To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many courts in England and Wales provide induction loop systems for people with hearing impairments; and what steps his Department has taken to raise awareness in the courts of the special needs of dual-sensory-impaired people. [17117]

There are 40 courts in the Court Service with induction loop or infra-red systems for people with hearing impairments. Our records do not enable us to identify separately how any magistrates courts have induction loop systems, but we have provided grant funding to allow at least 50 courts to have induction loop or infra-red systems for people with hearing impairments.Through various building guides and published standards, we have made staff, local authorities and magistrates courts committees aware of the features to be included in new buildings and, subject to building constraints and funding availability, in older buildings, to meet the requirements of disabled people. Training courses for all new managers in the Court Service include sessions on disability awareness and managers are expected to raise these issues among their staff. Each court has customer liaison officer who is available to help disabled court users. The Court Service is currently producing an action plan to meet the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. Under section 22A(6) of the Justices of the Peace Act 1979, all magistrates court committees are required to have regard to the needs of court users who are disabled in discharging their responsibilities for the administration of the magistrates courts. My officials are currently working, in collaboration with a variety of disability organisations, on the production of a good practice guide covering disabled court users which is aimed at magistrates courts committees. The aim of the guide is to raise awareness in the magistrates courts of the special needs of all court users with disabilities. The guide will be published later in the year.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the annual cost of paying a London supplement to civil servants working in London in the last year for which figures are available. [17686]

The London weighting allowance was abolished on 1 October 1994. At that time, there were three levels of London weighting paid to non-industrial staff: inner London £1,776 per person per annum; intermediate zone £1,015; and outer London £736. On the basis of where staff were employed on 1 April 1994, the total annual cost of the London allowances was £151 million. Since 1 April 1994, Departments and agencies have had delegated authority to determine the pay and allowances of their own staff.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) in what circumstances video recording occurs of prisoners giving urine samples for random drug tests; [16357](2) how many prisoners have

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

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will make a statement on the video recording of legal visits at (a) Belmarsh, (b) other prisons and (c) legal visiting rooms; [16049](2) on what statutory basis the video recording of legal visits is permitted; [16050](3) in what circumstances audio recording of legal visiting rooms is permitted. [16051]

[holding answers 26 February 1997]: Responsibility for these matters has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many hours per day on average over the past 12 months prisoners in special secure units at Belmarsh prison have been confined to their cells; and if he will make a statement. [17309]

[holding answer 26 February 1997]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations have been received from the solicitor representing Brian McHugh about the confidentiality and conditions for him to interview his client at Belmarsh prison; and if he will make a statement. [17368]

[holding answer 26 February 1997]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to put into practice the proposals contained in the report on health in the special secure units at Full Sutton, Whitemoor and Belmarsh prisons; and if he will make a statement. [17405]

[holding answer 26 February 1997]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements are to be made to ensure that, if she gives birth while still in detention, Roisin McAliskey is not separated from her child; and if he will ensure that, if Ms McAliskey is extradited, she and her baby will not be separated. [17625]

[holding answer 25 February 1997]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what extra staff are to be taken on to administer the Firearms (Amendment) Bill following its enactment. [17452]

A new firearms compensation section is to be set up within the Home Office on a short-term basis and will initially comprise 50 staff. Their specific task will be to process claims from those persons who surrender their lawfully held handguns which become prohibited under the Act. Payments will also be made in respect of ancillary equipment used solely in connection with those handguns, and to owners of small calibre pistols who choose not to, or are unable to, join a licensed pistol club. In addition, there will be some new work arising from the granting of licences for the new pistol clubs. It is expected that this work can be accommodated within existing resources.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what restrictions apply to the length of time students from (a) Australia, (b) Canada, (c) New Zealand and (d) South Africa may reside in the United Kingdom; and what permits are required. [17355]

There is no upper limit on the time an overseas student may remain in the United Kingdom. A student who fully satisfies the requirements of the immigration rules will normally be given leave for the period of his course.The criteria for leave to enter or remain as a student are set out in the "Statement of Changes in the Immigration Rules", HC 395, as amended, at paragraphs 57 to 62, a copy of which is in the Library.Nationals of Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa do not need to obtain a visa before travelling to the United Kingdom as students. However, they may apply for an entry certificate should they wish to do so.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the provisions on the retention of case papers in the code of practice prepared under the Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996. [18375]

