To ask the President of the Council what percentage of statutory instruments introduced into Parliament in (a) 1976, (b) 1986 and (c) 1996 had the European Union as their legislative source; if she will take steps to introduce a physical distinction in the publication of such statutory instruments in the future; and if she will make a statement. [6482]

The total number of Statutory Instruments (SIs) registered as General Instruments in 1976, 1986 and 1996 was:

Year	Number of SIs
1976	1,168
1986	1,359
1996	1,832

To ask the President of the Council how many (a) regulations, (b) directives and (c) other documents placed before the Council of Ministers were not considered by the Select Committee on European Legislation prior to the dissolution; and if she will take steps to notify (i) hon. Members and (ii) others of the outstanding documents. [8506]

Forty-eight items of business were not considered by the Select Committee on European Legislation prior to the dissolution. These included 14 proposals for Councils regulations, nine proposals for Council directives and 25 other documents.I have asked the Clerk of the Select Committee on European Legislation to send details of all remaining business before the Committee to the hon. Member, and to place a copy in the Library of the House.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the Government Actuary's estimates of the effect of the Budget proposal to end dividend tax credits on the ability of funded public sector pension schemes to meet their current and future liabilities; and if he will estimate the increased contributions that will be necessary for each scheme. [7403]

The position will vary from scheme to scheme depending on factors such as the type of scheme, the make up of its investment portfolio and its financial circumstances. For example, many schemes have surpluses which can be used to cushion the effect. Pension schemes should also benefit from improved company performance as a result of encouraging quality long-term investment.The employers' contribution rates to each individual funded public sector scheme are determined by the funds' own actuarial adviser—not necessarily the Government Actuary. Actuarial revaluations take account of all relevant considerations, including the high returns earned by many funds in recent years, as well as the changes to dividend tax credits.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimates he has made for the financial years 1997–98, 1998–99 and 1999–2000, of the tax yield for each of the measures enacted in the Finance Act 1997 aimed at closing tax loopholes. [3376]

The information requested is shown in the following table.

Revenue effects of measures enacted in the 1997 Finance Bill aimed at closing tax loopholes
£ million yield (+)/cost (-) of measure
	Changes from an indexed base
Anti-avoidance and revenue protection measures	1997–98	1998–99	1999–2000
Inland Revenue
Finance leasing of assets	80	150	150
Capital gains tax: treatment of securities	5	15	20
Stamp duty reserve tax bearer securities	50	50	50
Countering contrived claims to double taxation relief	1—	50	50
PAYE/NICs avoidance: payment in "own company" shares	110	30	30
Futures and Options—counter avoidance devices	1—	50	50
Artificial annuties paid by insurance companies	10	20	20
Tax relief for profit related pay—phased out	200	800	1,800
Capital allowances—long life assets	45	325	675
Relief for drilling production oil wells	1—	150	200
Customs and Excise
Purchase of international supplies	1—	1—	1—
VAT on supplies of Land and property	70	110	120
Insurance premium tax to 17.5 per cent, on insurance sold with certain goods and services	160	235	260
Bad debt relief	120	175	165
Telecommunications and similar services	5	10	10
Sale of donated goods	1—	1—	1—
Charitable providers of care	1—	1—	1—
Separation of businesses to get below VAT threshold	1—	1—	1—

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the progress of the PFI project for the refurbishment of the Government Offices, Great George Street. [3369]

Confidential discussions are continuing with Exchequer Partnership plc. A statement will be made in due course.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the effects of the tax changes announced in the Budget on each decile of household income. [8142]

[holding answer 11 July 1997]: Estimates of the impact on households of the tax changes announced in the Budget which we can directly model are contained in the table below. The figures show the direct impact of the measures on households. They do not reflect the long term benefits of the Budget, including New Deal spending which will help to move the long-term unemployed from welfare into work; and the long term benefits of reducing Government borrowing.

