To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 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. [16571]

No Ministers or officials from the Home Office have attended a meeting of the Scottish Grand Committee.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what evaluation he has made of the effectiveness of diversion schemes for young offenders. [16869]

A recent evaluation by the Home Office of the Milton Keynes retail theft initiative, which aims to help young offenders convicted of shoplifting resist further offending, showed a reoffending rate of 3 per cent. for first-time offenders attending the scheme, compared with 35 per cent. for first-time offenders dealt with in other ways. Evaluations of motor projects and physically demanding programmes run by probation services are currently under way.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 12 February, Official Report, column 215, what foreign organisations are permitted to receive data from the UK Cellnet system under existing interception of communications agreements. [16802]

The United Kingdom is not a signatory to any international agreements expressly providing for material obtained by the interception of communications to be passed to foreign organisations. On occasion, overseas law enforcement agencies may apply, through Interpol, for information concerning the subscriber to a particular telephone number, and requests may be received from overseas prosecuting or judicial authorities for data to be used in evidence, in which case an application may be made to a court for it to be produced under the Criminal Justice (International Co-operation) Act 1990.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the ways in which his Department has demonstrated the ability to improve efficiency and competitiveness through an environmental audit of the waste management within those buildings his Department occupies; and if he will make a statement. [16417]

My Department is committed to using the resources entrusted to it to secure best value for money at the least possible cost to the environment. The "Home Office Green Housekeeping Strategy", published in August 1993, requires that property managers carry out an annual audit against environmental objectives which include waste management. Home Office waste management initiatives currently focus mainly on the recycling of paper, aluminium cans and toner cartridges.Environmental guidance material promulgated to the Department's property managers has included the Environmental Agency's "Do-it-Yourself Environmental Performance Checklist", a draft of which was distributed on 9 August 1996, and the Department of the Environment's "Waste Guide", circulated on 4 November 1996.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment his Department has made of the presence of (a) hazardous materials and (b) ozone-depleting substances within those buildings which his Department occupies; and if he will make a statement. [16275]

No central assessment has been made of the presence of hazardous or ozone-depleting substances within the buildings occupied by my Department. However, in accordance with the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1988 and asbestos regulations, all managers are required to ensure that appropriate records of hazardous substances are maintained in buildings for which they are responsible. The Home Office continues to provide relevant training for this. Similarly, the Home Office's green housekeeping strategy requires local managers to be alert to the existence of ozone-depleting substances and to any opportunity of phasing these out.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the progress of the police investigation into the bombing of the London office of the African National Congress in 1982. [16456]

I understand that the investigation is continuing. This has included interviews with a large number of people in South Africa, and is taking account of the disclosures which continue to be made in South Africa. When it is possible to conclude the police investigation, the Crown Prosecution Service will complete its own review of the evidence and advise the police accordingly.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the effect on the level of street crime in south-east Staffordshire of the introduction of closed circuit television in Tamworth. [17198]

Information from the local police indicates that, since the introduction of closed circuit television in Tamworth on 1 January 1996, there has been a 15 per cent. reduction in offences of robbery, and reductions of 59 per cent. in thefts from, and 34 per cent in thefts of, motor vehicles. Overall, crime in the area covered by the cameras has fallen by 29 per cent. Furthermore, overall recorded crime for the whole police sub-division fell by 17 per cent. in 1996 compared with the previous year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what analysis he has made of the success of the introduction of closed circuit television in reducing street crime in south-east Staffordshire relative to other west midlands areas. [17199]

None. Data are not collected in a format which would enable such an analysis to be made.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if it is the policy of the Metropolitan police to make available (i) all relevant information which they have and (ii) the relevant Police Complaints Authority report to (a) the coroner conducting an inquest into a death in police custody and (b) the next of kin of the deceased person; in what circumstances such documents are not made available; and if he will make a statement. [17053]

I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that the Metropolitan police make all relevant information available, including the Police Complaints Authority report, to the coroner for use at a public inquest into a death in police custody. The investigating officer does not have authority to disclose any documentation or evidential material to the next of kin without the direction of the coroner. However, I understand that the investigating officer will attempt to liaise informally with the next of kin or their legal representatives to keep them informed of the progress of the investigation.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what plans the Government have to review the format of the absent voter forms to prevent fraud and misappropriation of proxy votes; [17137](2) if he will instruct his Department to collate centrally the number of proxy votes at the next general election; [17135](3) what steps are being taken to monitor the exercising of proxy votes in local government elections; [17139]

Absent voting application forms were amended in 1994 to ensure that electors indicate clearly whether they are applying to vote by post or proxy, and to ensure that all appointments of a proxy are signed by the elector. These amendments help to prevent fraud. The number of proxies appointed to vote by constituency in the general election will be published in the booklet "Election Expenses", printed by the Stationery Office after the election on the order of the House. Information relating to proxy voting at local government elections is not collected centrally, and there are no plans to do so.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) arrests and (b) charges were made by police forces in England and Wales in each of the past five years. [17119]

Information on the number of arrests is given in the table. Data on the number of persons charged are not collected centrally. However, prosecution data are published in the Command Paper "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales 1995"—table 6A refers. Copies are in the Library.

Number of persons arrested
England and Wales
Year	Number
1991	1,729,121
1992	1,733,081
1993	1,702,101
1994	1,747,804
1995	1,708,851

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what resources are being provided annually for tackling the causes of sexual violence; and if he will make a statement; [16634](2) if he will make it his policy to implement a national strategy to combat male sexual violence; [16635](3) if he will provide financial assistance to the zero tolerance of sexual violence towards women media campaign; and if he will make a statement; [16636](4) if he will set up an interdepartmental group on sexual violence against women and children to work in parallel with the interdepartmental group on domestic violence; and if he will make a statement; [16637](5) what proposals he has to ensure the long-term funding of a national network of community-based women's centres providing advice and counselling to the victims of rape and incest; and if he will make a statement. [16658]

