. Projects supported to date vary from small schemes to develop and promote local meat production to multi-million pound projects promoting farm tourism, offering business support to farmers and protecting the environment.I am particularly pleased with the interest shown to date in the challenge for agriculture programme across the agricultural sector and expect that many more worthwhile projects will come forward for funding before the end of this programme in 1999. It demonstrates MAFF's commitment to the rural economy, with sound and sustainable economic benefit in the objective 5b areas concerned.My ministerial colleagues and I maintain a close interest in the development of objective 5b and the challenge for agriculture programme and have previously visited a number of projects which have been approved and are in receipt of funding. Further such visits are planned for 21 February to projects in the northern uplands, the south-west, the Marches and Lincolnshire objective 5b areas.A list of the challenge for agriculture projects approved to date in each of the six English objective 5b areas has been placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the estimated cost of the disposal per tonne of cattle carcases (a) by incineration, (b) by landfill and (c) by other means. [10342]

[pursuant to his reply, 16 January 1997]: The cost of rendering and incinerating meat and bonemeal and tallow derived from cattle carcases is around £215 per tonne.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list the minimum age requirements enforced by her Department. [15912]

The Department for Education and Employment is not in general responsible for enforcing age requirements. However, age requirements do apply to certain education, training and employment measures, including the following: Children must be aged four to be eligible for the nursery voucher scheme.The majority of places offered under the assisted places scheme begin at age 11. From September 1996, places are now available for the first time for primary age children as young as five. Assisted sixth form places are also available.Current regulations require pupils to remain at school until one of two dates: for pupils whose birthday falls between 1 September to 31 January, it is the end of the spring term—that is, the Easter holidays—following their 16th birthday; for those whose 16th birthday falls between 1 February to 31 August, it is the Friday before the last Monday in May. The only exception to the above is for those children who have not been registered at a school at any time during the year preceding their 16 birthday. For these children, the upper limit of compulsory school age is their 16 birthday.For programmes covered by the training and enterprise councils operating agreement, and other associated contractual documentation:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list the ways in which her Department has demonstrated the ability to improve efficiency and competitiveness through an environmental audit of waste management within those buildings her Department occupies; and if she will make a statement. [16429]

Departmental waste management centres on internal monitoring of procedures; waste segregation and recycling—that is, white paper, newspaper, aluminium cans, cardboard, toner cartridges, redundant furniture and hazardous waste.Castle View house, Runcorn is the only new building to come onto the Department's headquarters estate in recent years. Following its completion in 1992, a Building Research Establishment environmental assessment method was successfully completed in December 1993. DfEE HQ has set a waste minimisation target of 5 per cent. for the 1997–98 financial year. A cross-site working group has been set up to co-ordinate waste minimisation and encourage the use of the Environment Agency "DIY Environmental Checklist".

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to her answer of 26 November 1996, Official Report, column 173, when she intends to publish the results of the research carried out by the Employment Service occupational psychology division. [16682]

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is her latest estimate of the numbers of (a) severe disablement allowance, (b) incapacity benefit and (c) income support claimants who would gain if eligibility for the jobfinder's grant were extended to people in receipt of those benefits at the time of their application. [16673]

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) how many students registered in the (a) first, (b) second, (c) third and (d) fourth years of (i) a university and (ii) a college course applied for a student loan between 1990 and 1996; [16522](2) how many students registered in graduate studies applied for a student loan between 1990 and 1996; [16523](3) what was the percentage of defaults on student loan repayments between 1990 and 1996. [16524]

These are matters for the Student Loans Company. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member with the information requested.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans she has to pilot a voucher scheme for education at (a) primary and (b) secondary levels. [16598]

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list, for each education authority in England, (a) the number and percentage of pupils entitled to free school meals for each year since 1992 and (b) the spending on school meals in the same period. [16770]

As the available information is lengthy, I have arranged for it to be placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what amount of the total budget allocated to training and enterprise councils was subsequently allocated to training providers in the most recent year for which figures are available. [16776]

