To ask the President of the Council what is to be the official title of the person described as the "Drugs Tsar". [10107]

[holding answer 23 July 1997]: The official title for this post, which is to be advertised shortly, will be "UK Anti-Drugs Co-ordinator".

To ask the President of the Council how many civil servants there are in total on each pay band in her Department. [9588]

The information for members of the senior civil service is as follows:

• Pay Band 4: 1
• Pay Band 2: 1
• Pay Band 1: 2.

Remaining staff, save for support grades, are in grades rather than pay bands. The numbers of staff in each grade are as follows:

To ask the President of the Council how many and what percentage of employees, in each pay band, in the quangos for which her Department is responsible, are of (a) Asian origin and (b) Afro-Caribbean origin. [9587]

I am responsible for no such organisations.

To ask the President of the Council how many and what percentage of employees in her private office are (a) of Asian origin and (b) of Afro-Caribbean origin. [9586]

None.

To ask the President of the Council, pursuant to her answer of 15 July, Official Report, column 152, concerning pensions of hon. Members' staff, if she will increase the 10 per cent. contributed by the Finance Office to compensate for falls in the final value of pensions due to withdrawal of advance corporation tax. [10082]

As I said in my previous answer, the final value of the pension in respect of any individual on an hon. Member's staff will depend on a wide range of factors. I have no plans to change the present arrangements.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster for what reason documents relating to a meeting of the Cabinet's Defence Committee on 29 October 1952 in the classmark CAB 131/12 at the Public Record Office are currently retained by his Department; and if he will consider releasing these papers. [9471]

The documents relating to this meeting had been retained by my Department on grounds of national security. They have recently been re-reviewed to see whether they could be released. As a result, one item recording the committee's discussion about the deployment in the United Kingdom of a United States army intercept station and the paper relating to this part of the discussion are being prepared for transfer to the Public Record Office. The review has confirmed that another item, and the papers related to it, need to continue to be withheld on grounds of national security. These documents will be re-reviewed at regular intervals and when no longer sensitive will be released.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he has set performance targets for Property Advisers to the Civil Estate. [10512]

The performance targets are as follows:

(i) to identify savings from proposals to be agreed with departments for the co-ordination of property activities on the civil estate which in net present value terms should be at least 10 times the agency's related running costs;

(ii) to deliver on time at least 85 per cent. of the central advice unit's annual work plan;

(iii) to recover 100 per cent. of the costs of providing intelligent client services and to increase the percentage of all PACE's running costs recovered;

(iv) to dispose of 110 freeholds and leaseholds within a annual net provision of £95 million;

(v) to achieve 75 per cent. overall customer satisfaction for the agency's services.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on how he proposes to help businesses understand and comply with regulations. [10513]

As part of this Government's better regulation programme, we are determined to make central and local government's regulatory advice and service more transparent, accessible and helpful. The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster has therefore asked me to lead a new initiative called access business, which will co-ordinate and modernise a wide range of regulatory advice, forms and guidance for business into a simpler, more unified service. We have set up an access business group, whose first meeting I am chairing today, which consists of the Under-Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, my hon. Friend the Member for Wallasey (Angela Eagle); the Minister for SMall Firms, Trade and Industry; Teresa Graham from the Institute of Chartered Accountants; and Councillor John Ryan, chair of the Local Government Association's public protection committee. I look forward to the access business group announcing the first fruits of its work in the autumn.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement about his Department's policy in relation to the previous Government's consultation on proposals to apply to enforcement provisions in section 5 of the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994 to trading standards, environment health and care services legislation. [10514]

A number of those who responded to the earlier consultation expressed significant concerns about the inflexibility and potential bureaucracy that would arise from the strict application of section 5 in these areas. There was, none the less, broad support from business, local authorities and enforcement bodies for the principles of good enforcement. This Government are committed to the fair, open and consistent enforcement of regulations. One of the first tasks, therefore, of the access business group, referred to in my previous answer, will be to build on the consensus about the principles of good enforcement while avoiding the inflexibility and expense in the last Government's proposals to legislate in these areas. I hope that we shall be able to agree a new joint approach later this year.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many and what percentage of employees in his private office are (a) of Asian origin and (b) of Afro-Caribbean origin. [8946]

Information relating to ethnicity in the Lord Chancellor's Department is not usually given where numbers are small enough to enable identification of individuals. This practice complies with an agreement between the trade unions and the Department, and assurances given to staff when they are asked to provide the information. However, all staff in my private office, irrespective of ethnic origin, have consented to provision of this information, and the trade unions have consented to publication.The information is set out in the table.

Parliamentary Secretary's Private Office, Lord Chancellor's Department
	Number	Percentage
Asian Origin	2	40
African origin	1	20

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many and what percentage of employees, in each payband, in the quangos for which his Department is responsible, are of (a) Asian origin and (b) Afro-Caribbean origin. [8947]

My Department is responsible for only one active executive non-departmental public body: the Legal Aid Board.

The latest ethnic monitoring figures available for the Legal Aid Board are as at 31 March 1996, and are in the table.