Substantial efforts are being devoted to tackling sexual offending in all its forms. The Government's current strategy includes: keeping regularly under review the robust framework of criminal offences which already exists, and moving as necessary to address new problems, for example, stalking; ensuring that the most serious repeat sexual and violent offenders receive life sentences, so that they are not released until it appears safe to do so; reviewing the maximum penalties currently available for sexual offences, with a view to ensuring that these remain adequate for dealing with the most serious instances; strengthening the powers of the police to monitor the movements of sex offenders, and their ability to prevent and detect sex offending; a vigorous crime prevention programme; the development of treatment programmes to help violent offenders, equivalent to the sex offender treatment programmes which have already been running for some time; a study of the reasons for low conviction rates in rape causes.Because this strategy consists of a range of different activities, often undertaken alongside other duties, by central Government, the criminal justice agencies, the social services, and the voluntary sector, it is not possible to give any meaningful estimate of the total resources devoted to this area.The remit of the interdepartmental group on domestic violence includes all instances of sexual violence that take place in a domestic setting, and we have no plans for any additional interdepartmental groups.The Government are also committed to helping the victims of sexual violence. We provide substantial funding—£11.682 million in 1996–97—to the national voluntary organisation Victim Support, which provides practical help and emotional support to all victims of crime and their families.There are no plans to fund a national support network specifically to help victims of rape and incest. The zero tolerance campaign, which was launched in Edinburgh, is a local rather than a Government project, although it received some initial financial support from Edinburgh safer cities project, which was then funded by the Scottish Office: there are no plans to make further Government funds available. Where the need arises, we initiate our own national campaigns, such as the domestic violence campaign, which was launched in 1994, and publications such as the "Practical Guide to Crime Prevention".

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will review the criminal justice compensation scheme tariff system to give greater weight to the long-term emotional trauma suffered by women who are the victims of rape and sexual assault. [16657]

We have made clear previously our intention to review the tariff of awards after three years.The present tariff was derived from examination of 20,000 awards made by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board. It broadly reflects. Therefore, the level of damages payable under common law damages. The tariff awards for rape and sexual assault accordingly already include a significant element for the long-term trauma suffered by victims. Where, however, the mental injury is serious and permanent, the tariff provides for £20,000 to be paid. In addition, if there are consequences for the victim's earning capacity and/or cost of medical care, additional compensation may be considered.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 15 January, Official Report, column 267, how many names are contained on each of the lists relating to (a) paedophiles and (b) sex offenders. [17437]

The National Criminal Intelligence Service paedophile intelligence database contains details of approximately 25,000 known or suspected paedophiles.Numbers of convicted and alleged paedophiles and sex offenders held on the Phoenix database, the microfiche collection of national criminal records, the consultancy service index and "List 99" cannot be identified separately.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library a copy of the response from the Association of Chief Police Officers on the question of public disclosure of information on sex offenders. [17797]

I have today placed a copy of the response in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the performance of the Lieutenant Governor of Jersey; and what recent representations he has received on his performance. [17529]

My right hon. and noble Friend the Minister of State has this month received representations from the hon. Member for Great Grimsby. We have full confidence in the Lieutenant Governor of Jersey.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he gave permission for correspondence with his Department relating to the conduct of Senator Stuart Syzret to be published in full by the Jersey states. [17530]

My right hon. and learned Friend has no objection to this correspondence being referred to in a report to the states of Jersey.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what factors underlay the decision to transfer Roisin McAliskey from Northern Ireland to Holloway prison; how many applications for bail have been made on her behalf since she has been in Holloway prison; what representations he has received concerning Ms McAliskey being returned to Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement. [17627]

Roisin McAliskey was arrested in Belfast on the basis of a provisional arrest warrant issued by Bow Street magistrates court on 25 November under section 8 of the Extradition Act 1989. That Act makes no provision for a separate jurisdiction for Northern Ireland. The court of committal under section 9 of the Extradition Act can remand a person in custody only to a prison in England or Wales.Applications for bail on Roisin McAliskey's behalf were made in hearings at Bow Street magistrates court on 4, 13 and 20 December 1996, and on 3 and 16 January 1997.Several inquiries have been received regarding the possibility of her transfer to prison in Northern Ireland: the powers under which she is detained allow only for her detention in England and Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will assess the advantages of changing the law to provide that a person may be charged with the same offence if the previous court case in respect of the same offence had not proceeded to the conclusion and a jury's decision; and if he will make a statement. [17404]

[holding answer 24 February 1997]: The law provides that a person cannot be tried for a crime in respect of which he has either been previously convicted or acquitted or could have been convicted on some previous indictment. Its purpose is to provide protection for individuals against repeated prosecutions for the same offence.However, a defendant may be prosecuted for the same offence in certain circumstances where previous proceedings have not been concluded: where the accused is discharged at committal proceedings; if the indictment has been quashed following a motion to quash; where the prosecution withdraws the summons in the magistrates court before the accused had pleaded; where an information is dismissed because the prosecutor did not appear before the magistrates court or where the information was so faulty in form and content that the accused could never have been in jeopardy of being convicted on it; where the prosecution serves a notice of discontinuance and if the jury was discharged from giving a verdict.Following the recent abandonment of the Whitemoor trial, my right hon. and learned Friend announced on 24 January that he was giving serious consideration to the possibility of legislation to provide for a review on appeal of decisions which bring a case to a final conclusion contrary to the submission of the prosecutor.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what disciplinary action has been instituted against individual officers of the Metropolitan police force and the immigration service in relation to the use of Jamaican nationals as informants. [17153]

[holding answer 24 February 1997]: I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that no discipline cases have been brought against Metropolitan police officers. The immigration service has taken disciplinary action in respect of one immigration officer following an internal inquiry.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the gross and net disposable average income for a family of two adults and two dependent children including one earner; and what was the combined average income entitlement to income support of such a family in Bristol, and in Great Britain, for each year since 1987. [15397]

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

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Banff and Buchan of 6 February, Official Report, column 681, what are the projected figures of the Scottish general Government borrowing requirement for each year between 1997–98 and 2001–02. [15688]

[holding answer 13 February 1997]: Forecasts of the Scottish borrowing requirement are not available.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the minimum age requirements his Department is responsible for enforcing. [15910]

