To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give details of all new contracts awarded by 30 September, by each district health authority or special health authority, by hospital, for (a) portering, (b) catering, (c) laundry, (d) cleaning and (e) other ancillary work; and if he will give the estimated annual saving for each contract awarded.

The information requested in respect of new contracts awarded by district health authorities in Wales from 1 November 1987 to 30 September 1988 for catering, laundry and cleaning services is given in the following table. Details of contracts relating to portering and other ancillary work are not held centrally.

District health authority and details of contract	Estimated annual savings £
Clwyd
Domestic Preswylfa in-house 2 years from January 1989	Not known
East Dyfed
Domestic: Carmarthen in-house 3 years from 1 July 1988	41,000
Domestic: Ceredigion in-house 3 years from 1 August 1988	37,000
Domestic: Bryntirion in-house 3 years from 1 December 1988	29,100
Catering: Llanelli Unit in-house 3 years from 17 November 1987	Nil
Catering: Carmarthen in-house 3 years from 1 December 1988	400
Laundry: District Laundry in-house 3 years from 1 December 1988	46,500
Gwent
Domestic: HQ in-house 3 years from 5 April 1988	Nil
Domestic: Community clinics North Gwent in-house 3 years from 1 August 1988	45,500
Domestic: County Hospital in-house 3 years from 7 November 1988	77,700
Domestic: Community Clinics South Gwent in-house 3 years from 1 January 1989	10,400
Gwynedd
Domestic: Bryn-Y-Neuadd Hospital in-house 3 years from 14 February 1988	21,000
Domestic: St. Davids/Caernarfon Hospital in-house 3 years from January 1989	63,000
Domestic: Ysbyty Gwynedd in-house 3 years from January 1989	204,000
Mid Glamorgan
Domestic: St. Tydfils/Mardy Hospital in-house 3 years from January 1989	61,500
Domestic: Bridgend General/Maesgwyn Hospital in-house 3 years from January 1989	4,800
Domestic: Prince Charles Hospital in-house 3 years from January 1989	100,700

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give the latest figures, as a percentage of services put out to tender by each district health authority, for (a) catering, (b) domestic services and (c) laundry; and if he will give the estimated annual savings.

The information is as follows:

DHA	Percentage by value of service for which tenders invited Per cent.	1Estimated annual savings £
Clwyd
Domestic	0·5	Not analogous with previous costs
Catering	Nil	Nil
Laundry	Nil	Nil
East Dyfed
Domestic	61	107,100
Catering	52	Nil
Laundry	100	46,500
Gwent
Domestic	37	133,600
Catering	Nil	Nil
Laundry	Nil	Nil

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how much land in acres is owned by the Welsh water authority in England and Wales.(2) what types of land, urban, rural and mountain, are in Welsh water authority ownership in Wales and England;(3) what estimate he has of the value of land in Welsh water authority ownership;(4) how much land is in Welsh water authority ownership

These are matters for the Welsh water authority. I have asked the chairman to write to the hon. Gentleman.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the carriageway restrictions on the A2 between Bexleyheath and Dartford to end; and if he will make a statement.

Weather permitting, work is expected to be completed by the end of January.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received concerning delays on the A2 between Bexleyheath and Dartford.

One representation has been received about delays resulting from the contract on the A2 between Bexley and Dartford.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has yet received British Rail's submission for the electrification of the cross-city line from Lichfield to Redditch via Birmingham New Street.

I have not.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will reconsider the policy stated in the answer of 12 November 1987, Official Report, column 252, and authorise the use as an additional lane of the stretch of disused offside lane hard shoulder on the north-bound carriageway of the MI from the junction with the M25 to its most northerly point.

No. This extra lane is not long enough to be useful and safe.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether, in the light of the answer of 12 November 1987 to the hon. Member for Derby, North, Official Report, column 252, concerning the non-construction of a stretch of additional vehicle carriageway on the north-bound side of the M1, he will explain the criteria used for deciding to construct a shorter length of carriageway on the south-bound side of the same motorway between junctions 4 and 5.

The new southbound crawler lane between junctions 4 and 5 was constructed because slow-moving heavy goods vehicles on this incline were causing delays to traffic, particularly during the morning peak period.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the length of fourth lane carriageway on the south-bound side of the M1 motorway between junctions 4 and 5.

The crawler lane is 1·4 km long.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the length of disused offside lane hard shoulder on the north-bound carriageway of the M1 north of the junction with the M25.

Approximately 2½ miles. It has less than two miles as a continuous length.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many motor vehicle accidents have been reported on the stretch of fourth lane carriageway on the south-bound side of the M1 between junctions 4 and 5 since this south lane was constructed.

There have been no personal injury accidents recorded since the crawler lane was opened to traffic on 14 August 1988.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what alterations are planned or are being considered with regard to the regulations affecting the provision of rear brake lights on motor vehicles.

