To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland 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. [16799]

A list of the number of written and oral parliamentary questions answered by the Department in the Sessions 1982–83 to 1995–96, as supplied by the POLIS unit, has been placed in the House Library. Figures for 1979–80 to 1981–82 are not available. The rest of the information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what payments have been agreed under the management agreements with the (a) Glenfeshie and (b) Rothiemurchus estates. [17508]

These agreements were entered into before the formation of Scottish Natural Heritage and, unlike the present arrangements, details did not appear in a readily identifiable manner in its predecessor bodies' annual reports. If the hon. Member cares to write to Scottish Natural Heritage, it should be able to supply him with the information requested.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the proposed funding reductions to animal and poultry research establishments in Scotland; and what meetings he has had with the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food concerned to discuss the consequences. [17967]

The main animal and poultry research establishment in Scotland is the Roslin Institute in Midlothian, whose largest source of funding is the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. That funding is a matter for my right hon. and learned Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, but I am advised that, while some reductions will take place as a result of existing projects coming to an end and of changes in MAFF's policy requirements, MAFF will continue to fund a substantial programme of research at the Roslin Institute in 1997–98 covering wide range of its programme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in rank order the number of employees for each local authority per 1,000 of population for the most recent three years for which figures are available. [18095]

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many households have been accepted as homeless by local authorities in rural areas in Scotland in each year since 1979; [18673](2) how many households have been accepted as homeless by local authorities in Scotland in each year since 1979. [18674]

The information available centrally is set out in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of bills to his Department were paid (a) in accordance with agreed contractual conditions and (b) within 30 days of receiving goods and services or the presentation of a valid invoice where no contractual conditions applied in the last year for which figures are available. [18812]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Economic Secretary on 17 December 1996, Official Report, column 506–7. Any additional information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will publish his report on the discharge of his duties for further education in Scotland, as required under section 1 of the Further and Higher Education (Scotland) Act 1992; and if he will make a statement. [19481]

I am pleased that my report on further education in Scotland for 1996 has been published today and has been laid before each House of Parliament.Copies are available in the Library of the House.The report, entitled "Further Education in Scotland 1996: Report by the Secretary of State for Scotland", shows that further education colleges continue to improve their delivery of a quality service to students and employers. Incorporation has been a major success, which can be seen by the colleges' achievement of 6 per cent. efficiency gains and a 9 per cent. increase in student activity in 1995–96.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the extent to which Scottish schools will have complied with the recommendations contained in the diet action plan for Scotland by the end of 1997–98. [17378]

[holding answer 5 March 1997]: Implementation of these recommendations in schools is a matter for local authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what current spending is per annum on education, health and social security in Scotland; how many people are involved in delivering these services; what the equivalent spending figures were in real terms (a) five and (b) seven years ago; and if he will make a statement. [17544]

[holding answer 5 March 1997]: Figures on social security are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security. The latest information available on education and health is set out in the table:

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list those scientific establishments other than the Central Science Laboratory, Central Veterinary Laboratory and the Institute of Food Research receiving funding from the Department indicating the number of scientists employed at each on projects funded by his Department on (a) the most recent date available and (b) 31 March (i) 1995, (ii) 1990, (iii) 1985 and (iv) 1980. [18172]

[holding answer 5 March 1997]: The Scottish Office funds agriculture and related research with a wide range of contractors. The main contractors which were funded by the Scottish Office on 1 March 1997 and 31 March 1995 are listed in the table. Details of contractors funded by the Scottish Office on the earlier dates are not held centrally.Information on the number of scientists employed by each contractor on projects funded by the Scottish Office is not held centrally.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what percentage of bills to his Department were paid (a) in accordance with agreed contractual conditions and (b) within 30 days of receiving goods and services or the presentation of a valid invoice where no contractual conditions applied in the last year for which figures are available. [18816]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Economic Secretary to the Treasury on 17 December 1996, Official Report columns 506–7.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what has been the cost to the legal aid budget to date of the litigation in respect of human growth hormone treatments. [18085]

As at 28 February 1997, the Legal Aid Board has made payments on account totalling £940,355 to the solicitors conducting the case. The main action has been successful and the court made a costs order in favour of the successful plaintiffs. Depending on the final outcome of all litigation, the board will recover some or all of its costs from the defendants.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what estimate he has made of the impact on legal bills, with particular reference to the legal aid budget, of increased travelling by solicitors required by the closure of Rochdale county court. [17972]