The board's survey is conducted by grade rather than salary bands. The salary bands used overlap as they range from the minimum of the lowest grade to the maximum of the highest grade in each band. The salaries exclude London weighting/recruitment and retention allowance where applicable.

	Afro-Caribbean		Asian
Salary ranges for more than one grade	Number	Per cent.	Number	Per cent.
£5,000–£14,000	52	3.82	26	1.91
£9,800–£28,000	11	0.80	5	0.36
£22,000–£45,000	0	n/a	2	0.14

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many civil servants there are on each pay band in his Department. [8948]

For the Lord Chancellor's Department, including the Court Service and the Public Trust Office, the information is set out in the table. A separate table provides information on the Northern Ireland Court Service. Below the senior civil service, staff are paid on the basis of grades, with a separate pay band or pay range for each grade. I have asked the chief executives of the Land Registry and of the Public Record Office to reply separately.

LCD Headquarters, Court Service and Public Trust Office
	Number
Permanent Secretary	1
Senior Civil Service Pay Band 8	2
Senior Civil Service Pay Band 4	7
Senior Civil Service Pay Band 3	2
Senior Civil Service Pay Band 2	22
Senior Civil Service Pay Band 1	19
Senior Posts Not Allocated To A Pay Band	13
Grade 6	70
Grade 7	215

LCD Headquarters, Court Service and Public Trust Office
	Number
Senior Executive Officer	285
Higher Executive Officer	987
Executive Officer	2,275
Administrative Officer	4,878
Administrative Assistant	376
Support Grades	1,928
Total	11,080

Northern Ireland Court Service	Number
Senior Civil Service Pay Band 3	1
Senior Civil Service Pay Band 1	3
Grade 6	1
Grade 7	17
Senior Executive Officer	39
Higher Executive Officer	156
Executive Officer	177
Administrative Officer	201
Administrative Assistant	34
Support Grades	150
Total	679
1 Including 16 Enforcement Officers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what review of cold weather payments she has made; when she expects to report on the review's conclusions; and if the review has considered the possible incorporation of the wind chill factor in the calculation of cold weather payments. [4726]

The annual review of the cold weather payments scheme is currently in progress. Announcements on its conclusions will be made in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what progress has been made on the recently promised independent review of the science of the assessment of noise-induced sensorineural hearing loss for the purposes of claims to war pensions. [10554]

The Government are pledged to an independent review of the medical evidence behind the approach to the assessment of noise-induced hearing loss in war pensions. We hope that the review will provide a conclusion which is clear and unambiguous.The review will be chaired by Sir Kenneth Calman, the chief medical officer. The other members of the review team will be Professor Adrian Davis of the Medical Research Council Institute of Hearing Research, Professor Mark Lutman of the Institute of Sound and Vibration Research, Professor Linda Luxon of the Institute of Laryngology and Otology at the University college London medical school and Dr. Guy Lightfoot of the department of clinical engineering at the Royal Liverpool university hospital. Dr. Anne Braidwood of this Department will serve on the team and act as secretary.The review team is expected to meet in September.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans she has to change the rules on housing benefit to ensure that local authority tenants are not subsidising, through rent levels, the housing benefit of other tenants. [8348]

I have been asked to reply.Under the housing revenue account subsidy system, an authority's entitlement to subsidy for its council housing is based upon various assumptions about its relative income and expenditure. If the cost of rent rebates is excluded from the subsidy calculation, most local authorities have a notional surplus of income over expenditure. These surpluses are used to offset the cost of rent rebates.We have some sympathy with local authorities' concerns about this aspect of the subsidy system and have embarked on a review of the HRA subsidy system as part of the comprehensive spending review of housing.

1995–961
Department	Number of cases	Number of internal staff perpetrators	Value £	Cases Per cent. change 1995–96 over 1994–95 +/(-)	Value Per cent. change 1995–96 over 1994–95 +/(-)	Cases Per cent. change 1995–96 over 1993–94 +/(-)	Value Per cent. change 1995–96 over 1993–94 +/(-)
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food	5	5	3,400	2—	-	0	(81)
Cabinet Office	4	4	4,678	300	738	33	(52)
Crown Office (Scotland)	2	2	2,486	100	2,080	0	69
Crown Prosecution Service	3	3	56	200	124	200	(98)
HM Customs and Excise	31	31	1,420,320	(43)	555	(54)	2,618
Ministry of Defence	212	212	506,500	9	(51)	112	(3)
Export Credit Guarantee Department	3	3	2,635	50	133	—	—
Department of Education and Employment	17	18	28,446	(23)	(71)	(50)	(71)
Department of the Environment	5	5	19,690	67	3,289	(58)	230
Foreign and Commonwealth Office	3	3	35,607	(40)	(75)	(80)	(81)
Forestry Commission	3	4	187	(25)	(99)	200	112
GCHQ	4	4	1,606	0	(65)	(20)	(48)
HMSO (now The Stationery Office)	1	1	75	(75)	(94)	-	-
Department of Health	3	3	1,124	(25)	(92)	(25)	(88)
Home Office	25	27	50,435	257	21	(11)	(17)
Inland Revenue	7	7	261,920	(30)	662	(42)	143
Intervention Board	2	5	1,476	—	—	100	(72)
HM Land Registry	4	4	513	-	-	-	-
Lord Chancellor's Department	12	12	11,972	(20)	(96)	20	(93)
Department of National Heritage	3	3	532	-	-	50	(100)
Department of National Savings	1	1	330	-	-	-	-
Overseas Development Administration (now DFID)	1	1	50	0	(99)	-	-
Department of Social Security	111	121	474,485	122	180	692	312
The Scottish Office	5	5	4,593	(54)	(89)	(50)	296
Department of Trade and Industry	4	4	11,874	100	12,016	(20)	18
Department of Transport	2	2	3,690	(50)	57	(80)	(64)
HM Treasury	1	1	0	-	-	0	(100)
Welsh Office	2	2	20	(33)	(95)	(50)	(100)
Total	3476	493	£2,848,700
1 The table excludes Departments which reported a nil return in 1995–96.
2 The notation '—' indicates that the Department recorded a nil return in the year concerned and there is therefore no basis for comparison with the base year 1995–96.
3 The reduction in the 480 cases referred to in the 1995–96 report reflects the subsequent correction of a database error.