I published a draft code on 4 July 1996 for consultation, modified it in the light of representations received, and laid it before Parliament on 18 December. The draft code required each chief police officer to develop his own policy on the retention of case papers, taking account of certain specified criteria. I received representations that the code should prescribe a national policy on this issue so that each police force followed the same practice. The version of the code which I laid before Parliament on 18 December contains a national policy in that it requires each police force to retain all material obtained by the police in the course of a criminal investigation which might be relevant to the investigation at least until the conclusion of the trial; and if the case resulted in a conviction following a not guilty plea, to retain the material for a further minimum period of one year following summary conviction or three years following conviction on indictment.At present, police forces are not subject to any statutory requirement to retain material for any specified period. Each police force has its own policy and there is no common practice. The effect of the provisions in the code is to increase protection for defendants by inserting a statutory minimum retention requirement where none exists at present. These provisions leave untouched the current ability of the police to retain material for any length of time beyond that. In very serious and high-profile cases, I would expect the police to continue to retain material for a long time, as they have tended to do under the informal arrangements which currently exist.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he received following the recent DTI consultation exercise on proposals made by the deregulation task force in respect of employment rights in small firms; which organisations submitted responses; and how the results of the exercise will be made available. [17490]

My Department received representations from some 90 organisations, businesses and individuals expressing a range of views which we are currently considering. I shall be placing a list of the organisations which replied in the Library of the House.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many staff directly employed by the DTI were providing DTI services to the regions in each year from 1990 to date. [17305]

The table shows the number of permanent staff—full-time equivalents—directly employed in the Department's regional offices between 1990 and 1993. In 1994, my Department's regional offices integrated with those of the Departments of the Environment, of Transport and of Employment, as it then was, and the table shows the number of permanent staff employed by DTI in the integrated Government offices from 1994. DTI staff in the GOs may carry out work for other Departments; similarly, staff in the GOs employed by other Departments may provide DTI services.

1 April 1990: 1,004

1 April 1991: 1,013

1 April 1992: 996.5

1 April 1993: 980.5

1 April 1994: 988

1 April 1995: 880.5

1 April 1996: 796.1

1 January 1997: 704.4

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the total expenditure of the Institute of Food Research in each year since 1986 in (a) cash and (b) constant prices. [17658]

The figures are shown in the table.

Institute of Food Research expenditure—1986–96
Year	Current cash expenditure £000	At constant cash prices3£000	Capital cash £000
1986–87	11,541	17,838	1,927
1987–88	12,473	18,304	1,380
1988–89	13,321	18,322	1,307
1989–90	13,810	17,754	3,123
1990–911	13,580	16,168	4,564
1991–922	14,083	15,757	1,200
1992–93	14,834	15,927	1,334
1993–94	14,676	15,314	1,119
1994–95	15,162	15,545	1,022
1995–96	15,448	15,448	1,417

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the new guidelines issued by the Association of British Insurers relating to the use of the results of genetic testing. [17366]

£ million
	Cost of advisors	1995–96 Budgeted passenger revenue	Budgeted support to BR for whole year	Including administered profit1	Support paid at franchising (year 1)	Year 2	Year 3	Year 4	Year 5
Intercity West Coast	1.96	251.80	92.53	19.12	76.800	68.362	56.091	53.675	52.254
North London Lines	1.12	64.30	54.87	4.87	48.600	35.501	29.627	26.415	23.040
Thameslink	1.02	82.10	16.43	5.34	2.500	-6.748	-16.204	-22.466	-23.224
Central Trains1	1.14	75.80	198.10	7.64	187.549	173.365	153.681	145.794	140.922
North West Regional
Railways1	1.42	54.30	191.90	6.77	184.900	168.900	153.411	140.815	134.828
Regional Railways North
East1	1.40	76.30	223.20	7.80	224.539	197.054	175.791	164.311	156.327
ScotRail1	1.31	117.70	292.30	11.17	280.100	264.841	250.539	234.911	220.351
Total	9.37	722.30	1,069.33	62.71	1,004.99	901.28	802.94	743.46	704.50
Savings on BR support					64.34	168.06	266.39	325.88	364.83
Cumulative savings					64.34	232.40	498.79	824.67	1,189.50

[holding answer 24 February 1997]: I welcome the statement by the Association of British Insurers outlining its current position on genetic testing and the use of genetic information in the underwriting process. The Government have been urging the ABI to make constructive proposals to deal with public concern on this important issue and I am pleased that some progress has been made. The prospect of a wider range of genetic tests becoming available in the future, with greater sophistication in the interpretation of test results, means that the implications for insurance must be kept under constant review. My Department, with the Department of Health, has established the Human Genetic Advisory Commission to examine this sort of issue, taking account of continuing development in genetic science.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will place in the Library copies of the views submitted in response to the Green Paper on industrial action and trade unions (Cm 3470). [17920]