Government contracts with TECs for a range of activity as set out in TEC business plans. We do not collect detailed information on TEC payments to training providers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what monitoring takes place by her Department of the use of external consultants by non-departmental public bodies. [16760]

Non-departmental public bodies sponsored by the Department for Education and Employment operate within the terms of financial memoranda agreed with the Department.These require NDPBs to establish an internal audit service whose role is to provide assurance on the control arrangements to the accounting officer of the NDPB. This assurance is provided through the implementation of a risk-based audit plan.Each plan identifies a cyclical programme of reviews designed, over time, to subject the full range of running cost expenditure to system audit. This process reviews those systems that control the use of external consultants. The frequency and depth of review would depend on the perceived degree of "risk" of the various arrangements within the particular organisation.The Department's own internal audit division ensures that the overall service provided by the internal audit provider to the NDPB is of appropriate quality.Additionally, NDPBs are aware of the Cabinet Office report on the Government's use of external consultants and have been given copies of the Department's guidance on best practice in the use of external consultants.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will place in the Library a copy of the Ernst and Young study into the Employment Service headquarters structure. [16772]

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what advice has been issued to sector managers about the effect of exchange rate changes between the pound and the ecu on 1996 approvals for European social fund moneys; by how much allocations are to be reduced in total; and if she will make a statement. [16774]

For the objective 3 programme of the European social fund, it is currently estimated that there will be enough sterling to meet claims for existing projects approved by the Department's European social fund unit in 1996. The monitoring committee responsible for overall management of the objective 3 programme in Great Britain will make the final decision as to what extent further projects should be approved. When it has reached a conclusion on this, the Department will issue appropriate advice to sector managers.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will place in the Library copies of correspondence between his Department and other bodies regarding the process or content of discussions to dispose of the Brent Spar, as set out in the papers listed as Brent Spar papers 1 to 24, placed in the Library by his Department. [15650]

Since my Department has no statutory powers to exercise in this field, it had no correspondence of the kind contained in the Brent Spar papers 1 to 24 placed in the Library by the Department of Trade and Industry, except that, as one of the UK co-ordinating points for the Oslo and Paris commissions, it received a copy of the letter of 17 February 1995 from the secretariat of those commissions, which forms No. 18 of those papers.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment at what stage and on what date his Department was first consulted by the Department of Trade and Industry about Shell's wish to dispose of the Brent Spar at sea; and if he will place in the Library copies of the correspondence between the two Departments on this matter. [15651]

Discussions were held between Departments at various levels and in various contexts. My Department was involved from at least February 1994. It is not the normal practice to publish material passing between Government Departments in the course of preparing advice for Ministers.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the energy conservation authorities which did not submit their first reports to the Secretary of State under the Home Energy Conservation Act 1995 (a) by 30 November 1996, (b) by 31 December 1996, (c) by 31 January 1997 and (d) to date. [15883]

The energy conservation authorities whose reports were not received by the dates referred to are in the following list:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what account his Department takes of measures taken by applicant countries to the EU to deter the killing of migratory song birds in determining its policy towards their application. [15793]

Wild birds in the European Union are protected by the provisions of the EC wild birds directive, 79/409/EEC. My Department would expect any new countries who acceded to the EU to abide by the provisions set out in that directive.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make representations to the Government of Cyprus regarding the killing of migratory song birds by hunters; and if he will make a statement. [15795]

Bird protection measures in Cyprus are the responsibility of the Cypriot Government. The British Government are limited in what they can ask of other countries regarding their own legislation.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what were the indicative values of the water, and water and sewerage companies used to calculate rates of return for the period 1989 to 1994. [16233]

The indicative values of individual companies formed part of the financial projections which underlay the initial setting of price limits for each company. These financial projections are commercially confidential.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will map comprehensively the tranquil areas of England as defined by the Council for the Protection of Rural England; and what steps he is taking the preserve the tranquillity of those areas. [16227]

We have no plans to map the tranquil areas of England. Ministers took great interest in the Council for the Protection of Rural England's tranquil area maps project and fully recognise the importance of areas of the countryside where people can go for peace and tranquillity. The Government's White Paper on rural England sets out our framework for maintaining a proper balance between development and protection across the whole of the countryside. The forthcoming revision of planning policy guidance note 7 will emphasise that a central tenet of sustainable development is the integration of development with protection of the environment.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the progress made by the United Kingdom in meeting the targets set to reduce pollution in the North sea at the second North sea conference held in London in 1987. [16101]

The second North sea conference in 1987 agreed to take measures to reduce urgently and drastically the total quantity of substances that are persistent, toxic and liable to bioaccumulate reaching the aquatic environment of the North sea via rivers and estuaries, with the aim of achieving a substantial reduction—of the order of 50 per cent.—in total inputs from these sources between 1985 and 1995.As shown in the progress report to the fourth North sea conference, placed in the Library, the UK has achieved reductions of this order for "red list" substances, with the exception of zinc, where diffuse sources such as corrugated iron, cosmetics and car tyres have proved to be more significant than thought in 1987.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many students in further and higher education he estimates were accommodated in the private rented sector in (a) 1987, (b) 1992 and (c) the last year for which figures are available; and what assessment he has made of the growth in student accommodation since 1987. [16166]

The number of students in the private rented sector estimated from the labour force survey are:

Thousands
	Full-time course	Part-time course
1987	260	80
1992	360	130
1996	470	180

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the work of the Sheffield development corporation since its inception; and which organisation has been designated to continue its work. [16292]

As my hon. Friend will recall, recognition was given to the work of the Sheffield development corporation during the recent parliamentary debates on the winding up of the corporation—Official Report, Second Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation, 28 January 1997 and Official Report, House of Lords 6 February 1997 columns 1801–04. I fully endorse the views expressed by the Under-Secretary of State. It is clear that there is agreement on all sides that Sheffield development corporation has fulfilled its mission to bring economic regeneration to the lower Don valley and has made a most significant contribution to changing the image of Sheffield.No single organisation has been designated to continue regeneration in Sheffield. The city council and British Waterways will bring to a conclusion a number of projects under way at the end of the corporation's lifetime. It is for the city council and other local partners to reach a conclusion on whether they wish to establish a single-purpose organisation to take regeneration forward. We have shown our commitment to partnership working in Sheffield by committing £124 million to projects in the city over the next seven years under the single regeneration budget challenge fund, capital challenge and estates renewal challenge fund.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on progress with the Environment Agency's production of a DIY environmental performance checklist for premises managers on the Government estate. [16455]

The checklist has been produced, and copies have been sent to green co-ordinators in Government Departments and to premises managers on the Government estate.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to publish (a) the main report of the 1996 English house condition survey and (b) the energy report of the 1996 English house condition survey. [16581]

We expect to produce the main report of the 1996 EHCS before the end of this year and the energy report next year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the cost to public funds of the attendance of (a) Ministers and (b) officials of his Department at meetings of the Scottish Grand Committee in Scotland since December 1994; and if he will list the meetings of the Committee which (a) and (b) have attended indicating the cost of attendance and the names of those who attended. [16576]

No Ministers or officials from the Department of the Environment have attended a meeting of the Scottish Grand Committee.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he last met the North of England Assembly to discuss regional government. [15287]

My right hon. Friend has not met the North of England Assembly.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many people are currently on waiting lists for social housing in (a) London, (b) England and (c) Coventry. [16552]

Local authorities in England report the number of households on their housing waiting lists at 1 April each year in their annual housing investment programme returns. 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.Corresponding data are not collected centrally for housing associations, some of which do not operate waiting lists.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what monitoring takes place by his Department of the use of external consultants by non-departmental public bodies. [16759]

This is a matter for the management of the bodies concerned.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has for grants to homelessness voluntary organisations under section 180 of the Housing Act 1996. [17264]

The successful grant programme established under section 73 of the Housing Act 1985 will be continued under section 180 of the 1996 Act. The grant programme has been particularly successful in helping single, homeless people to find and keep accommodation, and it continues to represent good value for money.For 1997–98, the Government have made available £7.9 million to assist voluntary sector organisations to meet the running costs of practical projects which help single people in housing need. In addition to continuing to fund all eligible existing projects, we shall be inviting bids from voluntary organisations to set up new projects in 1997–98.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made on the financial, management and policy review of English Nature. [17265]

The financial management and policy review of English Nature has been completed. The intention of the review was to see whether English Nature's system of internal control over both administrative and programme expenditure were reliable and effective. Today, the report was presented to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment and to the chairman of English Nature, and I have arranged for copies of the report to be placed in the Library of the House.The review by my Department has made more than 50 recommendations. As a result of the review, there will be a major change in the relationship between the Department and English Nature, which will include the introduction of single running cost control, a revised financial memorandum, and a management statement.Single running cost control is an annual cash limit for a non-departmental public body running costs which replaces more detailed item scrutiny. It enables a non-departmental public body to manage its own administration expenditure within that limit, subject to such overall constraints as Government policy on pay. The establishment of single running costs control emphasises that primary responsibility for both financial control and value for money rests with the non-departmental public body's own management.For a non-departmental public body to be able to follow such an approach requires the support, encouragement and co-operation of its sponsoring Department. English Nature and the Department will work together to achieve this aim.I consider all the recommendations important. Together, they constitute a package which will enable English Nature to continue to ensure that it is operating in an efficient and effective manner.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his response to the first report of the Environment Committee on water conservation and supply (HC 42, 1996–97) published on 20 November 1996. [17475]

The Government have today published their response to the conclusions and recommendations of the Environment Committee's first report on water conservation and supply. We welcome the report, which broadly mirrors the views expressed in our own paper "Water Resources and Supply: Agenda for Action" which we published last October. In that, we set out a framework of policy and strategy to ensure that the water we need in the longer term is provided effectively, efficiently, and in an environmentally sustainable way.The Government agree with the Committee that leakage reduction must be a top priority for the water companies in relation to water conservation, and notes a recent report from the Director General of Water Services that water companies' revised targets—which he may enforce—aim to reduce losses from their pipes in aggregate to around 15 per cent. of distribution input by the turn of the century. Moreover, the Government consider that it is sensible for water companies to offer their customers free or significantly discounted leakage detection and repair services for supply pipes, particularly where the supply system is stressed.In 1996, the Government placed water companies under the statutory duty to promote the efficient use of water by their customers. The Director General of Water Services has reviewed companies' draft plans for doing this and is seeking improvements in some cases. As the Government pointed out in

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has to change the 1996–97 external finance limits for the urban development corporations. [17478]

Grant in aid to Teesside development corporation is being increased by £2,000,000 to allow it to bring forward regeneration projects. This will be funded by a transfer from city challenge. There will be an associated increase in the external financing limits for urban development corporations by £2,000,000 from £207,817,000 to 209,817,000.

To ask the Prime Minister how many times over the last three years, he has addressed the Millennium Club in his official capacity; and if he will list the names of those present and the companies they represented on each occasion; and if he will make a statement. [15696]

[holding answer 13 February 1997]: None.

To ask the Prime Minister what reports he has received on the offer made to prospective members of the Millennium Club by Mr. Alan Lewis, concerning access to Ministers of Her Majesty's Government and influence over Government policy; and if he will make a statement. [15661]

[holding answer 13 February 1997]: None.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 20 February. [15459]

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 20 February. [15460]

This morning, I presided at a meeting of the Cabinet and 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 what monitoring takes place by his Department of the use of external consultants by non-departmental public bodies. [16752]

For this purpose, my Department is part of the Cabinet Office. I refer the hon. Member to the replies given to him by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 13 January, Official Report, columns 13–14.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many housing associations registered in Scotland are registered with Scottish Homes; and how many of these have elected members of local authorities on the management boards or committees; [16595](2) when Scottish Homes expects the Irvine housing association to have drawn up and implemented new membership rules for the association; [16596](3) under what rules housing associations are obliged by Scottish Homes to operate in relation to their housing allocation systems; and if Scottish Homes has approved the current housing allocation system operated by the Irvine housing association; [16597]

The information requested relates to operational matters which are the responsibility of Scottish Homes. I have asked the chairman, Mr. John Ward, to write to the hon. Member with the relevant information.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what remedy in law is available to Scottish local authorities seeking to improve the condition of a residential property under the ownership of an individual who is allowing it to fall into a state of disrepair; and what responsibilities and duties the different legislative provisions place on the local authority in relation to the property which is the subject of any action. [16599]

The Building (Scotland) Act 1959, the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 and the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 give local authorities power in specified circumstances to serve notices on persons having control of houses which are in disrepair or likely soon to be so. The powers under the 1959 Act apply to houses or other buildings which are considered dangerous, those under the 1982 Act are commonly used to require repairs to the exterior of buildings in common ownership, and those under the 1987 Act apply to houses which are considered to be in a state of serious disrepair or are likely to deteriorate rapidly or to cause material damage to another house. In each of these cases, the notice will require the owner to take remedial action within a specified time; if it is not complied with the authority may carry out the works and recover the cost. Similar powers may be available also under local legislation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has to eliminate mixed-sex wards in Scottish national health service hospitals; and if he will make a statement. [16676]

There are no such proposals at present. However, during 1995, we instructed all trusts and health boards to review current practice in relation to mixed-sex accommodation and to draw up action plans to ensure that patients' concerns are addressed.In addition, we introduced a new charter commitment from September 1996, so that all patients in Scotland receive prior notification of the type of accommodation in which they will be treated and can defer admission until single-sex accommodation is available if they so wish.Subsequent checks have confirmed that the issue is being addressed effectively and sensitively by the Scottish health service so that patients' rights and dignity are respected. We continue to monitor closely progress on this issue.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what public resources have been made available for care and repair projects in (a) 1994–95, (b) 1995–96 and (c) 1996–97; [16677](2) how many houses have been improved in

Comprehensive information is not held centrally. The available information, relating to projects jointly funded by Scottish Homes and local authorities, is set out in the table.

	Revenue funding (estimate)1(£ million)	LA capital grant contribution2(£ million)	Number of homes covered
1994–95 (outturn)	0.8	3.1	616
1995–96 (outturn)	1.0	3.7	794
1996–97 (planned)	1.2	3.2	750
Source:
Scottish Homes.
Notes:
1 Total revenue funding for salaries and other running costs of projects estimated by grossing up from Scottish Homes contribution, which is normally matched equally by local authorities.
2 Contributions are in the form of improvement and repair grants for works costs. Other costs are met from care and repair client's own resources, and charitable and other funding. Scottish Homes does not contribute to these costs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what monitoring takes place by his Department of the use of external consultants by non-departmental public bodies. [16751]

Non-departmental public bodies are established to operate at arm's length from Government, often under specific statutory powers. An NDPB's governing body is responsible for the management and control of the body's functions.Ministers and their Departments are responsible for monitoring the performance of the NDPBs which they sponsor, and for ensuring that they operate within the framework of controls set out in the Treasury and Cabinet Office guidance "Non-Departmental Public Bodies: A Guide for Departments."A Scottish Office booklet, "The Hiring and Managing of External Consultants", which draws on the recommendations of an efficiency scrutiny "The Government's Use of External Consultants"—published in November 1995—gives guidance on best practice in the procurement and management of external consultants. This booklet is available to all Scottish Office NDPBs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the occasions on which Scottish Office Ministers have met Mr. Alan Lewis in an official capacity since 1987; and what subjects were discussed on each occasion. [15664]

[holding answer 13 February 1997]: The Department's records indicate that my right hon. Friend, the President of the Board of Trade, the then Minister of State at the Scottish Office, met Mr. Lewis in an official capacity on 7 July 1988 to discuss industry matters.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the cost of the public support provided to Messrs Kynoch of Keith; and how many jobs have been created or protected in Scotland as a result of that support. [15667]

[holding answer 13 February 1997]: The public financial support which the Kynoch Group plc, formerly G. and G. Kynoch, has received has been through the investment by the former Scottish development agency which has passed to Scottish Enterprise as its successor body. Scottish Enterprise's investment in Kynoch Group plc is an operational matter within the delegated authority of Scottish Enterprise and I have asked the chairman to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what discussions his Department held with (a) Crombie Mills of Aberdeen and (b) Illingworth Morris between 1988 and 1993; [15812](2) what discussions

[holding answer 17 February 1997]: The Department's records indicate that my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade, then Minister of State for Industry at the Scottish Office, met Mr. Lewis on 7 July 1988 to discuss industry matters. Subsequently on 5 September 1989 he visited J. and J. Crombie, Grandholm Mills, Aberdeen.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what financial assistance was provided from public funds to (a) Crombie Mills of Aberdeen and (b) Illingworth Morris between 1988 and 1993. [15813]

[holding answer 17 February 1997]: None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people were on council house waiting lists in Scotland in (a) each Scottish local authority and (b) Scotland as a whole in each year from 1990 to 1996; and if he will make a statement. [15893]

[holding answer 17 February 1997]: Reliable information is not held centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many miles of (a) motorway and (b) trunk roads have been constructed in Scotland for each year since 1992; and what percentage in each year was in rural areas. [16272]

The information set out as follows is the motorway and trunk road milage constructed on major schemes completed in Scotland in each year since 1992. This information is not held centrally for minor schemes.

Miles
Year	Motorway (length)	Trunk road (length)
1992	12.5	9.5
1993	6.3	16.4
1994	16.5	5.5
1995	16.1	2.5
1996	9.2	4.5

At least 80 per cent. of this total mileage over the five-year period was constructed in rural areas.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many miles of (a) motorway and (b) trunk roads he proposes to construct in (i) 1997 and (ii) 1998. [16273]

It is not possible to give a precise figure of mileage to be constructed in any future year. In 1997, a total of 20.7 miles of motorway and 12 miles of trunk road major schemes will be under construction or will commence construction. In 1998, a further 13.7 miles of motorway and 3.9 miles of trunk road is programmed for construction.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the total expenditure on (a) motorway and (b) trunk road construction in Scotland since 1992. [16295]

Major scheme expenditure on motorways and trunk roads in Scotland since 1992 is set out in the following table. As it is not practical to attempt to extract and allocate the expenditure on minor schemes over this period to either motorway or trunk road, this has been listed separately.

£ million
Year	Motorway	Trunk Road	Minor Schemes
1992–93	90	25.1	17.1
1993–94	56.5	45.1	9.9
1994–95	151	8.4	17.2
1995–96	86	12.8	12.9
1996–971	53	26	13.0
1 Forecast outturn 1996–97.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many staff in his Department and each of its executive agencies earn a gross annual salary of £43,000 or more. [16297]

The number of staff in the Scottish Office and its executive agencies earning a gross annual salary of £43,000 or more at 1 January 1997 is shown in the following table.

All staff in the Scottish Office and its executive agencies earning a gross annual salary of £43,000 or more at 1 January 1997
Department	Total
Scottish Office (core)	220
Executive agencies	10
Scottish Office (excluding SPS)	230
Scottish Prison Service	11

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage and how many (a) primary school pupils and (b) secondary school pupils were in classes of over 30 in the latest census (i) in each local authority and (ii) in total; and what was the (1) actual and (2) percentage change in numbers against the previous year's census. [16296]

Statistics on class size in primary schools are collected biennially. The available information is given in the table. Schools have been allocated to their current education authority. Information on individual class sizes in secondary schools is not collected centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to expand opportunities within the aid programme for British consultants in (a) fisheries and (b) other matters, following United Kingdom withdrawal from UNIDO. [16356]

Wide-ranging opportunities for British consultants are already available under the British development programme. The ODA is actively developing a new strategy for strengthening its links with the private sector in a broad range of sectors.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the impact of the decision to withdraw from UNIDO on (a) developing countries and (b) employment of British consultants by UNIDO. [16532]

The impact of UK withdrawal from UNIDO will have little effect on developing countries. The Government believe that greater impact for developing countries can be achieved by the use of other channels for our resources. There is no restriction in UNIDO's statute on consultancies being awarded to non-member states.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if an aid settlement has yet been agreed for St. Helena. [16536]

I am pleased to advise that my right hon. and noble Friend, the Minister for Overseas Development has this month approved a £26 million development commitment to St. Helena covering the next three years. This significant allocation, which represents an increase over previous plans, is linked to an agreement between the St. Helena Government and Her Majesty's Government on a three-year country policy plan. This provides a detailed framework for the reform and development of the island's economy. It illustrates the Government's continuing commitment to ensuring economic development and proper governance of the UK dependent territories as a whole.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make it his policy when asked by hon. Members to provide comparative statistics between Northern Ireland and other parts of the United Kingdom, or the United Kingdom as a whole, to obtain the necessary figures from other Departments and to publish them. [15819]

No. It would not be appropriate to provide statistical information on subjects for which I am not responsible.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many car parking spaces are provided (a) on the Stormont estate and (b) at Rosepark House (i) free of charge and (ii) for which charges are made; how many were provided five years ago; and if he will make a statement. [15817]

There are some 2,461 parking spaces in the Stormont estate, including 240 at Netherleigh, and 235 at Rosepark house. The corresponding figures five years ago were 2,405, including 240 at Netherleigh, and 230. Charges are not made for the use of these spaces.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what monitoring takes place by his Department of the use of external consultants by non-departmental public bodies. [16753]

The central Northern Ireland civil service guidance on employment of consultants is derived from the efficiency unit's 1994 report on "The

			Unintentionally homeless1
col. a	col. b	col. c	col. d	col. e	col. f	col. g
Year	Presented as homeless	Intentionally homeless	Number	Percentage (d/b)	In priority need	Percentage (£/b)
1996–972	8,168	606	7,562	92	3,430	42
1995–96	10.768	847	9,921	92	4,319	40.1
1994–95	10,068	848	9,220	91.6	4,014	39.9
1993–94	9,731	804	8,927	91.7	3,971	40.8
1992–93	10,099	1,054	9,045	89.6	4,061	40.2
1991–92	10,081	1,235	8,846	87.7	4,158	41.2
1 Includes those in priority need.
2 To 31 December 1996.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list the minimum age requirements enforced by his Department. [15917]

The statutory minimum age requirements enforced by the Lord Chancellor's Departments and the agencies for which the Lord Chancellor has ministerial responsibility are as follows.Individuals under the age of 18 cannot act on their own behalf as plaintiffs. Proceedings are issued through a next friend or guardian ad litem. This applies in all cases unless

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what has been the percentage change in the number of households assessed as being in priority need by the Housing Executive between 1986 and 1996. [16879]

This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive whose chief executive has advised me that the category "priority need" was established in 1989 and that the information from that date is as follows:

Year	Number in priority need
1989–90	3,604
1995–96	5,166
Change	43 per cent.

The total number of presenters increased by 61 per cent. from 6,675 in 1989–90 to 10,768 in 1995–96.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many households have presented themselves as homeless to the Northern Ireland Housing Executive in each of the last five years and the current year to date; and what percentage of those have been assessed as being (a) unintentionally homeless and (b) in priority need. [16880]

This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and the chief executive has advised me that the information is as follows:the claim is being made for the recovery of wages—County Courts Act 1984, section 47. In those circumstances, minors can act for themselves.An individual under the age of 18 cannot act on his or her own behalf as a defendant in civil proceedings. This applies in all cases save where the claim is for a liquidated amount and permission has been granted by the court allowing the minor to act for him or herself.Jurors qualify for jury service if they are at least 18 years old on the day jury service is to start.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many asylum seekers have appealed against refusals of asylum received since July 1996 for each month since July 1996. [15806]

The question concerns a matter which has been assigned to the Court Service under the terms of its framework document. I have therefore asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list the private employment agencies used by his Department and its agencies in each of the last three years for which figures are available, indicating (a) the names of the agencies, (b) the numbers employed by the agencies in work for his Department, (c) the total cost to his Department of using employment agencies and the median cost paid to the agency per person recruited and (d) the average length of contract for persons recruited via such agencies. [16185]