1. Some large percentage changes in value and case numbers are based on relatively small changes in actual values. The overall pattern shows a gradual increase year on year in the numbers of cases being reported. This increase may be due in part to better reporting arrangements and improved fraud awareness in departments.2. Levels of fraud reported in previous years cannot easily be inferred from reductions in percentage changes of 100 per cent. since the maximum reduction is 100 per cent.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list each of the central Government bodies which reported fraud cases in the 1995–96 fraud report, indicating for each (a) the number of cases, (b) the number of staff involved in each case and (c) the total value of frauds; and if he will list for each body the percentage change in (i) the number of cases and (ii) the value over (1) 1994–95 and (2) 1993–94. [7477]

The number of internal cases, number of staff involved and value of fraud cases to the 1995–96 fraud report are shown by Department together with the percentage changes in the number and value of cases over 1994–95 and 1993–94.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of Treasury receipts resulting from national lottery grants to fund capital building projects; and if he will make a statement. [7999]

The Treasury has not received any grants from the national lottery and no estimate has been made of tax paid by other recipients of lottery grants. It would be difficult to identify those receipts that arose purely from lottery grants. Receipts of lottery duty from November 1994 to date, however, total £1,446,434,000.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the number of detected cases of sickle cell anaemia by each London health authority. [9184]

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 is the policy of his Department on the timely payment of debts; and what is his Department's record on the payment of debts in the current financial year. [9523]

[holding answer 18 July 1997]: All Departments are required to pay all their bills within agreed contract terms, or 30 days from receipt of the goods or service or a valid invoice, whichever is the later, where no such terms exist. Information on payment performance for the current financial year could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The Government will publish a league table of departmental payment performance for 1996–97 in the autumn.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made in reviewing the methods by which the numbers of unemployed in the United Kingdom are quantified. [9772]

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 is the estimated revenue loss from the use by British companies of Channel Island trusts to hold shares in long-term executive performance plans. [9762]

There are no special tax allowances or exemptions for executives who receive shares under long-term performance plans, whether or not such shares have been held under trust in the Channel Islands.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if his plans to legislate against tax avoidance schemes include action against shares held in offshore trusts as part of a managerial incentive or bonus scheme; [10109](2) what proposals he is assessing for legislation in respect of the holding of shares under management incentive schemes in an offshore trust in Jersey. [9787]

[holding answer 21 July 1997]: The Chancellor said in his Budget statement that he had asked the Inland Revenue to review all areas of tax avoidance. Specific measures arising from that review will be announced as necessary.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the costs to public funds in (a) 1998–99, (b) 1999–2000 and (c) 2000–01 of the measures necessary to resolve the year 2000 problem in Government Departments. [9480]

[holding answer 21 July 1997]: Government Departments are producing, by October 1997, fully costed plans for undertaking the work needed.All computer systems are due to be modified and tested by 31 January 1998 subject, where appropriate, to a final check of end year financial systems by April 1999.The cost of the work in 1998–99 will be met from within the published departmental expenditure plans.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the percentage change in the after-tax disposable income of United Kingdom households resulting from the changes announced in his recent Budget, broken down by each income decile; and if he will make a statement. [9484]

[holding answer 21 July 1997]: The estimates are given in the table. These show changes in disposable income—that is income, including benefits less direct tax. That means that the figures include the effects of the change in mortgage interest relief in the Budget, but not excise duty or other tax changes.The estimates made do not reflect the effect of new deal expenditure, such as measures helping young people into work, and the increased child benefit disregard for lone parents. This will increase disposable income, especially for households in the lower income deciles.