Better vehicle conspicuity can reduce accidents and save lives. New draft vehicle lighting regulations on which we are currently consulting propose improved lighting on heavy lorries and a requirement that brake lights fitted in car rear windows should be only half as bright as normal brake lights. This would overcome the problem of eye-level glare.We are also discussing internationally with a view to agreeing new European standards, other ways of making brake lights more effective, for instance by separating them from other rear lights.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether it is yet possible to reduce the five-year delay before the cherished registration number from a stolen car can be re-issued.

From today, the last registered keeper of a stolen and unrecovered vehicle with a cherished number can have that number reinstated on another vehicle only one year after the date of theft. Those motorists known to be able to benefit from the change are being informed individually by the driver and vehicle licensing centre.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport why, pursuant to his answer of 27 October, his Department's review of the railway inspectorate of April 1987 states in paragraph 6–22 that as a matter of policy the inspectorate has deliberately refrained from making any preventative checks on railway maintenance, whether of operating equipment or permanent way; and if he will make a statement.

Paragraph 6.22 of the review report went on to recommend that inspections under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act should include

"checks as to whether track and equipment have been maintained adequately as a matter of routine".

This is receiving careful consideration, along with the other recommendations in the report.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many foreign reflaggings to the ensign have occurred since the strengthening of the Armilla patrol in late 1986.

I shall write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will provide a breakdown by London boroughs of reported unlicensed vehicles.

No. The figures are not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will explain the circumstances leading to the cancellation of the public inquiry into the proposed Egremont bypass; when he proposes that the inquiry should resume; and if he will make a statement.

The public inquiry was abandoned because of a procedural flaw in the arrangements for the inquiry. We forgot to publish the official notice of the inquiry. I apologise. Arrangements for a fresh inquiry will be made as quickly as possible.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 1 November.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 1 November.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 1 November.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 1 November.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 1 November.

This morning I presided at a meeting of the Cabinet and had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House I shall be having further meetings later today.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on the progress of the inquiry into the leak of a letter from the Secretary of State for Social Security to the Chief Secretary to the Treasury; what inquiries are being undertaken to establish the circumstances in which a copy of the letter was destroyed; and if she will make a statement.

The normal procedures are being followed. It is not the usual practice to comment further on matters of this kind.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the statement in the Minister for Housing and Planning's personal letter to tenants in housing action trust areas that councils will have the resources to enable them to buy back the houses from the trust means that there will be a separate and additional provision in that local authority's housing investment programme.

As well as writing to prospective tenants, I wrote to the leaders of the local authorities being considered for housing action trusts. In those letters I said that authorities which wish to repurchase HAT property when the trust has completed its improvement work would be given the necessary approvals to enable them to raise sufficient funds for acquisition. Under the present system, there would be an in-year addition to the council's housing investment programme allocation. Under the proposed new financial system, set out in the consultation paper, "Capital Expenditure and Finance", a supplementary credit approval would be issued.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether the reference in the Minister for Housing and Planning's personal letter to tenants in housing action trust areas to rents moving in line with council rents takes account of the proposed charges to the housing revenue accounting system as set out in the consultation document published by his Department;(2) if he will clarify whether the statement in the Minister for Housing and Planning's personal letter to tenants in housing action trust areas means rents will move in line with council rents or with market rents.

Rents payable by tenants of housing action trusts will move in line with council rents. My letter to prospective tenants takes into account the proposals in the Government's consultation paper "A New Financial Regime for Local Authority Housing in England and Wales." One of the objectives of the proposed new system is that council rents generally should not exceed levels within the reach of people in low-paid employment.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how a social landlord, as referred to in the Minister for Housing and Planning's personal letter to tenants in housing action trust areas, is to be registered.

Clause 79 of the Housing Bill requires the Housing Corporation to maintain a register of approved landlords which shall be open to inspection.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the legally binding guarantee about rent and long-term security referred to in the Minister for Housing and Planning's personal letter to tenants in housing action trust areas, is an assured tenancy as set out in the Housing Bill.

Housing action trust tenants transferring to landlords approved by the Housing Corporation will be offered assured tenancies subject to the terms of part I of the Housing Bill and the tenants' guarantee or its equivalent. The Housing Corporation has issued a draft of the tenants' guarantee, "Guidance for Registered Housing Associations on Housing Management Practice." Such assured tenancies will provide long-term security of tenure. The draft guarantee also states that rents should be at levels within the reach of those in low-paid employment. The initial rent levels will be set out in the tenancy agreement which should also state the procedure and framework for altering rents.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if there are any plans to return to its original level the Terrace of the Palace of Westminster.

There are no proposals to restore the Terrace to its original level. The work involved would be substantial and for the foreseeable future there are more pressing priorities to be met from the parliamentary works vote.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many planning applications called in and subject to public inquiry have been (a) granted and (b) refused in each of the past eight years.