I am aware of no minimum age requirements which are enforced by the Chancellor's departments.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the savings which would accrue in the current year from reduced expenditure on tax relief paid on contributions made to appropriate personal pensions if (a) all and (b) half of those earning under £10,000 per annum who are currently opted out of the state earnings-related pensions scheme into APPs were to rejoin SERPS. [15590]

[holding answer 14 February 1997]: The yield from reduced expenditure on tax relief for minimum contributions from the national insurance fund to appropriate personal pensions would be about £30 million for 1996–97 if all holders of APPs with earnings of under £10,000 per annum were to rejoin SERPS, and about half that amount if half of those were to rejoin SERPS.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what powers the Commissioners of Taxes have to take a person's money, goods or chattels without a court order. [16104]

I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to powers available to the Commissioners of Inland Revenue—the board. The Inland Revenue is able to take tax defaulters' goods or chattels without a court order under its statutory powers of distraint. This is one of the legal processes available to the Inland Revenue to enable it to secure payment of outstanding taxes. Before taking distraint action for the amounts due, the taxpayer will have been sent a final demand giving warning of proceedings, as well as earlier written demands. In addition, the collector of taxes will in most cases have tried to make contact either by telephone or by a personal visit.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the highest rate of income tax currently levied for each member country of the European Union; and at what level of income, in sterling equivalents, it becomes operative. [16433]

The information requested is provided in the table.

EU member state	Highest rate of income tax per cent.	Level of income at which it becomes operative in £ sterling
Austria	50	32,184
Belgium	55	41,818
Denmark	62	18,021
Finland	54–59	30,114
France	56.8	27,503
Germany	53	37,165
Greece	45	45,872
Republic of Ireland	48	9,564
Italy	51	122,399
Luxembourg	50	22,325
Netherlands	60	28,199

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the ways in which his Department has demonstrated the ability to improve efficiency and competitiveness through an environmental audit of waste management within those buildings his Department occupies; and if he will make a statement. [16430]

An environmental assessment using the Building Research Establishment "tool kit" has been carried out at the offices occupied by HM Treasury at Allington Towers in Victoria with a view to accreditation under ISO 14001. Officials are now considering the recommendations and ways of taking this forward. Extending the assessment to the main building in Parliament street—government offices, Great George street—will not be cost effective, given the proposed redevelopment and the short time we expect to remain in the building in its current configuration. The proposed redevelopment project places an obligation on the private sector partner to ensure that an "excellent" rating under the Building Research Establishment's environmental assessment method system is obtained. We intend to obtain a BREEAM rating for waste management once we reoccupy.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment his Department has made of the presence of (a) hazardous materials and (b) ozone-depleting substances within those buildings which his Department occupies; and if he will make a statement. [16283]

All known asbestos is recorded in an asbestos register and Control of Substances Hazardous to Health—COSHH—registers, and data sheets are also held. Regular health and safety inspections, audits and tours are carried out to ensure compliance with COSHH regulations. All halon fire extinguishers have been replaced and regular checks for chlorofluorocarbon leakage detection are carried out on relevant departmental equipment.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will use the labour force survey as the basis for unemployment statistics. [16662]

Estimates from the labour force survey on the internationally standard International Labour Organisation definition have been published by the Government on a quarterly basis since 1992—since April 1996 by the Office for National Statistics—and are widely used for economic assessment along with the published monthly count of claimants of unemployment-related benefits.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 7 February, Official Report, column 733, what is the total tax relief granted in respect of the profit-related pay schemes notified to the Inland Revenue (a) between September 1996 and the end of January 1997, (b) in 1996, (c) in 1995 and (d) in 1994. [17201]

The available information is in the table. This is based on the estimated total amount of profit-related pay which will be received for a profit period by participating employees in each scheme. The information is supplied on the application forms submitted by employers registering their schemes.

Schemes registered in:	Estimated cost of income tax relief £ million
1 September 1996 to 31 January	1,100
1997
1996	1,650
1995	1,000
1994	550
1 These figures are tentative and subject to a wide margin of error.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the proportion of (a) lone parents and (b) married women who are currently in work. [15749]

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

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much mortgage interest relief at source cost in Scotland in (a) 1994–95 and (b) 1995–96; and what is his estimate of the cost in 1996; and what is his estimate of the cost in 1996–97. [17224]

[holding answer 24 February 1997]: The cost of mortgage interest tax relief in Scotland was estimated to be £260 million in 1995–96. The amount of relief given through MIRAS—mortgage interest relief at source—was £250 million in 1994–95 and £190 million in 1995–96.These estimates are based on the regional distribution of the cost of mortgage interest relief from analyses of family expenditure surveys up to 1994. The estimates for 1995–96 are projections based on applying the same regional distribution as in 1994–95 to the total figure for 1995–96. It is not possible to provide reliable estimates below United Kingdom level for 1996–97.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the number and value of fraud cases within (a) Government Departments, (b) agencies and (c) non-departmental public bodies reported to the Treasury in each of the last five years. [17644]

The number of value of fraud cases within Departments, agencies and non-departmental public bodies reported to the Treasury in the last five years are:

Year	Number of cases	Total value £
1991–92	287	1,536,900
1992–93	302	2,108,900
1993–94	352	1,688,500
1994–95	408	2,124,700
1995–96	480	2,848,700

The data are provided by Departments in line with the requirements of chapter 37 of "Government Accounting" and cover frauds and suspected frauds committed by departmental and agency staff, including cases where staff have colluded with outsiders. The data include NDPB staff frauds where these have been reported by departments. However, complete data on frauds in NDPBs are not held centrally, nor are the data held centrally kept in a form which distinguishes between Departments and agencies. Copies of the Treasury's 1995–96 fraud report were placed in the Library of the House at the same time it was circulated to Departments.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the administration costs for the share offers relating to each privatisation since 1979 broken down by (a) selling and other commissions, (b) marketing, (c) receiving bank costs, (d) advisers' fees, (e) underwriting and (f) other costs; and in each case what was the total cost. [17643]

The costs of individual sales are included in National Audit Office reports on particular sales. Published reports are available in the Library of the House. In addition, I refer to the replies given to the hon. Member for North-West Durham (Ms Armstrong) on 23 March 1995, Official Report, columns 287–88, and on

£million
	Commissions and fees	Marketing costs and printing	Receiving banks and logistics	Advisers	Total
British Coal (1995)	1—	0.6	2.4	134	37
Genco2 (1995)	29	15	9	4	57
1Cost here are included in the figure for advisers.