I shall arrange for a list of respondents to the Green Paper to be placed in the Library of the House shortly after the end of the consultation period on 28 February. Since respondents were not asked to indicate whether they were willing for their comments to be published, it would not be appropriate to make the responses themselves available. However, some respondents may be willing to supply copies of their comments on request.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list for each franchise let since 13 January the details of payments to or from the franchisee in the same format as his answer of 13 January, Official Report, columns 119–20, indicating the support previously paid to British Rail for the franchises and the amounts of administered profit included within such support. [17191]

The information is set out in the tables.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the contracts awarded by his Department to (a) EDS, (b) Andersens, (c) BMI, (d) Capita and (e) Sema since 1992 and the broad function to be carried out by the contractor and the value of the contract in each case. [17607]

The information requested is set out in the table. The value of individual contracts has not been revealed on the grounds that this information is commercially confidential.

Contractor	Nature of Contract
1992
Capita	Financial Reporting Review
1993
BMI	Health Screening
Capita	Financial Services
Capita	Financial Reporting Review
Capita	Market Testing
Capita	Financial Adviser
EDS	Provision of Computer Services
EDS	Provision of Computer Services
EDS	Provision of Computer Services
EDS	Provision of Computer Services
Sema	Office Systems Feasibility Study
1994
EDS	Phase I of IS Strategy
Sema/BAE	Study of new and combined Technologies and Optical Technique in Variable Message Signs
Sema	IT Consultancy
1995
Capita	Marketing Support for Staff Welfare
1996
Capita	Administration of Driving Theory Test
Capita	Advice on the production of a new Resource Accounting and Management Information System

Contractor	Nature of Contract
Capita	Development of Training Strategy
Capita/RAS	General Recruitment Services
EDS	Phase II of IS Strategy

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what factors underlie the overestimate in the budget for freight facilities grants for the years 1994–95 and 1995–96. [16526]

The 1994–95 freight grants budget was £13.347 million. This was notionally split into £3.347 million freight facilities grants and £10 million for the new track access grants. Spend on FFG at year end was £2,803 million. The shortfall was caused by two large claims not being submitted until the following year.The 1995–96 freight grants budget was £14,415 million, notionally split into £3.415 million for FFG and £11 million for TAG. FFG spend was £4.007 million.The provision made for TAG in these years was based on independent consultancy assessment of rail freight traffic likely to face difficulty in meeting newly introduced Railtrack track access charges. The first TAG awards were made during 1996 and payments are now being made.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish the marine accidents investigation branch report into the sinking of the fishing vessel Pescado; and if he will make a statement. [17938]

The Secretary of State has not yet received the report of the marine accidents investigation branch inspector's inquiry into the sinking of the fishing vessel Pescado. Normally, such a report would be submitted within one year of the incident. The delay in this case was due to the criminal prosecution of the operator of the Pescado and subsequent appeals. Now that criminal proceedings are at an end, the MAIB will complete the process prior to publication of the report, which is required by the Merchant Shipping (Accident Reporting and Investigation) Regulations 1994 and will submit the report to the Secretary of State for him to consider in due course. In line with the requirements of these regulations, the Secretary of State normally publishes reports into incidents shortly after they have been received.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he plans to amend the Highways Agency's 1996–97 key business plan targets. [18334]

I have reviewed the Highways Agency's key targets and decided that the business plan should be amended to reflect decisions taken during the year.The following 1996–97 targets are deferred, reflecting the new timing or priority of these schemes. They should be deleted from annex D of the plan: "Roads Programme Completion, Starts and Other Milestones":

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 14 February, Official Report, column 319, what estimate he has made of the effect of the further £20 million in credit approvals on the South Yorkshire supertram, on council tax rates of Sheffield, Rotherham, Barnsley and Doncaster following his announcement; and if he will make a statement. [17511]

The £20 million supplementary credit approval offered to South Yorkshire passenger transport authority will allow it to set a lower levy in 1997–98. We estimate that each £20 million in the levy is equivalent to around £56 in council tax for band D two-adult households in each of the four South Yorkshire districts.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the effect of and implications for Wythenshawe of the announcement made by the Minister of State for Local Government, Housing and Urban Regeneration in Manchester on 18 February in relation to round 2 of the estates renewal challenge fund; and if he will publish in the Official Report the text of the announcement. [17289]