The number of called-in planning applications granted and refused is as follows:

	Granted	Refused
1980	33	24
1981	36	17
1982	23	25
1983	33	30
1984	32	35
1985	27	17
1986	25	24
1987	27	26

The importance of most called-in development proposals means that most of these cases will have been subject to a public local inquiry, but the Department has no record of the number.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Pollution to publish its report into the incidence of childhood cancer in north Humberside.

Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Pollution is completing its investigation of the radioactive discharges from the Capper Pass factory on north Humberside and related issues including possible health effects. We expect its report will be submitted to Ministers in November.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the Official Report the number of properties sold under the right-to-buy legislation since 1980 by each local authority in England and the percentage of each authority's housing stock these figures represent.

A table giving the information requested on sales up to March 1988 as reported by each local authority in England was placed in the Library on 13 September in response to an earlier question by my hon. Friend the Member for Basildon (Mr. Amess) on 29 July at column 819. An updated version of this table, giving information up to June 1988 is to be produced shortly, and will also be laid in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he proposes to publish his response to the consultation paper on disputes about valuations under the Leasehold Reform Act 1967.

The responses to our consultation paper are still being considered by the Department and by the Welsh Office. I hope to be able to announce decisions soon.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his reply of 26 October on the subject of inner aid programme funding, if he will list those local authorities that supplied information to his Department in respect of a part of their application too late to qualify for such funding.

I am writing to my hon. Friend.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, following his decision not to pursue Her Majesty's Government's previous intention to give national park authorities in England and Wales powers to make landscape conservation orders, what steps he now intends to take to introduce new laws giving extra protection to the landscape of national parks.

As I explained when announcing my right hon. Friend's decision not to proceed with the landscape conservation orders proposal, we see no need for further legislation in this area at present.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give a date on which he now expects to lay the proposed consolidated General Development Order to include a provision requiring planning permission for the siting of livestock units within 400 m of most existing permanent buildings.

The Town and Country Planning General Developent Order 1988 was laid on 31 October and will come into effect on 5 December. It incorporates new planning controls over livestock units and associated structures proposed to be erected within 400 m of most types of permanent buildings.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the current level of nitrates in water in Derbyshire; and how this compares with the safety limits proposed by the European Community.

The current level of nitrate in drinking water supplies in the Derbyshire area is well below the limit for nitrate of 50 mg per litre set in the EC drinking water directive, except for a small part of south Derbyshire where the level is around 70 mg per litre. About 1,000 people receive this water. However, there is no danger to health and the water is safe to drink. A remedial programme is in hand.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what evidence he has concerning levels of radon gas in the east midlands; what assessment he has made of the need to inform the owners and occupiers of private dwelling houses built on, over or near granite of the potential danger therefrom; and if he will make a statement.

The results of indoor exposure to radon have been published by the National Radiological Protection Board in two documents, "Exposure to Radon Daughters in Dwellings" (NRPB-GS6, January 1987) and "Natural Radiation Exposure in UK Dwellings" (NRPB-R190, May 1988), copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House. There is no need to restrict home building on, over or near granite provided adequate measures are taken to avoid high levels of radon.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will consider amending the powers of the Nature Conservancy Council to provide a right of independent appeal against a proposed designation of a site of special scientific interest to the proprietor or other affected persons; and if he will make a statement.

No. The question of a right of appeal was considered and rejected during the passage of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and subsequently by the Environment Committee of this House (first report Session 1984–85). We are satisfied that the existing procedures are appropriate.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will consider amending the powers of the Nature Conservancy Council to require it to publish the scientific criteria which it applies in designating a site of special scientific interest; and if he will make a statement.

The Nature Conservancy Council's explanatory pamphlet, "The Selection of Sites of Special Scientific Interest," gives details of the selection guidelines currently in use. It is available to the public and a copy is held in the Library of the House. I am advised that the Nature Conservancy Council intends to publish a more detailed exposition early in 1989.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has for publicity on the implementation of the Local Government Finance Act 1988 (a) around the time of the compilation of the community charges register, (b) around the time of the publication of the community charges register and (c) around the time of issue of the first community charge bills; and how much he plans to spend in (i) 1988–89, (ii) 1989–90 and (iii) 1990–91 on such publicity.

I have not yet taken any decisions on what Government publicity will be needed at any of the stages mentioned. £1 million has been allocated this financial year to paid publicity to inform the public of the measures in the Local Government Finance Act 1988. No decisions have been taken on expenditure for subsequent years.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to support the introduction of rules to control levels of dieldrin in fish, in line with proposals supported by the European Community.