None. Consideration of the closure of Rochdale county court is at a very preliminary stage. A final decision, which will follow public consultation, will be taken only when the implications for court users, and the legal aid fund, have been fully assessed.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what percentage of bills to his Department were paid (a) in accordance with agreed contractual conditions and (b) within 30 days of receiving goods and services or the presentation of a valid invoice where no contractual conditions applied in the last year for which figures are available. [18814]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Economic Secretary on 17 December 1996, Official Report, columns 507–8. Any additional information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will provide a breakdown by project of PFI schemes for which his Department is responsible as identified in table 5.5 of the Red Book. [18931]

A breakdown by project of the Lord Chancellor's Department's PFI schemes, as identified in table 5.5 of the Red Book, is given in table 1. Current estimates are shown in table 2.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what discussions her Department has had with (i) the Central Council for Physical Recreation, (ii) the British Universities Sports Association, (iii) the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals and (iv) the National Union of Students regarding (a) the encouragement of sport among young people, (b) the availability of resources for sport and physical recreation within the further and higher education sector and (c) Britain's preparations for the 2000 Olympics. [17412]

[holding answer 26 February 1997]: I had discussions with the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals, the Standing Conference of Principals and the Further Education Funding Council prior to publishing the sports policy statement, "Sport: Raising the Game", in July 1995. These discussions formed the basis of chapter 3 of the policy statement, which included undertakings by the three organisations to provide a more detailed picture of provision for sporting opportunities and sports facilities in the further and higher education sectors. The FEFC report was published in June 1996 and the CVCP/SCOP report was published in December 1996. These reports highlighted best practice and made proposals which, if pursued, will be in the interests of the institutions and their students.The United Kingdom Sports Council is intending to explore greater associations with universities, especially in relation to the British Academy of Sport. The UKSC has not as yet had any specific discussions with the Central Council of Physical Recreation, the CVCP or the National Union of Students on the three issues raised, but recognises that they must count as possible partners in any joint approach to the future development of student sport.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the staff present in the emergency control room at HMP Whitemoor on the evening of 9 September 1994 were interviewed by the Woodcock inquiry. [16865]

Sir John Woodcock's report records that more than 100 prison officers were interviewed by his inquiry. I understand that the identity of witnesses to the inquiry is covered by an undertaking of confidentiality given by the inquiry.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff were present in the emergency control room at HMP Whitemoor on the evening of 9 September 1994. [16864]

Five.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) who issued the instructions to desensitise the prison perimeter fence at HMP Whitemoor on 9 September 1994; [16862](2) at what time and for how long the prison perimeter fence at HMP Whitemoor was desensitised on 9 September 1994. [16861]

I understand that Sir John Woodcock found no reason to believe that the sensitivity of the perimeter fence alarm at Her Majesty's prison Whitemoor was below the required standard on 9 September 1994.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what procedures should occur in the event of an alarmed dispersal prison perimeter fence being activated; what safeguards are in place to ensure the effective implementation of these procedures; and in what circumstances these procedures or safeguards would not occur. [16860]

The procedures to be followed in the event of a perimeter fence alarm being activated in a dispersal prison are set out in local operational orders drawn up by the governor and in local contingency plans agreed with the director of dispersal prisons. Perimeter fence alarms are required to be tested daily, and the procedures should be regularly reviewed and tested by means of exercises based on the contingency plans. These arrangements are aimed at ensuring that effective procedures are in place and it is not possible to foresee the circumstances in which they would not be followed.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what safeguards are in place to ensure that desensitised alarms on dispersal prison perimeter fences remain sensitive enough to detect wires being cut. [16859]

The requirements for the operation and testing of perimeter fence alarm systems are set out in the Prison Service's security systems operation and testing manual. Such alarm systems are required to be tested daily with a spring-loaded instrument which imparts a pre-determined impact onto the wire mesh fence. This impact must be registered on the alarm monitoring system. The sensitivity of the alarm must not be reduced below this level.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance he issues as to the circumstances which should cause dispersal prison (a)perimeter fences alarms to be turned off and (b) perimeter fences to be desensitised. [16857]

There should be no occasion when the perimeter fence alarm in a dispersal prison is turned off. A perimeter fence alarm can be modulated according to environmental conditions, for example, to prevent very high winds causing repeated false alarms.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people served a prison sentence during 1996 for television licence fine default; and if he will make a statement. [17964]

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 which prison establishments are currently holding children under 17 years of age; how many children are in each; and what arrangements are being made for their education. [17482]

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 if he will list the average cost of admitting a prisoner into each prison type. [17496]