My announcement of the successful bids for funds from round 2 of the estates renewal challenge fund is good news for the residents of Wythenshawe. Manchester have been allocated almost £21 million towards the costs of the regeneration of 7,000 properties in the Wythenshawe area. If the tenants agree, their homes will transfer to a new local housing company and will then benefit from an estimated additional £64 million of investment, beyond what would be possible if the housing stayed with the council. This area is already a successful bidder for Government support under the single regeneration budget so the estate transfer will enable a comprehensive area renewal policies to be pursued by public-private sector partnership. The text of the announcement on the estates renewal challenge fund has been published in the Official Report. I refer the hon. Member to column 420 on Monday 17 February.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the licences issued in 1996 by his Department for the destruction of wild birds. [17836]

Details of licences issued by my Department to kill wild birds are contained in the report by the United Kingdom to the European Community on derogations under article 9 of the directive on the conservation of wild birds, 79/409/EEC. The latest report for which figures are available covers 1995. Figures are not yet available for 1996, but when the report has been prepared a copy will be placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assistance he intends to provide towards the costs of clearing up after the terrorist attacks on London docklands and Manchester city centre on 9 February 1996 and 15 June 1996. [18142]

The Local Government Finance (England) Special Grant Report No. 26 has today been laid before the House. The report provides for grant—up to a total of £2.5 million—to be made available to the London borough of Tower Hamlets, Manchester city council and Greater Manchester Police Authority towards the costs of dealing with the aftermath and loss of income suffered as a consequence of the terrorist attacks of 9 February 1996 on south quay on the Isle of Dogs and of 15 June 1996 on Manchester city centre.Subject to the approval of the House, grant will be payable on those costs necessarily incurred by each authority in the six months following the explosions as a direct result of responding to and clearing up after the incidents. The authorities will also receive some recompense for loss of income during the same period directly or indirectly attributable to the explosions. Insurable expenditure or loss of income will not, however, be eligible for grant; nor will costs which are eligible for other grants or credit approvals.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the response of Wolverhampton metropolitan borough council to the notice served on it on 11 September 1996 in respect of its decision to assign highway maintenance, winter maintenance and street lighting work to its direct labour organisation. [18141]

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has considered the response made by the authority on 10 October. He has today served a direction on the authority because it still appears to him that the authority acted in an anti-competitive manner in assigning work to its direct labour organisation. He took this view because of the way in which the authority undertook the evaluation of bids. The effect of the direction is to require the authority to seek consent if, when it retenders the work at the end of the current assignment, it wishes to continue to carry it out in-house.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what response was received to the consultation paper on proposed changes in the treatment of granny annexes and similar self-contained units of accommodation when they form part of a larger property. [18376]

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and I proposed changing the ways in which council tax is assessed for self-contained units of accommodation when they form part of a larger property. We consulted with local authorities and organisations representing the elderly and disabled. The list of responses received has been placed in the Library of the House. The responses were overwhelmingly positive. We have accepted the views of many respondents that our objectives can be achieved more simply by means of an exemption.We now propose that from 1 April 1997 any part of a property, such as an annexe, which is occupied by a dependent relative of the family in the other part of the building, will be an exempt dwelling, where "dependent" means:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he proposes to take in the light of the Law Commission's report, "Landlord and Tenant: Responsibility for State and Condition of Property Law", Com. No. 238. [18377]

I am grateful to the Law Commission for its very full and helpful analysis of this area of the law in England and Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has for extending the non-fossil fuel obligation subsidy to facilities which operate anaerobic digestion and energy recovery. [17520]

I have been asked to reply.Energy recovery facilities which employ anaerobic digestion have been eligible to bid for contracts under the non-fossil fuel obligation. NFFO policy will be reviewed before the next order, NFFO5, is announced.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will name the members of the independent appointment panels or committees established to advise on appointments to non-departmental public bodies made by her since July 1995. [10275]

The first Department of National Heritage public appointments advisory panel was held in September 1996. The following are advisory panel members:

• Professor Dawn Ades
• Dr. Eric Anderson
• Dr. John Ashworth
• Averil Burgess OBE
• Professor Averil Cameron
• Dame Elizabeth Esteve-Coll DBE
• Matthew Evans
• The right hon. Lord Faringdon
• Professor Sir Brian Follet
• Sir Christopher France GCB
• Sir Ernest Hall OBE
• Sir Denys Henderson
• Dr. Anne McLaren DBE
• Michael Moriarty CB
• John Neill CBE
• Dennis Stevenson CBE
• Sir Rodney Walker
• Sir David Wilson

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what guidance has been issued to valuation officers when assessing the rateable values of premises occupied by voluntary sports clubs and recreational charities; and if she will make a statement. [18276]