[holding answer 31 October 1988]: The European Community adopted a directive in June setting limit values and quality objectives for discharges to water of dieldrin and related substances. The directive sets water quality standards for these substances in order to protect aquatic life, and provides that concentrations in fish and other aquatic life should not increase over time. It will come into effect on 1 January 1989.Dieldrin is a highly persistent pesticide. In the United Kingdom most of the dieldrin remaining in the aquatic environment derives from past use and levels can therefore be expected gradually to decline. None the less, the Government have recently announced that the few remaining authorised agricultural uses of dieldrin will be phased out. All approvals for the use of products containing dieldrin will cease after 30 March 1989. This will ensure that further amounts of the substance do not reach the aquatic environment as a result of spillages or misuse.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if his departmental officials have made any assessment of the paper submitted by Friends of the Earth International, by George C. Kasoulides to the October consultative meeting of the 1972 London convention on the prevention of marine pollution by dumping wastes and other matters (the London dumping convention), entitled "Procedures for the Assessment of Liability Concerning Damage to the Environment Caused at Sea."

[holding answer 27 October 1988]: I have been asked to reply.The paper submitted by Friends of the Earth International on the assessment of liability concerning damage to the environment caused at sea was one of a number of papers considered at the 11th consultative meeting of contracting parties to the London dumping convention in October.Some contracting parties like the United Kingdom questioned the need to establish a liability regime or considered it premature to do so. Contracting parties agreed, however, to set up a small task team of legal experts to take stock of existing domestic law and public international law on civil and state liability applicable to damage resulting from dumping at sea.The task team will report to the 12th consultative meeting in October 1989.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much has been (a) expended, and (b) allocated for (i) furnishings and (ii) decoration in No. 10, Downing street in 1988–89.

This is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister.The information is not available in the precise form requested. As regards the allocation of expenditure in 1988–89, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 29 July 1988,

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration has been given to converting a merchantman into a commando carrier so as to provide a replacement for HMS Hermes.

I refer my hon. Friend to my reply of 24 October at column 62, to my hon. Friend the Member for Shrewsbury and Atcham (Mr. Conway), which announced the issue of an invitation to tender for an aviation support ship to provide dedicated helicopter lift in support of amphibious operations. Tenderers will be free to offer varying options for meeting the requirement, not just by new design and build. Other options might include new build to an existing but suitably modified merchant ship design, or the conversion of an existing merchant hull.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the Ulster Defence Regiment are currently estimated to be Catholics; what is the total recruitment since 1985; and what proportion of recruitment since 1985 has been Catholic.

About 3 per cent. of the Ulster Defence Regiment's current strength have declared their religion as Roman Catholic. Since the beginning of 1985, about 3,000 men and women have been recruited into the regiment of whom just over 4 per cent. declared their religion as Roman Catholic.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give details of the costs of the Ulster Defence Regiment, and its Reserve, divided between wages and salaries, other personnel costs, costs of construction and buildings, investment in military equipment and other costs for the fiscal years 1985–86, 1986–87, 1987–88 and the projected costs for the years 1988–89 and 1989–90.

Estimated costs for the financial years 1985–86 to 1988–89 are as follows:

		(£ million, current prices)
Financial year	Wages and salaries	Support costs	Capital expenditure on equipment	Total
1985–86	48·2	3·9	0·7	52·8
1986–87	48·8	4·1	0·6	53·5
1987–88	48·3	4·1	0·6	53·0
1988–89	49·5	4·7	0·6	54·8

Figures for 1989–90 are not yet available.The figures for works costs are not readily available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give details of the military equipment of the Ulster Defence Regiment, and its Reserve, listing separately firearms and the type of firearms, motor vehicles, armoured vehicles and type and number of radio, radar and electronics surveillance equipment with which the regiment is equipped.

The current establishment of weapons and vehicles for the Ulster Defence Regiment is outlined as follows. The UDR has no reserve.

	Number
5·56mm rifle SA 80	5,977
5·56mm rifle Light Support Weapon (LSW)	989
0·38in revolver	1275
0·22in pistol	11,901
9mm pistol	2901
7·65mm pistol	339
Shotguns	3
Landrovers	274
4 ton Trucks	12

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the manpower strength of the British Army in Northern Ireland, giving details of the number of operatives for the categories Ulster Defence Regiment, Regular British Army and British Territorial Army, on 30 September.

The figures are as at 30 June 1988, the latest available.

	Number
Ulster Defence Regiment	6,310
Regular Army/Royal Marines 1	9,868
Territorial Army	3,762

The figures for the Ulster Defence Regiment include both full time and part-time soldiers. Soldiers of the Territorial Army are not used in support of the RUC in counter-terrorist operations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Tornado F2 aircraft have been delivered (a) with and (b) without radar; and how many are in store (i) with and (ii) without radar.

