To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Bills his Department has sponsored in each of the last 15 years; and how many have been passed by Parliament. [19774]

The Home Office has sponsored a total of 60 Bills in the last 15 years. Of these, 54 have been passed by Parliament, with one other being partially enacted. The Bills, arranged according to the relevant parliamentary Session, were as follows:

• 1981–82
• Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill
• Criminal Justice Bill
• Fire Service College Board (Abolition) Bill.
• 1982–83
• Nuclear Material (Offences) Bill
• Marriage Bill
• Data Protection Bill (fell at Dissolution)
• Police and Criminal Evidence Bill (fell at Dissolution).
• 1983–84
• Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Bill
• Data Protection Bill
• Cable and Broadcasting Bill
• Repatriation of Prisoners Bill
• Police and Criminal Evidence Bill.
• 1984–85
• Prosecution of Offences Bill
• Representation of the People Bill
• Interception of Communications Bill
• Sporting Events (Control of Alcohol etc.) Bill.
• 1985–86
• Animals (Scientific Procedures) Bill
• Drug Trafficking Offences Bill
• Public Order Bill
• Shops Bill (defeated at Second Reading).
• 1986–87
• Broadcasting Bill
• Criminal Justice Bill¹
• Fire Safety and Safety of Places of Sport Bill
• Immigration (Carriers' Liability) Bill.
• ¹By agreement with the Opposition Parties in both Houses, Part 1 of the Bill dealing with the setting up of the Serious Fraud Office was enacted before Dissolution: the rest of the Bill fell.
• 1987–88
• Criminal Justice Bill
• Firearms (Amendment) Bill
• Immigration Bill
• Licensing Bill.
• 1988–89
• Official Secrets Bill
• Police Officers (Central Service) Bill
• Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Bill
• Representation of the People Bill
• Security Service Bill.
• 1989–90
• British Nationality Hong Kong Bill
• Broadcasting Bill
• Criminal Justice (International Co-operation) Bill
• War Crimes Bill (defeated at Second Reading).
• 1990–91
• Criminal Justice Bill
• Dangerous Dogs Bill
• Maintenance Enforcement Bill
• War Crimes Bill.
• 1991–92
• Aggravated Vehicle Taking Bill
• Prison Security Bill
• Charities Bill
• Asylum Bill (fell at Dissolution).
• 1992–93
• Parliamentary Boundary Commission Bill
• Asylum and Immigration Appeals Bill
• Criminal Justice Bill
• European Parliamentary Elections Bill
• National Lottery Bill.
• 1993–94
• Sunday Trading Bill
• Police and Magistrates' Courts Bill
• Criminal Justice and Public Order Bill.
• 1994–95
• Licensing (Sunday Hours) Bill
• Criminal Appeal Bill
• Criminal Injuries Compensation Bill.
• 1995–96
• Prevention of Terrorism (Additional Powers) Bill
• Criminal Procedure and Investigations Bill
• Security Service Bill
• Asylum and Immigration Bill.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many crimes were recorded by each police force in England and Wales within each category of crime in 1996; how many incidents of theft or unauthorised taking of a motor vehicle and of theft from a motor vehicle were recorded by each force; how many of the burglaries recorded by each police force in England and Wales in 1996 were in a dwelling; and how many were in another building. [20191]

[holding answer 17 March 1997]: The information requested is given in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many crimes were recorded in each borough by the Metropolitan police within each category of crime in 1996; how many incidents of theft or unauthorised taking of a motor vehicle and of theft from a motor vehicle were recorded in each borough; how many of the burglaries recorded in each borough were in a dwelling; and how many were in another building. [20192]

[holding answer 17 March 1997]: I will write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many crimes have been reported in each of the London boroughs in 1997 to date, broken down by type of crime and clear-up rate. [20176]

This information is not yet available centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the compliance of his Department's policy in respect of the detention of asylum seekers convicted of using false documents with the terms of article 31 of the UN convention relating to the status of refugees; and if he will make a statement. [20277]

It is for the prosecuting authorities to decide whether to prosecute a person for using false documents. The prosecution of people who have not sought asylum in the United Kingdom, but have attempted to enter or leave the country using false documents, is not a breach of article 31 of the United Nations convention. Any subsequent application for asylum in the United Kingdom would be determined on its individual merits. Detention solely under Immigration Act powers would be authorised only if there were good grounds for believing that the person would not comply with the terms of temporary admission.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to open a new detention centre for asylum seekers at Dover; and if he will make a statement. [20278]