Following consultations with the National Playing Field Society and the Central Council for Physical Recreation, the Valuation Office agency has issued additional guidance to valuation officers about the rating of premises occupied by voluntary sports clubs and recreational charities. This further guidance has been agreed with the representative bodies I have mentioned, and gives advice on a number of rating valuation aspects including ability to pay and lottery funding. In addition, it should assist with the speedier settlement of any appeals by occupiers of the type of property in question.My hon. Friend the Member for Erewash (Mrs. Knight) is the Treasury Minister responsible for the Valuation Office agenda and she, like me, welcomes this useful step which in some circumstances should be of benefit to voluntary sports clubs and recreational charities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many countries currently contribute 0.7 per cent. or more of gross domestic product to overseas aid; and if he will make a statement. [17739]

Four Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries—Denmark, Sweden, Norway and the Netherlands—contribute 0.7 per cent. or more of gross national product to overseas development assistance. In 1995, the UK provided 0.28 per cent. of GNP for development assistance-above the average for all donors of 0.27 per cent.The UK was second only to the Netherlands in total—public and private—resource flows to developing countries, contributing 1.38 per cent. of GNP—ahead of the UN target of 1 per cent.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the final outcome of the negotiations to replenish the international fund for agricultural development; and what will be the United Kingdom contributions. [18275]

My right hon. and noble Friend the Minister for Overseas Development announced that agreement was reached last week on the fourth replenishment of the international fund for agricultural development. With pledges of around $360 million from the developed countries, some $100 million from the oil producers and developing countries together, the release by the developed countries of some $16 million from the third replenishment, and anticipated reflows and investment income, IFAD should be able to maintain a very satisfactory level of annual lending commitments over the next three years.The UK's contribution to the fourth replenishment will be $22.01 million—£13.6 million—for which parliamentary approval will be sought in due course. In addition, we will release our share—rather less than $1 million—of the funds previously blocked under the third replenishment: this is not a new financial commitment, promissory notes for the amount having already been lodged.I am pleased to say that the UK, as convenor of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development group, the largest of the donor groups, played an influential role in securing agreement on the fourth replenishment.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the first year revenue which would be raised by the Exchequer from a 50 per cent. rate of income tax on taxable incomes of over £100,000 per annum. [16564]

The estimated first year yield at 1997–98 income levels of introducing a new rate of 50 per cent. on taxable incomes above £100,000 is £660 million; the full year yield is £1.4 billion. It does not take account of any behavioural effects which might result from the introduction of the new rate of tax.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many questions were tabled for reply by his Department in each Session since 1979–80; in how many instances in each year the reply has been that providing the information involved disproportionate cost; and in how many instances in each year questions have been given the reply that the information was not available centrally. [16790]

The table gives the number of written and oral questions answered by Treasury Ministers since 1982–83. Figures for earlier years are not available.

Session	Written	Oral
1982–83	1,343	283
1983–84	2,743	591
1984–85	2,225	498
1985–86	1,680	381
1986–87	1,340	157
1987–88	3,244	464
1988–89	2,694	330
1989–90	2,145	338
1990–91	1,465	251
1991–92	859	148
1992–93	2,857	402
1993–94	1,742	217
1994–95	2,031	246
1995–96	1,621	251
1996–971	1,048	120
1 To 25 February.

Table 1: Number of deaths which occurred in England and Wales
Weeks ending
	3rd January	10th January	17th January	24th January	31st January	January average
1992	13,848	13,846	12,985	12,301	12,668	13,130
1993	15,568	13,545	12,510	11,740	11,481	12,969
1994	13,495	13,256	12,497	12,239	11,662	12,630
1995	12,894	13,025	12,483	12,267	12,296	12,593
19961	15,879	14,964	13,204	12,109	12,243	13,680
19971	16,612	17,255	15,699	13,774	12,012	15,070
1 Death occurrences for 1996 and 1997 are provisional. Figures for 1997 are the latest available. They will be incomplete owing to some January deaths waiting to be registered and added to the ONS database.

You also asked a related question on three-weekly numbers of deaths. The highest numbers of three-weekly death occurrences in England and Wales for each of the past five years are provided in Table 2 on the following page. Table 1 above shows the average weekly deaths for each January in England and Wales.