I presume that the hon. Member requires information on all marks of Tornado ADV. 111 Tornado ADV's have been delivered to date comprising 18 F2 and 93 F3. All Tornado ADV aircraft in front line service have radars fitted. There are 26 aircraft at present in storage at RAF St. Athan of which 14 are F2 and 12 are F3. While they are in storage there is no requirement to fit these aircraft with radars. The balance of four F2 ADV's are being used to support the development programme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the number of merchant ships escorted each year by the Armilla patrol, distinguishing between (a) those registered in the United Kingdom, (b) those not so registered but flying the Red Ensign and (c) those which were in neither category.

The Armilla patrol's operational pattern has involved accompaniment rather than escort of merchant vessels in the Gulf. In 1987, when the policy began, 405 transits by entitled merchant vessels were accompanied by Armilla warships. For 1988 up to 31 October, when accompaniment ceased, the corresponding figure is 621. It would not be possible to divide the total figure of 1,026 accompanied transits by country of registration and flag at the time without disproportionate cot.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with the management of British Aerospace concerning the maintenance of a nitroglycerine manufacturing facility in the United Kingdom.

None. However, RO plc remain committed to us to effect deliveries of products containing components using nitroglycerine in accordance with annual delivery programmes contained within a number of contracts.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what conditions regarding the nationality of sub-contractors are included in his agreement with Royal Ordnance plc for the supply of 80 per cent. of his Department's requirements for explosives, propellants and ammunition.

The agreement includes standard contract conditions which require RO plc to inform us in advance of any direct overseas expenditure likely to be incurred and to obtain approval, prior to purchase, for products manufactured overseas valued at more than £100,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment has been made of the effect of an increase in the geographical concentration of Royal Ordnance manufacturing facilities on their vulnerability to attack in time of war.

We understand that Royal Ordnance is reducing the number of its sites in order to improve the efficiency of its production. Our aim is, however, to increase the proportion of work going to competition in the ammunition field and this will open up opportunities to other United Kingdom companies to enter the ammunition business at the same time as achieving better value for money for the tax payer.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment has been made on the effect of the recent Royal Ordnance plant closures on the wartime production capability of Royal Ordnance.

The possible maintenance of reserve capacity in Royal Ordnance ammunition factories was considered well before the sale of Royal Ordnance to British Aerospace. Whilst we will continue to consider the retention of specific manufacturing capabilities on a case by case basis with the company, we do not believe that the individual plants concerned are, of themselves, an indispensable part of the United Kingdom defence industrial base.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if any additional costs were incurred by the Ministry of Defence for services relating to security provision to the 1988 Conservative party conference other than those relating to transport, accommodation, and so on.

No.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will reconsider his decision not to award the contract for the repair of the Leander class frigate HMS Penelope to Devonport Management Limited in the light of further information about the relative price competitivenes of the main bidders, as indicated in a letter being sent to him by the hon. Member for Plymouth, Drake.

[holding answer 27 October 1988]: No. The contract was awarded following competitive tendering to the company submitting the lowest compliant bid which, after due adjustment for comparability was significantly lower than the DML bid. However, I shall write to my hon. Friend.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what evidence he has received of serious breaches of confidentiality by banks and financial institutions concerning personal financial information; what action he proposes to take to prevent such abuses; and if he will make a statement.

I have received no evidence of the kind described by my hon. Friend. If he is able to provide me with evidence I shall have it looked into.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he has made, or intends to make, any assessment of the damage caused to the revenue of the Post Office, and of the implications for Government decisions on its future financial framework, by the September strike by the Union of Communication Workers, by way of the transfer of custom from traditional postal methods to facsimile transmission; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster has asked to be kept closely informed of the Post Office's expectations of the consequences for the business of the recent postal strike.The Post Office has already been set financial targets for the current financial year. In so far as the consequences of the strike are likely to affect the Post Office's future financial performance, they will be taken into account in decisions on its future financial framework.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether any changes will be made to his Department's cash limit for 1988–89.

Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimates, the cash limit for Class V, Vote 3 (administration, regulation of domestic trade and industry, and consumer protection) will be increased by £2 million from £187,436,000 to £189,436,000. This increase is to meet the cost of certain market assessment studies. The increase will be offset by savings in Class V, Vote 2 (Support for Industry) where the cash limit will be reduced by a corresponding amount from £570,256,000 to £568,256,000. It will not therefore add to the total of planned public expenditure.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what actions he proposes to take to assist United Kingdom investors who have suffered losses through dealing with offshore firms.

[holding answer 28 October 1988]: The Financial Services Act 1986 will provide considerable protections to investors in this position. Where the offshore business is not authorised under the Act and it carries on investment business here unlawfully, there are powers to obtain a restitution order from the courts where investors have suffered loss. A similar order may be sought if the business is authorised and investors suffer loss as a result of its misconduct. In addition, if the business is authorised, the investors' compensation scheme, established under the Act, may provide full or partial compensation for any loss suffered. A number of other provisions under the Act are also relevant. However, investors should recognise that investing with unauthorised overseas businesses is riskier than investing with authorised businesses; and that the provisions of the Act are not retrospective.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what approaches he has received from individuals or companies seeking to arrange meetings in connection with the proposed takeover of Scottish and Newcastle plc by Elders IXL; and if he will list their names.