We are examining the case for seeking to locate an immigration detention centre in the Dover area, but no firm proposals have yet been developed.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for each police

Police and civilian strength in England and Wales
	May 1979		September 1990		September 1996
Force	Police	Civilians1	Police	Civilians1	Police	Civilians1
Avon and Somerset	2,829	683	3,069	863	3,004	1,209
Bedfordshire	900	280	1,051	370	1,118	498
Cambridgeshire	1,071	306	1,193	460	1,253	558
Cheshire	1,787	391	1,868	497	2,016	755
City of London	832	274	790	278	868	335
Cleveland	1,347	318	1,496	452	1,444	599
Cumbria	1,064	252	1,176	408	1,124	435
Derbyshire	1,587	634	1,773	562	1,795	684
Devon and Cornwall	2,667	752	2,870	964	2,876	1,164
Dorset	1,140	277	1,286	532	1,262	614
Durham	1,312	500	1,371	534	1,426	542
Dyfed-Powys	913	190	943	242	998	334
Essex	2,490	686	2,845	990	2,927	1,266
Gloucestershire	1,081	229	1,159	344	1,139	425
Greater Manchester	6,440	1,409	7,019	2,232	6,961	2,719
Gwent	971	203	1,000	264	1,231	463
Hampshire	2,955	708	3,160	967	3,362	1,350
Hertfordshire	1,455	374	1,652	544	1,721	790
Humberside	1,861	504	1,986	655	2,042	715
Kent	2,730	888	3,000	973	3,227	1,274
Lancashire	3,093	885	3,183	1,137	3,203	1,204
Leicestershire	1,701	362	1,778	641	1,933	708
Lincolnshire	1,175	314	1,200	445	1,157	489
Merseyside	4,441	910	4,686	1,472	4,271	1,686
Metropolitan	22,225	11,837	28,287	13,447	27,049	13,890
Norfolk	1,229	246	1,389	426	1,399	573
Northamptonshire	909	252	1,134	399	1,186	560
Northumbria	3,285	773	3,519	1,185	3,693	1,215
North Wales	1,269	317	1,335	437	1,381	536
North Yorkshire	1,337	338	1,386	441	1,334	596
Nottinghamshire	2,120	554	2,336	661	2,339	989
South Wales	2,945	870	3,112	1,134	2,913	1,151
South Yorkshire	2,560	599	2,961	877	3,128	1,316
Staffordshire	1,980	573	2,197	667	2,220	758
Suffolk	1,077	323	1,206	436	1,159	500
Surrey	1,442	360	1,659	523	1,632	760
Sussex	2,759	723	2,990	913	3,097	1,167
Thames Valley	2,653	970	3,699	1,323	3,682	1,853
Warwickshire	843	204	1,022	339	948	393
West Mercia	1,752	501	2,013	844	2,011	958
West Midlands	6,031	1,426	6,866	2,254	7,203	2,389
West Yorkshire	4,739	1,191	5,278	1,842	5,154	2,091
Wiltshire	1,001	252	1,140	438	1,166	493
1Excludes traffic wardens.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for each police authority the number and percentage of people arrested who were released after receiving a police caution in (a) 1990, (b) 1994 and (c) the latest available date. [20529]

[holding answer 17 March 1997]: Detailed data on the number of people arrested are not collected centrally.Information available on the number of people cautioned by police force area is published annually in "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales, Supplementary

authority in England and Wales the number of

[holding answer 17 March 1997]: The information requested is given in the table.Tables, Volume 3". Table S3.7(A) in the 1990 and 1994 editions and table S3.6(A) in the 1995 volume contain that information.Copies are available in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for each (a) magistrates court and (b) Crown court the percentage of defendants acquitted in (i) 1990, (ii) 1994 and (iii) the latest available date. [20530]

[holding answer 17 March 1997]: Readily available information is published annually in "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales, Supplementary Tables".Magistrates court data for individual petty sessional divisions can be found in the 1990 volume 5, table S5.1 and in volume 4, table S4.1, of the 1994 and 1995 editions.Data for individual Crown court centres are published in the 1990 volume 3, table S3.6(A) and in volume 2, table S2.3, of the 1994 and 1995 editions.Copies are available in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the annual additional costs of police time arising out of CSA decisions; and if he will make a statement. [20172]