The estimated costs for the Railtrack sale were given in reply to a question from the hon. Member for York (Mr. Bayley) on 4 June 1996,

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many invoices owed by Government Departments to his Department have been lost in each of the last five years; and what has been the annual sum of money involved. [17523]

The Treasury keeps records only of duplicate invoices that have been raised. Duplicates are raised where invoices have been mislaid, lost, are unreadable or have in some way been mutilated; it does not subdivide its records into these categories. The following breakdown shows the number of duplicate invoices raised in the years in question:

	1992–93	1993–94	1994–95	1995–96	1996–97
Duplicates raised	1	9	40	9	1Nil
Value for year	£335	£8,820	£39,143	£20,017	£0
1To date.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to change the rules on the taxation of single premium investment insurance bonds; if he will estimate the yield of such a tax; and if he will make a statement. [17531]

The Government have no present plans to change the rules on the taxation of single premium investment insurance bonds. In November 1996 the Inland Revenue published a consultation paper containing a package of proposals, including draft clauses, for reforming the way a policy holder's profits from all kinds of long-term life insurances are taxed. No decisions will be taken until after the response to this public consultation has been fully considered and evaluated.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the percentage of 18 to 24-year-olds who are (a) full-time students, (b) in employment, (c) unemployed

[holding answer 20 February 1997]: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the chief executive of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what are the latest available figures for consumer expenditure per head in (a) Wales and (b) the United Kingdom; [17090](2) what are the latest available figures for GDP per head in

[holding answer 24 February 1997]: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the chief executive of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Birkenhead (Mr. Field) of 14 January, Official Report, columns 202–203, if he will express the number of people who have made at least one claim for unemployment-related benefits since April 1992 as a percentage of the working age population. [17429]

[holding answer 24 February 1997]: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the chief executive of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to make an announcement about the preferred bidder for the construction of the new Scottish centre air traffic control facility; when he expects it to become fully operational; and if he will make a statement. [17449]

An announcement is intended to be made soon.The current expectation is that the centre will become operational in 2001. However, the timetable for the project will have to be finalised as part of the contract negotiations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what contracts have been let in respect of works relating to, or implementing the proposal to widen the M25 to 10 and 12 lanes between junctions 12 and 15; and if he will make a statement; [17639](2) when he will respond to the objections lodged during summer 1996 to his plans to widen the M25 to 10 and 12 lanes between junctions 12 and 15; and if he will make a statement; [17641](3) how many hon. Members representing constituencies in Surrey have objected to his proposals to widen the M25 to 10 and 12 lanes between junctions 12 and 15; [17638](4) what plans he has to let contracts before 22 May in respect of works relating to, or implementing, the proposal to widen the M25 to 10 and 12 lanes between junctions 12 and 15; and if he will make a statement. [17640]

No contracts have been let for the widening of the M25 between junctions 12 and 15 and there are no plans to let any such contracts before 22 May.Representations received following publication of the environmental statement for the scheme are under consideration and an announcement will be made by the Secretary of State in due course. No hon. Member representing a constituency in Surrey has objected formally to the widening proposals.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will set out the work programmes of the four sub-groups of the bus working group. [17077]

[holding answer 24 February 1997]: Three sub-groups are currently taking forward the work of the bus working group. The main items which have been considered at recent meetings, and which will be pursued in further discussions as appropriate, are as follows:

Service provision and quality sub-group: the development of quality partnerships between bus operators and local authorities; strengthening the requirement for operators to demonstrate adequate financial standing; bus headway spacing; amendments to the five-minute rule on changes to registered timetables; encouraging good practice in handling customer complaints, and taking further steps to give a higher profile to bus services and encourage bus use.

Passenger information sub-group: the development of a "practitioners' manual" on good practice on passenger information to follow up the publication last September of "Better Information for Bus Passengers"; provision of national and local contact points for information on bus services and developments in transport telematics.

Bus priority sub-group: updating and revising the guidance to local authorities on bus priority measures; "Keeping Buses Moving", the revised version, will be published shortly.

The sub-group on vehicle quality completed its work programme for the time being when it reported to the full bus working group at the end of 1995.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will ensure that the bus working group reviews the adequacy of bus operating companies' complaints procedures. [17078]

[holding answer 24 February 1997]: Steps to promote good practice by bus companies in dealing with customer complaints are already under consideration by the bus working group and its service provision and quality sub-group.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the current investment programmes of the franchised train operating companies by (a) value and (b) equipment. [15708]

[holding answers 17 February 1997]: Rail franchisees are committed to an ambitious and extensive programme of investment both in rolling stock and in stations and other facilities. Their plans for new rolling stock investment, amounting to an estimated overall expenditure of £1.5 billion, include:

Connex South East's plans to spend up to £400 million on a modern, air conditioned fleet for services in Kent, replacing all their slam door stock during the life of the franchise.

Virgin Rail's commitment to spend an estimated £250 million to fulfil their commitment to replace Cross-Country's rolling stock fleet, and an estimated £500 million on a new fleet of tilting trains to reduce journey times on the InterCity west coast franchise.

Great Western's £50 million refurbishment programme for its high speed train fleet, and a potential £20 million development programme to increase fleet flexibility. Great Western is to invest approximately £60 million replacing the entire North West Regional Railways mark 1 fleet.

Stagecoach's planned £90 million order to replace some of the mark 1 trains in the South West Trains fleet.

Chiltern's £12 million order for three four car new diesel multiple units to operate a 100 mph express service from London to Birmingham.

National Express Group's plans to spend in the region of £40 million on a completely new fleet of rolling stock on Gatwick Express by 1999.

National Express's commitment to spend an estimated £20 million on new air-conditioned rolling stock for Midland Main Line, to run additional stopping services between London and Derby and Nottingham.