Household income decile	Percentage change in after-tax disposable income
Bottom	-0.15
2	-0.15
3	-0.15
4	-0.20
5	-0.20
6	-0.25
7	-0.25
8	-0.25
9	-0.20
Top	-0.15
Average	-0.20

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were (a) average GDP per head and (b) 75 per cent. of average GDP per head in (i) the European Union and (ii) the United Kingdom during the last three years; and what was the average GDP per head in each region and nation of the United Kingdom during the last three years using (1) the former standard region boundaries and (2) the new Government office region boundaries. [10133]

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 how many people aged 25 years or over have been unemployed for two years or more in the Bolton, West constituency. [9684]

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 Exchquer which statistical sources will be used to identify the fulfilment of the criteria for EMU convergence. [10015]

[holding answer 22 July 1997]: Protocol (No. 6) on the convergence criteria referred to in article 109j of the treaty establishing the European Community states

"The statistical data to be used for the application of this Protocol shall be provided by the Commission".

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what research he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the redenomination of Government debt from sterling into euros under a single currency; and if he will make a statement. [10205]

[holding answer 22 July 1997]: The report of the working group on the gilt market after EMU recommended, if the United Kingdom joins EMU,

"complete and simultaneous redenomination of existing gilts from sterling into euro by law; this should take place early in 1999 if the UK joins EMU at the outset or as soon as possible after it joins if it participates at a later date".

HM Treasury was represented at the working group, which was convened by the Bank of England, and included a wide range of market participants. The report does not necessarily represent the views of the Government. The report was published in the Bank's "Practical Issues Arising from the Introduction of the Euro"—No. 3, December 1996.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will commission research into the potential effects on the world gold price of the sale of excess reserves by states participating in the single currency; and if he will make a statement. [10197]

[holding answer 22 July 1997]: Developments in the world gold market are kept under continuous review as part of the normal process of managing the official reserves.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if staff engaged in the labour force survey field teams organised by the social survey division of the Office of National Statistics are entitled to the protection, pay and working conditions available to other civil service employees; [9459](2) if he will list the car mileage expenses limits applicable to payment by Government Departments to civil servants' travel in the course of their paid employment; and if these rates differ for staff travel relating to work undertaken for Departments on a self-employed or fee-paying basis; [9460](3) in what circumstances the Government insist on Crown exemptions regarding car insurance being taken out by persons carrying out duties on behalf of the civil service, with special reference to the labour force survey. [9461](4) what guidance is given to civil service staff concerning when travel by car can be legitimately claimed as expenses by civil servants or others involved in labour force survey field work. [9462]

[holding answer 22 July 1997]: 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, pursuant to his answer to the right hon. Member for Wells (Mr. Heathcoat-Amory) of 16 July, Official Report, column 169, concerning the effect on pensioners of the reduction in VAT on domestic fuel, on what assumption in respect of the uprating of the basic pension the answer was based; and for what reason that assumption was used. [10149]

No assumption was used in respect of the uprating of the basic pension. The uprating for 1998–99 benefit levels will depend upon the retail prices index increase in September 1997. This reflects the prices paid for goods and services and will take account of the reduction in VAT on fuel and power. So the real value of the pension is not affected by the change.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what new policies are being developed by his Department to promote international development and poverty eradication; and if they will be included in the proposed White Paper on international development. [8999]

The Secretary of State for International Development is responsible for Government policy on development. She will publish the White Paper. The Treasury is one of a number of Government Departments consulted by the Department for International Development on the White Paper, and our contributions will be set out in that document.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the future of (a) the Building Societies Commission, (b) the Friendly Societies Commission and (c) the Registry of Friendly Societies. [10553]

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to review the structure, powers and scope of operation of the Securities and Investments Board; and if he will make a statement. [9693]

My right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced on 20 May, Official Report, columns 508–11, that the Government will be bringing forward legislation to reform the structure of financial regulation and to create a single enhanced financial services regulatory body. The legislation to establish this regulatory body will provide for the transfer to the new body of all the functions currently carried out by the Building Societies Commission, the Friendly Societies Commission, and the central office of the Registry of Friendly Societies. These arrangements will further enhance the existing high standards of supervision and regulation in this area by integrating it with the regulation of all financial sectors, including banking, insurance, and other financial services.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the proposed trade publication régime for the London stock exchange's new electronic trading system. [10552]

I have now received advice from the Securities and Investments Board on the London stock exchange's proposed trade publication arrangements for its new stock exchange electronic trading service.I endorse the advice from the SIB that the exchange's proposed trade publication rules for SETS should enhance the price formation process, improve the quality of transparency and so make for a fairer market. The Treasury has also received advice on this matter from the Director General of Fair Trading. This concludes that, although there is a potential competition issue here, none of the proposed rules—which will be kept under review by the DGFT—is significantly anti-competitive at present.I welcome the stock exchange's plans to move to a more transparent trading system on the introduction of its electronic order book. In my view, the proposed new rules strike a sensible balance between the need to maximise the transparency of the UK equity market, so that investors can be confident that they are trading on an equal basis with other market participants; and the need to maintain arrangements which enable risk principle trading to continue for those investors wishing to obtain competitive prices for large trades. The result should be to enhance the liquidity of the UK equity market and make it even more attractive to international investors.The Treasury is today submitting a memorandum to the Treasury Committee in response to the Committee's recent reports on the London stock exchange. Apart from trade publication, one of the other issues raised by the Committee was the exchange's corporate governance arrangements. The exchange's planned move to a new trading system this autumn demonstrates that it is capable of taking and implementing strategic decisions about its market in the light of commercial and competitive factors. However, I agree with the Committee that the effectiveness of the exchange's corporate governance arrangements is an important issue and one which will need to be kept under review. In this context, the Treasury fully supports the governance principles espoused by the SIB—that a recognised investment exchange should avoid any conflict between its regulatory role and the pursuit of its commercial interests, and that an exchange should be run in the interests of the full range of its users and members.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has for the future of TECs. [7912]