Average impact of main Budget tax measures, relative to indexation
Household income decile	Change (£ per week)	As a percentage of net income
Bottom	-0.30	-0.25
2	-0.35	-0.25
3	-0.45	-0.25
4	-0.80	-0.35
5	-1.15	-0.40
6	-1.30	-0.40
7	-1.55	-0.40
8	-1.80	-0.40
9	-2.05	-0.40
Top	-2.35	-0.30
Average	-1.20	-0.35

The figures include the main tax measures directly affecting households which can be modelled: reduction of VAT on fuel and power to 5 per cent., reducing the Gas Levy to zero, reducing in MIRAS to 10 per cent., real increase in tobacco duty of 5 per cent., real increase in road fuel duty of 6 per cent., and abolition of tax relief on Private Medical Insurance. Figures are rounded to the nearest 5p, or 0.05 per cent.Household incomes are adjusted for differences in composition before allocating households to deciles.The figures do not reflect that the tax changes affect households very differently depending upon their expenditure. For example estimates for the effect of the Budget on non-smokers are contained in the following table:

Average impact of main Budget tax measures (excluding tobacco), relative to indexation
Household income decile	Change (£ per week)	As a percentage of Net Income
Bottom	0.05	0.05
2	0.00	0.00
3	-0.10	-0.05
4	-0.40	-0.15
5	-0.70	-0.25
6	-0.90	-0.25
7	-1.15	-0.30
8	-1.40	-0.30
9	-1.65	-0.30
Top	-1.95	-0.25
Average	-0.80	-0.25

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the effect of his Budget's reduction in VAT on domestic fuel on (a) a single pensioner and (b) a pensioner couple on average income net of upratings of pensions and benefits. [7093]

[holding answer 7 July 1997]: The reduction in VAT on fuel and power will mean an average fuel bill saving of 30p per week for single pensioners, and 40p per week for couples.The state retirement pension is uprated in April of each year by the annual Retail Prices Index (RPI) inflation rate for the preceding September. Uprating by RPI reflects the prices paid for goods and services. So the real value of the pension is not affected.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the average domestic fuel costs of a state retirement pensioner household for the last three years. [7649]

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

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of employees in Blackpool currently earning less than (a) £3.50 per hour, (b) £3.75 per hour and (c) £4 per hour. [8747]

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

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the number of infant mortalities for each of the last five years (a) in Stoke-on-Trent North, (b) by region and (c) nationally. [8878]

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

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what will be the percentage increase in pay in 1997–98 for each grade of civil servant. [8430]

The information you request is not available.For the Senior Civil Service, staff will receive increases between 0 per cent. and 10 per cent. depending on performance. The majority will receive increases of between 2.75 per cent. and 5.24 per cent. These awards will be staged, with a maximum of 2 per cent. payable from 1 April 1997 and the balance payable on 1 December 1997.Since 1 April 1996, all government departments and agencies have had delegated responsibility for their own pay and grading arrangements for staff outside the Senior Civil Service. Thus it is no longer the case that single rates for individual grades apply across the Civil Service as a whole. Some information on the salaries of civil servants by their responsibility level is published annually in Civil Service Statistics, but this is not yet available for 1997–98.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what new measures he plans to introduce to protect women from domestic violence. [8802]

Domestic violence is a serious and widespread crime which damages the lives of victims in many respects, including housing, health and education, and destroys their freedom to live their lives without fear. The Government are committed to tackling domestic violence on every front.We are currently examining the policies operating in this area, with a view to ensuring that we have an effective strategy against domestic and sexual violence. This strategy will take full account of our commitments to tackling crime in general, and to promoting equality and opportunity for women.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will conduct a national survey to establish the extent of violence against women in the United Kingdom. [8804]

The biennial British Crime Survey (BCS), conducted by the Home Office, already provides a regular measure of the extent of violence against both women and men in England and Wales. The next sweep of the BCS will take place in early 1998.There is ongoing work by survey designers to improve the measurement of sexual and domestic violence in particular. The most recent sweep, in 1996, contained a particularly detailed component on domestic violence. The data are currently being analysed and findings will be published in due course.Some main findings of the extent of violence against women from the 1996 BCS include:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for the recording of figures on domestic violence as a separate category within official crime statistics. [8803]