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 new initiatives he is assessing to target those who exploit prostitutes and live on their earnings. [18490]

We are not, at present, considering any fresh initiatives to target those who exploit prostitutes. The Government's position remains that those living off the sexual exploitation of others should be dealt with severely. My right hon. and learned Friend recently announced his intention to undertake a review of the current maximum penalties for sexual offence, which includes offences relating to those who exploit and live on the earnings of prostitutes.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the strategy adopted by the chief constable of Nottingham to deal with those who exploit prostitutes. [18491]

We welcome the recent agreement between Nottinghamshire constabulary and Nottinghamshire social services on how best to tackle the problem of child prostitution. It is too early to assess how successful the agreement has been, but the Government firmly support a multi-agency approach as the best way of addressing child prostitution and ensuring that children and youngsters receive the care and protection they deserve. The need for co-operation between the agencies working in this area is reflected in the joint Home Office and Department of Health guidance, "Working together under the Children Act 1989".

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussion he has had with the Association of Chief Police Officers regarding street prostitution. [18489]

My right hon. and learned Friend has not discussed street prostitution in his regular meetings with the Association of Chief Police Officers, but officials have been discussing a multi-agency approach to child prostitution with ACPO and discuss other issues with the police as matters arise.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if those owners of prohibited high calibre handguns who wish to retain their weapons as mementos, having first arranged for de-activation and having obtained de-activation certificates, will be able to obtain compensation based on individual valuation of the weapon in its original state. [18615]

No. Under the terms of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997, payments in respect of high calibre handguns may be made only where such items are surrendered to the police.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average sentence served by convicted murderers released in the last five years. [18477]

The information requested is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convicted murderers have killed again after release from prison in the last 10 years; and what is the average sentence that they serve as a result. [18478]

In England and Wales, during the years 1986 to 1995, nine persons released from prison after having served a sentence following conviction for murder are known to have killed again.One of these persons subsequently committed suicide. The other eight were sentenced to life imprisonment.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to (a) review the sentencing policy for those convicted of murder and (b) introduce different categories of murder. [18479]

The Government have no plans to review either the sentence for, or the offence of, murder.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the average of recruitment for regular police force officers recruited from the special constabulary; [18486](2) if he will list the percentage of regular

Recruitment of regular police officers and officers to the special constabulary in England and Wales is a matter for the chief officer of each police force. The information requested is not collated centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost by contacting each force.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what Government assistance is being offered to Michael Hickey, Vincent Hickey and James Robinson to help them overcome the psychological traumas typically associated with the experience they have undergone. [18564]

If the convictions in this case are quashed, it will be open to the men concerned to apply to my right hon. and learned Friend for compensation from public funds. In the meantime, we are in touch with the Department of Health and the men's solicitor to ensure that any health care needs can be assessed without delay.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the costs incurred to date by Dorset police authority as a consequence of proposals to moor a prison ship in Portland harbour. [18745]

I understand from the chief constable that the Dorset police have incurred expenditure totalling £2,646 on police contingency planning on this matter.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide a breakdown by project of PFI schemes for which his Department is responsible as identified in table 5.5 of the Red Book. [18932]

Table 5.5 of the Red Book shows capital investment by the private sector. The breakdown of Home Office private finance initiative schemes as identified in that table is:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers there were in 1979; and how many there are at the present time. [18940]

I refer my right hon. Friend to the reply given to our hon. Friend the Member for Gravesham (Mr. Arnold) on 23 January, Official Report, column 731.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 3 March, Official Report, column 463, in respect of charges for criminal records checks on those volunteering to assist charities, when he intends to make money available to cover the costs. [18919]

We will consider granting free checks to specific groups, such as volunteers, when resources permit.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of bills to his Department were paid (a) in accordance with agreed contractual conditions and (b) within 30 days of receiving goods and services or the presentation of a valid invoice where no contractual conditions applied in the last year for which figures are available. [18805]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Economic Secretary on 17 December 1996, Official Report, columns 506–7.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list his reasons for refusing to release a prisoner form Her Majesty's prison Belmarsh, ref. KF 3842, on compassionate grounds. [18922]

I will write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he proposes to take to assist the Fire Service College in improving its financial performance. [19480]