The Government value the work of TECs and the commitment given by so many business and community leaders through their involvement with the TEC movement. As strong employer-led strategic bodies TECs are well placed to play an important role in supporting the Government's objectives. Over the summer, we will be working with them through our Government offices for the regions to see how they may best re-focus their activities in line with the Government's priorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the amount of reserves held by TECs. [7911]

At the end of the financial year 1995–96, total reserves held by training and enterprise councils were almost £260 million. That is the most recent year for which information is available. TECs have provided further information which reports that the total reserves comprised £51 million for investment in capital assets, £86 million for working capital and £123 million for discretionary expenditure. Of the sum available for discretionary expenditure, TECs report that £102 million was committed for planned expenditure in 1996–97 and beyond for training, enterprise and economic regeneration activities. TEC reserves are already being used extensively to support local labour market needs. I am confident that TECs will now be able to contribute with their reserves to the challenging agenda set out in our manifesto for education, training and lifelong learning.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to fund individual learning accounts. [8015]

The Government will publish their plans on individual learning accounts in their White Paper on lifelong learning to be published in the autumn.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is Her Majesty's Government's policy in respect of work experience for 16 to 17-year-olds; and if he will make a statement. [9083]

Work experience has an important contribution to make in preparing young people for adult and working life, whichever learning route they choose at 16.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps he is taking to enable students studying for science degrees and doctorates to avoid taking part in animal experiments they do not wish to participate in. [9988]

Under the terms of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992, the Secretary of State for Education and Employment has no powers to influence particular courses of study or programmes of research carried out in higher education institutions.It should be clear to students before they start a particular course of study whether or not it will involve animal experimentation. In some cases, it would be possible for students to opt for alternative modules if they so wished. However, a student's decision as to whether or not to participate in animal experimentation is a matter between the individual student and the relevant institution.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the estimated loss of time from work caused by asthma. [8857]

I have been asked to reply.I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by the Under-Secretary of State for Social Security on Tuesday 22 July 1997,

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to review regulation 11 of the NHS (Fundholding Practices) Amendment Regulations; and if he will make a statement. [9889]

The national health service executive will keep the operation of this measure, like all other elements of the general practitioner fundholding scheme, under careful review.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice his Department has issued to national health psychiatrists on false memory syndrome and recovered memories. [9861]

Guidance on false memory syndrome was published last October in the Department of Health document entitled "NHS Psychotherapy Services in England—Review of Strategic Policy", copies of which have been placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many pregnant women living in the Chorley and South Ribble health area had their babies delivered (a) in Preston and neighbouring districts and (b) at Chorley general hospital in the last year for which figures are available; and what criteria relate to the transfer of women in labour from Chorley general hospital to Preston royal infirmary. [9855]

The last year for which figures for Chorley and South Ribble district health authority were available was 1993–94. In 1994–95, Chorley and South Ribble formed part of South Lancashire DHA, which means that the following figures are not consistent between the two years. The source of the data is "Hospital Episode Statistics (Maternity)".

Pregnant women resident in Chorley and South Ribble DHA in 1993–94
Percentage of women whose babies were delivered in:	Per cent.
Preston and neighbouring districts	93
Chorley and South Ribble NHS Trust	7

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the 1996–97 annual report and accounts of the Medical Devices Agency. [10431]

We have received the report and accounts of the Medical Devices Agency and copies have today been laid before both Houses of Parliament in accordance with the requirements of section 5(2) and 5(3) of the Exchequer and Audit Departments Act 1921. Copies have also been placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for the quinquennial review of the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work; and if he will make a statement. [10587]

The Department will conduct a thorough review of the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work on behalf of the United Kingdom sponsoring Departments. The review, which is now due as part of the regular five-yearly examination of non-departmental public bodies, will take the form of a prior options study. It will assess the extent to which the functions of the council are necessary for the achievement of the Government's policies and whether there is scope for rationalisation, market testing, privatising, contracting out or transferring all, or part, of its functions to another body. We will consult widely with all parties who have an interest in the work of the council.The review will have regard to and take account of:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to implement minimum mandatory standards for incontinence care provided throughout the NHS. [8981]

Ministers have made a manifesto commitment to a long-term care charter to define standards for health, housing and social services. Additionally, the Government are planning to review the patients charter. Both of these charters are likely to provide an opportunity to develop, in liaison with a wide range of health and social care professionals and members of the public, standards which will improve not only the quality and delivery of incontinence care but other services which are aimed at the rehabilitative and long-term care needs of individuals.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department plans to make of the implementation by health authorities of its guidelines on incontinence care. [8982]