Table 2: Highest figures of three-weekly deaths in England and Wales
	Figure
1992	38,787
1993	40,926
1994	37,992
1995	44,235
19961	42,831
1 Death occurrences for 1996 are provisional. I hope this reply has been helpful.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the five most recent occasions prior to 10 January when the weekly death rate recorded in England and Wales exceeded 19,000. [16906]

[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) if he will list the death rate for (a) the weeks ending 3 January, 10 January, 17 January, 24 January and 31 January and (b) the nearest equivalent week in each of the previous five years; [16905](2) if he will list for each of the past five years

[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 if he will list the cost and number of items of equipment and furniture that (a) have been stolen and (b) are otherwise unaccounted for from his 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. [17062]

The information is as follows for the Treasury, the revenue departments and the Chancellor's agencies—all values being approximate:

HM Treasury

Seventeen items of equipment and furniture valued at £1,300 were recorded as stolen or unaccounted for and 17 IT items valued at £15,600 were recorded as stolen or unaccounted. None of the items was valued over £5,000.

Inland Revenue

Three hundred and eighty-eight items of equipment (or components) with a total value of £460,000, were reported lost or stolen. This includes one item over £5,000, an Escala server valued at £19,000.

HM Customs and Excise

Two hundred and fourteen items of equipment and furniture valued at £87,000 were recorded as losses. Of these, 97 were stolen and 117 were not accountable; 125 IT items valued at £121,000 have been recorded as losses. Of these, 109 were stolen and 16 were not accountable.

Valuation Office

Eleven items of furniture and equipment with a total value of £600 were reported stolen; 72 IT items were recorded stolen, valued £78,700. No items were valued over £5,000.

Paymaster

No equipment or furniture stolen or unaccounted for

The Royal Mint

Three items were unaccounted for with a total of £820. No items have been recorded stolen.

Office for National Statistics

No items of furniture and equipment were reported stolen or unaccounted; 73 IT items were recorded stolen which valued £24,000. No items recorded were valued over £5,000.

National Savings

One item was recorded stolen with a value of £750.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what actions his Department has taken over the last three years to make the public aware of their rights of access to homes containing works of art granted exemption from inheritance tax; and if he will make a statement. [17185]

Since January 1994, the Inland Revenue has issued quarterly press releases publicising the public's right of access, by appointment, to those works of art that are not on general public display and which are listed on the computerised register of conditionally exempt items. Since December 1996, the register has been available on the Internet. The Inland Revenue has also issued a new leaflet, IR 156, "Our heritage—your right to see tax exempt works of art", and a poster to make people aware of their right of access. Copies are available in the Library. The leaflet is available from tax inquiry centres and about 500 museums and public galleries throughout the UK. Copies of the leaflet and poster have also been sent to all chief librarians and to more than 40 university and college art history departments.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of individuals who have visited each home where there are works of art exempted from inheritance tax in the most recent year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [17186]

No such estimate has been made. The current arrangements are designed to ensure that qualifying objects are preserved, that public access is available, and that people are aware of their right to view items not on general public display. There is no statutory power to require owners of conditionally exempt chattels to keep statistics of the number of people exercising that right.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the annual revenue cost to the Exchequer of exemption from inheritance tax for works of art for which public access is granted; and if he will make a statement. [17184]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Coventry, North-East (Mr. Ainsworth) on 29 January, Official Report, column 234.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will make a statement about his plans for use of the private finance initiative in respect of the National Savings agency; [17211](2) what plans he has to privatise the National Savings agency; [17210](3) for what reasons it is proposed to put National Savings agency functions out to tender under the private finance initiative. [17209]

As I said in my statement of 22 January 1997, there are no plans to privatise National Savings. Our plans are to make sure that National Savings continues to provide cost-effective funding of the Government's debt through savings products which customers want.National Savings is exploring whether private finance initiative options could assist the agency further, to become a more modern high-performance organisation, improving value for money for the taxpayer and the service offered to customers. No decisions have been taken about the scope of private sector involvement.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much additional tax would be raised if pension funds were subjected to full normal taxation. [17272]

I regret that a reliable estimate cannot be made.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many companies have been prosecuted for pensions misselling. [15752]

[holding answer 25 February 1997]: I am not aware of any company to date having been prosecuted for the misselling of pensions. Certain firms, however, have been fined or otherwise disciplined.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the net cost to public funds of abolishing inheritance tax. [17859]

Receipts from inheritance tax are forecast to be £1.6 billion in 1997–98.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the Economic Secretary had seen a copy of page 37 of the second edition of "Plain Figures" prior to her answer of 24 February, Official Report, column 19, concerning rounding; and if she considered enclosing a copy with her answer. [17908]

Yes, and no.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the cost to public funds of allowing the married couple's tax allowance to be claimed at (a) 20 per cent. and (b) 23 per cent. [17860]

