To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the locations of sewage plants with ultra violet light disinfection treatment, indicating the relevant water and sewerage company. [18777]

The Environment Agency has provided the following list of the locations of sewage plants with ultra violet light disinfection treatment:

	Location
South West Water	Lyme Regis
	Exmouth
	Menagwins (St. Austell)
	St. Columb Major
Southern Water	New Romney (Littlestone)
	Dymchurch
	Camber
Anglian Water	Cleethorpes (Newton Marsh)
	Mablethorpe
	Wells-next-to-the-Sea
	Heacham
	West Mersea
North West Water	Newbiggin
	Askham-in-Furness
	Silloth
Welsh Water Dwr Cymru	Newgale
	Aberystwyth
	Llanelli (Bynea)
	Tywyn/Aberdyfi
	Criccieth

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the percentage of sewage treated by ultra violet light disinfection for each water and sewerage company. [18778]

The Environment Agency has provided the following estimates of the percentage of sewage treated by ultra violet light disinfection for each water and sewerage company:

South West Water, 2.9 per cent.; Southern Water, 0.3 per cent.; Anglian Water, 2.9 per cent.; North West Water, less than 0.1 per cent.; and Welsh Water Dwr Cymru, 4.7 per cent.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidelines govern the prosecution of breaches in discharge consents. [18780]

The Environment Agency follows the code for Crown prosecutors and the Attorney-General's guidelines on criteria for prosecutions. Specific prosecution policies are under development. Currently, in respect of prosecution for breaches of discharge consents, the agency follows procedural guidance adopted by the National Rivers Authority.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when his Department established its Internet site; what representations he has received and what data he has collated on the use and utility of the site; and what steps he is taking to increase the amount of information available via the site. [19149]

The Department of the Environment's Internet site was established in late 1994. The average weekly accesses are 8,500 from a wide cross-section of users both at home and overseas. My Department has received no representations on its use of the Internet. We view the Internet as an important means of augmenting the provision of information in all areas of the Department's responsibilities. My Department is looking at increasing the availability of information on the Internet as part of its normal publishing procedures.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to ensure that in each water company area in England the water is safe to drink. [19305]

The main task of the drinking water inspectorate is to check that water companies supply wholesome drinking water and in doing so comply with the requirements of the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 1989, as amended. The results of the inspectorate's checks are published in its annual reports. The inspectorate also investigates incidents which adversely affect, or threaten to affect, drinking water supplies. Local authorities can also carry out their own monitoring.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is the current remuneration of the chief executive of the QEII Conference Centre; and what was the figure in (a) March 1996 and (b) March 1995; [19577](2) if the remuneration of the

I have asked the chief executive of the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) which organisations he consults on the effectiveness of his Department's policies to encourage greater provision of art in open spaces; [19655](2) whom he consults when evaluating the provision of

These are matters essentially for local decision. Only exceptionally would the Secretary of State be asked to comment.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what were the findings of the Health and Safety Executive, following its visit to the port of Tilbury in February to examine the unloading and storage of ammonium nitrate. [19853]

The port of Tilbury was visited by two inspectors form the HSE's chemical and hazardous installations division on 4 February 1997. Ammonium nitrate was being stored in bulk in a dedicated warehouse towards the centre of the port complex. No unloading was taking place at the time of the visit. The storage arrangements were considered satisfactory and in accordance with published HSE guidance.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 3 March, Official Report, column 467, if he will list the changes he is making to the consultants' report to the Countryside Commission before placing it in the Library. [19734]

The Countryside Commission has amended the original report on the A36 Salisbury bypass, prepared by the consultants Novell Tullett. The two changes are:

(i) Report summary (Page 1, paragraph 1.2)—the words "with its" have been added to the second sentence, between "the Avon Valley" and "Conservation Area";

(ii) Appendix 2 to the report—the summary of the draft report by English Nature to the Highways Agency has been replaced by a summary of their final report.

A copy of the final report has been placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what investigation the Health and Safety Executive is considering into the scale of hazard and the circumstances surrounding the roll-over of a fuel tanker at West Thurrock shopping park on Monday 3 March. [19851]

The fuel tanker in question shed part of its load when it overturned at West Thurrock shopping park on 3 March 1997. The HSE is aware of the incident and is making inquiries with the operator and manufacturers of the tanker.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 6 March, what were the findings of the HM specialist inspector of biosafety, from the Health and Safety Executive, following his visits to the experimental site at Wytham Woods in June 1994 and September 1995; and if he will place the reports in the Library. [19901]

The HSE inspectors concluded that there were no concerns for either human health and safety or environmental safety as a result of this work, and the release had been carried out in accordance with the terms of the consent.The information contained within the reports is available under the Environmental Information Regulations 1992. I have arranged for a copy of the report to be placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has decided upon the future of the Commission for the New Towns; and if he will make a statement. [20010]

On 15 May last, in reply to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Chipping Barnet (Sir S. Chapman) Official Report, column 489, I explained our intention to establish a residuary body to deal with any assets and liabilities of urban development corporations and housing action trusts that remained at wind up, and to dispose of the remaining new town land holdings. I said that, subject to parliamentary approval of powers given in the then Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Bill, we intended to base this body on the Commission for the New Towns. We believed it made sense to build on the CNT's expertise and experience in order to maximise the return to the Exchequer.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Environment Council on 3 March. [20067]

I represented the United Kingdom at the Environment Council on 3 March. The Council agreed conclusions to establish the Community's negotiating position for the preparatory meetings for the third conference of the parties to the framework convention on climate change, in Kyoto, Japan, in December of this year. They agreed that the EU should propose that developed countries should reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 15 per cent. below 1990 levels by the year 2010. They identified current commitments from member states, including a commitment from the United Kingdom for a reduction of 10 per cent. that would enable EU countries as a whole to reduce their emissions by 10 per cent. by the year 2010. They also agreed to identify further policies and measures to enable EU countries to deliver an overall reduction of 15 per cent. by 2010, should developed countries agree to that target at the Kyoto conference.The Council discussed the draft council resolution on the implementation and enforcement of Community environmental law but agreed to defer a final decision until the views of the European Parliament become available; a common position was agreed on the funding of European non-governmental organisations subject to a UK parliamentary scrutiny reserve.In the Council discussion on the two directives on proposed fuel quality and car emission standards by 2000 (Auto-Oil Stage 1). I welcomed the progress being made on these important proposals and emphasised the need for agreement to be reached as soon as possible. I also supported the majority view that it was important for the Commission to bring forward by the end of 1998 its proposals for mandatory fuel and car emissions standards for 2005.Over lunch, the Council discussed the position of the negotiations on the proposed framework agreement on leghold traps. I reiterated my concerns that the existing proposals were inadequate and emphasised the need for a much stronger agreement. Further negotiations with the third countries are expected to begin shortly.There was a presentation by the Commission on its recently adopted proposals for the reduction of emissions of volatile organic compounds; the Dutch presidency hopes to secure political agreement on this at the June Environment Council. The water framework directive was also presented. In the discussion on the use of environmental agreements, I welcomed the Commission's recent communication and highlighted the importance of these measures as an alternative or complement to a regulatory approach.The Council also adopted a directive amending the directive 85/337 on environmental impact assessment. This is to be implemented by March 1999 and the Government will be consulting on its implementation later this year.I also took part in the structured dialogue meeting with Environment Ministers from the countries from central and eastern Europe in which we had a useful exchange of views on climate change and energy efficiency issues.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made in response to the 1995 recommendation by the Environment Committee concerning the introducing of petrol vapour recovery for vehicle refuelling (stage II). [20114]

In response to a recommendation from the House of Commons Select Committee on the Environment, we undertook to consider the case for implementation of the stage II petrol vapour recovery system at service stations once the results of further research into its costs were available. Stage II is designed to reduce emissions of volatile organic compounds. These can be harmful in their own right and also contribute to the formation of ground-level ozone which can have adverse effects on human health and on the environment.Research has demonstrated that stage II offers better value for money than alternative methods for reducing emissions arising from vehicle refuelling at petrol stations. Stage II also compares favourably with abatement techniques used in other industry sectors. The Government therefore intend to consult later this year on proposals for the introduction of stage II controls at certain petrol stations.In so doing, we shall be seeking to involve the petroleum industry and other interested parties as fully as possible. The final adoption of the proposals will be based on consideration of the overall costs and benefits. Our research has shown that the cost per tonne of volatile organic compounds abated rises rapidly at smaller stations and this will obviously influence our proposals. We are particularly aware of the need to avoid imposing any necessary costs and regulatory burdens on small stations, especially those in rural areas where availability of supply can be a problem.Preliminary research undertaken for my Department has shown that evaporative emissions during vehicle refuelling may also contribute to ambient levels of benzene around some petrol stations which exceed the proposed national air quality standard. Over the coming year, we shall be carrying out further research to evaluate the extent of this problem and to consider the potential abatement options.

To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, representing the Church Commissioners, what assessment he has made of the letter from the Parishes Protection Group of 11 February, to the Church Commissioners; if he will place a copy of the reply in the Library; and if he will make a statement. [19029]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 10 February, column 14.The Church commissioners have been engaged in extensive correspondence with the Parishes Protection Group on a wide range of issues relating to their work, in particular the proposals for the future financing of clergy pensions. The Parishes Protection Group has made a number of assertions which the commissioners do not accept and the commissioners have made their position clear to the group. The hon. Member, in this connection, will have received a copy of a recent note on the legality of the payment of clergy pensions. I will place this in the Library.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will conduct a review of the Landlord and Tenant (Covenants) Act 1995 to assess the impact of modification of section 19 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1927 on business tenants. [18480]

The Landlord and Tenant (Covenants) Act 1995 came into force on 1 January 1996. The modifications to section 19 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1927, made by section 22 of the 1995 Act, apply, broadly speaking, only to tenancies, other than residential tenancies, which came into force after 1 January 1996 and apply only to assignments. It is too early to review the operation of section 22 of the 1995 Act.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date a recommendation was issued to the British post in Islamabad to issue Mr. Javed Iqbal, ref: TH/21422/96, with a visa; and if he will make a statement. [19751]

The adjudicator's determination dated 18 October 1996 on Mr. Iqbal's appeal against the decision by the entry clearance officer in Islamabad to refuse him entry clearance was received by my Department on 28 October 1996 but, due to an administrative error which I very much regret, details were not forwarded to the entry clearance officer until 6 March 1997.Mr. Iqbal's representatives in the United Kingdom were informed of the position on the same date.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if illegal immigrants described as yardies have been allowed to remain in the United Kingdom in order to act as informers for the Metropolitan police in the period since January 1993. [19664]

The management and use of informants are operational matters for the police. It is police practice never to confirm or deny whether someone is an informant.Although there may be exceptional circumstances in which it is in the public interest, in the handling of immigration cases, to take account of an individual's assistance to the authorities, there is no general policy of allowing illegal entrants to remain in this country because they have agreed to provide information to the police.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the police or immigration enforcement officers have the power to prevent the serving of Home Office deportation orders on illegal immigrants. [19665]

There may be circumstances in which it is decided not to pursue service of a deportation order, but all such cases would need to be authorised at a senior level in the deportation section of the immigration and nationality directorate.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration he gives to the postponement of deportation in circumstances in which absence of the deportee would place a temporary, but significant, additional burden on voluntary or statutory community care services. [19082]

There is no provision under the immigration rules for people who are subject to deportation action to remain here on the basis that they are providing care which would otherwise be provided by voluntary or statutory services. However, in all cases where consideration is being given to whether deportation should proceed, any compassionate circumstances are balanced against the public interest in maintaining an effective immigration control.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he next expects to meet the chairman of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board to discuss the delay in hearing cases, with particular reference to the case of Mr. Paul Melling of 8 Parkgate drive, Astley Bridge, Bolton; and if he will make a statement. [18904]

I am fully aware of the volume of cases awaiting a hearing before the board and, in consultation with its chairman, Lord Carlisle of Bucklow QC and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland, I increased its membership last year to help reduce delays. Lord Carlisle knows that I am open to further approaches should he consider that further members are needed to complete the work on the 1990 scheme, now superseded by the tariff-based scheme effective from 1 April 1996. Ministers do not intervene in, or comment on, the handling of individual applications.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy that the drug confiscation fund may be used for prevention campaigns on the lines of drug abuse resistance education. [18953]

I am not sure whether the question refers to the seized assets fund or the central drugs fund, both of which draw on the proceeds of drug trafficking seized under international confiscation agreements.The seized assets fund is used for individual projects directed against the misuse of drugs and drug trafficking. Its use is not restricted to enforcement initiatives—expenditure is split about equally between enforcement work and projects for prevention, education and rehabilitation. All applications are considered on their merits. Because of the uncertainty of the amounts available from one year to the next, the fund supports one-off projects rather than continuing programmes.The central drugs fund is focused on enforcement. It helps meet the additional costs to United Kingdom police forces of international drugs investigations.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations on anti-drug campaigns he has received from the Department for Education and Employment since 26 February. [18951]

My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Education and Employment wrote to me on 3 March 1997 to draw my attention to the debate on drug abuse resistance education which took place on 26 February 1997.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration he is giving to reforming the budget process of police forces to enable them to invest equal funds in drug prevention campaigns on the lines of drug abuse resistance education and on drug law enforcements. [18952]

None. The allocation of resources and the deployment of officers are operational matters for individual chief officers of police. They must decide on their own priorities, taking local needs into account. Each force has a drugs strategy, which covers prevention and education as well as enforcement, and all forces are represented on their local drug action teams.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consultations the Prison Service has had with Dorset police authority concerning the (a) potential security risks and (b) extra costs of mooring a prison ship in Portland harbour. [18744]

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, pursuant to his answer of 29 January, Official Report, column 211, if he will list the prisons involved in the research project carried out by the university of Oxford centre for criminological research; what type of (a) drug testing and (b) methodology this research project will employ; if it will include recommendations for future Prison Service drug policy in its final report; and if he will publish the results of the research. [18747]

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, pursuant to his answer of 29 January, Official Report, column 211, what methodology the research project carried out by the national addiction centre will use; if it will include recommendations for future Prison Service drug policy in its final report; and if he will publish the results of the research. [18748]

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 incorporate random drug testing in the Prison Service key performance indicator for mandatory drug testing. [18746]

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 (1) what would be the cost of replacing all the locks in each of the privately operated prisons; [18718](2) if he will make a statement on the security grounds on which the Prison Service may withhold payment to privately operated prisons on the basis of unsatisfactory performance. [18719]

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 if he will make a breakdown of the estimated costs of compensation arising from the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997. [18736]

The estimated breakdown of expenditure arising from the compensation and ex gratia payment schemes provided by the legislation is as follows:

• Large calibre handguns: up to £50 million;
• Ancillary equipment for large calibre handguns: about up to £80 million;
• Small calibre handguns: up to £12 million; and
• Expanding ammunition: de minimis.

In addition, it is estimated that up to £5 million will be required in relation to administrative costs, for example storing guns and handling compensation claims.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what additional security measures were introduced at Her Majesty's prison, Blakenhurst following the publication of a photograph of a bunch of keys in The Birmingham Post in 1994. [18715]

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 on what date a request by Patrick Lynch, detained at Her Majesty's prison Parkhurst, to be repatriated to the Republic of Ireland, was referred to the Republic; what response he has received; and if he will make a statement. [19016]

The request submitted by Mr. Lynch for repatriation to the Republic of Ireland was referred to the Irish authorities on 20 January 1997. The Irish authorities acknowledged receipt of the documentation by letter dated 28 January 1997. No further communications have been received in this case.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the inquiries into leaks of confidential information from NCIS which took place in each of the last three years, indicating for each by whom the inquiry was conducted and the outcome. [19066]

There have been two inquiries into leaks of confidential information from the NCIS in the last three years.The first inquiry was in September 1995 and followed the publication in the media of confidential information from a strategic assessment of the impact of Russian organised crime in the United Kingdom. The inquiry was conducted by the Metropolitan police at the request of the Director General of NCIS. The information in question had been circulated to other relevant law enforcement agencies in the normal way and it was not possible to identify who was responsible for the leak.

Table A: Number of females aged under 18 convicted for offences under the Street Offences Act 1959 section 11 by age, 1985 to 1995
England and Wales
Year	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	Total under 18	18+	All ages
1985	—	—	—	—	—	5	31	223	259	8,900	9,159
1986	1	—	—	—	2	2	24	268	297	8,794	9,091
1987	—	—	—	—	—	1	24	313	338	7,833	8,171
1988	—	—	—	1	—	7	22	420	450	8,379	8,829
1989	—	—	—	—	—	5	24	361	390	9,742	10,132
1990	—	—	—	—	1	2	22	346	371	9,649	10,020
1991	—	—	3	—	—	5	35	278	321	9,238	9,559
1992	—	—	1	—	—	7	25	215	248	8,530	8,778
1993	—	—	—	—	—	7	25	73	105	7,243	7,348
1994	—	—	—	1	3	13	35	89	141	6,433	6,574
1995	—	—	—	—	—	4	25	72	101	5,411	5,512
1Common prostitute loitering or soliciting for the purpose of prostitution.

Table B: Number of persons aged under 18 convicted for offences under the Towns Improvement1 Act 1854 section 72 and the Belfast borough bylaws, 1987 to 1996
Northern Ireland
Year	Total under 18	18+	All ages
1987	—	50	50
1988	—	53	53
1989	—	52	52
1990	3	57	60
1991	—	43	43
1992	—	39	39
1993	—	16	16
1994	—	6	6
1995	—	2	2
1996	—	—	—
1Prostitutes—soliciting.

To the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to ensure that criminal

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children were convicted in the United Kingdom as common prostitutes in each of the last 10 years. [19062]

The available information for England and Wales is given in table A.My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has contributed figures shown at table B.Information on convictions in Scotland are the responsibility for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.proceedings are taken against those who abuse children and young people as suppliers or purchasers of child prostitutes. [19091]

The institution of criminal proceedings is a matter for the police and the prosecuting authorities. The Government regard the abuse of children in prostitution as a serious matter and are satisfied that all working in this field share that concern.The Government are currently reviewing the penalties available for all sex offences, including those relating to the organisation of prostitution, to ensure that these are adequate to reflect the gravity of the behaviour concerned.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum applications were made in (a) January 1996, (b) February 1996, (c) January 1997 and (d) February 1997. [19095]

A total of 2,275 applications for asylum in the United Kingdom were lodged in January 1997; data for February are not yet available. The equivalent figures for January and February 1996 were 3,310 and 2,850 respectively.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of polling stations require remedial work to facilitate access for disabled people; and if he will make a statement. [19229]

It is the responsibility of district and London borough councils under section 18 of the Representation of the People Act 1983, as amended by schedule 4 of the Representation of the People Act 1985, to designate as polling places, so far as is reasonable and practicable, only places which are accessible to the disabled. Councils are not required to account to this Department for their progress in meeting this responsibility and no details are available centrally. However, acting returning officers are regularly encouraged to apply to the Home Office for grants towards the cost of providing temporary ramps where it is not possible for them to use a building for the purpose of a polling place which would otherwise afford easy access for the disabled. £175,400 has been provided in grant aid for these purposes since the last general election.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) men and (b) women have died in police custody in the Metropolitan police area in each of the last five years. [19489]

The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis has provided the following information on the number of deaths in police custody, based on Home Office deaths in custody criteria:

Year (January-December)	Men	Women
1992	14	1
1993	16	2
1994	14	0
1995	12	0
1996	18	2
Total	74	5

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions Merseyside police have used CS gas; what criteria apply in respect of its use; and if he will make a statement. [19616]

[holding answer 10 March 1997]: I understand that Merseyside police have used hand-held CS spray 300 times since 1 March 1996. The use of any form of force is governed by section 3 of the Criminal Law Act 1967. The Association of Chief Police Officers has issued guidelines to forces on the use of CS spray.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much of the money paid in respect of staff costs to each of the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council-owned institutes in 1994–95 was attributable to (a) salaries and (b) other costs; and if he will indicate the nature of those other costs. [18884]

The figures are shown in the table. "Other" includes research expenditure and general maintenance and running costs. Capital is excluded.

£000
	Salaries	Other	Total
Institute for Animal Health	9,827	7,408	17,235
Babraham Institute	6,605	4,160	10,765
Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research	7,836	3,642	11,478
Institute of Arable Crops Research	11,113	4,389	15,502
John Innes Centre	8,524	4,485	13,009
Institute of Food Research	9,379	6,602	15,981
Silsoe Research Institute	5,286	1,843	7,129
Rolsin Institute	4,320	3,104	7,424
Total	62,890	35,633	98,523

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many answers to parliamentary questions by Ministers in his Department in the last 12 months have exceeded the advisory cost limit; and if he will make a statement. [19348]

[holding answer 10 March 1997]: Where the cost of answering a particular parliamentary question is estimated to exceed £450, it is the general practice for Departments to make it clear that the question could be answered only by incurring disproportionate cost. Given the large numbers of questions tabled, it would be unreasonable for my Department systematically to calculate the cost of answering every single parliamentary question.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he will place in the Library further memorandums concerning the prior options reviews of research council establishments. [20063]

I have placed in the Library of the House today memorandums setting out the rationale for the decisions concerning research council establishments which my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade announced on 29 January, Official Report, column 231–32

To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he will appoint the chairman of the Chemical Weapons Convention Advisory Committee. [20064]

I have appointed Dr. T. D. Inch, Secretary-General of the Royal Society of Chemistry, as chairman of the National Authority Advisory Committee for an initial period of four years.The other members will be announced in time for the committee to be in place before the convention enters into force on 29 April 1997.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what measures he intends to implement to improve the supervision of the solvency of Lloyd's of London. [20065]

Following the successful completion of Lloyd's reconstruction and renewal plan last year, I have been considering whether any steps need to be taken to strengthen further the protection to policyholders provided by the solvency margin regime in the Insurance Companies Act 1982, as adapted for Lloyd's.I have concluded that it would be appropriate to introduce an additional solvency test for Lloyd's supplementing those already specified in the legislation. I have today laid regulations before the House that will achieve this with effect from the end of this year.Under the arrangements provided for by the Insurance Companies Act 1982, Lloyd's is currently subject to two separate solvency tests. The first requires an auditor to certify that there are assets, including centrally held assets, of sufficient value to meet the liabilities of each member of Lloyd's. The second test treats Lloyd's as a whole as if it were a single insurance company and requires Lloyd's to maintain sufficient assets to cover its total liabilities plus a minimum margin of solvency. That global required solvency margin equates broadly to the greater of 16 per cent. of the total net premiums in the previous year or 23 per cent. of the average total claims incurred over a three-year period. Failure to meet either of these test would trigger the intervention powers of the Secretary of State.The third test which I have now introduced requires Lloyd's to demonstrate that it can cover an additional "combined" minimum margin of solvency. This combined margin is calculated on the basis of a prescribed level of net assets for each member, in addition to that required to cover their liabilities. If any members are unable to demonstrate such net assets, Lloyd's will be required to show that sufficient centrally held assets—principally the central fund—are available to cover the aggregate of the individual shortfalls. The assets of other members which exceed their prescribed level of net assets may not be taken into account for these purposes. Failure to meet this additional test would also trigger the Secretary of State's intervention powers.This additional test reflects better the fact that members of Lloyd's are not responsible for each other's losses, while recognising that Lloyd's does have centrally held assets that can be used to cover any shortfalls. It will provide policyholders with an additional degree of protection against adverse developments, and will also encourage a prompt response should financial difficulties ever begin to develop at Lloyd's in the future. Lloyd's is reviewing its own financial requirements, placed on its members and other aspects of the Lloyd's chain of security, in ways which should complement the changes I am announcing today and which should enhance further the security of policyholders.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what has been the impact to date on lending under the small firms loan guarantee scheme of the changes to the scheme implemented from 1 September 1996. [19736]

It is too early to assess the impact on lending of the changes introduced on 1 September 1996.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 24 February, Official Report, columns 61–62, if he will list (a) the current number of jobs associated with each of the projects listed; and (b) the amount of regional aid awarded in each region and each year to the projects. [19355]

[holding answer 10 March 1997]: The information requested can be provided only at disproportionate cost because it is not held centrally by my Department.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he plans to announce the chairmanship and membership of the Advisory Committee on Chemical Weapons. [19258]

[holding answer 10 March 1997]: I have appointed Dr. Tom Inch, secretary-general of the Royal Society of Chemistry, to chair the Chemical Weapons Advisory Committee. The appointment will be for an initial period of four years.The other members of the committee will be selected following consultations with Dr. Inch and an announcement will be made as soon as possible, so that the committee can be in place before the chemical weapons convention enters into force on 29 April 1997.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will take steps to permit the British Institute of Architectural Technologists to publish an appointment and fee scale guidance booklet equivalent to those published by other allied professional bodies. [19517]

The decision to publish such a guidance booklet is one for the British Institute of Architectural Technologists. However, the institute should take into account the provisions of the Restrictive Trade Practices Act 1976.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what initiatives exist to promote investment and development in clean technologies in United Kingdom businesses; and if he will make a statement. [19328]

The joint Department of Trade and Industry and Department of the Environment environmental technology best practice programme—ETBPP—has as one of its main aims the encouragement of the take-up and development by business of cost-effective cleaner technology. Support for collaborative research and development with European partners under EUREKA, LINK—particularly the waste minimisation through recycling, reuse and recovery in industry programme—and the Office of Science and Technology's funding of research councils, are also relevant. In addition, proposals to help business enhance environmental performance and competitiveness were among those eligible to bid for support under the sector and local challenges.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the level of funding for research into environmental technologies in each of the last five years; and what funding is planned for 1997–98. [19330]

Support for research and development on technologies for a specific environmental function under the environmental technology innovation scheme, EUREKA-EUROENVIRON and the environmental technology best practice programme was as follows:

Year	£ million
1992–93	2.91
1993–94	2.95
1994–95	2.53
1995–96	1.75
1996–97 (to 28 February 1997)	0.71
Total	10.85

That support includes programmes operated by both the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of the Environment.Some of the research and development supported under general DTI programmes, such as the small firms merit award for research and technology, the support for products under research, LINK and other EUREKA activities and through the Office for Science and Technology's funding of research councils, will be relevant to environment technologies.Support for new and renewable energy technologies and clean coal technologies was as follows:

£ million
Year	New and renewables	Clean coal
1992–93	25.5	4.0
1993–94	25.2	7.8
1994–95	19.1	7.9
1995–96	18.3	7.7
1996–97 (to 31 December 1996)	10.2	3.4

Estimates for 1997–98 will be published in the Department's expenditure plans report.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what initiatives and schemes for assistance there are to encourage the export of (a) British environmental technologies and (b) British environmental services. [19329]

The environmental technology and services sector can, of course, benefit from the full range of overseas trade services which are available to all UK companies. Proposals to help businesses enhance their export performance were among those eligible to bid for support under the sector challenge. In addition, under the business and environment programme, the joint environmental markets unit—JEMU—undertakes a variety of activities specifically to assist the environmental industry.JEMU has done much to raise the profile of the industry overseas. Our export services now treat environmental technology as a priority in nearly two-thirds of Britain's top 80 markets. The unit has published around 60 market opportunity briefs and five sector reports to help UK suppliers identify markets and benchmark performance. JEMU has established a database of more than 4,500 UK suppliers of environmental technology and expertise which is used to answer queries from overseas customers looking for British sources of supply as well as identifying companies for missions and other awareness-raising events. JEMU also works closely with the industry to help representative bodies to identify and address competitiveness issues, such as the major problem of fragmentation, which impact on export performance. This has included help with establishing world-class certification schemes and benchmarking trade association performance.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the United Kingdom's share of the world market for pollution abatement technology; what estimate he has made of the size of that market share during (a) the next five years and (b) the next 10 years. [19327]

This information is not available.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much public money has been provided to the Roslin institute in each year since its inception. [18964]

The figures for income from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and other research councils and Government Departments are:

• 1993–94: £6.3 million
• 1994–95: £6.6 million
• 1995–96: £7.3 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the number of rural residents who live more than half a mile from a bus route; and if he will make a statement. [18404]

None. Our recently published Green Paper, "Keep Scotland Moving", (Cm 3565) however recognised the clear role of transport in rural areas of Scotland in enhancing accessibility, promoting economic development and preventing depopulation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress has been made is implementing safe routes to schools. [18380]

The identification and implementation of safe routes to school is primarily the responsibility of local authorities. Projects involving safe routes to school may be eligible for funding from the Scottish cycle challenge fund announced in December 1996.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the visits abroad made by councillors and officials of Scottish councils in the last three years which were paid for out of public funds. [18379]

I am aware that expenditure by councils on overseas visits is quite rightly a matter of substantial public concern, particularly in the light of recent allegations about overseas visits by Glasgow city councillors. That is why I wrote to the leader of Glasgow city council on 7 February asking for information on this. The response which I have received from that council reveals that a total of £79,656 has been spent during the current financial year sending councillors to overseas events which include a cultural symposium in St. Petersburg, a "City Days" event in Rostov-on-Don, the international rose trials exhibition in Rome and a meeting of the International Badminton Federation in Hong Kong. The information from Glasgow records amounts of up to £2,819 being paid as subsistence to individual councillors for particular overseas visits. Glasgow city council has not submitted information about expenditure on officials' visits. I have placed a copy of Glasgow city council's letter in the Library of the House.I also wrote to the president of the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities on 7 February asking for information on other councils' expenditure sending councillors to conferences and overseas visits. The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities has so far failed to reply, and I am today asking for information about councillors' and officials' visits directly from councils. I intend to make this information publicly available when I have received it.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people are registered (a) blind and (b) partial-sighted. [19085]

At 31 March 1995, there were 21,124 people registered blind and 9,351 people registered partially-sighted in Scotland.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many answers to parliamentary questions by Ministers in his Department in the last 12 months have exceeded the advisory cost limit; and if he will make a statement. [19339]

[holding answer 10 March 1997]: Where the cost of answering a particular parliamentary question is estimated to exceed £450, it is the general practice for Departments to make clear that the question could be answered only by incurring disproportionate cost. Given the large number of questions tabled, it would be unreasonable for the Scottish Office to systematically calculate the exact cost of answering every single parliamentary question.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many patients received hospital in-patient or day care for oral cancer in each of the last five years. [19315]

The information is set out in the table.

Total number of in-patient and day cases discharges for oral cancer: Scotland
Year	In-patient	Day case	Total
1991–92	1,014	66	1,080
1992–93	1,063	93	1,156
1993–94	1,107	128	1,235
1994–95	1,087	115	1,202
1995–96	1,164	207	1,371

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many patients received hospital in-patient or day care for cataracts in each of the last five years. [19316]

The information is set out in the table.

Total number of in-patient and day case discharges for cataract extraction: Scotland
Year	In-patient	Day case	Total
1991–92	10,645	41	10,686
1992–93	12,384	324	12,708
1993–94	12,276	1,420	13,696
1994–95	12,270	2,847	15,117
1995–96	11,459	4,332	15,791

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland pursuant to his answer of 20 February, Official Report, column 678, in what circumstances a local authority can act under the terms of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 against the owner of a privately owned property in a state of disrepair; what action these powers require the owner of the property to take; what liability use of this legislation beings on the local authority; and which clauses of that Act confer on the local authority the power to act. [19530]

Section 87 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 enables a local authority to serve a notice on the owners of buildings requiring that they be brought into a reasonable state of repair. If the owners comply the authority may be liable to pay repairs grant. If they do not comply the local authority may arrange and pay for the works to be carried out and recover the cost from the owner. If in the interests of health or safety, or to prevent damage to any property, it appears necessary to an authority to repair a building immediately it may do so without prior notice and recover the costs from the owner.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the numbers of electors in each parliamentary constituency in Scotland on the registers that will be used in the general election. [19622]

The information is set out in the table.

	Number
Aberdeen Central	54,548
Aberdeen North	54,895
Aberdeen South	60,982
Airdrie and Shotts	58,255
Angus	60,359
Argyll and Bute	49,982
Ayr	56,455
Banff and Buchan	59,189
Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross	41,953
Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley	66,392
Central Fife	58,884
Clydebank and Milngavie	52,643
Clydesdale	64,048
Coatbridge and Chryston	52,547
Cumbernauld and Kilsyth	48,590
Cunninghame North	56,147
Cunninghame South	50,234
Dumbarton	56,875
Dumfries	63,360
Dundee East	58,790
Dundee West	57,809
Dunfermline East	52,530
Dunfermline West	53,005
East Kilbride	65,915
East Lothian	57,988
Eastwood	67,525
Edinburgh Central	63,969
Edinburgh East and Musselburgh	60,097
Edinburgh North and Leith	61,962
Edinburgh Pentlands	60,338
Edinburgh South	62,949
Edinburgh West	61,715
Falkirk East	57,331
Falkirk West	53,308
Galloway and Upper Nithsdale	53,273
Glasgow Anniesland	53,324
Glasgow Baillieston	51,589
Glasgow Cathcart	49,765
Glasgow Govan	50,150
Glasgow Kelvin	57,695
Glasgow Maryhill	52,854
Glasgow Pollok	49,693
Glasgow Rutherglen	51,106
Glasgow Shettleston	48,270
Glasgow Springburn	53,814
Gordon	59,503
Greenock and Inverclyde	49,364

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many hospitals screen patients for MRSA on admission; [19846](2) how many hospitals have reported cases of MRSA in the past 12 months; how many cases there were in total; and in how many cases MRSA was the cause of or contributed to death; [19847](3) what measures are being taken to prevent the spread of MRSA outside hospitals; and if he will make a statement. [19848]

Information regarding hospitals is not held in the form requested, but the Scottish centre for infection and environmental health monitors the overall incidence of MRSA across Scotland.In May 1996, the Scottish Office issued information and advice to health boards, social service departments and residential nursing homes about the care of people in the community with MRSA and about infection control generally in residential and nursing homes. This included Department of Health publications entitled "MRSA—What nursing and residential homes need to know" and "Guidelines on the Control of Infection in Residential Homes", copies of which are in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when the Fisheries Research Services Agency will be established; and when its framework document will be published. [20101]

Fisheries Research Services will come into existence as an executive agency on 1 April 1997. Its framework document has been published today and a copy has been placed in the Library.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the private employment agencies used by his Department and its agencies in each of the last three years for which figures are available, indicating (a) the names of the agencies, (b) the numbers employed by the agencies in work for his Department, (c) the total cost to his Department of using employment agencies and the median cost paid to the agency per person recruited and (d) the average length of contract for persons recruited via such agencies. [16178]

The Treasury does not use private employment agencies for the recruitment of permanent staff. In the last three years, it has used only the Recruitment and Assessment Agency. However, it does use Brook Street Bureau plc and Excel Recruitment Ltd. to provide emergency secretarial cover on an ad hoc basis—and also Employment Services to recruit administrative staff on a casual basis.The responses for the Department's agencies are given below.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list those EU states whose public debt as a ratio of gross domestic product price exceeded the ratio as provided by the Maastricht treaty at the latest available date; and if he will indicate the percentage by which the debt exceeded the ratio. [17386]

Figures for public debt as a ratio of gross domestic product can be found in the publication "European Economy" which is available in the Library.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list for each European Economic Area country the amount of tax as a percentage of income paid by (a) a married couple with two children under 11 and (b) a single taxpayer without children on (i) average, (ii) highest quintile and (iii) lowest quintile incomes. [18589]

[holding answer 4 March 1997]: The information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the cost in 1997–98 of giving a married taxpayer the option of (a) transferring his or her basic personal allowance to their spouse and (b) allowing married couples to be assessed jointly in each case on the basis that the allowances to which each was entitled would be added together and set against the joint income and the amounts chargeable at the lower and basic rates would be double that chargeable in the case of a single person and that couples would not also receive the married couples allowance. [18590]

[holding answer 4 March 1997]: The estimated full-year cost at 1997–98 income levels of allowing couples to transfer their unused personal allowance to their spouse is estimated to be £3.4 billion. If married couples could opt for joint assessment, the estimated total full year cost would be £5.2 billion. These figures do not take into account any behavioural change which would result from such measures.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 28 February, Official Report, column 406, when the Inland Revenue last published its performance against annual targets; and when it next expects to do so. [19484]

[holding answer 10 March 1997]: The Inland Revenue last published its performance against annual targets on 4 November 1996 in its report for the year ending 31 March 1996 (Cm 3446). The report for the year ended 31 March 1997 is expected to be published in autumn 1997. The Inland Revenue also expects to publish the 1996–97 customer service results against targets for the regional executive offices responsible for the local tax offices in a press release in early summer 1997. Leaflets for customers showing the results will be available in local tax offices at the same time.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the advantages of fitting the automatic train protector system to locomotives; and if he will make a statement. [19666]

On 30 March 1995 the then Secretary of State for Transport announced that the Government had concluded, on the basis of independent advice from the Health and Safety Commission, that applications of automatic train protection—ATP—may be justified on certain parts of the rail network. Advice received from both the British Railways Board and Railtrack, and endorsed by HSC, confirmed that network-wide fitment of ATP, as piloted, was not reasonably practicable, because the costs far outweighed the benefits and that there were alternative safety investments which would be likely to yield greater effectiveness in terms of lives saved, and be better value for money. This information was subsequently published in "Railways Safety", HM chief inspecting officer of railways' annual report on the safety record of the railways in Great Britain during 1994–95, a copy of which is in the Library of the House.Railtrack remains committed to a co-ordinated programme to reduce the risks of ATP preventable accidents. These measures comprise Railtrack's train protection strategy and are described in a letter from the chairman of Railtrack dated 21 November 1995, which was placed in the Library of the House on 29 November 1995. The strategy includes a driver reminder appliance—DRA—due to be installed in train cabs during 1997 and completed in 1998, and a train protection warning system—TPWS—due to be piloted in 1997 and to commence installation by early 1998. Subject to technical feasibility and the test of reasonable practicability, TPWS will be installed at those locations assessed by Railtrack to be at greatest risk of ATP preventable accidents.In the longer term, ATP measures will be included in the Heathrow express route, the west coast main line modernisation scheme, the channel tunnel rail link and any future high speed lines. The Great Western and Chiltern line pilot schemes will continue. In addition, full consideration will be given by Railtrack to the option of including ATP functions in all future major resignalling schemes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what regulations govern the requirement for ambulance trust district transport service minibus drivers to be medically tested for their public service vehicle licences; and when these regulations were last reviewed. [19671]

The medical requirements for drivers of minibuses depend on a number of factors, including the number of seats in the vehicle and the date on which the driver obtained a licence. The requirements were reviewed recently in the context of the second EC driving licence directive, whose licensing provisions were implemented, with effect from 1 January 1997, by the Driving Licences (Community Driving Licence) Regulations 1996 (SI 1996/1974), the Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) Regulations 1996 (SI 1996/2824), and the Minibus and Other Section 19 Permit Buses (Amendment) Regulations 1996 (SI 1996/3088).

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate the percentage of ferries operating to and from UK ports which do not meet SOLAS 90 standards; and if he will make a statement. [18683]

[holding answer 4 March 1997]: All ferries operating to and from UK ports comply with the relevant survivability standard which applies to them. The SOLAS 90—safety of life at sea—standard was being phased in on a timescale ending in 2007. That standard and timescale have now been superseded by the Stockholm agreement, which requires a higher standard phased in on a much shorter timescale, ending in 2002. At least 35 per cent. of all seagoing ro-ro passenger ferries operating to and from United Kingdom ports already meet the SOLAS 90 standard.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list those ferries operating to or from UK ports which do not meet SOLAS 90 standards; and if he will make a statement. [18682]

[holding answer 4 March 1997]: The Government have no plans to publish a list of ferries related to the SOLAS 90 survivability standard alone. New regulations come into force on 1 April to implement the Stockholm agreement on ferry safety, which sets a survivability standard higher than SOLAS 90. Under the regulations, all ferries operating regular scheduled international services to or from United Kingdom ports, and on UK domestic routes where conditions are comparable to those on international voyages, will be required to meet the SOLAS 90 survivability standard and have the ability to resist capsize with up to half a metre of water on the car deck. We shall be publishing a list in April showing the dates by which individual ferries must comply with this new higher standard. Some vessels operating to United Kingdom ports already meet that standard.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of whether the Pride of Cherbourg, the Pride of Hampshire, the Havelet and the Sea France Matisse will comply with the 1996 Stockholm agreement on ferry safety by 1 April 1997. [18770]

[holding answer 6 March 1997]: The Government are implementing the Stockholm agreement by the Merchant Shipping (Ro-Ro Passenger Ship Survivability) Regulations 1997 which will come into force on 1 April. We will publish an updated list of ferries operating to and from UK ports once the regulations come into force, which will clearly indicate the compliance date for each ferry.The timescale for implementation agreed internationally means that those ferries further from standard must be modified sooner than those closer to it. The regulations provide that those ferries furthest from the standard must comply with it not later than at their first periodical survey following 1 April 1997. There is a duty on shipowners to ensure that their ships comply by the relevant deadline in each case and the regulations contain penalties for non-compliance.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list all ferry accidents reported to UK authorities since 1987 indicating (a) the nature of the accident, (b) the ferry company involved and (c) the date; and if he will make a statement. [18684]

[holding answer 4 March 1997]: The Marine Accident Investigation Branch, which was established in 1989, investigates accidents to United Kingdom ships or other vessels in United Kingdom territorial waters. If appropriate, a report of the investigation is published. There have been five published reports of investigations of accidents involving ferries since 1989, as follows:

Nature of accident	Ferry company	Date of accident
Grounding	Sealink	19 September 1989
Fatal accident	North Sea Ferries	5 February 1992
Fire	Sally Line	25 August 1994
Machinery damage	P and O European Ferries	25 September 1994
Stranding	Stena Line	19 September 1995

Other accidents to ferries which have been subject to inspectors' investigations since the establishment of MAIB's database in 1991 are listed hereafter.

Nature of accident	Ferry company	Date of accident
Fire	Sealink Stena	23 March 1991
Loss of cargo	Swedish Gulf Shipping	4 May 1991

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what additional payments have been made by National Air Traffic Services to the new en-route centre contractor since the original contract was signed; to what they related; and when they were made; [19401](2) if he will make a statement on the extent to which the full range of functions specified in the original contract for the new en-route centre will be available when it becomes operational; and what compensation will be sought from the contractor for restrictions in that availability; [19403](3) if he will list the contract change orders which have been agreed between the Civil Aviation Authority and National Air Traffic Services and the contractor involved with the new en-route centre since the contract was signed. [19402]

[holding answer 10 March 1997]: I have asked the chairman of the CAA to reply direct to the hon. Member on this matter.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance he is giving to the general programmes budget for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in 1996. [20008]

My right hon. Friend the Minister for Overseas Development has approved a grant of £5 million for UNHCR's general programmes budget for 1997. The UK is one of the foremost national donors of UNHCR; last calendar year, our contributions, both indirect payments and assistance in kind, exceeded £30 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assistance has been provided by the Government to the International Committee of the Red Cross to support its humanitarian work. [20009]

My right hon. Friend the Minister for Overseas Development has recently announced a new contribution of £5 million to the International Committee of the Red Cross. This contribution will support programmes which include protection and assistance for victims of conflicts, the dissemination of international humanitarian law, and the provision of humanitarian relief and medical assistance to conflict affected groups.

To ask the Prime Minister what was the cost in (i) 1995–96 and (ii) 1996–97 of operating the(a) Interception of Communications Tribunal and(b) Security Service Tribunal; how many cases have been dealt with by each of these bodies during these periods; and in how many cases complaints have been upheld by the tribunals involved. [19381]

The available information is as follows. The outturn for expenditure in 1995–96 for the tribunals and commissioners appointed under the Interception of Communications Act 1985, the Security Service Act 1989 and the Intelligence Services Act 1994 is £47,000. The provision for 1996–97 is £67,000. The Interception of Communications Tribunal completed investigation of 63 complaints in the calendar year 1995 and 34 in 1996. In the same periods, the Security Service Tribunal completed investigation of 25 and 26 complaints respectively. On no occasion did the Interception of Communications Tribunal conclude that sections 2 to 5 of the Interception of Communications Act 1985 had been contravened. The Security Service Tribunal made no determination in favour of a complainant.

To ask the Prime Minister what guidelines govern the use by Ministers of official transport in undertaking party political activities. [19404]

[holding answer 10 March 1997]: Ministers for whom the security authorities exceptionally consider it essential may use their official cars for all journeys by road, including those for party purposes. Otherwise, official transport should not be used for journeys on party business, such as constituency visits or attendance at party meetings; though there is no objection to a Minister using an official car if the meeting involving party business takes place immediately between two official engagements in the course of their working week.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 11 March. [118595]

To ask the Primer Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 11 March. [18597]

This morning, I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition, to my duties in the House, I shall be having further meetings later today.

To ask the Prime Minister how many warrants were issued under the Interception of Telecommunications Act 1985 in 1996 by the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Secretary of State for Home Affairs covering (a) mail interceptions and (b) telephone interceptions. [19529]

The number of warrants issued in 1996 under the Interception of Communications Act 1985 by the Home Secretary and the Secretary of State for Scotland are as follows:

	Letters	Telecommunications
Home Secretary	69	1,037
Secretary of State for Scotland	0	228