The Department of Health issued its guidelines, "An Agenda for Action on Continence Services" in 1991. Since 1991, the Department has continued to concentrate on the implementation of these guidelines through the funding of research; the setting up of a national resource centre and the promotion of annual public awareness campaigns on issues of prevention and early intervention."The NHS Priorities and Planning Guidelines for 1994–95" required health authorities to ensure that their continence services conformed to the good practice guidelines in "An Agenda for Action on Continence Services". In addition, health authorities were required to set targets for reducing the prevalence of incontinence in their local population. The Department of Health is currently examining the findings and recommendations of several reports it commissioned in response to the recommendations set out in the guidelines to determine the measures necessary to ensure the continual improvement of incontinence services.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his Department's estimate of the incidence of incontinence among people below the age of 60 years. [8983]

Information is not available on the incidence of incontinence. Information on prevalence is that 7 per cent. of adults aged under 60 living in private households reported having bladder problems in the 1995 "Health Survey for England". Further information is available on pages 134 to 137 of the publication "Health Survey for England 1995", copies of which are available in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what studies he has evaluated which have compared the incidence of side effects suffered as a result of MMR vaccination in different countries. [9489]

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health is advised on immunisation matters by the independent expert advisory committee, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation and on matters concerning the quality, safety and efficacy of vaccines by the Committee on Safety of Medicines.Assessment of vaccine safety and efficacy can be based on experience in any country using an appropriate population, so long as the vaccine constituents are the same. Studies of vaccine use in other countries can form the basis for authorisation of the product in the United Kingdom. The Department's independent expert advisory committees, on behalf of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health, have considered a large number of studies looking at the incidence of purported side effects both in the UK and other countries. Information on the safety of single antigen measles and rubella vaccines is also relevant where these components are identical to those in the combined measles, mumps and rubella vaccine. Safety studies have therefore been available from the 1960s for these vaccine components.A list of the published studies considered by the expert advisory committees and by the Department on the incidence of side effects associated with, or suggested to be associated with, MMR vaccination in different countries has been placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans his Department has to provide free dental checks for students. [9820]

Dental charges and all other aspects of Government spending are being reviewed as part of the Government's comprehensive spending review.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the Government will provide financial assistance to students who incur chiropractor bills for treatment to serious injuries; and if he will make a statement. [9819]

The national health service does not reimburse patients for the cost of treatment obtained privately. Where chiropractic services are provided through the NHS, they are free of charge.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list those health authorities which screen children's hearing at or shortly after birth. [9917]

Most health authorities screen children who are at risk of permanent childhood hearing impairment soon after birth. We are currently considering ways in which the screening system for children with hearing impairment can be improved and extended, so that more children with PCHI can be identified and treated earlier in life. The Medical Research Council's Institute of Hearing Research recently published a report on the national provision of neonatal screening for hearing impairment, which we shall take into account. The report, entitled, "Critical Review of the Role of Neonatal Screening in the Identification of Childhood Hearing Impairment", will be placed in the Library shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how often since 1992 his Department has been responsible for employment advertisements which contained age restrictions on those who could apply. [9499]

Since 1992, this Department has been responsible for five employment advertisements which contained age restrictions and six others which gave preferred age ranges.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent actions have been taken to identify the Soviet spy at Bletchley Park codenamed Baron; and if he will make a statement. [9766]

It is long-standing practice not to disclose the detail of such operations by the security and intelligence agencies.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what reason the Venona intercept of 3 April 1941, recently released to the Public Record Office, has been redacted to eliminate annotations referring to the Soviet source codenamed Baron. [9765]

There was no such redaction. When the decrypt in question was issued, the identity of Baron was unknown. Practice in such cases at the time was either to confirm in footnotes that an identity was unknown or simply to leave a cover name with no explanation; the latter course was taken in the case of the 3 April 1941 message.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs is he will issue guidance to British holidaymakers going to the Cotentin peninsula in Normandy, following the announcement by the French Environment Minister on 10 July banning fishing and swimming near the La Hague nuclear reprocessing plant. [9932]

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for bringing this matter to my attention.

We have amended our travel advice notice to include a warning on the restrictions imposed by the French authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to encourage the German Government to ensure that construction sites employing British labourers conform to the necessary safety standards. [9781]

Building sites in Germany are covered by the requirements of EU health and safety directives. Detailed arrangements for enforcement of the directives are a matter for member states themselves. But both the UK and the Commission try to promote effective enforcement. In 1995, the Commission formalised a senior labour inspectors committee to look at these issues, and the UK has had some success in using this committee to promote the development of common principles of inspection.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what role the European Commission played in establishing an agreement on international financial stability at Denver; what discussions were held on economic and monetary union; and if he will make a statement. [9646]

President Santer and Commissioner de Silguy took part in discussions of a range of economic subjects with Heads of State and Government and Finance Ministers at the Denver summit. I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 24 June, Official Report, columns 671–89.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the role of the UN Trusteeship Council. [8369]