The estimated full-year Exchequer cost at 1997–98 income levels of allowing the married couple's allowance and linked allowances, which includes the additional personal allowance and the widow's bereavement allowance, to be claimed at 20 per cent. is £1.0 billion and at 23 per cent. is £1.5 billion.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many food poisoning notifications there were to the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys (a) in each year since 1982 and (b) in 1996 to the latest available date. [17652]

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

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made by the Tax Law Rewrite Steering Committee established last December. [18076]

The steering committee had its first meeting yesterday. Copies of the minutes of this and future meetings will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses as soon as they are available.This bipartisan committee has a key role in the rewrite project which will deliver real benefits to all taxpayers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the total amount paid in national insurance contributions, at 1995–96 prices, and as a percentage, by employees with (a) more than 200 per cent., (b) between 150 per cent. and 200 per cent., (c) between 100 per cent. and 150 per cent., (d) between 50 per cent. and 100 per cent. and (e) below 50 per cent. of the average earnings of men and women combined in (i) 1979–80, (ii) 1989–90, (iii) 1994–95 and (iv) 1995–96; and what was the distribution of total earnings in these years between these groups. [13879]

The information is not available in the format requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Such information as is available is in the table.

	1989–90	1994–95	1995–96
Class 1 employee contributions (£ billion)1,2	14.2	17.9	18.9
Percentages in each band
(a) More than 200 per cent, of average earnings3	11.3	12.5	12.8
(b) Between 150 per cent, and 200 per cent, of average earnings3	16.5	17.4	17.7
(c) Between 100 per cent, and 150 per cent, of average earnings3	34.8	34.1	34.2
(d) Between 50 per cent, and 100 per cent, of average earnings3	32.3	31.1	30.5
(e) Below 50 per cent, of average earnings3	5.1	4.9	4.8
Distribution of earnings for each band4
(a) More than 200 per cent, of average earnings3	18.6	19.6	20.3
(b) Between 150 per cent, and 200 per cent, of average earnings3	16.3	16.9	16.8
(c) Between 100 per cent, and 150 per cent, of average earnings3	30.6	29.6	28.9
(d) Between 50 per cent, and 100 per cent, of average earnings3	28.3	27.5	27.5
(e) Below 50 per cent, of average earnings3	6.2	6.4	6.5

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the revenue consequences of abolishing the upper limit on employee national insurance contributions in Wales. [17870]

The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is as follows.If the limit were removed for Great Britain, it is estimated that the employees affected would pay an extra£3.3 billion

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what has beeen 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. [16573]

Ministers attend Scottish Grand Committee meetings as part of their normal parliamentary duties and officials do so as part of their normal departmental duties. Expenditure falling to my Department has been limited to travelling costs. I attended the Scottish Grand Committee meeting on 20 May 1996 in Dunfermline and has officials in attendance as necessary.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security by what process he plans to oversee the clinical standards of service provided by contractors providing medical services for the Benefits Agency. [17620]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 19 February, Official Report, column 591.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security which private sector companies took part in the Benefits Agency medical services partnering project; on what basis they were chosen; and if he will place a copy of their reports in the Library. [17618]

The private sector companies which took part in the partnering project were BMI, Capita and Serco. Seventeen companies responded to an advertisement in the national press and were sent a questionnaire which was designed to identify specific strengths and formed the basis of a formal sift. Particular emphasis was placed upon practical experience, commitment to quality and customer service.The companies reports are commercial in confidence and will not be placed in the Library. To do so would prejudice the effective conduct of commercial activities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what information has been (a) requested and (b) obtained by his Department from each of the private companies contracting to provide medical services to the Benefits Agency concerning (i) safeguarding the records of benefit claimants and (ii) the broad business objectives of the contractors. [17616]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 25 February, Official Report, columns 203–4.The broad business objectives of the successful contractor(s) in relation to the delivery of a medical service to the Department must conform to the objectives of the Benefits Agency. The shortlisted companies have provided copies of policy statements relating to specific areas of the business to be contracted out.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he plans to start an evaluation of the performance of contractors providing medical services to the Benefits Agency; and by what methods this evaluation will be carried out. [17619]

The formal contract management procedure to evaluate performance will be in place at the time of the handover of the business to the successful contractor(s). The procedure is currently in the process of development.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what net savings he expects to accrue from the contractorisation of the Benefits Agency medical service. [17615]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Birmingham, Northfield (Mr. Burden) on 7 November 1996, Official Report, column 681.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he plans to begin the process of system audits and computer audits in each site used by contractors providing medical services to the Benefits Agency; and at what intervals he plans to repeat these audits. [17617]