[holding answer 28 October 1988]: A number of representations from hon. Members and others about the proposed acquisition of Scottish and Newcastle Breweries plc by Elders IXL have been received and my right hon. and noble Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and I have had a meeting with the hon. Member and four of his colleagues in the House on this matter.One request for a meeting has so far been received from one of the parties to the proposed merger. In accordance with our usual practice in such cases this has been declined.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the meetings he has held with Elders IXL or their representatives in connection with their proposed takeover of Scottish and Newcastle plc; and if he will name the individuals who attended those meetings.

[holding answer 28 October 1988]: No such meetings have been held.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is his policy with regard to publication of the House of Fraser inquiry report before (a) the serious fraud office has completed its inquiries, and (b) any criminal cases stemming from its inquiries have been disposed of by the courts; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 31 October 1988]: Publication of the report is a matter for the Secretary of State's discretion. His present view is that it would not be proper for the report to be published either before the serious fraud office has completed its inquiries or, if there were to be criminal proceedings, until after those proceedings were concluded.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the names of persons or organisations mentioned in the report to which any sections of the House of Fraser inquiry report have been revealed.

[holding answer 31 October 1988]: No.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement outlining the reasons for his decision to postpone the publication of the House of Fraser inquiry report following the announcement by the serious fraud office that further time was needed for investigation and consideration of the case by their officers; and what other considerations he took into account in making his decision.

[holding answer 31 October 1988]: I am unable to add to the press statement released by my Department on 29 September 1988.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on what date he received the inspector's report into the affairs of House of Fraser; when he forwarded the report to (a) the Office of Fair Trading and (b) the serious fraud office; what other bodies outside Her Majesty's Government were sent copies; and what were the reasons for circulating copies to the Office of Fair Trading and the serious fraud office.

[holding answer 31 October 198]: The inspectors submitted their report to the Secretary of State on 23 July. As indicated in the Department's press statement on 29 September, a copy of the report was forwarded to the Director General of Fair Trading. This took place on 19 August after the necessary parliamentary order had come into force. The report was passed to the director general because the Secretary of State would have power to refer the merger to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission if the report contained evidence of material facts about the merger that had not previously been notified or made public. The director general is considering the matter and will be advising the Secretary of State as soon as reasonably practicable.As also indicated in the press statement, a copy of the report was passed to the serious fraud office. This took place on 28 July. This was because the report raised serious issues which required to be looked at by the prosecution authorities.In answering this question it would not be proper for me to discuss which bodies apart from those indicated in the press statement have received copies of the report. These matters are necessarily confidential.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he received any request from the serious fraud office in respect of the publication of the House of Fraser report; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 31 October 1988]: I have received no such request. Naturally, my Department consults the prosecuting authorities in appropriate cases before publishing material which might be prejudicial to their investigations or to any subsequent prosecutions. Such consultation took place in this case and the views of the prosecuting authorities were given due weight.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what information he has received from the serious fraud office regarding the time which will be required by it to consider the House of Fraser inquiry report; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 31 October 1988]: I have received no information from the serious fraud office in this respect. I am confident that its inquiries will proceed as quickly as possible, consistent with a thorough investigation.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he received any request from (a) the police or (b) any other public authority regarding his decision to publish the report into the Barlow Clowes case in light of the prosecutions and further police inquiries which were taking place; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 31 October 1988]: My right hon. and noble Friend the Secretary of State announced his intention to publish Sir Godfray Le Quesne's report at the time of Sir Godfray's appointment subject to there being no legal impediment as to content or timing.Naturally, my Department consults the prosecuting authorities in appropriate cases before publishing material which might be prejudicial to their investigations or to any subsequent prosecutions. Such consultation took place in this case and the views of the prosecuting authorities were given due weight.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) what steps are being taken to encourage British companies to bring their standards up to the level of such European standards as are now required by law;(2) what steps are being taken to encourage British companies to bring their standards up to the level of such European standards as may in future be required by law.

[holding answer 31 October 1988]: The information my Department provides for industry about the single market stresses the increasingly important role of standards and will continue to do so.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the consequence for British industries in relation to any given product to be made, sold or distributed within the European Community if (a) the British Standard does not conform to the EEC standard required by law, (b) there is no British Standard which conforms to EEC standards required by law and (c) the British Standard is not adopted as being consistent with the EEC standard required by law having been rejected by majority vote.

[holding answer 31 October 1988]: European Community standards are made by the European standards bodies, CEN and CENELEC. The British Standards Institute is the United Kingdom member. While every effort is made to achieve unanimity, the British Standards Institute and the other members have agreed to abide by weighted majority voting. Once agreed, European standards are given the status of British Standards by publication of an identical text. Any conflicting existing British Standards must be withdrawn.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what further plans he has to lift the burden of regulation on business.