We believe that the UN Trusteeship Council has served a useful purpose, and has completed the task entrusted to it under the UN charter. We are considering the UN Secretary-General's proposals to reconstitute it as an environmental forum.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will convene a meeting of the Chief Ministers or representatives of elected members on the legislative councils of the dependencies during the forthcoming year. [8384]

The Chief Ministers of the dependent territories met in London in 1995 and they will be coming to a conference here next year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what response the United Kingdom Government have made to the note verbale of the Secretary-General of the United Nations of 23 January 1996, pursuant to UNGA 49/75M of 15 December 1994, which sought the views of member states on effective ways and means of collecting weapons transferred illicitly. [8997]

The then Government submitted their reply on 30 April 1996 to the Secretary-General's note verbale of 23 January 1996 which referred to UNGA 50/70J. This resolution, dated 12 December 1995, superseded resolution 49/75M of 15 December 1994.We are fully committed to helping to tackle problems caused by illicit arms transfers. To this end, we strongly support the EU programme for the prevention and combating of illicit trafficking in conventional arms which was agreed on 26 June 1997 and intend to take it forward during our presidency of the EU in the first half of 1998.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he intends to report to the house the findings of his Department's internal investigation announced on 12 February into the use of British-supplied water cannon in Indonesia. [9115]

One of our first acts on taking office was to call for an early report on the alleged use of UK-supplied water cannon in summer 1996. We are now studying the information available. No firm conclusions have yet been drawn.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library the legal opinion his Department obtained on the sale of Hawk aircraft to Indonesia and the possible cost of revoking licences previously given. [10259]

No. It has not been the usual practice of successive Governments to make available to the House legal advice received in any area.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what evidence he has evaluated on the use of Hawk aircraft in East Timor since 1994; and if he will make a statement. [10261]

We are currently studying all the information available to us. No firm conclusions have yet been drawn.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received in respect of external legal opinions on the cost of revoking licences previously given for the export of Hawk aircraft to Indonesia; and if he will make a statement. [10263]

We have received representations from hon. Members and non-governmental organisations about revocation which have included legal opinions. Any decision to revoke an export licence issued before 1 May would be announced to the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the compliance of the sale of Hawk aircraft to Indonesia with the Government's policy of taking account of human rights in respect of the export of arms and equipment. [10269]

We have serious concerns about the human rights situation in both Indonesia and East Timor. We are currently studying all the information available to us in relation to allegations about the use of Hawk in East Timor. No firm conclusions have yet been drawn.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe mission to Bosnia regarding the registration of housebound and disabled citizens for the forthcoming municipal elections; and if he will make a statement. [9602]

We discussed this issue with the OSCE mission in Sarajevo on 23 June, and subsequently wrote to it to ask that further thought be given to enabling housebound and disabled citizens to register during the appeals period, and to vote at home under international supervision.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to review the GCHQ nationality rules requiring parents, step-parents or guardians of applicants for employment to have been Commonwealth citizens or Irish citizens resident in the United Kingdom. [9824]

GCHQ is in the process of revising its nationality rules, including the rule dealing with the nationality of a prospective employee's parents, and will be submitting its proposals to Ministers shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports his Department has received in respect of plans by the Botswanan authorities to move Kalahari bushmen out of the central Kalahari game reserve; and if he will make a statement. [9920]

The Botswana Government have outlined plans for the bushmen who live on and off the central Kalahari game reserve. They have assured us that no one would be evicted from the reserve. Our high commissioner visited the central Kalahari area earlier this month and found no evidence that bushmen had been forced away from the reserve. He is consulting the Minister of Local Government in Botswana with responsibility for the bushmen, to ensure that plans for managing the move of those bushmen who have elected to leave are adequate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what studies have been made of the practical problems that arise from Hungary's accession to NATO; what discussions have been undertaken with non-NATO countries in the region to establish (a) a land or air corridor and (b) a pipe transit; and if he will make a statement. [9624]

I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.Geographical location was one of the factors addressed in the NATO studies which preceded the decision to invite Hungary, with Poland and the Czech Republic, to begin accession talks. The process of preparing for their accession will include continuing work within NATO on the military implications of enlargement. This work will reflect the Alliance's intention of carrying out its collective defence and other missions by ensuring the necessary levels of interoperability, integration and capability for reinforcement. I am not aware that any formal discussions have so far taken place with non-NATO countries on these issues.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence in which scientific journals and other open publications and on what dates staff from the sea systems sector site of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency at Alverstoke have published papers since January 1993. [9470]

This is a matter for the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. I have asked the chief executive, DERA, to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those weapons and terms of defence equipment costing in excess of £100 million which have been delivered on time and within the original budget since 1990. [8131]

Information on the largest defence equipment projects, including comparisons between original and present estimates of costs and time scales, is given annually to Parliament in the Comptroller and Auditor General's reports on the Ministry of Defence "Major Projects Report", known before 1993 as the "Major Projects Statement". Copies of these are in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the design of the software for the Eurofighter. [8654]

The software element in the Eurofighter is fully assessed at key stages in its development and during integration to ensure that performance and flight safety requirements are met. The development programme is proceeding satisfactorily.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the advantages of the proposals for a replacement royal yacht wholly financed by the private sector; and if this would include maintenance, staffing and other running costs. [9089]

The Government are currently considering the requirement for a replacement royal yacht and will announce their decision in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the Sea Harrier replacement study; and when he expects the study to be completed. [9419]

Work is under way to consider whether and how to replace the capability currently provided by the Sea Harrier when these aircraft reach the end of their service lives early next century. As part of this work, we are participating in the four-year concept demonstration phase of the US joint strike fighter programme which began last November and is aimed at developing a family of advanced combat aircraft in approximately the right time scale. This phase is expected to be completed around the turn of the century. We are also investigating other possible options.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list for each departmental policy review presently in progress or scheduled, (a) a description of the purpose of the review and (b) its expected date of completion. [10194]

[holding answer 22 July 1997]: The purpose of the Strategic Defence Review is to reassess our essential security interests and defence needs, to ensure that the United Kingdom's defence capabilities are matched to the changed strategic setting. Work on the review is envisaged to be completed around the turn of the year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) on what dates since 1 May (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department have met commercial lobbyists to discuss matters relating to the business of his Department; and if he will introduce a register of such meetings; [8075](2) on what dates since 1 May

As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister explained in response to my hon. Friend the Member for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn) on 2 June 1997, Official Report, column 99, Ministers and officials in the Department receive deputations from many groups who are concerned to press their own interests or those of their clients, which Ministers and officials take due care to consider within the wider public interest and Government policy. As it is not practicable to distinguish particular groups as lobbyists, the Department cannot keep a register of such meetings.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will ensure that (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department refuse requests from hon. Members to (i) arrange and (ii) attend meetings relating to interests held by those Members under categories 1, 2, 3, 4(b), 8 and 9 in the Register of Members' Interests. [8074]

The first report from the Committee on Standards in Public Life—Cm 2850—recognised the value of enabling Members to retain interests outside the House, provided these were properly declared, both in the Register of Members' Interests and on other occasions. Subject to these requirements, and to the rules of the House relating to delegations to Ministers, Members are free to seek meetings with Ministers and officials, who will consider such requests alongside the many other approaches from individuals and organisations concerned to press their own interests or those of others.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on what occasions (a) Ministers and (b) officials have refused to (i) arrange and (ii) attend meetings with hon. Members to discuss matters relating to interests registered by those Members under categories 1, 2, 3, 4(b), 8 and 9 in the Register of Members' Interests. [8077]

The first report from the Committee on Standards in Public Life—Cm 2850—made it clear that, when Members are meeting Ministers or others on topics in which they have na interest, the onus is on the Member to declare that interest not the Minister to know—paragraph 63 of Cm 2850. It is not practicable for Ministers and officials, amongst their other duties, to vet requests for meetings against the Register of Members' Interests. Should evidence of non-declaration emerge, or contravention of the resolution of the House relating to delegations to Ministers, the matter would be brought to the attention of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list for each local authority area the number of awards made, the percentage they represent of the total sums, and the number of applications that were (a) successful and (b) unsuccessful, for each category of national lottery funding; and if he will make a statement. [8855]

To date, over £3.75 billion has been awarded to 24,561 projects throughout the United Kingdom. Each distributing body has provided the information on successful and unsuccessful applications by local authority area and these figures are summarised in the following table.

A complete list, including percentages, by local authority area will be placed in the Libraries of the House, as soon as the information is available.

Category	Distributing body	Successful applications	Unsuccessful applications
Arts	Arts Council of England	1,450	952
	Scottish Arts Council	316	122
	Arts Council of Wales	475	103
	Arts Council of Northern Ireland	253	60
Sub total		2,494	1,237
Sports	English Sports Council	2,192	1,230
	Scottish Sports Council	339	238
	Sports Council for Wales	192	39
	Sports Council for Northern Ireland	266	55
Sub total		2,989	1,562
Heritage	Heritage Lottery Fund	1,043	651
Millennium	Millennium Commission	113	1,797
Charities	National Lottery Charities Board	8,486	31,013
Grand total		15,125	36,260

Figures as at 15 July 1997.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what is the policy of his Department on the timely payment of debts; and what is his Department's record on the payment of debts in the current financial year. [9527]

[holding answer 18 July 1997]: All Departments are required to pay all their bills within agreed contract terms, or 30 days from receipt of the goods or service or a valid invoice, whichever is later, where no such terms exist. Information on payment performance for the current financial year could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The Government will publish a league table of departmental payment performance for 1996–97 in the autumn.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will arrange for bicycle parking spaces to be provided outside his Ministry. [9980]

My Department has existing secure storage for bicycles in an underground car park at one of our headquarters buildings for use by all staff.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what categories of information and statistics his Department collects in relation to each parliamentary constituency. [8246]

Currently, the only information which is specifically collected for each parliamentary constituency relates to electoral statistics. In addition, the Scottish Office compiles, and has access to, a wide range of statistical databases which hold information with a geographical reference allowing analyses by parliamentary constituency, from which summary information is available upon request. I will write to my hon. Friend with a list of the statistical information that is published by the Scottish Office for each parliamentary constituency. I shall arrange for a copy of the letter to be placed in the Library of the House.