Number of persons cautioned, proceeded against' at magistrates' courts and tried at the Crown Court for the offence of Possession of Cannabis by Police Force Area, 1994 and 1995
	Cautioned		Proceeded against at Magistrates' court1		Total tried at the Crown Court
Police Force Area	1994	1995	1994	1995	1994	1995
Avon and Somerset	594	282	228	259	33	25
Bedfordshire	77	94	118	182	18	19
Cambridgeshire	498	377	141	63	7	6
Cheshire	784	590	290	360	8	17
Cleveland	306	406	47	67	4	10
Cumbria	326	315	255	228	7	9
Derbyshire	259	468	147	175	9	22
Devon and Cornwall	1,084	1,073	258	311	31	23
Dorset	144	196	112	127	5	8
Durham	153	217	103	147	2	5
Essex	851	848	285	284	9	18
Gloucestershire	459	593	108	157	3	4
Greater Manchester	2,230	2,032	722	767	48	58
Hampshire	1,380	1,131	328	456	26	29
Hertfordshire	482	453	187	229	5	8
Humberside	398	280	93	137	3	7
Kent	684	619	342	289	11	22
Lancashire	1,180	1,341	256	407	26	27
Leicesterhire	380	337	130	174	6	6
Lincolnshire	198	235	203	191	13	16
London, City of	347	535	33	64	2	2
Merseyside	597	820	790	829	26	41
Metropolitan Police	13,268	14,007	4,291	3,443	232	237
Norfolk	236	490	190	272	6	7
Northamptonshire	448	535	60	76	9	1
Northumbria	832	1,192	192	166	18	17
North Yorkshire	307	309	193	201	16	13
Nottinghamshire	361	378	188	218	19	20
South Yorkshire	728	731	237	336	13	18
Staffordshire	424	478	166	213	15	14
Suffolk	537	494	82	119	10	7
Surrey	—	235	142	183	7	16
Sussex	821	937	361	366	11	16

This information is not collected centrally. The cost of specific activities and operations carried out by the police is a matter for chief officers. The Government would not collect data of this kind unless there was a specific and justifiable need to do so.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for each police authority in England and Wales the number, and percentage, of people arrested for possession of cannabis who were (a) cautioned, (b) tried in a magistrates court and (c) tried in a higher court in (i) 1990, (ii) 1994 and (iii) the latest available date. [20528]

[holding answer 17 March 1997]: Detailed data on the number of people arrested are not collected centrally.Information available on the number of people cautioned, proceeded against at magistrates courts and tried at the Crown court for 1994 and 1995 by police force area is given in the tables. Comparable 1990 data for offences of possession of a controlled drug do not distinguish the type of drug.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the parliamentary constituencies in the United Kingdom which do not contain a police station. [20214]

My right hon. and learned Friend has responsibility for the police service in England and Wales. The information requested is not kept centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The position in Scotland and Northern Ireland is a matter for the respective Secretaries of State.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the Government's response to the "Competing for Quality" policy review. [21077]

The "Competing for Quality" policy review endorsed the Government's policy of improving efficiency and quality through competition and the involvement of the private sector and made a large number of recommendations for enhancing "Competing for Quality" programmes.Since the review was published, the Government have been considering their recommendations and have consulted the CBI and the Council of Civil Service Unions.I am happy to announce now that the Government accept the large majority of the review's recommendations. I expect Departments to follow the advice of the review in their "Competing for Quality" programmes.In particular, I want to stress:

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what has been the average increase in civil service salaries since February 1993. [20653]

This information is not available in the precise form requested but I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Swansea, West (Mr. Williams) on 24 February, Official Report, column 125.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster in how many cases, in the last 12 months, he was advised that the cost of answering a parliamentary question would exceed £450; and in how many of those cases he declined to provide an answer on grounds of disproportionate cost. [20652]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Cynon Valley (Mrs. Clwyd) on 5 March 1997, Official Report, column 618.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what proposals there are to change the 1996–97 cash limit for Her Majesty's Stationery Office. [21044]

The cash limit for Her Majesty's Stationery Office, class XVII, vote 4, will be reduced by £50,000 from £1,191,000 to £1,141,000. This reflects the partial offset of increased expenditure in the Office of Public Service, class XVII, vote 1, as announced in a previous answer on 31 January 1997, Official Report, column 386.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what guidance is issued to Government Departments on the conduct of Government business once an election is announced. [21045]

The guidance covering the conduct of Govnerment business once an election is announced was issued to Departments yesterday and copies of it have been placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many Bills his Department has sponsored in each of the last 15 years; and how many have been passed by Parliament. [19779]

The information requested is as follows:

• 1981–82: 3
• 1982–83: 1
• 1983–84: 4
• 1984–85: 4
• 1985–86: 4
• 1986–87: 4
• 1987–88: 3
• 1988–89: 2
• 1989–90: 3
• 1990–91: 2
• 1991–92: 0
• 1992–93: 2
• 1993–94: 1
• 1994–95: 4
• 1995–96: 4.

With two exceptions—one in 1984–85 and the other in 1994–95—all of the Bills were passed by Parliament. The figures include measures of law reform, but not consolidation Bills.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what decision he has reached concerning the application of the justices chief executive in Teeside to acquire the responsibilities of the justices clerk in Hartlepool; and if he will make a statement. [20839]

My Department has not yet received such an application.

To ask the Attorney-General how many Bills his Department has sponsored in each of the last 15 years; and how many have been passed by Parliament. [19766]

Save for consolidation Bills, which are not treated as departmental business, none.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many international treaties the United Kingdom has signed in each of the last 15 years; how many were judged to require Acts of Parliament prior to notification; and how many times in that period a Bill to give effect to a treaty was not passed by Parliament. [19781]

A total of 1,381 treaties have been signed by the United Kingdom since 1 January 1982:

• 1982: 67
• 1983: 78
• 1984: 69
• 1985: 65
• 1986: 99
• 1987: 105
• 1988: 81
• 1989: 110
• 1990: 113
• 1991: 92
• 1992: 89
• 1993: 122
• 1994: 117
• 1995: 84
• 1996: 90.

The treaties cover a wide range of subjects and in a majority of cases Government Departments other than the FCO would have been responsible for determining what legislation, if any, was involved. This information is not recorded in treaty records and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Bills his Department has sponsored in each of the last 15 years; and how many have been passed by Parliament. [19764]

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, including the ODA, sponsored the following number of Bills in each of the last 15 years:

• 1982: 1
• 1983: 0
• 1984: 0
• 1985: 4
• 1986: 2
• 1987: 3
• 1988: 3
• 1989: 3
• 1990: 1
• 1991: 3
• 1992: 1
• 1993: 2
• 1994: 2
• 1995: 3
• 1996: 2

All of the Bills have been passed by Parliament.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the new jetty in the north of Montserrat will be completed; and what assessment he has made of the risk from a volcanic eruption to the people working in the harbour. [20840]

The stub of the new jetty was completed in February 1997. It can now be used for limited movement of people and supplies. The full jetty is due for completion in late May 1997. There is continual appraisal of the risk by the scientific team on the island. Contingency plans are in place for the rapid departure of essential workers from the harbour if the circumstances change.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what action she is taking to expedite the completion of the trans-Pennine trail. [18481]

This is a matter for the Millennium Commission. I shall write to the hon. Member in my capacity as chairman of the commission and place copies of my reply in the Libraries of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when her Department established its Internet site; what representations she has received and what data she has collated on the use and utility of the site; and what steps she is taking to increase the amount of information available via the site. [19141]

The Department of National Heritage web site, www.heritage.gov.uk, was established in March 1996. The Department's web site allows people to provide feedback on the pages. Representations have been received from bodies wishing to have a link to their web site added to the Department's.A monthly report is produced which identifies the most commonly accessed information held on the site as well as the total number of people who have visited the site. There are a growing number of DNH publications on the web site with the most recent addition being "Reading the Future—A Review of Public Libraries in England". Future DNH publications will also be posted on the Department's web site and the range of information provided is under review in the light of the recent Green Paper on government.direct.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what representations he has received on the treason charges bought against Nigerian dissidents on 12 March; and if he will make a statement; [20766](2) what reports he has received on

Our high commission in Lagos has reported that, on 12 March, 15 people were arraigned before a magistrates court in Lagos, four in absentia, charged with two counts of treason against the Nigerian Government. The case has been adjourned until 9 May. We have no information, at this stage, about the conditions in which the 11 Nigerian-based detainees are being held, but our high commission is following the case closely.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if the industrial tribunal application in the case McDermott v. Diana, Princess of Wales, was withdrawn or an award was made consequent on negotiations between the applicant and the respondent. [19960]

[holding answer 17 March 1997]: The industrial tribunal application in the case of McDermott v. Diana, Princess of Wales was settled prior to the tribunal hearing on 5 March, as result of an agreement reached between the applicant and the respondent.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps here Department is taking to prevent access by children to the adult material content of the Internet. [20195]

[holding answer 17 March 1997]: My Department has worked extensively with the industry, the Home Office and the police to develop an appropriate approach to this important issue. We have encouraged the industry in a self-regulatory approach, backed-up by the application of existing law, and the existing penalties, in the Internet environment. As a result, on 23 September 1996, I was able to launch an industry led initiative— now known as "Internet Watch"—with the backing of the police and the Home Office.An independent "Internet Watch Foundation"—IWF— was created by the industry to provide a hot-line service where illegal material can be reported and acted upon with the involvement of the service providers and the police as necessary. IWF is also developing, with the help of an advisory board which includes child protection organisations, ratings systems to advise users and suppliers of the normal content of news groups and web pages. This provides both the means to uphold the existing law "on-line", and to provide advisory ratings for other material, which while legal, might be considered unsuitable for children or other vulnerable groups.Service providers have undertaken to support the availability of ratings material and the facilities in browsing software to screen out material which parents do not wish their children to encounter. This is a major step forward in promoting responsible use of the Internet and in giving parents the tools with which to exercise their own responsibilities for their children "on-line". Copies of the proposal describing the scheme, which has been operating successfully for several months, were placed in the Library of the House at the time the scheme was launched, under the name of "R3 Safety-Net".

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the British Bankers Association proposal to produce a binding code of practice in respect of holders of floating charges giving notice to companies of their intention to appoint an administrative receiver. [21261]

The British Bankers' Association—BBA—has today launched a statement of principles entitled, "Banks and Businesses: Working Together". I, along with my hon. Friends the Minister for Small Firms and the Economic Secretary, believe that this is a positive step in the direction of better communications between bankers and their business customers. As such, we believe it should be of major benefit to both small to medium enterprise—SME—companies and other businesses.The primary aim of the statement of principles is to bring about increased and improved communications in bank-customer relationships, particularly where financial difficulties are encountered. The banks will aim to provide businesses with early warning of any concerns they may have together with a reminder of the benefits of taking appropriate advice. By addressing problems at an early stage the statement of principles will underpin the banks' stated commitment to support sustainable rescues. It will also give business access to banks' complaints procedures and, where applicable, the banking ombudsman. For these reasons the statement of principles has potential additional benefits which would not be delivered by the five days notice proposal. At present 90 per cent. of the SME market will be covered by it.All the major clearing banks have agreed to be bound by the statement of principles but some of the smaller banks have yet to sign up. I strongly encourage them to do so without delay.The Government welcome the statement of principles and the issue of whether legislation is still needed will be reviewed in the light of whether it is delivering the expected benefits to business.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 10 March, Official Report, column 35, if he will make a statement on how the methodology set out in the note placed in the Library on 2 February 1990 was used to assess the employment consequences of a national minimum wage on the basis of the 1995 new earnings survey. [20763]

The methodology was used in the same way as set out, in detail, in the note placed in the Library of the House on 2 February 1990. The calculation incorporated the latest earnings data from the April 1995 NES and employment figures for the first quarter of 1995 from the "Workforce in Employment". This gave a figure of around 1 million jobs lost from the introduction of a national minimum wage set at £4 an hour, assuming half restoration of pay differentials.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on each meeting between Ministers in his Department acting in an official capacity and the ringway parliamentary support group. [20313]

My right hon. Friend met the group on 26 February 1997. The main subject of discussion was the liberalisation of bilateral air services agreements.In addition, my right hon. Friend attended a reception organised by the group in Westminster Hall in July 1995 and opened a small exhibition about the airport in the Upper Waiting Hall in July 1996. My noble Friend the Minister for Aviation and Shipping also attended a reception held in conjunction with the above exhibition in July 1996.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consultation has taken place between the bus working group and its sub-groups and (a) local authorities and (b) members of the public. [20445]

Consultation takes place by means of the membership of the bus working group and its sub-groups, all of which include representatives of the local authority associations and the National Federation of Bus Users. The membership of the bus working group was set out in my answer of 18 December columns 658–59 to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to encourage bus companies to follow good practice in handling customer complaints. [20444]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 25 February, Official Report column 142–43.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many Bills his Department has sponsored in each of the past 15 years; and how many have been passed by Parliament. [19763]

The information is set out in the table. All of the Bills were passed by Parliament, with the exception of one—the Civil Aviation Bill of 1985—which was withdrawn.

Year	Number of Bills
1982	3
1983	3
1984	3
1985	4
1986	1
1987	2
1988	2
1989	2
1990	2
1991	5
1992	1
1993	1

Year	Number of Bills
1994	0
1995	0
1996	3
Total	32

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library a copy of the Highways Agency report on its reviews of the crossing of the River Avon south of Salisbury by the proposed Salisbury bypass. [21014]

Copies of the Highways Agency review report, which is in three volumes, were placed in the Library on 17 March. The report identified two possible alternative routes to the published route for the bypass which would avoid land having to be taken from the newly designated East Harnham meadows site of special scientific interest in the Avon valley. In accordance with undertakings given when my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Transport and for the Environment announced their views on the proposed bypass last October, we will shortly be affording interested parties an opportunity to comment on the agency's report.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the future provision of marine aids to navigation by the general lighthouse authorities. [21125]

The general lighthouse authorities carried out a consultation exercise during 1996 to determine user views on the future provision of marine aids to navigation. The major proposals, which were supported by respondents, were that the UK should provide a differential global positioning system, adopt the Loran C system as provided by the north-west Europe Loran C system agreement and discontinue the Decca navigator system and the radiobeacon service as soon as was reasonable. The GLAs proposed to maintain traditional aids to navigation, subject to regular reviews.We welcome the GLAs' proposals and accept the need to establish a civil marine navigation plan as a sound basis for planning the future provision of aids to navigation into the next century.We support the broad thrust of the proposals which are in line with developments in the international maritime community and will assist the transition to a civil global navigation satellite system. The balance of opinion following the consultation exercise supports the provision by the GLAs of DGPS for marine users based on the global positioning system at a relatively small cost to the general lighthouse fund. The system offers improved navigational accuracy while maintaining the system integrity of GPS, as well as the prospective benefits of providing future interface with electronic charting, integrated bridge system vessel traffic services and transponder systems.The UK is interested in adopting the NEL system to replace the Decca navigator system as the terrestrial back-up to GPS. We cannot commit the UK to NELS until its future has been placed beyond doubt. In the meantime, users should be aware that the GLAs are unlikely to operate the Decca navigator system beyond the year 2000.The GLAs' proposals can be implemented within the income provided by the reduced level of light dues that we announced on March 6. They will save an estimated £32 million over the next 20 years while offering the prospect of improved accuracy to the navigator. Further reductions in user costs after 2000 are expected from the GLAs' on-going reviews of traditional aids to navigation which will be carried out in consultation with users.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the Government will revoke the line orders for the east London river crossing. [21126]

I am pleased to announced that the ELRC revocation order has now been made and is being prepared for publication on 26 March.The ELRC orders have remained in place while alternatives for crossing the Thames between Beckton and Thamesmead were being considered in order that businesses and residents directly affected by the scheme could continue to benefit from the statutory compensation which accompanied the orders.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment the Royal Air Force has made of the European staff requirement for the European future large aircraft. [20709]

We assess that the European staff requirement for the future large aircraft, as it is currently drafted, satisfies the United Kingdom's minimum technical requirements for a tactical military airlifter. We are currently considering whether our conditions for re-entry to the FLA programme set out by my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Edinburgh, Pentlands (Mr. Rifkind) on 16 December 1994—Official Report, column 823—have been met.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if it remains his policy to seek to purchase between 40 and 50 future large aircraft. [20694]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Alyn and Deeside on 11 February this year—Official Report, column 131–32.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the key targets for the chief executive of the Army Technical Support Agency for 1997–98. [21122]

The chief executive of the Army Technical Support Agency has been set the following key targets for 1997–98.