[pursuant to his oral answer, 9 March 1988, column 314]: The White Paper "Releasing Enterprise", which will be published tomorrow, reports progress over the last 18 months and makes proposals for taking the deregulation initiative forward with new momentum.

To ask the Lord President of the Council whether he has any proposals with regard to the future preservation of the sound archives of the proceedings of the House, as recommended in the second report of the Sound Broadcasting Committee 1986–87.

It is proposed, with Mr. Speaker's agreement, to arrange for the implementation as soon as possible of the recommendation made in the second report of the House of Commons Sound Broadcasting Committee (Session 1986–87) that, in accordance with arrangements made with the National Sound Archive, a complete sound record of the proceedings of the House should in future, after retention by the House authorities here for a period of seven years, be stored permanently at the National Sound Archive in South Kensington.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he last met the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis; and what subjects were discussed.

I last met the commissioner on 20 October at a lunch at New Scotland Yard organised by the community involvement branch. It was an informal occasion, during which we discussed the work of the branch, and a number of other policing issues.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the proposed pilot projects to use electronic monitoring for people on bail to commence; and if he will make a statement.

Next summer.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations he has received from conference towns and police authorities on the cost of security for party conferences.

We have received recent representations from 12 hon. and right hon. Members—nine of whom represent districts in which party conferences are held—one district chamber of commerce and a number of members of the public.We have considered all representations carefully, but have concluded that we would not be justified in departing from normal police funding arrangements in these cases.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a further statement on the Fresh Start initiative in prisons.

Fresh Start is in place at all establishments. We are giving effect to a programme of action plans to improve the carrying out of Fresh Start principles and to develop best practice.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been prosecuted for litter offences in each of the last four years.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to a question from him on 9 June at columns 639–42. The available information about the number of defendants proceeded against for litter-related offences, which may be incomplete, is published annually in table S1.1(a)(iii) of volume 1 of the supplementary tables to the "Criminal statistics, England and Wales". Copies of the issue for 1987 have been placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to combat noise pollution arising from public houses in residential areas.

In addition to their existing powers, the Licensing Act 1988 empowered licensing justices to make restriction orders, on grounds of disturbance, to limit or nullify the extended opening hours provided for in the Act, to exercise greater control over late-night extensions and to revoke licences at any licensing session following receipt of a complaint. A circular was issued in August drawing to the attention of the courts and the police the wide powers available to them to prevent and curb disorder, infringements of the licensing law and drunkennness.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) when the committee reviewing the workings of the Data Protection Act is due to report; whether he will name those organisations that provided evidence to that committee; and whether he will place the evidence in the Library;(2) whether the committee reviewing the workings of the Data Protection Act have reported to him concerning

the implications for individual privacy that arise from

The interdepartmental committee is continuing its review but is conscious of the need to report to Ministers as soon as possible. The committee is awaiting the result of the independent consultation exercise undertaken by the data protection registrar before deciding whether there is need to call for further evidence. It is not intended that such evidence should be placed in the Library. The data protection registrar intends that the outcome of his exercise should be published in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will place in the Library a copy of the rules that will allow Departments to transfer personal data to other Departments connected to the Government data network.

The principles under which the transfer of personal data may be authorised are the same for the Government data network as for other means of transmission, whether automatic or manual. Authority for the transfer of personal information between Departments is a matter for the Ministers of the Departments concerned.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will review the sale of the electoral register in light of restrictions on the sale of the community charge register.

No. The Government made it clear, during the passage of what is now the Local Government Finance Act 1988, that the provisions governing the sale of the electoral register would remain in force irrespective of any decision on the sale of the extract of the community charges register.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will bring forward legislative proposals to permit the police to levy on-the-spot fines for littering of public places.

No; the police must give priority to dealing with violence and other more serious crime.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate the numbers of bogus refugees coming into Britain over each of the past nine years and the current figure for 1988; and if he will make a statement.

Information on applications for refugee status is published in an annual series of statistical bulletins, most recently "Refugee statistics, United Kingdom, 1987" Home Office statistical bulletin 16/88. The statistics show a marked decline over the last nine years in the number of grants of refugee status as a proportion of applications received. But we do not categorise "bogus" applications separately. The refusal of an application means that the asylum-seeker is not considered to have a well-founded fear of persecution; it does not necessarily suggest that the application was not made in good faith.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons in England and Wales were charged with terrorist-type offences relating to Northern Ireland in the current year; how many of those charged were released on bail; and what was the average period between remand and trial for prisoners refused bail relating to such charges in Britain in the current year.