Domestic violence is not a legally defined offence and the police are not currently required separately to identify domestic violence incidents in their statistical returns to the Home Office or to record the relationship between victim and offender. Crimes of domestic violence, if they reach the courts, could be prosecuted as threatening behaviour, affray, common assault, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, wounding or inflicting grievous bodily harm, indecent assault, rape or attempted rape, threats to kill, attempted murder, manslaughter or murder. For this reason it is difficult to assess centrally exactly how many cases of domestic violence occur in England and Wales. However, Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary collects some statistics on domestic violence and many police forces have their own arrangements for doing so. Other sources, such as the British Crime Survey, also provide useful statistical data on domestic violence.Along with my colleagues in the Home Office and in other Government Departments, I am currently examining all the policies operating in the area of domestic violence, including the collection of statistics.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many public interest immunity certificates have been issued in (a) 1997 and (b) each of the three previous years; and if he will provide a breakdown of the sources of requests for such certificates over that period. [8755]

In respect of my Department, six public interest immunity (PII) certificates have been issued in 1997. For each of the three previous years the available figures are:

Year	Number of PII certificates
1994	7
1995	13
1996	8

The certificates in question have been issued to protect information relating to the Security Service, and information relating to the security and operation of prisons. Of the 34 certificates issued since 1994, 19 have related to the Security Service and 15 to the Prison Service.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to improve joint working between the prison and probation services. [7159]

It is very important that the prison and probation services work together closely and effectively. They are both responsible for protecting the public from harm; and where prisoners are released from sentences which are served partly in custody and partly in the community they are subject to probation service supervision. There need to be the best possible arrangements for sharing information about prisoners and co-ordinating effort on risk assessment, resettlement planning and programmes directed to reducing offending and dealing with problems such as drug or alcohol misuse, which get in the way of successful rehabilitation.We therefore intend to look at ways in which the better integration of the two services could improve their performance and effectiveness. I have asked my hon. Friend the member for Gateshead, East and Washington, West (Ms Quin) who has ministerial responsibility for both services within the Home Office, to lead this work. This will include looking at the structure and organisation of the probation service, to complement the review of the prison service which is now under way.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has in relation to under age alcohol misuse, with particular reference to alcopops. [9307]

I am publishing tomorrow the conclusions of the Ministerial Group on alcopops. A copy of the Group's statement will be placed in the Library tomorrow at 10.30 am.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for project licences have been refused under section 5(5) of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 on the ground that the applicant has failed to give adequate consideration to the feasibility of carrying out the research by means not involving the use of animals. [8328]

Licence applications are rarely formally refused because, when the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Inspectorate indicate that they cannot recommend that a licence be granted, the applicant either amends the application or voluntarily withdraws it. Records which distinguish between refused and withdrawn applications are not collected centrally.In considering licence applications, the Inspectorate ensures that adequate consideration has been given to replacement, reduction and refinement alternatives.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the project licence granted under article (10(3) of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 to allow the use of non-purpose bred greyhounds in a study of osteoarthritis expires. [8456]

This project licence is due to expire on 6 December 1997.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many licences in the (a) moderate and (b) substantial severity category of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 have been applied for in each year. [8749]

The number of licences of moderate and substantial severity which were granted in each year is as follows:

Year	Moderate	Substantial
1989	449	14
1990	n/a	n/a
1991	303	11
1992	608	33
1993	617	16
1994	436	8
1995	392	23
1996	350	11

Figures for the years before 1991 (with the exception of 1989) and for applications (rather than granted licences) are not available centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to prohibit the use of animals in cosmetic tests. [8669]

There are no immediate plans to prohibit the use of animals in cosmetics tests.We will be considering how to take this matter forward within Europe in a way which does not simply export these tests to countries which have less regard for animal welfare and less rigorous controls and does not unnecessarily disadvantage United Kingdom industry.We must also ensure that any action we take does not compromise public safety and is legally defensible (both within the United Kingdom and Europe). In this regard, we note that the European Commission has postponed a proposed ban on the marketing of cosmetics tested on animals until June 2000, because alternative safety tests have not been validated and because the proposed ban may have contravened international trade rules.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what investigations are carried out by inspectors, employed under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, into the source of animals used in experimentation. [8671]

Unless otherwise authorised, animals listed in Schedule 2 of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 must be obtained from designated breeding or supplying establishments. All such establishments are regularly inspected and are expected to meet the standards set out in the "Code of Practice for the Housing and Care of Animals in Breeding and Supplying Establishments". Where authority is given to acquire Schedule 2 animals from a non-designated source, the Home Office Inspectorate will always ensure its suitability and reliability.Approval for the acquisition of primates from overseas sources will be given only if the conditions at the breeding or supplying centre are acceptable to the Home Office. A number of such centres have been visited by a Home Office Inspector.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what breeds of dogs, other than greyhounds and purpose-bred animals, have been used in experiments in laboratories in each of the years since 1986; and from where these dogs were obtained. [8746]

Information on the specific breeds used, other than greyhounds or beagles, is not collected centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many animal experiments have been conducted since 1986 in connection with forensic studies; and what species of animals were used for this purpose. [8670]

This information has been collected only since the start of 1995 and was published in table 1 of the "Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals, Great Britain, 1995". During 1995, 139 procedures were carried out for the purpose of forensic enquiries. The species of animals involved were rats, rabbits, equidae, sheep and cattle.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of his Department's inspectors employed since 1986 under the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876 have previously performed experiments on animals in commercial, academic or Government laboratories. [8664]

The Cruelty to Animals Act 1876 was repealed by the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.Information about whether ex-inspectors carried out experiments on animals either under the 1876 Act or the current Act is not kept centrally. However, we believe that 27 inspectors employed under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 had carried out such experiments before joining the Inspectorate.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many inspections have been made by his Department's inspectors, under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986; and what proportion of these visits were unannounced. [8748]

The number of visits to establishments carried out by the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Inspectorate from 1989 to 1996 inclusive is 23,005. 19,902 were for the purpose of inspection or the monitoring of research projects; the remainder were for the purpose of maintaining scientific or professional skills, representing the Home Office or furthering Home Office policy. This information is published each year in the "Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals, Great Britain". The proportion of visits to Departments within establishments which were announced is 71 per cent.Prior to 1989, visits to Departments rather than establishments were counted, and details of the purpose of the visit and whether it was announced or unannounced are not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much money he has allocated for the prevention of youth crime for 1997–98; and what were the equivalent figures for (a) 1995–96 and (b) 1996–97. [8432]

Not all the expenditure on youth crime initiatives can be separated out from Home Office programmes. A total of £1,723,000 is committed for 1997–98 for such programmes, much of which will support initiatives of this kind.This is divided between the core funding of Crime Concern, which takes particular interest in youth crime prevention, although the Home Office funding is for the organisation's running costs rather than for the direct support of initiatives; the Home Office's Programme Development Unit which supports innovative projects aimed at reducing criminality among young people; the Safer Cities programme and support for two Home Start projects.The equivalent figure for

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for consultation on the intrusive surveillance code of practice required under Part III of the Police Act 1997. [9290]

On 14 July, I signed an Order to commence section 101 of the Police Act 1997 on 5 August 1997. This will allow the public consultation exercise to begin on that date. Officials will send copies of the draft code of practice to a number of individuals and organisations, inviting their comments by the end of September. Copies will be placed in the Library and additional copies of the draft code are obtainable from the Home Office.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to make regulations to satisfy the outstanding fire safety requirements of the EC Framework and Workplace directives. [9165]

Having consulted my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland, we intend shortly to make suitable regulations. These will build on those proposals on which consultation was completed last year and will be accompanied by a simple guidance package. We hope to lay the regulations before Parliament rises for the summer recess. I understand from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland that she intends to lay equivalent regulations for Northern Ireland before the end of the year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what changes are being made in the handling of applications from refugees and displaced persons from the former Yugoslavia following the Dayton Peace agreement. [9463]

All applications for asylum will continue to be considered on their individual merits within the terms of the 1951 Untied Nations Convention relating to the Status of Refugees.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions since 1991–92 legislation has been introduced by the Department (a) to remove effects of judicial review decisions and (b) to implement them. [7842]

The information sought is not kept in a readily retrievable form. It could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many decisions by his Department were challenged by way of judicial review in each Parliamentary session since 1991–92; and if he will list in how many cases (a) the Department's decision was upheld, (b) the court found for the applicant, (c) the Department submitted to the judgment and (d) the Department appealed successfully against the judicial review decision. [7841]

The detailed information requested is not readily available. The Home Office has been involved in several thousand judicial review applications since 1991–92. It is estimated that the Department's decision was upheld in more than 90 per cent. of these applications. The table below gives some information on immigration cases, which form the vast majority of all judicial review applicants brought against the Home Office.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were convicted of (a) murder and (b) manslaughter in each year since 1967 in (i) England and (ii) Wales; and in each case what proportion this represents of the population. [8125]

The figures for England and Wales are shown at table A. Figures are not available for England and Wales separately before 1979. Tables B and C show figures for each country for the period 1979–95.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to review the law of perjury. [7918]

We have no plans to do so at present. Criminal sanctions are already available in appropriate cases. A person knowingly making a false report to the police which tends to show that they have evidence material to police inquiry may be charged with wasting police time and could be liable on conviction to imprisonment up to six months or a fine of £1,000. A person making a statement to a court which is material to the proceedings and which they know to be false may be liable to conviction for perjury and could face a prison sentence for up to seven years. The more serious common law offence of perverting, or attempting to pervert, the course of justice is committed where a person acts or embarks upon a course of conduct which has a tendency to, and is intended to, pervert the course of justice. It is a matter for the prosecuting authorities to decide in any such case whether there is sufficient evidence to mount a prosecution and whether it would be in the public interest. There are around 200 prosecutions for perjury a year, of which a high proportion of cases result in convictions, as indicated in my reply to my hon. Friend on 26 June, Official Report, column 574.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 22 May, Official Report, column 111, how many outstanding claims for financial compensation for individuals found by the Court of Appeal to have been wrongfully convicted have been outstanding for (a) more than 12 months, (b) more than two years, (c) more than three years, (d) more than four years and (e) more than five years. [7395]

[holding answer 14 July 1997]: There is a total of 149 cases outstanding where, following the reversal of a conviction, a decision to pay compensation has been taken in principle but the claim has yet to be settled. Of these, (a) 11 have been outstanding for more than 12 months; (b) 102 for more than two years; (c) six for more than three years; (d) one for more than four years; and (e) 16 for more than five years. By far the most significant factors in delaying a settlement in these cases have been either delay by applicants or by their representatives in submitting final claims, or reluctance on their part to accept the offers made.The figure at

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many next steps executive agencies have regional administrative structures; and, of these, how many have boundaries that coincide with those of the Government Offices for the Regions; and if he will make a statement. [8437]

There are 37 executive agencies that have regional administrative structures. Of these, three have boundaries that coincide with the Government Offices for the Regions. They are Social Security Benefits Agency, Social Security Child Support Agency and Social Security Contributions Agency.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what procedures exist concerning the accountability of next steps executive agencies to Ministers for the process of determining the content of next steps agency framework document; and if he will make a statement. [8349]

It is the responsibility of the departmental Minister to set the framework within which the department's executive agencies are to operate and therefore to determine which matters are to be assigned to a Chief Executive under the terms of an Agency's framework document.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to minimise the erosional impact of sheep in the hills. [7839]

Erosion is a widespread, natural process which may be exacerbated by a range of causes, including land use practice, atmospheric pollution and recreational activities. Earlier this year MAFF commissioned a three year project to identify the precise causes of upland erosion and propose potential solutions. Agri-environment schemes including Environmentally Sensitive Areas, the Moorland Scheme and (in England only) Countryside Stewardship are contributing to the positive maintenance of upland habitats, including through the encouragement of extensive grazing and improved management practices.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to secure compliance with the prohibition on the routine tail docking of piglets in the Welfare of Livestock Regulations 1994; and if he will make a statement. [7857]

The docking of piglets' tails is not unlawful under the Welfare of Livestock Regulations 1994 where there is evidence on the farm that injuries to animals are otherwise likely to occur. We are currently examining the application of these rules to make sure that the objective of protecting pig welfare is properly met.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research he has commissioned into (a) segregation and (b) labelling of genetically modified food; what estimate he has made of the time scale by which (a) and (b) will be feasible; and if he will make a statement. [8499]

The safety of foods produced using genetic modification is assessed by the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes and is underpinned by scientific research work carried out by the Department. I see no need for the Government to commission research into the segregation or labelling of genetically modified food. The Government is pressing at European level for all foods which may contain genetically modified ingredients to be clearly labelled whether they have been fully segregated or not.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to require labelling on all foods that contain genetically modified ingredients, informing potential customers to that effect; and if he will make a statement. [8593]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Lewes (Mr. Baker) on 9 June 1997, Official Report, columns 356–57.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many tons of beef held in United Kingdom intervention stores have been removed and made inedible. [8638]

A total of 254 tonnes of intervention beef taken into UK intervention stores prior to 27 March 1996 has been disposed of by incineration.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what reply he proposes to make to the Second Report of the Agriculture Committee on Environmentally Sensitive Areas and Other Schemes Under the Agri-Environment Regulation (HC 45 (1996–97)), published on 19 March 1997. [9166]

The Government has today published its response to the conclusions and recommendations of the Agriculture Select Committee's report on these agri-environment schemes. Copies of the publication have been placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what instructions have been given to British high commissions and embassies about dealing with appeals and applications for leave to appeal in respect of husbands, wives, fiancés and fiancées who were refused admission under the primary purpose rule; and what assessment he has made of how long such applicants will have to wait. [5526]

[holding answer 7 July 1997]: In cases where an application has been refused solely on primary purpose grounds and an appeal is pending the Home Office will remit the papers to the Entry Clearance Officer for issue of entry clearance, subject to there being no change of circumstances. In cases where no appeal was lodged, posts will issue if further representations are made, subject to no change in circumstances. Where applicants have been refused and an appeal dismissed, applicants may re-apply for entry clearance in the normal way.In fairness to those who have already re-applied, any new re-application resulting from the abolition of the Primary Purpose rule which is submitted by an individual who has already completed the appeal process will take its normal place in the queue. The maximum waiting time laid down for considering settlement re-applicants is nine months, although in practice the actual waiting time is significantly less than the maximum allowed. We shall continue to make every effort to process these re-applications quickly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress being made towards the banning of the trade in anti-personnel mines; and what has been the reaction of foreign Governments to Her Majesty's Government's activities in this area. [8124]

The United Kingdom's ban on export of anti-personnel landmines is in place. We are considering the legislation needed to implement bans on transfer, import, production and trade through the UK. We are also considering the circumstances in which movements of anti-personnel landmines might need to continue and will inform Parliament once we have reached conclusions. Any exceptions will end as necessary in 2005 or according to the provisions of an effective international agreement when it comes into force, whichever comes first.Our new policy on anti-personnel landmines had been widely welcomed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to President Yeltsin concerning the law on freedom of conscience and religious associations passed by the Russian Parliament. [8450]

The EU Troika Ambassadors in Moscow carried out a demarche on Mr. Sidorov, the Deputy Foreign Minister, on 9 July. The demarche calls upon President Yeltsin not to allow the law to come into effect in its present form, since it appears to contravene both the Russian Constitution and Russia's OSCE and Council of Europe human rights obligations.Mr. Sidorov confirmed that the EU demarche would be brought to President Yeltsin's attention.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what date and at what time the British embassy in Caracas (i) was informed and (ii) informed the Foreign Office in London of the sentence imposed on James Miles and Paul Loseby. [8849]

The British Embassy in Caracas was informed of Mr. Miles and Mr. Loseby's sentence on 8 July at 21.45 hours BST. The Embassy immediately informed this Department by fax.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received concerning James Miles and Paul Loseby from sources other than the Venezuelan authorities. [8780]

Consular staff in Caracas have received reports concerning James Miles and Paul Loseby from their lawyers, representatives of the Anglican church and journalists who have visited them.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will obtain a copy of the transcript of the court hearing concerning James Miles and Paul Loseby which took place in Caracas on 2 July. [8850]

The Venezuelan court process does not involve a "hearing". A copy of the written summary of evidence and statements of the Court's decision has been obtained by this Department and can be made available to my hon. Friend if he so wishes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what date in 1997 the British embassy in Caracas made representations to the Venezuelan Government concerning the cases of Paul Loseby and James Miles. [8779]

No representations have been made this year. The British Ambassador in Caracas wrote to the Judge on 10 April and 10 July to request medical checks for Paul Loseby.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has for the implementation of the provisions of the Amsterdam treaty if it is not ratified by one or more of the member states. [8575]

The Treaty must be ratified by all 15 Member States in accordance with their respective constitutional requirements, before it can come into force. Should any Member State fail to ratify the Treaty, it could not be implemented in its current form.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if the definition of human rights, as referred to in the new article F1 of the treaty on European Union as created by the draft Amsterdam treaty, will be the same as that in the European convention on Human Rights; [8852](2) if the definition of human rights, as referred to in the new article F1 of the treaty on European Union as created by the draft Amsterdam treaty, will include

The reference to human rights and fundamental freedoms in Article F.1 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU) is clarified by Article F.2 as "fundamental rights, as guaranteed by the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights (ECHR) and Fundamental Freedoms signed in Rome on 4 November 1950 and as they result from the constitutional traditions common to the Member States, as general principles of Community law." The second part of that definition may differ from or go beyond the rights guaranteed by the ECHR. Article F.2 does not by itself confer such rights as freedom of information, welfare rights, rights for disabled people, rights for gays and lesbians, employment rights, rights of refugees and asylum seekers, health and safety provisions, the right to strike or social rights. It requires EU and Community Acts in any of those areas to respect the relevant requirements of the ECHR or other rules on fundamental rights.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the outcome of his Department's investigation into the use of British-made equipment by the Indonesian authorities during recent events in Bandung and Jakarta. [8732]

We are studying the information available regarding the alleged use of UK supplied water-cannon in Bandung and Jakarta in June and July 1996. No firm conclusions have yet been drawn.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to ensure the greater dissemination of live performances from national lottery-funded venues. [8672]

We place the highest importance on access to cultural and sporting events. The Government are reviewing all aspects of the National Lottery. A White Paper setting out our proposals in greater depth will be published shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list the income from recreation and leisure facilities for each local authority in the north-west in the last available year. [8540]

The following table details the income from recreation and leisure facilities for each local authority in the north-west for 1995–96, the latest figures available. The table is based on data collected annually from local authorities by the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions through its Revenue Outturn exercise.

Total income from recreation and leisure facilities 1995–96
£000
Local authority1	Leisure facilities2	Recreation facilities3	Total
Allerdale	94	117	211
Barrow in Furness	158	5	163
Blackburn	323	27	350
Blackpool	1,345	13	1,358
Bolton	865	1,147	2,012
Burnley	565	547	1,112
Bury	228	306	534
Carlisle	3,405	230	3,635
Cheshire	1,033	2,609	3,642
Chester	306	293	599
Chorley	351	27	378
Congleton	1,534	30	1,564
Copeland	665	15	680
Crewe and Nantwich	958	33	991
Cumbria	242	25	267
Eden	111	23	134
Ellesmere Port and Neston	1,158	65	1,223
Fylde	306	48	354
Halton	1,125	984	2,109
Hyndburn	258	149	407
Knowsley	117	6	123
Lancashire	0	246	246
Lancaster	63	35	98
Liverpool	10,024	5,469	15,493

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to ensure diversity, choice and quality in the provision of radio programming in the independent broadcasting sector. [8687]