Audits of the IT systems will commence when the medical service is handed over to the successful contractor(s). The procedure is currently in the process of development.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of (a) pensioners and (b) pensioners aged over 80 years had access to a (i) freezer, (ii) fridge, (iii) telephone, (iv) car, (v) washing machine, (vi) television, (vii) video and (viii) central heating in (1) 1979 and (2) the latest year for which figures are available. [17483]

The information is in the tables:

Percentages
	All pensioners		Pensioners aged over 80
Type of durable goods	1979	1993–94	1979	1993–94
Freezer or fridge freezer	32	81	20	68
Fridge or fridge freezer	88	99	79	98
Telephone	57	94	50	92
Car/Van	34	53	18	31
Washing machine	64	83	46	66
Video	n/a	51	n/a	26
Central heating	46	81	43	76

Access to a Television
(percentages)
	All pensioners		Pensioners aged over 80
Type of durable goods	1979	1991–92	1979	1991–92
Television	96	99	92	98

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many complaints have been made by claimants about their medical examinations in connection with incapacity benefit in the Yorkshire and Humberside region since April 1995. [16047]

The administration of the Benefits Agency medical services is a matter for Peter Mathison, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many times has (a) a warning been issued, (b) disciplinary action been taken and (c) dismissal occurred (i) as a result of claimants' complaints and (ii) otherwise since the incapacity benefit we introduced. [16048]

The administration of the Benefits Agency medical services is a matter for Peter Mathison, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what criteria are used by the Benefits Agency in determining whether a claimant has deliberately disposed of income or capital in order to qualify for income-based jobseeker's allowance. [17943]

The information is contained in the jobseeker's allowance and income support adjudication officer's guide, part 33 paragraphs 33570–3589 and part 34 paragraphs 34805–34846. A copy of the guide is available in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what national insurance contribution conditions carers have to meet in order to qualify for contribution-based jobseeker's allowance. [17942]

Under jobseeker's allowance, the national insurance contribution conditions for carers are the same as for other jobseekers. As with the previous unemployment benefit scheme, entitlement to the contribution-based element of jobseeker's allowance is based on the individual's national insurance contributions in the last two full tax years before the year of the claim to jobseeker's allowance.There are two contribution conditions. The first condition which a person must satisfy is to have paid class 1 contributions of 25 times the lower earnings limit—currently £61—in one of the two relevant tax years. The second condition is that class 1 contributions must have been paid or credited of at least 50 times the lower earnings limit—currently £61—in both the two relevant tax years on which the claim is based. The relevant tax years are the last two complete tax years before the benefit year—starting in January—in which the claim is made.However, the linking provisions have been amended under jobseeker's allowance to provide extra help for carers. For the first time, periods in receipt of invalid care allowance are included in the jobseeker's allowance linking provisions. This ensures that a person's benefit position at the end of a period of invalid care allowance will be the same as when it started. Therefore, if a person's contribution record immediately prior to a period in receipt of invalid care allowance is sufficient to qualify the individual for contribution-based jobseeker's allowance, that record will apply to any claim for jobseeker's allowance which is made when invalid care allowance ceases.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what official gifts his Department received from the Albanian President; [16407](2) what official gifts he has received from the Albanian President. [16404]

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 Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what arrangements he has made with the Cardiff county council for the funding of refurbishment and conversion work at the city hall for the European summit conference in June 1998. [17916]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given today by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) how many children in British independent schools are being paid for by the Hong Kong Government; and what is the average payment per child; [17941](2) what assessment he has made of the suitability of the Quantock school, Somerset, to receive money from the Hong Kong Government; and if parents who are employees of the Hong Kong Government with children at that school have been provided with the recent Office for Standards in Education report; [17940](3) what checks are made by the Hong Kong Government on the suitability of independent schools in Britain before payment is made. [17930]

Policy on the payment of education fees for the children of employees of the Hong Kong Government is a matter for the Hong Kong Government.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if in his recent official visit to Hong Kong he had meetings concerning party finances; and if he will make a statement. [17825]

I attended a meeting of Conservatives Abroad in Hong Kong on Sunday 16 February. This was not a fund-raising event.Political events may be included in Ministers' official programmes overseas, so long as no additional costs are incurred. There were no additional costs involved in this case and no Foreign Office official accompanied me to the reception.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when a decision will be taken on the application made to the United Kingdom post in Islamabad by Mrs. Rukhsana Kausar (Ref: HO A525156; IMM/C4652) to join her husband in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [17902]

I have asked the high commission at Islamabad for details and will have a substantive reply sent to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list (a) the forthcoming business in the Council of the European Union for March and (b) major EU events for the next six months. [17959]

Monthly Forecast of business for March 1997The following Councils are scheduled: