To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the difference between total tax revenue and total public expenditure in (a) England, (b) Scotland and (c) Wales for the current year and each of the subsequent two years. [643]

The table shows figures for general government receipts and expenditure in Scotland and Wales in 1994–95, the latest year for which figures are available. Estimates and forecasts for later years are not available. The estimates for England are derived as the residual from the published UK figures, after deducting figures for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the United Kingdom's entitlement to levy VAT at zero rates ended; what powers the Government are exercising to continue zero rates; and if he will seek an assurance from the Commission that it will not challenge these powers in the European Court. [975]

The United Kingdom is entitled to continue applying its existing VAT zero rates. Our zero rates are expressly provided for in EC law under Article 28(2)(a) of the Sixth VAT Directive. This provision is linked to the duration of the 'transitional period', but this continues automatically until such time as any 'definitive' VAT regime is introduced, which would require the unanimous agreement of all Member States. In light of this there would be little to be gained from seeking any assurance from the Commission on the issue.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement regarding the effect of the proposed windfall tax on utilities which have never been in public ownership. [1644]

The Chancellor of the Exchequer will announce details of the windfall levy in his Budget statement.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if (a) the privatised train operating companies, (b) Railtrack, (c) the rolling stock companies, (d) bus companies, (e) airports and (f) ports fall within his public definition of companies liable to a windfall tax. [1508]

The Chancellor of the Exchequer will announce details of the windfall levy in his Budget statement.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the individual companies which he assesses to have made excess profits since they were privatised. [1850]

[holding answer 2 June 1997]: The Chancellor of the Exchequer will announce details of the windfall levy in his Budget statement.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of how the levels of investment and employment in the utilities will be affected by a windfall levy. [685]

The Government will take all relevant considerations into account in designing the windfall levy; to this end, we have invited representations from companies on the technical operation of the levy and are consulting the regulators.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was spent on the refurbishment of ministerial offices in the Treasury between 1992 and 1997. [1800]

No refurbishment work other than standard redecorations has been undertaken on ministerial offices in the last five years. The cost of decorating Ministers' offices is accounted for along with all other redecoration work in the Treasury and could be separated out only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to extend tax concessions on payroll donations to charities to people in receipt of company pensions. [1700]

Company pensions are taxed through the PAYE systems. Tax deductible donations can be made from them so long as the payroll operator is prepared to make the necessary arrangements with an agency charity.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in what ways the Court of the Bank of England will be reformed to enable it to take into account the full range of industrial and business views within the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [1868]

[holding answer 2 June 1997]: The Chancellor said in his 6 May letter to the Governor of the Bank of England that the Court will be representative of the whole of the United Kingdom. The non-executive members will be appointed for their expertise and will be drawn widely from industry, commerce and finance.

To ask the Prime Minister what estimate he has made of the cost to public funds of the two referendums provided by the Referendums (Scotland and Wales) Bill. [1636]

The estimated cost of the referendums will be up to £8 million, of which £5 million will be for Scotland, and up to £3 million for Wales.

To ask the Prime Minister what actions the Government will take to implement the decision of the European Commission of Human Rights in respect of legal rights of British nuclear test veterans to obtain war pensions and compensation for radiation-linked illnesses. [1916]

The European Commission of Human Rights has referred two cases relating to British nuclear test veterans to the European Court of Human Rights for decision. The cases will be heard in November 1997 and the Government will contest the cases because we do not agree that the lack of contemporaneous yield and radiation records prevented nuclear test veterans from getting a fair hearing before the Pensions Appeal Tribunal. The studies of the health of the test veterans, conducted by the National Radiological Protection Board and the Imperial Cancer Research Fund, concluded that participation in the nuclear weapons testing programme had had no long term detectable effect on the veterans expectation of life or on their risk of developing cancer.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will continue the practice of previous Governments of treating political agreement to legislative proposals in the Council of Ministers as equivalent to final agreement, with particular reference to the stability pact. [1925]

Yes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the normal level of current United Kingdom diplomatic representation in Tehran. [1207]

There are 15 full-time UK diplomatic staff in Tehran. Our Embassy is headed by a Charge d'Affaires.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the permitted level of Iranian diplomatic representation in London. [1209]

Iranian diplomatic representation in London is restricted to 15 full time diplomatic staff.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action has been taken following a German court's judgment that the Iranian Government were responsible for the Mykonos cafe killing of Iranian dissidents in Germany. [1208]

The EU immediately issued a statement condemning the evidence of official Iranian involvement in these murders and withdrew its Heads of Mission for consultation. The UK associated itself fully with the Declaration issued by the EU General Affairs Council on 29 April 1997. This confirmed that there was no basis for the continuation of the Critical Dialogue between the EU and Iran. Measures were also adopted on ministerial visits, arms sales, visas and intelligence personnel. The EU council decided to keep the relationship with Iran under close review.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many times each European Union member state was prosecuted in the European Court of Justice under the terms of article 169 of the treaty of Rome in 1995 and 1996. [1885]

The enforcement of Community law—commenced under Article 169 of the EC Treaty—has a number of stages which can take more than one year to complete. The latest figures are contained in the Commission's Thirteenth Annual Report on Monitoring the Application of Community Law (1995) which is in the Libraries of the House. The table below from the report, details established infringements by stage of proceeding and Member State for 1991–1995, giving an indicative overall picture. The report for 1996 will be published soon. It will be deposited in the Libraries of the House when it becomes available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 22 May, Official Report, column 135, if he will publish a detailed list stating each of the criteria which will be the subject of his review, a list of those countries where concerns have been expressed that United Kingdom supplied defence equipment has been used for internal repression; and if he will define what he means by international stability. [2225]

The existing criteria against which officials consider licence applications for the export of conventional arms are contained in this Department's guidance booklet for desk officers, a copy of which has been placed in the Libraries of the House. Specific concerns have been expressed in the media and elsewhere about a range of countries where UK defence equipment may have been used for internal repression. The review will not, however, focus on individual countries. Its purpose is to meet our commitment not to permit the sale of arms to any regime which might use them for internal repression or international aggression. It is the latter which requires officials to consider implications of a proposed export of arms for international stability, taking into account inter alia the effect on regional tension and stability and any existing armed conflict.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will propose the enfranchisement of the Gibraltarians in the European Union. [2015]

We are aware of the strength of feeling in Gibraltar about this issue. But there are real legal and practical difficulties in the way of any change in the present position on voting in the European Parliament elections.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 2 June, Official Report, column 82, if he will seek at the European Council to free Gibraltar airport from Spanish-imposed constraints. [2092]

The principal purpose of the European Council is to conclude the IGC. It is not an appropriate forum in which to raise the issue of Gibraltar airport.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department in what percentage of cases heard in court the accused conducted his or her own defence in the last three years. [1939]

The information requested is not available for cases heard in the magistrates' courts. The proportion of all defendants indicted for trial in the Crown Court who were not legally represented (either under legal aid or privately) was 0.8 per cent. in 1994, 0.7 per cent. in 1995 and 0.8 per cent. in 1996. Of those defendants in cases for sentence in the Crown Court, 15 per cent. were not legally represented (either under legal aid or privately) in 1994. The corresponding figures for 1995 and 1996 were also 15 per cent. Of those appellants who appealed to the Crown Court against their conviction and/or sentence in the magistrates' courts, 38 per cent. were not legally represented either through legal aid or privately in 1994. In 1995 and 1996, the figures were 38 per cent. and 34 per cent. respectively.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what estimates he has of the number of people who failed to pursue legal matters in the courts on account of their financial situation in the last three years. [1940]

I have no such estimates, and I do not see how useful estimates could be made. Many factors may affect a decision on whether or not to litigate. For example, people have different priorities for how they spend their money, and other factors such as uncertainty about the outcome and costs of the case, and their willingness to undergo the stress of litigation will often affect their decisions.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what advice his Department offers to people who neither qualify for legal aid nor have sufficient private means to make use of the justice system. [1941]

For certain proceedings a person may enter into a conditional fee agreement whereby a solicitor can take a case on a "no win no fee" basis. At present conditional fees are available for personal injury cases, insolvency actions and cases before the European Court of Human Rights. I shall shortly be considering the possibility of extending conditional fees to other areas. In addition legal expenses insurance may be available for some types of civil dispute.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has to change his Department's policy on eligibility for legal aid. [1942]

There are no plans at present to change eligibility for legal aid. However there is to be a review of the proposed reforms of the civil justice system and legal aid. We will consider the scope for changes to eligibility for legal aid in the light of the outcome of the review.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has to widen eligibility for legal aid to those defending libel actions; and if he will make a statement. [1944]

There are no plans to extend the scope of the legal aid scheme to include defending libel actions. Successive Governments have taken the view that the outcomes of such cases are uniquely difficult to foresee and that even if the general mechanisms against unmeritorious proceedings could be strengthened in some way, they would still not provide an effective safeguard against the potential waste of public money.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps were taken to ensure that the dogs supplied from non-designated sources in the United Kingdom in 1995 for use in scientific procedures were not ex-pets, strays or stolen. [1839]

The provenance was checked as far as possible and the legal owner's consent obtained in each case.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the acute lethal toxicity tests in Table 12, column 2 of the 1995 Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals in Great Britain were (1) LD50/LC50 tests, (2) other acute lethal tests and (3) sub-acute, repeat-dose lethal tests. [1739]

Column 2 of table 12 reports aggregated totals by species for acute LD50, LC50 and other acute lethal tests. Licensees are not required to record in their statistical returns which of these tests they carried out. A breakdown into test type is therefore not centrally available. Sub-acute toxicity tests (which may include repeat dosages but which are not necessarily lethality tests) are recorded in column 5 of table 12.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many personal callers were there to the public inquiry desk at each branch of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate on 6 May. [1815]

On 6 May, the number of applicants at the public enquiry offices of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate was:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to adopt a social model of disability in framing all future and amending previous relevant legislation and guidance; and if he will make a statement. [1684]

My Department will be contributing to the consultations, including discussions about the definition of disability, referred to by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Education and Employment in his reply of 4 June, Official Report, column 190. It would not be appropriate to pre-judge the outcome of that work.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his policy in respect of the primary purpose rule in immigration cases. [2625]

Following our manifesto commitment, we are acting to end the primary purpose rule because it is arbitrary, unfair and ineffective and has penalised genuine marriages, divided families and unnecessarily increased the administrative burden on the immigration system. The rule has also placed British citizens resident here at a disadvantage compared with other European Union nationals resident in Britain—to whom no primary purpose rule has applied.Applicants under the rule had to prove a negative both before the entry clearance officer and on appeal. But, even where applicants lost their appeal, they would then be allowed in where there was a child with right of abode in the United Kingdom or where the marriage had lasted five years. It is also very doubtful that this inherently ineffective and unfair rule has worked to filter out those who sought to cheat the system. This question is not therefore about numbers, but about fairness.I am determined to build an immigration and asylum system that is fairer, faster and firmer. Ending this rule will allow resources to be focused on the other requirements of the rules, which are known to be fair, effective and enforceable. These include:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what military equipment has been supplied to the central African region from companies in (a) the United Kingdom, (b) the Isle of Man, (c) the Channel Islands and (d) other United Kingdom dependent territories in the last five years. [1054]

The Ministry of Defence does not hold details of military equipment supplied, other than those which are provided voluntarily by companies for the purposes of the annual return to the UN Arms Register; no exports to Zaire, Rwanda, Burundi, Central African Republic or Congo, have been included in the UK's return to the UN Register in the period 1992–96.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the countries from which buyers (a) have been and (b) will be invited to the Royal Navy and British Army Equipment Exhibition being held at Farnborough from 31 August to 5 September. [1766]

[holding answer 2 June 1997]: The purpose of the Royal Navy and British Army Equipment Exhibition, which this year takes place jointly at Portsmouth and Farnborough, is to show a wide range of British defence equipment to representatives of countries with whom we have friendly relations. The equipment on display ranges from British built ships at one end of the scale to such items as communications equipment and Air Defence Radar at the other end of the scale.The Government takes seriously its commitment to Article 51 of the United Nations charter which affirms the right of nations to self defence. Export licences for equipment on display will, however, be granted only on a case by case basis where the Government is satisfied that such equipment will be used neither for external aggression nor for internal repression. The Government is currently reviewing the criteria under which export licences will be issued.The following countries have been invited to send delegations to RNBAEE 97:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those of his Department's establishments at which animal experiments are conducted indicating how many animal experiments were conducted at each in each year since 1993. [1876]

This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA). I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he plans to review the legislation relating to claims by former service personnel for compensation for asbestos-related diseases contracted before 1987. [1895]

I have no plans to review the legislation regarding the entitlement of Service personnel to common law compensation from my Department for injuries received before 1987.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to introduce an official award for national service; and if he will make a statement. [2140]

National servicemen were eligible to receive the full range of campaign stars and medals available to the Armed Forces, subject to individual qualification.Service between 1939 and 1945 was recognised by the 1939–45 Star, 1939–45 War Medal, the Defence Medal and the Campaign Stars for the various campaigns in which they served.Similarly, servicemen called up between 1946 and 1963 were eligible for the various clasps to the General Service Medal for the operations in which they served for example, Palestine, Malaya or Cyprus, and those who served in Korea were also eligible for the campaign medal and the United Nations Service Medal Korea.There are no plans to institute any additional awards for service during the above periods.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy that HMS Ark Royal is refitted at Rosyth. [1881]

I can confirm that HMS Ark Royal is included in the programme of surface ship refitting which, subject to satisfactory price and contractual agreement, has been allocated to Babcock Rosyth Defence Limited as part of the recent privatisation of Rosyth Royal Dockyard.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what has been the cost to public funds to date of the actions in respect of environmental activists opposing developments at Manchester Airport; and if he will make a statement. [2012]

The expense being incurred by the Under-Sheriff of Cheshire in removing the protesters from the site of the second runway at Manchester Airport is being met by the airport company and the contractors, without cost to public funds. The additional cost to Cheshire Constabulary of the policing operation at the site as at 17 April, the latest date for which information is available, was £111,000. The additional cost to Greater Manchester Police as at 30 May is estimated to be £274,000. There is in addition the cost of court hearings, although fees are payable towards that cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how he intends to take forward the Government's commitments to develop an integrated transport policy to fight congestion and pollution. [2626]

Further to my replies to the House on Tuesday, I have today launched a fundamental review of transport policy to provide an integrated transport system which meets the environmental and transport needs of all regions of the country for today and the future. The review will look at both the short term and the longer term actions that are necessary to deliver an integrated system.The review will encompass the key areas of transport and examine transport's relationship with the economy in general and with the many environmental issues which surround it. The review will be overseen by a Ministerial team drawn from both the Transport and Environmental Departments and chaired by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Transport. He and I are determined that this review will be conducted in an open and consultative way which will provide opportunity for those with an interest in transport to input their views to the process, and wherever possible, become directly involved in the development of policy.My aim is to publish a long term strategy White Paper next Spring which will provide a sustainable framework for decision making during the remainder of this Parliament, the next and the years beyond that. Critically it will set interim objectives for the remainder of this Parliament, against which to judge our progress. Publication of the White Paper will mark the completion of the initial analytical, goal setting and consultation phase in the development of an integrated transport policy. But there will then be a rolling programme of action, involving both central and local government, transport operators and others across all regions to make that policy a reality.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food where all the procedures performed by the local veterinary inspectors in connection with export health certification of the pigs exported from Dover on 15 May were carried out; if he will indicate whether these were places at which export health certification could properly be carried out under the terms of directive 64/432/EEC; how many of the pigs were (a) dead and (b) injured on arrival at Dover; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the report made by the member of his veterinary staff who accompanied the pigs on the sea crossing from Dover. [1272]

With the exception of one lorry load, the export health certification which accompanied the pigs on the sailing of the MV Caroline on 15 May was completed at their farms of origin in accordance with the rules laid down in Directive 64/432/EEC. In order to ensure the correct identity of the pigs transported, animal health certification for one lorry load was finalised at Dover. Two of the pigs transported to Dover were found to be dead on arrival. Two others were found to be unfit to continue their journey and were not exported. The appropriate local authorities are being asked to consider whether prosecution would be warranted in relation to any aspects of the consignments of 15 and 16 May.I have seen the report of the veterinarian who accompanied the pigs on their journey. I do not propose to place it in the Library. As a general principle, it is important for the proper enforcement of the rules that frank and candid reports are available for discussion within government and between government and the enforcement authorities. Such reports may also be used as part of legal proceedings where there is evidence of non-compliance. These purposes would be undermined if the practice were to publish reports such as this. They are covered by exemption 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, which enables the confidentiality of internal opinion, advice and recommendations to Ministers to be protected.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he will take in the light of the EU Commission's statement that other member states are not taking enough precautions against risks of BSE in cattle or sheep and the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee's latest advice. [2624]

In August 1996 the previous Government introduced a ban on the consumption of the heads of sheep and goats, following a recommendation from the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee which had considered whether BSE could exist naturally in sheep. The Committee had also advised that the Government should continue to consider this issue further with its EU partners and implement a programme of further research.Discussions took place during the latter part of 1996 in the European Union. The Commission proposed EU-wide controls on the use of spleen of all sheep and the brain and spinal cord of sheep which were more than about a year old, based on checking the number of permanent incisor teeth of the sheep. Unfortunately, despite support from the United Kingdom and a few other countries, the majority of Member States rejected this proposal.I have raised this issue again with Commissioners Fischler and Bonino. The Commission announced on 14 May that it would be making further proposals.In the light of this SEAC have reconsidered the question. There is still no scientific evidence indicating that there is any BSE in the national sheep population. But SEAC has recommended that it would be prudent for the Government to take early action if Community-wide measures are not agreed quickly, to extend controls, as proposed by the European Commission, to the spinal cord of sheep more than a year old—which account for around a sixth of annual consumption of sheepmeat in the UK—and to the spleen of all sheep. Similar action has already been taken by the Irish, French and Dutch Governments. This is a precautionary measure, designed to ensure that if BSE has been transmitted to sheep, all reasonable steps are taken to avoid any possible risks to consumers no matter how remote.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action is being taken to recover overpayments of aid to beef producers based on premium claims in 1996. [2690]

Regulation (EC) No.1357/96, the subject of Explanatory Memorandum 7811/96 of 3 June 1996, was cleared by the Select Committee on European Legislation on 5 June 1996 and adopted by the Council of Ministers on 8 July 1996. It contained a range of special measures to assist beef producers and included provision for supplementary payments to producers pro rata to their entitlement to subsidies under the Beef Special Premium and Suckler Cow Premium schemes in the 1996 scheme years. Provisional payments could however be based on 1995 claims so as to provide urgent financial support. At the time of payment if was made clear to producers that adjustment would follow to reflect the position relating to 1996 subsidy claims. Beef producers who are being paid these subsidies on fewer animals in 1996 than in 1995 will be required to repay the supplement relating to the difference in numbers. Wherever possible, such overpayments will be deducted from balance payments due under the 1996 beef schemes. All monies recovered under this exercise will be re-distributed to those beef producers who qualified for subsidies on more animals in the 1996 scheme years than in 1995.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to ensure that his Department's computer systems are millennium compliant; and if he will make a statement. [1242]

A year 2000 project compliance programme is underway within The Scottish Office with the objective of identifying and ensuring the correct operation of all critical systems by 31 December 1998.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make it his policy to adopt a social model of disability in framing all future and amending previous relevant legislation and guidance; and if he will make a statement. [1676]

I refer the hon. Member to the Answer given to him by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment on 4 June 1997.I will ensure that the views of disability organisations in Scotland are sought during the consultation process and that policies, including the definition of disability, are developed in partnership with interested parties.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the value of hill livestock compensatory allowance payments (a) in the last financial year and (b) in 1993. [1372]

The total value of Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowance (HLCA) payments made in Scotland for (a) in the last financial year (b) above was as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what initiatives he plans to progress the development of a Highlands and Islands university; and what funding will be given by the Scottish Office. [1373]

Good progress has already been made towards the creation of a University of the Highlands and Islands. Planned provision for the UHI Project in 1997–98 is £5 million. This is in addition to the £1.3 million which was made available last year. I shall keep under review the general requirements for the Project in future taking account of any implications arising from the report of the Dearing Committee on Higher Education when it is published.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many vacancies for consultants there are in the NHS in Scotland; how many of these posts have been vacant for six months or more; and if he will indicate these per NHS trust. [1374]

The latest available information is contained in the table:

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will provide a breakdown, by specialist field, of the current vacancies for consultants in the NHS in Scotland. [1375]

The latest available information is contained in the table:

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has, and over what time scale, to include in the Building Standards Scotland Regulations a standard assessment procedure for the energy rating of new homes. [2094]

The Scottish Office Development Department is preparing amendments to the Building Standards Regulations which will include a revision of Part J, Conservation of Fuel and Power. The revision will require the Government standard assessment procedure energy rating to be calculated for all new dwellings and for all dwellings created by conversion. The amending Statutory Instrument will be laid in July or August to come into force three months later.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many salmon farms in Scotland have (a) applied and (b) been granted licences to treat their fish with ivermectin; and if he will make a statement. [2120]

I understand from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency that 64 salmon farms have applied for discharge consents in respect of the use of ivermectin. Sixteen consents have been granted, 15 of which are in operation.A further 19 consents await a decision by my right hon. Friend on whether to call them in for his own determination as provided for under the Control of Pollution Act 1974.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he intends to cap any Scottish local authorities in 1997. [2524]

No. All Scottish local authorities have set budgets for 1997–98 at or below the expenditure limits implied by the provisional capping principles which the previous government announced in conjunction with the 1997–98 local government finance settlement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has for the future of the water quangos in Scotland; and if he will make a statement. [579]

[holding answer 22 May 1997]: The Government is committed to returning the Scottish water authorities to local democratic control. A key consideration in taking this forward will be to ensure, in the light of our Manifesto commitment, that we fully observe both the letter and the spirit of the Nolan Committee's recommended procedures for making appointments to public bodies. We shall introduce change at a sensible pace which does not destabilise the recently constituted water authorities.I have held discussions with the three current water authority chairmen. Each one of them has told me that he is willing to work closely with the new Government to achieve our objectives. I have therefore told them that I am happy for them to continue to serve until the end of 1997, and that I shall then re-examine the position.The terms of appointment of roughly half of the present members of the water authorities come to an end on 30 June 1997. I intend, as an immediate first step, to advertise in accordance with the Nolan procedures for new members. We shall then consider those democratically elected local representatives who apply, as well as suitable candidates from other fields, including those current members whose appointments are coming to an end. Overall, I envisage a significant shift in the balance of board membership. The advertisement will make clear that applicants may also be considered for positions as chairmen.To ensure the water authorities are able to operate effectively in the interim period while the Nolan procedures are being carried through, we shall invite members due to leave at the end of 30 June to accept re-appointment for a further six months to the end of the calendar year. The new appointments will then run from 1 January 1998.I have asked my officials to conduct a review during this interim six month period of the further steps I might take to strengthen local democratic control. The review will consider a wide range of options for the water authorities. It will also consider any possible implications for the Scottish Water and Sewerage Customers Council.I have asked my officials to consult extensively with all interested parties, including COSLA, the water authorities themselves, and the Scottish Water and Sewerage Customers Council. I have asked them to report to me in November.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government policy on reform of the United Kingdom's framework of competition law. [671]

The Government's policy is to make competition law more efficient and effective. We intend to introduce a Competition Bill this Autumn which will bring in a tough prohibitive approach to deal with anti-competitive agreements and abuse of market power.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps she plans to take to assist small businesses in the west country. [672]

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave earlier to my hon. Friend for Bradford, West (Mr. Singh).In addition, small businesses are a very important part of the economy of the west country.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans she has to assist small businesses. [680]

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave earlier to my hon. Friend for Bradford, West (Mr. Singh).

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what discussions she proposes to undertake with the Federation of Small Businesses regarding her proposals on statutory interest on late payments. [681]

I intend to have regular contact with all the small firms representative bodies including the Federation of Small Businesses. We will be consulting on the form of legislation for a Statutory Right to Interest in the summer. The Federation of Small Businesses will be invited to submit their views.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many organisations representing small firms indicated to her Department whether they are (a) for or (b) against a statutory right of interest in the recent consultation exercise. [689]

Fifty-four representative organisations, who will have small firms in their membership, responded to the 1996 review. Of these representative organisations 22 were in favour of a Statutory Right to Interest and 32 were against.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what discussions her Department has had with representatives of (a) British Aerospace and (b) other aircraft manufacturing companies relating to the possibility of financial aid from Her Majesty's Government towards the Airbus 3XX project. [673]

The Department is in regular contact with British Aerospace and other UK aerospace companies on a range of issues including new product strategy. We have not, however, received any formal application for finance for the A3XX project.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans her Department has to introduce a national minimum wage. [674]

The Gracious Speech set out the Government's intention to bring forward legislation for the introduction of a national minimum wage. We are already moving to set up an independent Low Pay Commission to advise the Government on the level at which the minimum wage might be introduced.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what recent representations she has received on the likely effects of the minimum wage and social chapter on Britain's trading prospects. [690]

I have received a number of representations on the minimum wage and social chapter. Employers in every industrial sector support the principle of a national minimum wage. By rejecting an "empty chair" policy on the social chapter, we will enable the UK to use its influence to ensure that European measures promote labour market flexibility and maximise employability.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps she is taking to promote industrial investment in Yorkshire. [676]

My Department has a range of initiatives designed to encourage industrial investment in Yorkshire. These include Regional Selective Assistance, Regional Enterprise Grants and European Structural Funds.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what progress has been made with regard to the possible incorporation of a social clause within future trading agreements; and if she will make a statement. [677]

The Government is firmly committed to using its best endeavours to eliminate abusive labour practices around the world. We will use every opportunity in the ILO and elsewhere to promote this objective, and we will also explore how the processes of the WTO can reinforce this objective.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what measures the Government intend taking to improve the competitive position of British companies within the European Union. [678]

The Government will work in partnership with business to improve the country's competitiveness. We intend to drive forward progress on the Single Market during our Presidency of the European Union next year to give British Companies better opportunities to sell their products and services throughout Europe.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans she has to review regional aid policies. [679]

The Government is currently considering a range of measures to improve regional aid policies. These include: legislation on Regional Development Agencies; the introduction of Regional Chambers and a review of the incentives and support the Government provides to smaller firms.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans she has to review the system of regional development assistance. [691]

The Government is currently considering a number of proposals to improve regional development assistance including requests for a review of Assisted Areas Map. We will announce the extent and nature of any review when we have looked at this issue more closely.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what proposals she has for further review of the Assisted Areas Map. [687]

The Government is considering whether the 1993 Assisted Areas Map needs to be changed and will carry out a review as needed. We will announce the extend and nature of any review when we have looked at this issue more closely.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade when her Department proposes to publish the results of the consultation on strategic export controls of October 1996; and if she will make a statement. [682]

Copies of the responses to the consultation (with the exception of two for which confidentiality was requested) were placed in the libraries of both Houses in February of this year. Copies of these responses were also placed at that time in the library of my Department where members of the public could arrange to see them. In addition, I have now arranged for copies to be made available on request from my Department's Export Control Organisation.We are considering all the responses carefully in formulating our proposals which will be announced in due course.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment she has made of the advantages of membership of the European Union for the attraction of inward investment. [683]

The UK's place in the European Single Market of 370 million consumers is central to our success in attracting inward investment.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps she is taking to (a) support and (b) encourage the development of the aerospace industry in the north-west. [684]

The department supports and encourages the development of the aerospace industry through its wide-ranging sponsorship activity. In the north west we work closely with the Consortium of Lancashire Aerospace (CLA), which has secured funding under the Konver scheme. Funds have also been made available to the aerospace sector in the region through the Single Regeneration Budget scheme, Managing in the 90s and through the work of the local TECs.