In the current year one person has been charged with such an offence and he was remanded in custody for 47 days before trial. In addition the three persons remanded in custody last year on charges of conspiracy to murder the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland were further charged this year with conspiracy to murder persons unknown. The total period spent on remand by the three before trial was 393 days.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons were remanded in custody before trial for terrorist-type offences in the current year.

Four.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the number of deaths and injuries which have occurred in Great Britain in 1987 and 1988 connected with present civil unrest in Northern Ireland.

In 1987 no homicides were recorded in England and Wales as attributed to acts of terrorism connected with Northern Ireland. Provisional information for the first nine months of 1988 is that there has been one such offence of homicide, in an IRA bombing in which nine persons were also injured. I understand from my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland that there were no such deaths or injuries recorded in Scotland either in 1987 or so far in 1988.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners in British prisons who give as their domicile Northern Ireland have been returned to Northern Ireland to serve the whole or part of their sentences in the current year; and how many of these prisoners were serving sentences for terrorist-type offences.

Six inmates of English prisons who gave Northern Ireland as their domicile have been granted transfer to Northern Ireland at their own request to serve the remainder of their sentences since 1 January this year. One is serving a sentence for a terrorist-type offence. Not all these transfers have yet taken place. Transfers of inmates from Scotland to Northern Ireland are a matter for my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average period of custodial remand for female custodial remand prisoners in England and Wales for the first half of the current year.

It is estimated that the figures for the first half of 1988 were broadly similar to those for 1987, that is an average of 45 days spent by untried females in prison service establishments and an average of 27 days for convicted unsentenced females.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average length of custodial sentence of female prisoners in England and Wales in the first six months of the current year.

Information on the distribution of the length of sentence for females received under sentence or serving sentences is published annually in "Prison statistics, England and Wales"—tables 3.3, 3.10, 5(a), 5.9 and 7.1 of the latest issue for 1986, Cm. 210—copies of which are in the Library. The average length of sentence for females received into prison service establishments in England and Wales in the first six months of 1988 to serve a determinate sentence, excluding those in default of payment of a fine, was about 8.1 months for young offenders and 12·5 months for adults.I regret that corresponding information for the complete year of 1984, given in an earlier reply on 3 February 1986, at column

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners were transferred from (a) England and Wales to Northern Ireland and (b) Northern Ireland to England and Wales in the current year; and under which section of the Criminal Justice Act 1961 such transfers were carried out.

Since 1 January 1988, six inmates have been accepted for permanent transfer from England and Wales to Northern Ireland under section 26 of the 1961 Act, and six for temporary transfer under section 27. One inmate has been accepted for transfer from Northern Ireland to England and Wales under section 26 and one under section 27. No transfers have been made this year under other sections of the Act.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list separately how many prisoners giving as their domicile either the Republic or Northern Ireland, respectively, have been permitted to return home to the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland, respectively, on parole for humanitarian reasons in the current year.

Prisoners may be temporarily released on compassionate grounds under rule 6 of the Prison Rules 1964, as amended.Records of the number of prisoners granted temporary release are not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Prisoners are not temporarily released under rule 6 to any place, including the Republic of Ireland, which is outside the jurisdiction of the United Kingdom.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give details of the number of body searches, cell searches and cell changes and strip searches carried out on each of the category A prisoners being held at Her Majesty's prison, Durham, monthly since May.

I refer the hon. Member to replies given to his questions on 20 July 1987, columns 56–57, as to the practice relating to body searches, cell searches and cell changes, and 14 June 1988, at columns 95–96, 29 July 1988, at columns 760–61, and 19 October 1988, at columns 881–82, as to the number of strip searches.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will report what progress has been made on the review of Dr. Paul Vickers' sentence.

Dr. Vickers' solicitors submitted a long and detailed report on the medical evidence given at trial, suggesting that his conviction for murder is unsafe. This report is being considered in the light of a further report by a forensic pathologist.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when, further to his letter of 18 August to the hon. Member for Copeland, his Department proposes to make contact with Mr. A. P. Bamidele of 23 Charlton court, Hows street, London E2 8LU, as promised in the letter.

We have now written to Mr. Bamidele.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will take steps to require all pre-packed or bottled foods or beverages to list on a label affixed thereto their sodium content.

We are strongly encouraging manufacturers and retailers to adopt the fullest format of voluntary nutrition declarations, including sodium content, set out in the guidelines on nutrition labelling issued on 21 January. Many are already providing this information. Recent European Community proposals on voluntary nutrition labelling, which we have just formally received, would introduce a format which is, as expected, broadly similar to the one set out in our guidelines and would thus include sodium in the list of nutrients. The Community proposals would also provide for the labelling of certain nutrients to be made compulsory where, after taking account of the medical evidence, this is considered necessary in order to protect or enhance the health of the population or important groups of it. We will be consulting with a wide range of interested parties on the Community proposals and will fully take account of views in forthcoming negotiations.