The Fire Service College, as the central training establishment for the fire service, makes a very important contribution to promoting effective and efficient firefighting and fire safety arrangements in the United Kingdom, and thus maintaining public safety. Its financial regime and targets need to assist it to continue to discharge this role effectively and to secure value for money, but the present arrangements are not achieving this. Despite the considerable efforts of the present management team, the college has not yet been able to realise the benefits which its position as a trading fund ought to offer.The college's corporate aim is to remain the pre-eminent higher education college for fire-related training and for promoting fire safety awareness. To help secure the future of the college and to assist it in achieving its corporate and business objectives, I have therefore decided to make changes to its present financial structure. I propose to seek parliamentary approval for the payment of a grant of £13.5 million to the college. This will enable it immediately to pay off the deemed loan part of the originating capital debt when it was established as a trading fund in 1992. It will save the college £1.3 million in annual interest payments. I also propose in 1997–98 to pay to the college a separate grant of £1.3 million so that it can continue to provide essential training courses for the fire service.These measures will make a step change in the college's finances. They demonstrate the Government's firm commitment to securing an effective and well trained fire service, but the future success of the college should not—and cannot—be dependent on the Government alone. It is crucially dependent on the support of its fire service customers and the college's own efforts. Fire authorities must continue to be willing to make a proper investment in the training of their brigades and to take advantage of the facilities, skills and high-quality training opportunities the college is able to offer. The college has to give priority to ensuring the training needs of the fire service are clearly identified and effectively met. It should exploit innovative training developments. It must also continue its programme of improvements in business efficiency, to ensure high quality management and financial control and so that any on-going requirement for assistance through Home Office grant can progressively be reduced.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs upon how many occasions since Britain joined the European Community (a) Britain and France and (b) Britain and the United States have voted differently on proposed UN Security Council resolutions; and on which of those occasions the resolution referred to a country in which British forces were on active service or were about to undertake such service. [18433]

According to records kept by this Department, the United Kingdom and France have voted differently on UN Security Council resolutions on 35 occasions since 1973. The United Kingdom and the United States have voted differently on 74 occasions within the same period. The only occasions on which the resolution referred to, or where British forces were involved in or were about to be involved in, active military operations were:

• June 1982: Falklands (draft S/15156:Rev 2).
• November 1984: N Cyprus (SCR 550).

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the compensation for victims of the Gulf war, decided on by the United Nations Compensation Commission's governing council in December 1996, will be paid. [18728]

Interim payments of US $2,500 will be made after similar amounts have been paid for claims approved in 1994, 1995 and earlier in 1996. Successful claimants in the first instalments are due to be paid in the near future.Subsequent payments will depend on a regular flow of money into the compensation fund from the sale of Iraqi oil under UN Security Council resolution 986.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the United Nations' announcement on the use of seized Iraqi assets to pay for the environmental effects of the Gulf war and its implications for the United Kingdom. [18727]

The UN Compensation Commission recently announced that claims for environmental damage totalling US $32 billion have been received from 10 Governments by the deadline of 1 February 1997. Compensation will in due courses be paid from revenue derived from the sale of Iraqi oil, not from seized assets. The UK has claimed £1.4 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 19 February, Official Report, column 578–79, if he will list the (a) British and (b) Albanian organisations, individuals or firms in receipt of know-how fund money covering (i) advice on setting up investment funds and (ii) pre-investment feasibility studies. [18986]

The know-how fund contracted the British firm GMA Capital Markets Ltd. to advise on setting up and regulating the Tirana stock exchange and investment funds in Albania. The KHF gave no money to any Albanian organisation, individual or firm, support being provided through funding the cost of technical assistance for specific projects.The British companies who have received money under the pre-investment feasibility studies scheme for prospective investment in Albania are:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what percentage of bills to his Department were paid (a) in accordance with agreed contractual conditions and (b) within 30 days of receiving goods and services or the presentation of a valid invoice where no contractual conditions applied in the last year for which figures are available. [18803]

I refer the hon. Member to the information given by the Economic Secretary to the Treasury on 17 December 1996, Official Report, columns 506–7.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will provide a breakdown by project of PFI schemes for which his Department is responsible as identified in table 5.5 of the Red Book. [18924]

This Department, including the Overseas Development Administration, has agreed two PFI projects: Minerva, a small information technology system to archive electronic documents, and a vehicle services project initially for a small number of overseas posts. Projects have been advertised for the new Berlin embassy and accommodation in Beirut, Colombo, Lagos, Kiev and Sofia. Table 5.5 of the "Financial Statement and Budget Report" reflects this Department's estimate of likely capital investment under these projects. In addition, this Department has invited interest in a project to provide a new global telecommunications system. A breakdown by project would be commercially sensitive at this stage.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the procedures followed by the DTI, the Treasury and the Bank of England, in respect of the voluntary liquidation of Chancery bank; and if he will make a statement. [18704]

On 5 August 1993, my predecessor, my hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Mr. Hamilton), announced the appointment of inspectors under section 432(2) of the Companies Act 1985 to investigate and report on the affairs of Chancery plc.The appointment followed the appointment of administrators on 18 February 1991 and a subsequent voluntary arrangement approved by creditors.The inspectors have not completed the report of their investigation, and I am unable to comment further until they have done so.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will provide a breakdown by project of PFI schemes for which his Department is responsible as identified in table 5.5 of the Red Book. [18936]

The figures in table 5.5 of the Red Book are the combined estimates of the level of private sector investment for the following planned projects: the Teddington site re-development, housing the National Physical Laboratory; resource accounting and budgeting; the Radiocommunications Agency's IS-IT strategic partnership; the Coal Authority's IT system for mining and surface damage reports—contract now signed; and three small IT projects in the DTI. Disaggregated figures are commercially sensitive at this stage.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many undischarged bankrupts there are in each county in England. [19298]

The information requested is not held in this form. The Insolvency Act 1986 provides for the majority of bankrupts to be discharged automatically after three years or after two years in smaller, summary cases. The number of individuals against whom bankruptcy orders were made in the last three years for which figures are available were:

• 1993: 31,016
• 1994: 25,634
• 1995: 21,993.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what percentage of bills to his Department were paid (a)in accordance with agreed contractual conditions and (b)within 30 days of receiving goods and services or the presentation of a valid invoice where no contractual conditions applied in the last year for which figures were available. [18807]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Bury St. Edmunds (Mr. Spring) on 17 December 1996, Official Report, columns 506–7. Additional information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the cost of his visit to Birmingham on 17 February. [18423]

[holding answer 3 March 1997]: The cost of the Birmingham business breakfast was approximately £14,000. More than 700 business men and women attended it.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list the total number of entrants to medical school in each of the last five years, indicating the number of graduates. [18602]

The information available is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what recent representations she has made, or is considering, to the Schools Curriculum and Assessment Authority on the drug awareness component of the life skills part of the national curriculum. [18955]

My right hon. Friend has made no such representations. She will consider any recommendations from SCAA on the spiritual, moral, social and cultural dimensions of the curriculum in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what representations she has made to the other Departments since 26 February on the drug abuse resistance education scheme. [18956]

I wrote on Monday 3 March to my hon. Friend the Member for Bolton, West (Mr. Sackville) Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department to bring his attention to the debate on DARE of 26 February, Official Report, column 397–410. I copied my letter to my right hon. Friend the Lord President.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will study the evaluation of DARE by North Nottinghamshire Health Promotion. [18957]

My right hon. Friend would welcome the opportunity to do so.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will call for a report from the Nottinghamshire county council on its secondary school booster scheme for DARE. [18959]

My right hon. Friend has no plans to do so. Any information Nottinghamshire county council chooses to offer the Department will be received with interest.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what action she has taken to extend the DARE scheme. [18954]

Decisions on approaches to drug education remain a matter for individual schools.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to the oral statement of the Lord President of the Council on 26 February, Official Report, columns 401–2, what is her response to the questions raised by the hon. Member for Nottingham, North regarding the DARE scheme. [18960]

I sought to set out my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State's response to those questions during the debate. Broadly, while my right hon. Friend remains interested in the progress of the DARE programme in Nottinghamshire, she does not intend to promote or endorse one particular approach to drug education in schools above the many others that are serving our teachers and young people well in their particular circumstances.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will write to the hon. Member for Nottingham, North giving her view on the Office for Standards in Education report on drug education. [18958]

Yes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment who is responsible for inspecting those appointed by Ofsted; and what proposals she has to improve the supervision of Ofsted appointees. [18820]

Ofsted is a Government department headed by the chief inspector of schools, who is responsible for appointing and registering inspectors. I have asked Mr. Chris Woodhead to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will provide a breakdown by project of PFI schemes for which her Department is responsible as identified in table 5.5 of the Red Book. [18926]

Table 5.5 shows the estimated capital spending through the private finance initiative in the Department's and Employment Service's own estates and infrastructure. As the estimate is based on the aggregate potential for PFI in these areas, it is not yet directly attributable to specific projects, other than those which have already been concluded. So far, these are two Employment Service computer projects: Employment Service communications and guidance system and windows integrated system for personnel.

To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 28 February, Official Report, columns 419–20, if he will put forward proposals for a bilateral extradition agreement between the United Kingdom and Libya. [18735]

[holding answer 5 March 1997]: No. The United Nations Security Council decided that Libya must surrender the accused for trial in Scotland or the USA.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his engagements for Thursday 6 March. [17885]

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 6 March. [17886]

This morning I presided at a meeting of the Cabinet and had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in this House, I shall be having further meetings later today.

To ask the Prime Minister from what date information was available to any Government Department about the dangers to health from the use of organophosphates; what action was then taken to ensure that all Departments considering their use were made conversant with the dangers; and if he will make a statement. [18824]

Organophosphates were first investigated for use as insecticides in the 1930s in Germany. Since then, information on the health effects of OPs has accumulated over time. Much of the information is in peer-reviewed scientific journals, books or World Health Organisation publications and is therefore available to all Government Departments as well as to the general public.Government Departments receive advice and information on a regular and on-going basis about OPs and their possible effects on human health from a number of sources both external and internal. OP compounds have been reviewed on many occasions, including the independent expert committees which advise the Government on pesticides and veterinary products. They have not recommended a ban or suspension of the use of this class of compounds.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will recommend that an invitation be issued to (a) the Governor-General of Australia, (b) the Governor-General of Canada and (c) the Governor-General of New Zealand to make a visit to the United Kingdom of equivalent status to a state visit. [18013]

[holding answer 4 March 1997]: No.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what preparations his Department is making for earth summit II, and for the preparatory conferences leading up to the summit. [18496]

The Department of the Environment is taking the lead within Government on the preparations for the UN General Assembly special session in June and I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that the Under-Secretary of State, my hon. Friend the Minister for Hertsmere (Mr. Clappison), gave him on 5 March 1997, Official Report, column 634.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the net present value of savings made from reduced expenditure on tax relief paid on contributions made to appropriate personal pensions in (a) 2025, (b) 2030, (c) 2040 and (d) 2050, if (i) all and (ii) half of those earning under £10,000 per annum who are currently opted out of the state earnings-related pension scheme into APPs were to rejoin SERPS. [15591]

[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 is tentatively estimated at about £10 million for 2025–26 and 2030–31, and negligible by 2040–41, if all holders of APPs with earnings of under £10,000 per annum were to rejoin SERPS, and about half these amounts if half of those were to rejoin SERPS. The figures are at 1996–97 prices and have been discounted.The costing assumes that these APP holders in 1996–97 would otherwise continue as APP holders over the projected period. In addition, they are assumed to have the same earnings in these future years in real terms as they did in the base year.

To ask the Attorney-General what role Mr. David Kyle played in preparing the Crown case in (a) the 1989 appeal of the men convicted of killing Carl Bridgewater and (b) the 1987 and 1991 appeals of the six people convicted of the Birmingham pub bombings. [18255]

Mr. David Kyle played no part in preparing the Crown case in the 1989 appeal of the men convicted of killing Carl Bridgewater. He also played no such part in relation to the 1987 appeal by the six people convicted of the Birmingham pub bombings. In relation to the 1991 appeal by these persons, the preparation of the Crown case was undertaken within the special casework division of what was then Crown Prosecution Service headquarters casework. Mr. Kyle was head of division at that time and in that capacity had supervisory responsibility for all cases dealt with on his division.

To ask the Attorney-General what role Ms Fiona King played in preparing the Crown case in (a) the 1989 appeal of the three men convicted of killing Carl Bridgewater and (b) the 1987 and 1991 appeals of the six men convicted of the Birmingham pub bombings. [18257]

Miss Fiona King is away, but examination of her postings indicate that she has at no time been assigned to any part of the Crown Prosecution Service which had responsibility for preparing the Crown case in the 1989 appeal of the men convicted of killing Carl Bridgewater or in the 1987 and 1991 appeals of the six people convicted of the Birmingham pub bombings.

To ask the Attorney-General what percentage of bills to his Department were paid (a) in accordance with agreed contractual conditions and (b) within 30 days of receiving goods and services or the presentation of a valid invoice where no contractual conditions applied in the last year for which figures are available. [18818]

I refer to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Economic Secretary to the Treasury on 17 December 1996, Official Report, columns 506–07. Additional or more recent information is as follows:

Crown Prosecution Service: 97.3 per cent. of bills were paid within agreed terms or 30 days during June to November 1996.

Serious Fraud Office: 91.3 per cent. of bills were paid within agreed terms or 30 days from April 1996 to date¹.

Treasury Solicitor's Department: 93.7 per cent. of bills were paid within agreed terms or 30 days during June 1996 to January 1997.

Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers: 95.7 per cent. of bills were paid within 30 days during June 1996 to February 1997.

Government Property Lawyers: 99.5 per cent. of bills were paid within 30 days during April 1996 to January 1997. M

¹Provisional figure.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many psychological operations units are established in the field army; how many personnel are assigned to these units; and what are his plans to expand or establish additional units for this role. [17987]

We have one psychological operations unit, to which two personnel are assigned permanently to provide instruction in the psychological operations role. This unit can be expanded when required. These arrangements are currently under review.

To ask the secretary of State for Defence how many applications have been received to date for posts in the Military Provost Guard Service; how many individuals have been recruited to the Military Provost Guard Service; how many individuals have completed their training satisfactorily; what is the proposed Military Provost Guard Service complement, broken down by rank, for (a) Chicksands, (b) Chilwell, (c) Donnington and (d) Wilton; what is the rent which the Military Provost Guard Service staff will pay for their accommodation; and what services are provided for this rent. [18104]

Recruitment to the Military Provost Guard Service is proceeding satisfactorily. Some 507 statements of interest in the 118 MPGS pilot scheme posts have been received; 47 candidates have been attested to date and there are firm candidates for all but a few of the remaining posts. There have been no training failures. I have decided to withhold the details of the complements at individual sites under exemption 1 of the code of practice on access to government information, relating to defence, security and industrial relations. MPGS soldiers recruited to the pilot scheme will pay the same charges for service married and single quarters as general service personnel and will receive the same services.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date it was decided that the British forces involved in the liberation of Kuwait would take supplies of organophosphates to the Gulf for use as pesticides; when they were first used there; what additional supplies were purchased locally; when these additional supplies were used; and what checks were made about the safety of these additional pesticides before they were used. [18823]

Full details of what is now known about the use of organophosphate pesticides by British Service personnel during the Gulf war are contained in the organophosphate pesticide investigation team report which was published on 10 December 1996. A copy of this report was also placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the extent of the outbreak and the period that MRSA was present at the Cambridge military hospital, Aldershot, the numbers of patients involved and whether it contributed to or caused death. [18992]

During the period from 1 to 25 May 1994, the Cambridge military hospital experienced a widespread infection of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus. The strain of MRSA was unusual in that it was characterised by a rapid rate of spread but with low virulence. No patient at the hospital developed symptoms of MRSA infection, although a number became colonised with the organism.The outbreak was rapidly and aggressively controlled. There were no admissions to the hospital between 16 and 24 May 1994. All hospital staff were screened for MRSA and, as the outbreak was widespread, were treated with an antibiotic. A thorough disinfection programme was carried out in the hospital. No evidence of MRSA was found in the hospital after 25 May 1994.There are no indications that this outbreak of MRSA contributed to, or caused, death among patients at the hospital.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will provide a breakdown by project of PFI schemes for which his Department is responsible as identified in table 5.5 of the Red Book. [18927]

The figures in table 5.5 of the "Financial Statement and Budget Report" represent my Department's estimates of capital spending by the private sector under private finance initiative projects that had been agreed by October 1996. The projects include:

• White vehicles in Germany
• Army logistic information systems agency
• RAF white vehicles
• Training administration and financial management information systems
• Naval recruiting and training agency
• HMS Nelson facilities management
• Mechanical handling equipment vehicles.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of bills to his Department were paid (a) in accordance with agreed contractual conditions and (b) within 30 days of receiving goods and services or the presentation of a valid invoice where no contractual conditions applied in the last year for which figures are available. [18819]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 17 December 1996, columns 506–7 by my hon. Friend the Economic Secretary to the Treasury to the hon. Member for Bury St. Edmonds (Mr. Spring). Additional information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence at the time Ministers took decisions on the future of command and staff training what contribution that reorganisation was expected to make to the overall annual savings from 1996–97 arising from the defence costs study; what is the total cost in 1996–97 of those parts of single service command and staff training which will eventually be replaced by the joint services command and staff college; and what is his estimate of the costs of the JSCSC in 1997–98 and 1999–2000. [17057]

The proposals to form a joint services command and staff college was initially put forward in the "Front Line First" studies. These constituted internal departmental advice to Ministers, the details of which I am withholding under exemption 2 of the code of practice on access to Government information. Financial information at this stage was indicative only.The decision to implement the JSCSC was based primarily on the operational need for enhanced joint training. Some savings were initially suggested but were on the basis of considerably reduced student numbers, which subsequent analysis found to be unrealistic.The JSCSC came into being on 1 January 1997—part way through the financial year 1996–97—which also makes the year a typical in course programme terms. Accurate costs for the three single service colleges and the joint service defence college at Greenwich, even for the previous year, 1995–96, are not available because the MOD's cash accounting system does not enable a wide range of support costs to be disaggregated from larger sums covering more than one establishment, such as Camberley and Sandhurst, or from sums covering more than one function at the same location, as was the case at Greenwich. This should be addressed by the introduction of resource accounting and budgeting.The estimated cost of the JSCSC in 1997–98 is £30 million. This applies to the JSCSC at its interim sites, mainly Bracknell, and for reasons similar to those given above is likely still to be slightly underestimated; 1999–00 is also atypical because the move from the interim to the permanent site is due to take place during the summer of 1999. The first full year of operation at the permanent site will be 2000–01 for which estimated costs, for the facilities and services provided by the contractor as well as MOD-provided teaching and directing staff, are also approximately £30 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to complete the sale of the pFfpnce Evaluation and Research Agency's support services division; what are the reasons behind the delay in completion of the sale; if APAX Partners has agreed bulk transfer terms for staff pensions with the Government Actuary's Department; and what bulk transfer terms for staff pensions were agreed in previous privatisations of Ministry of Defence services or agencies. [18107]

We have not yet been able to reach agreement on acceptable terms with APAX and have, therefore, decided to open negotiations with CinVen, the other financial institution that was on the original shortlist. We will conclude a deal only if and when mutually satisfactory terms have been agreed. I expect to have come to a decision within a matter of days rather than weeks.Regarding staff pensions, there will now have to be further negotiations with CinVen over bulk transfer terms. Previous MOD organisations have generally involved an agreement on this issue and I hope that the offer of similar terms will prove acceptable.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans NATO has to revise and update its strategic concept. [18722]

NATO's strategic concept was adopted by Alliance Heads of Government at their meeting in Rome in November 1991. NATO's strategy has evolved since then in the light of changes in the European security situation, and this process will continue. Whether the strategic concept itself should be updated to take account of those changes is under consideration within NATO. Any decision to update the strategic concept would be a matter for NATO Ministers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on his proposals for the Salisbury bypass. [18902]

My right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for the Environment and for Transport announced on 29 October 1996 that they were minded to confirm the orders to authorise construction of the bypass. However, before reaching a final decision, they have afforded interested parties an opportunity to make representations on the effects of induced traffic and alteration of a section of the proposed route to take it away from housing at Harnham, as recommended by the inspector who held the year-long public inquiry. They also instructed the Highways Agency to review three matters: the possibility of realigning the section of the route across the River Avon floodplain, south of Salisbury, to avoid the newly designated east Harnham meadows SSSI; the scope for further mitigating the landscape impact of the bypass in this sensitive area; and the need for any measures in addition to those already proposed to mitigate the potential impact of the bypass on the proposed River Avon special area of conservation. The Highways Agency report on the reviews has just been received and will now be considered by my right hon. Friends.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the total number of people employed by British Rail before the start of the privatisation process; and if he will estimate the number employed on the railways at the current time. [19004]

On 31 March 1994, the British Railways Board employed 121,052 people. The latest available estimate of the total number employed in the railway industry is 94,600 people employed in September 1996.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will provide a breakdown by project of PFI schemes for which his Department is responsible as identified in Table 5.5 of the Red Book. [18937]

The figures underlying table 5.5 relate to expected expenditure on the following PFI projects.Italicised entries denote projects not yet signed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the total amount payable to Her Majesty's Government for the sale of Railfreight Distribution. [19003]

The British Railways Board has yet to finalise the sale of Railfreight Distribution.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to stage a trial evacuation of 1,000 passengers from a roll-on/roll-off ferry in realistic conditions. [18771]

None, since "realistic conditions" would imply damage to the ship and potential injury to the participants.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of bills to his Department were paid (a) in accordance with agreed contractual conditions and (b) within 30 days of receiving goods and services or the presentation of a valid invoice where no contractual conditions applied in the last year for which figures are available. [18808]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Economic Secretary on 17 December 1996, Official Report, columns 506–7. Any additional information can be provided only at a disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is (a) the fastest time the channel tunnel has been evacuated; (b) how many doors in the tunnel were open during that exercise; and (c) if the air fell to the point where it equalised between the central tunnel and the running tunnels. [19009]