1. Influence equipment design by attaining a 15 per cent. increase to 80 per cent. in Procurement Executive integrated logistic support project involvement where ATSA's contribution is equal to or greater than one half-year-man effort.

2. Achieve a 10 per cent. gross cost saving in advanced order recommended spares purchasing without reducing sustainability or availability of land systems equipment.

3. Answer 92 per cent. of ad hoc inquiries within two working days.

4. Achieve an average response time of nine working days for demand for technical publications.

5. Complete 90 per cent. of operational projects and 75 per cent. of priority A projects before the agreed target date.

6. Ensure for at least 70 per cent. of projects that the maintenance specific spares, required to support an equipment throughout its service life, are identified and encoded on to the stores system record by the target date agreed with the equipment manager.

7. Satisfy 90 per cent. of customers when undertaking technical projects.

8. Improve efficiency by 3.6 per cent. over 1997–98 outturn.

9. Respond to 100 per cent. of equipment failure report (or its equivalent) submissions within 14 calendar days of receipt.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the use of the RAF's Reserve personnel; and if he will make a statement. [21154]

I am delighted to announce that three new Royal Auxiliary Air Force squadrons are to be formed. An Air Transportable Surgical Squadron will form at Royal Air Force Leuchars on 1 April 1997, with an establishment of 71 reservist personnel. Two Training and Standardisation Squadrons are also to be formed—the first at Royal Air Force Halton also on 1 April 1997, with an establishment of 21 personnel, and the second at Royal Air Force Shawbury on 1 June 1997, with an establishment of nine. In addition, the establishment of No. 4624 (County of Oxford) Movements Squadron Royal Auxiliary Air Force based at Royal Air Force Brize Norton will increase by 69 posts from 1 April 1997. From the same date, the establishment of the Inspectorate Royal Auxiliary Air Force also at Royal Air Force Brize Norton will increase from two posts to four. The new Role Support Squadron concept, which I announced in the House last year with the formation of the Helicopter Support Squadron, is developing in an encouraging way.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of personnel have (a) committed suicide and (b) suffered a fatal accident in each of the armed services in each of the past seven years; and if he will make a statement. [20033]

[holding answer 13 March 1997]: This is a matter for the chief executive of the Defence Analytical Services Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list for 1991 those countries (a) where British service personnel categorised as loan service personnel were based and (b) in which training exercises took place involving British service personnel. [19914]

According to available records, in 1991 British loan service personnel were deployed in the following countries:

• Antigua
• Australia
• Bahrain

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many foreign military personnel were in the United Kingdom undergoing military training on 1 March; and if he will list the countries from which they came. [20175]

According to our records, on 1 March 1997, a total of 831 military personnel from the following countries were attending training courses in the United Kingdom;

• Antigua
• Australia
• Austria
• Bahrain
• Bangladesh
• Belarus
• Belgium
• Belize
• Botswana
• Brazil
• Brunei
• Bulgaria
• Canada
• Chile
• China
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Egypt
• Estonia
• Fiji
• France
• Germany
• Georgia
• Ghana
• Greece
• Guatemala
• Guyana
• Hungary
• India
• Indonesia
• Ireland
• Israel
• Italy
• Jamaica
• Japan
• Jordan
• Kenya
• Kuwait
• Latvia
• Lebanon
• Lesotho
• Former Yugoslavia
• Republic of Macedonia
• Malawi
• Malaysia
• Malta
• Mauritius
• Morocco
• Mozambique
• Namibia
• Nepal
• Netherlands
• New Zealand
• Norway
• Oman
• Pakistan
• Paraguay
• Poland
• Portugal
• Qatar
• Romania
• Russia
• Saudi Arabia
• Senegal
• Sierra Leone
• Singapore
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• South Africa
• Spain
• Sri Lanka
• Sweden
• Tanzania
• Thailand
• Tonga
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Turkey
• Ukraine
• Uruquay
• United Arab Emirates
• USA
• Yemen
• Zimbabwe

In addition, an exercise involving some 2,021 personnel from Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Spain and USA was taking place in UK waters on that date.