Prism's plans to spend an estimated £100 million on new rolling stock on LTS to replace its existing class 310 and 312 trains with stock.

MTL's plans to spend £30 million introducing 16 new three car electric multiple units for Regional Railways North East in West Yorkshire.

National Express plans to invest £100 million for new rolling stock for the ScotRail franchise.

In general, franchise plans commit operators to providing specified services with new rolling stock by a certain date. Whilst the procurement, cost, financing and accounting treatment of the rolling stock needed are matters for them, it is expected that the new stock will in general be leased, not purchased outright, by franchisees. The commitments on Gatwick Express, LTS and Midland main line are tied to conditional longer franchise terms. In the event of new stock not being delivered by defined dates, these franchises will revert to a seven-year term. Further details of each of the commitments referred to, including when the rolling stock is required to be in service, can be found in individual franchise agreements or plans.In addition, franchisees have committed to over £100 million investment in station improvements, including the installation of closed circuit television, improved passenger accommodation and better disabled access.The spending commitments given are the best present estimates, and may be subject to change. There are changes in coverage and definition from those quoted for British Rail in previous years.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what steps the Government have taken to monitor the impact of the deferred maintenance provisions enacted under the Pensions Act 1995. [15742]

The Department has arranged for the Court Service to record numbers of periodical payments orders made under the provisions of the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973, as amended by section 166 of the Pensions Act 1995, and to conduct a monitoring exercise of the terms of such orders. In addition, the Government are considering carrying out research in the summer to examine the impact of these provisions, although a fuller picture is unlikely to emerge until they have been in place for some time.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will publish (a) the names of those (i) groups and (ii) individuals who advise the national lottery and each of its distributing bodies about applications and (b) their duties and terms of reference. [16537]

The national lottery distributors consult a wide range of organisations. The main ones are: Adapt Trust, all national governing bodies of sport including the British Olympic Association, area museum councils, Cadw, Central Council for Physical Recreation, Countryside Council for Wales, Disability Action, Disability Scotland, Disability Wales, English Heritage, English Nature, PRISM fund for preservation and restoration of industrial and scientific material, local authorities, local sports councils, London Video Film Development Agency, Museums and Galleries Commission, National Library of Scotland, National Library of Wales, Northern Ireland Environment and Heritage Service—Natural Heritage, Northern Ireland Film Council, Northern Ireland Environment and Heritage Service—Built Heritage, regional arts boards, Royal Fine Art Commission for Scotland, Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts, Royal Fine Art Commission, Scottish Natural Heritage, Scottish Film Production Fund, British Film Institute, Crafts Council, British Library, Countryside Commission, Theatres Trust, Victoria and Albert Museum/Museums and Galleries Commission purchase grant fund and wildlife trusts.The National Lottery Charities Board has a series of regional advisory panels drawn from the voluntary sector for their local knowledge. The board also uses expert advisors on their medical and social research panels, and international grants programme panel.In addition, the distributing bodies seeks advice from a very large number of individuals or specialist firms and organisations in assessing projects or groups of projects. It would not be practical to identify and list all those, as 12,446 awards have now been made.It is for the distributing bodies to determine the duties and the terms of reference for each particular organisation or individual concerned and these will vary accordingly to the nature of the work required.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how much her Department estimates it cost to establish each executive agency associated with her Department. [16966]

My Department was not responsible for the work in establishing either of the executive agencies now associated with the Department of National Heritage. Prior to the establishment of the Department of National Heritage in April 1992, royal palaces and royal parks were the responsibility of the Department of the Environment.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will list the cost and number of items of equipment and furniture that (a) have been stolen and (b) are otherwise unaccounted for from her Department and its agencies during the past 12 months, listing by name any such items valued at £5,000 or more, and showing information technology material separately. [17072]

My Department has not had any items of equipment, furniture or information technology material, stolen or unaccounted for in the last 12 months.In respect of my agencies, one item valued at £400 has been stolen from the Royal Parks agency. Five items of IT-related furniture and equipment, valued at £1,014, have been stolen from the Historic Royal Palaces agency.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage, pursuant to her answer of 29 January, Official Report, column 253, what is the Millennium Commission's estimate of the number of visitors who will attend the exhibition; and what is the estimated total income which will be generated. [15711]

This is a matter for the Millennium Commission. I have written to the hon. Member in my capacity as chairman of the commission and I will arrange for copies of my reply to be placed in the Libraries of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his oral answer of 15 January, Official Report, columns 311–12, if he will list the provisions of the joint declaration and the Basic Law which envisage an elected legislative council for Hong Kong. [17527]

Sentence 49 of the joint declaration and its annexes provides that:

"The legislature of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region shall be constituted by elections".

Article 68 of the Basic Law provides that:

"The Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region shall be constituted by election.

"The method for forming the Legislative Council shall be specified in the light of the actual situation in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and in accordance with the principle of gradual and orderly progress. The ultimate aim is the election of all the members of the Legislative Council by universal suffrage."

"The specific method for forming the Legislative Council and its procedures for voting on bills and motions are prescribed in Annex II: "Method for the Formation of the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and Its Voting Procedures."

Annex II to the Basic Law describes the planned development in the composition of the HKSAR Legislative Council in its second and third terms, progressing to election of 30 seats by functional constituency and 30 by geographic constituency through direct elections in the third term. It does not specify the level of development after the third term, but does stipulate a mechanism to enable such further development to be made.Copies of the joint declaration and the Basic Law have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reasons the Chinese Government have given for regarding an elected legislative council for Hong Kong as contrary to the joint declaration and the Basic Law; what response the Government have made to the Chinese Government's reasons; and if he will place the communications between the two Governments on this subject in the Library. [17528]

The Chinese Government have provided no convincing reasons for replacing the legislature elected openly and fairly in September 1995 by more than 1 million Hong Kong people with a body chosen by a hand-picked group of 400 people.The Government gave a full account of Sino-British exchanges on representative government in Hong Kong in its White Paper, "Representative Government in Hong Kong", Cmd 2432 of February 1994.The Government's position on the provisional legislature is set out in my right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary's statement of 20 December 1996 which has been placed in the Libraries of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from (a) the Government of the Irish Republic and (b) others about the detention at HMP Holloway of Ms Roisin McAliskey; and if he will make a statement. [17626]

The Irish Foreign Minister, Mr. Spring, has raised the question of Roisin McAliskey with our ambassador in Dublin. We have also received a number of representations from Irish Members of Parliament, US Congressmen and other individuals.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has for a prior options review of the Government hospitality fund and Lancaster house. [17798]

In accordance with the Government's "Competing for Quality" initiative, this Department is undertaking a review of the Government hospitality fund-HF-and Lancaster house. The review will consider:

(i) the functions and key outputs of, and the resources currently employed by, the GHF and Lancaster house;

(ii) whether these functions are necessary;

(iii) whether it would be appropriate and feasible to abolish, privatise or contract-out (with or without an in-house bid), some or all of these functions;

(iv) ways of improving the efficiency and effectiveness of GHF within the current or restructured arrangements:

(v) arrangements for departmental supervision; and will make recommendations to Ministers.

In order to help ensure that all options are considered fully, an interdepartmental advisory group will be established. Interested parties wishing to comment on Government hospitality are invited to write by 17 March to:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will make a statement on the effect of her Department's policies on the residents of Bournemouth since 1992, with special reference to the effects of changes in the resources provided in real terms. [14953]

The Department's policies have been aimed at supporting economic growth and improving the nation's competitiveness and quality of life by raising standards of educational achievement and skill and by promoting an efficient, effective and flexible labour market.We are creating new opportunities and acting to raise standards for every child in Bournemouth; extending choice and diversity throughout the education system; and ensuring that more power is in the hands of governors and parents.Total funding for schools will increase by £833 million in 1997–98; 4.4 per cent. higher than 1996–97 levels.The new unitary authority of Bournemouth will receive £49,533 million in 1996–97, an increase of 3.4 per cent. over last year.Sound macro-economic policies have led to a continuous fall in unemployment over the last four years by over a million in the United Kingdom, and by 4,481 within the Bournemouth travel-to-work area.The Department has provided funding to the Dorset training and enterprise council which has enabled them to offer a full range of training programmes and business services for the people living in Dorset. For 1996–97, the level of funding was £16 million. Dorset TEC has been successful in the modern apprenticeship programme and there are 650 young people in the county currently training to NVQ level 3 or above.There are a number of single regeneration budget projects under way in Dorset, including a community focus scheme to develop the areas of Turlin moor in Poole and Boscombe in Bournemouth. This four-year project costing nearly £800,000 aims to raise and sustain the levels of persona, social and economic achievement of those living in these areas and to also reintegrate the two communities into the main urban economy.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what percentage and how many children (i) sat and (ii) obtained grades A to C for the first time in (a) maths and (b) English language GCSE in England in the latest year for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement. [17155]

[holding answer 24 February 1997]: The information is not available in the precise form requested. However, the following table shows the number and percentage of 15-year-old pupils who attempted GCSE and achieved grades A* to C in (1) mathematics and (2) English in England in 1994–95.

	Mathematics	English
Number attempted (thousands)	522.3	524.3
Number attempted as a percentage of 15-year-old pupils	90	91
Number achieved grades A* to C (thousands)	232.5	291.4
Number achieved grades A* to C as a percentage of 15-year-old pupils	40	50

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment on what date she was informed that the Further Education Funding Council intended to issue its letter to colleges dated 27 January, indicating the abolition of the demand-led element of further education funding. [17268]

On 24 January.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment she had made of the impact of abolishing the demand-led element of funding on the numbers of students in further education. [17269]

The Government's spending plans are intended to provide for the continuing growth of the further education sector. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I look to the Further Education Funding Council for England to review the options open to it in consultation with the further education sector.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to her answer of 13 February, Official Report, columns 266–67, on skills shortages, if she will publish the results of her Department's monitoring of skills shortages surveys. [17649]

The results have been published in an article entitled "Skill Needs in Britain: 1996 Report" which appears on pages 73 to 76 of the February 1997 edition of "Labour Market Trends".

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to her answer of 13 February, Official Report, columns 266–67, on skills shortages when (a) the last and (b) the next funded survey of employers' recruitment difficulties will be produced. [17648]

The last funded survey covering employers' difficulties was published as "Skill Needs in Britain 1996" on 15 January 1997. The next survey is expected to be published in October 1997.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the current UN target for aid for developing countries; how many countries currently meet this target; and if he will make a statement. [17286]

The UN target for official development assistance to developing countries, which are on part 1 of the OECD development assistance committee list, remains at 0.7 per cent. of GNP. Only four countries currently meet it: Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands and Sweden. In 1995, the United Kingdom development programme accounted for 0.28 per cent. of GNP, slightly above the average for all donors of 0.27 per cent. Among the G7, the UK provides a greater proportion of GNP than the US, Japan and Italy.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much United Kingdom overseas aid is devoted to each of the 10 countries his Department estimates to be the poorest in the world. [17435]

In 1995–96, the UK provided over £175 million in bilateral development assistance to the world's 10 poorest countries, as defined by GNP per capita in the 1996 world development report. This figure, which represents about 13 per cent. of the bilateral assistance programme, breaks down as follows—figures rounded up/down:

	£ million
Uganda	39.98
Malawi	35.71
Tanzania	29.72
Ethiopia	25.72
Mozambique	22.03
Rwanda	11.95
Sierra Leone	8.69
Burundi	0.79
Madagascar	0.64
Chad	0.11
Total	175.60

These countries also benefit from the UK's substantial contributions to the multilateral development institutions. Imputed UK share of multilateral disbursements to the countries listed totalled over £163 million in 1994, the last year for which figures are available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the cost of incremental damage per tonne emitted of (a) benzene, (b) 1.3 butadiene, (c) carbon monoxide and (d) carbon dioxide. [17122]

(a) Benzene, (b) 1.3 butadiene and (c) carbon monoxide are three of the air pollutants covered by the forthcoming UK national air quality strategy. No robust data are currently available for computing, in precise terms, the incremental damage per tonne emitted for each of the three pollutants. There has been much less work by academics on these three pollutants than for other pollutants such as sulphur dioxide and fine particles. However, a programme of work is being put in place to improve on the current information on costs and benefits, including information on incremental damage costs per tonne of pollutant emitted, for the first review of the national air quality strategy in 1999.On

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what evaluation his Department has made of the levels of (a) sulphur dioxide emissions and (b) nitrogen oxide emissions resulting from the combustion of petroleum coke in power stations; [17189] (2) what studies his Department has (a) made and (b) commissioned into petroleum coke fuels; what assessment it has made of the environmental effects of petroleum coke burned in United States power plants; and which EU regulations cover emissions resulting from the combustion of petroleum coke. [17188]

My Department has not made or commissioned any studies on petroleum coke burning, since regulation of such burning is the responsibility of the Environment Agency. I understand that the agency has examined National Power's recent application to carry out limited trial burning of petroleum coke at Drax power station and that, having concluded that emissions of nitrogen oxides and sulphur dioxide will be within currently authorised limits for Drax, the agency has authorised the trial. I further understand that the Environment Agency spoke with its US counterparts in deciding whether to authorise the trials, to confirm that it had properly considered all relevant issues, and that the agency will be closely monitoring the trial results from Drax.Whilst they do not explicitly refer to petroleum coke, the EU air framework and large combustion plant directives (84/360/EC and 88/609/EC) govern the processes which involve its burning. These directives are given effect in England and Wales through the industrial pollution control regimes introduced by part I of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, under which the Environment Agency regulates Drax. The recently adopted directive on integrated pollution prevention and control (96/61/EC), which must be implemented in EU member states by 31 October 1999, will also goven the processes which burn petroleum coke. Once implemented, 96/61/EC will have the effect of repealing 84/360/EC.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) for what reasons the United Kingdom has decided to withhold its contribution to the UN Environment Programme's budget; [17222](2) if he will make a statement on

The Government's main objective at the governing council was to secure decisions which would help to restore confidence in the United Nations Environment Programme. We believe that UNEP needs a governing structure which provides the organisation with political guidance and a mandate which gives it a clear direction. Although satisfactory decisions were reached on the budgets for 1996–97 and 1998–99, the programme of work for 1998–99, and on chemicals, oceans, and biosafety, the governing council failed to reach agreement on reform of UNEP's governing structure and on a review of its mandate. Agreement on these issues is essential if UNEP is to re-establish itself as the key environmental institution in the UN system and to reverse the sharp decline in its funding.Satisfactory proposals on the governing structure and on UNEP's mandate were proposed by the president of the governing council and gathered a wide measure of support from developed and developing countries, but were resisted by some members of the Committee of Permanent Representatives. The governing council was suspended and I took the view that we should suspend our voluntary contribution to the environment fund until these issues are resolved. The United States and Spain took the same view. The Government are now actively seeking ways of resolving this problem with EU partners, other members of the governing council and the UNEP executive director.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many prosecutions have been undertaken in the past year by the drinking water inspectorate in respect of alleged breaches by water companies of the legal standards for drinking water. [17190]

The standards for drinking water quality in England and Wales are set in the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 1989, as amended. These incorporate all the requirements of the European Community directive relating to the quality of water intended for human consumption (80/778/EEC) and some national standards. Many of the health-related standards are based on lifetime exposure and generally include wide safety margins.Compliance by the water companies with the requirements of the regulations is monitored by the drinking water inspectorate, which carries out an annual technical audit of each company. As part of the technical audit process, the inspectorate examines each water company's water quality test results for each treatment works, service reservoir and water supply zone and checks them against the standards. Each failure to meet the standards is assessed by the inspectorate. If necessary, the inspectorate will initiate enforcement action against a company and the company will provide a legally binding undertaking to carry out remedial work as quickly as possible. The inspectorate has taken more than 2,000 enforcement actions against water companies since it was formed in 1990. There is an improvement programme in place, costing over £3 billion since 1989, and at a result drinking water quality is higher than ever before. In 1995, nearly 3.2 million tests on drinking water were carried out and 99.5 per cent. of them met the standards.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the environmental hazard associated with organophosphates. [16984]

My Department has commissioned a number of research projects into the environmental impact of pesticides and veterinary medicines. This work includes consideration of organophosphate compounds and covers the development of environmental quality standards, impact on headwater streams, the transport of pesticides colloids, indirect effects on farmland birds, and the impact of sea-lice treatments on sea loch ecology. All research is evaluated during and upon completion of the work.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many pensioner households not on income support or other means-tested benefits have made use of the home energy efficiency scheme since the 75 per cent. charge was introduced; [17307](2) how many pensioner households have benefited from the home energy efficiency scheme since its inception. [17308]

A total of 784,803 grants were paid to householders aged 60 or more between 1 April 1994 and 31 January 1997, the latest date for which data are available. Information is not available for the period between 1 January 1991 and 31 March 1994 because age was not then an eligibility criterion. At 31 January 1997, 2,995 grants had been paid at the 25 per cent. rate, introduced on 1 April 1996 to focus the scheme more on the most needy households.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what conclusions he has reached following consultations on the proposed Building (Local Authority Charges) Regulations; and if he will make a statement. [17905]

Responses to the consultation have demonstrated marked differences of view. The local authorities are seeking significantly greater flexibility in fee setting than would be possible within the constraints imposed by the regulation-making power in the Building Act 1984. On the other hand, developers, approved inspectors and others are concerned that even the flexibility proposed in these draft regulations would not offer them sufficient safeguards.I have therefore decided not to proceed with the making of the draft regulations on which I consulted. Instead, I propose to institute a broader review which can take account of the roles for private and public sector bodies in building control, and the consequential arrangements for paying for the services provided. Further details of this review will be announced in due course.It is Government policy that the fees charged by local authorities for their building control work should fully cover the expenditure incurred. These fees were last revised in October 1994. In parallel with the review referred to above, I therefore propose to consult shortly on a review of these fees, any revisions from which would take effect as soon as possible thereafter.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made on designating nitrate-sensitive areas required under the urban waste water treatment directive; and if he will make a statement. [17906]

Following advice from the Environment Agency, we have identified particular stretches of the rivers Waveney, Blackwater and Great Ouse as sensitive areas on the basis of elevated nitrate levels under the terms of the urban waste treatment directive. The Environment Agency will set nitrogen reduction requirements in the discharge consents of eight sewage treatment works which discharge into the three sensitive areas. The requirements will come into effect by the end of 1998 in accordance with the directive. I have today placed in the Library of the House a map of the three sensitive areas and a list of the eight sewage treatment works, all of which are owned by Anglian Water Services. The map and the list will also be available for inspection at the Environment Agency's headquarters and its main regional offices.Modelling work by the Environment Agency has indicated that the eight sewage treatment works contribute less than 5 per cent. of the observed elevated nitrate levels in the three rivers. Identification of these sensitive areas implements the part of the urban waste water treatment directive which seeks to control nitrate levels in surface waters intended for the abstraction of drinking water.

To ask the Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the effects of Her Majesty's Government's policies on people and businesses in Lichfield. [15774]

The people and businesses of Lichfield are benefiting fully from the Government's policies. The UK is enjoying a stronger recovery than any other large European economy, the longest run of low inflation for nearly 50 years, and mortgage rates at their lowest levels for a generation. This year the UK is on course to have the fastest growth in the G7 group of leading industrial nations. It should come as no surprise that, in the past four years, unemployment in Lichfield has more than halved.

To ask the Prime Minister what official gifts he has received from the Albanian President. [16475]

Gifts received by Ministers in their official capacity are dealt with in accordance with the procedures set out in "Questions of Procedure for Ministers". The details are not made public.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 25 February. [16138]

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 what the dates will be for the 1998 Cardiff European Council. [17887]

The dates will be 15 and 16 June 1998.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many police officers there are currently per 10,000 population. [17235]

On 30 June 1996, there were 28.2 police officers per 10,000 population in Scotland.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many recorded offences there were in (a)1979, (b) 1991, (c) 1992, (d) 1995 and (e) the first six months of 1996. [17234]

[holding answer 24 February 1997]: For statistical purposes the Scottish Office Home Department draws a distinction between crimes and offences. The information requested for both crimes and offences is set out in the table. Information for 1996 is not yet available.

Crimes and offences recorded by the police, Scotland
	Crimes	Offences
1979	346,680	327,275
1991	592,774	427,883
1992	589,562	433,896
1995	502,802	451,869

Full details of the classification of crimes and offences can be found in the annexe to the Scottish Office statistical bulletin "Recorded Crime in Scotland 1995".

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the conviction rates for (a) 1979,(b)1991, (c) 1992 and (d) 1995. [17236]

[holding answer 24 February 1997]: The number of persons with a charge proved as a percentage of the number of persons called to court in Scotland for the years 1979, 1991, 1992 and 1994 is 95 per cent., 90 per cent., and 89 per cent. respectively. Information for 1995 will be published in March.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 17 February, Official Report, column 430, what information the Scottish Legal Aid Board collates on the number of fee earners and fees per fee earner per firm. [16980]

[holding answer 24 February 1997]: The Scottish Legal Aid Board installed computer software in spring 1996 to make it possible for the solicitor acting in each case and the fees paid for each case to be identified. However, the procedure in solicitors' firms varies. In some, legal aid certificates are issued in the name of a senior partner rather than in the name of the solicitor actually handling the case. Moreover, some routine work, such as precognitions, may be handled by another solicitor in the firm. Thus, in the absence of detailed information concerning the activities of individuals, it is not possible for the board to identify accurately the earnings of "fee earners" in each case.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many mortgage repossession orders there were for each court district for each quarter since the first quarter of 1991. [17233]

[holding answer 24 February 1997]: Figures in relation to repossession of property by mortgage lenders have been collected by the courts only since a revised system of collecting civil judicial statistics was instituted on 1 January 1994. The figures for 1994 and 1995 and provisional figures for 1996 are shown in the following tables. Not all lenders who are granted decrees actually enforce them.

Decrees granted in mortgage lender actions
	1994				Totals
	Ql	Q2	Q3	Q4
Aberdeen	0	0	1	14	15
Airdrie	37	20	25	22	104
Alloa	0	5	1	6	12
Ayr	16	8	0	15	39
Arbroath	5	5	2	8	20
Banff	0	0	0	0	0
Campbeltown	3	2	0	2	7
Cupar	13	7	7	6	33
Dingwall	2	2	4	7	15
Dornoch	0	2	0	1	3
Dumbarton	13	11	10	11	45
Dumfries	11	4	8	3	26
Dundee	25	17	17	7	66
Dunfermline	28	28	22	17	95
Dunoon	0	3	9	3	15
Duns	1	2	0	5	8
Edinburgh	2	31	123	85	241
Elgin	8	8	5	7	28
Falkirk	24	13	7	23	67
Forfar	5	2	2	0	9
Fort William	0	0	0	0	0
Glasgow	51	125	139	159	474
Greenock	0	3	0	0	3
Haddington	23	13	13	9	58
Hamilton	7	38	30	32	107
Inverness	3	0	4	15	22
Jedburgh	3	0	3	5	11
Kilmarnock	9	9	16	54	88
Kirkcaldy	12	0	25	15	52
Kirkcudbright	1	3	1	6	11
Kirkwall	0	0	3	2	5
Lanark	0	0	0	0	0
Lerwick	1	0	1	0	2
Linlithgow	32	22	19	18	91
Lochmaddy	1	0	0	1	2
Oban	3	0	3	2	8
Paisley	51	56	41	53	201
Peebles	3	3	3	1	10
Perth	0	7	23	13	43
Peterhead	16	12	12	8	48
Portree	1	1	1	1	4
Rothesay	1	1	2	0	4
Selkirk	6	3	5	4	18
Stirling	3	11	10	9	33
Stonehaven	8	5	2	4	19
Stornoway	0	0	0	0	0
Stranraer	5	3	4	5	17
Tain	1	0	1	2	4
Wick	0	2	0	0	2
Totals	434	487	604	660	2,185