asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will place in the Library of the House a report of the recent Conference of Commonwealth Governments held in Botswana.

Leaders from 16 Commonwealth African countries attended a Roundtable on Democracy and Good Governance in Africa in Botswana from 24–27 February. The meeting, organised by the Commonwealth Secretariat, began with a preparatory meeting in Gaborone, attended by representatives from both governing and opposition parties. Heads of Government then went to Kasane in northern Botswana for a two-day "retreat" to consider the future of democracy in Africa. The Commonwealth Secretariat has provided the following documents, which will be placed in the Library of the House:

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the statement regarding NATO expansion made by the Baroness Chalker of Wallasey that "these negotiations will have no direct effect on other international business or the European Union Intergovernmental Conference" (27 Feb.,

Linkages made by the Russian Parliament are a matter for that body. We remain of the view that negotiations for accession to NATO membership are compatible with the present international arms control agenda.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the continuing experience of Partnership for Peace (including the joint exercises with and in East European countries) has shown that the eastward enlargement of NATO is no longer necessary and should be reconsidered.

No. Partnership for Peace was launched at the 1994 NATO Summit, in parallel with the Alliance's commitment to enlargement, as one strand of a policy aimed at enhancing the security of Europe. The enlargement of NATO has been another essential strand of that policy since 1994.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they are aware that the proposed expansion of NATO eastward is considered by the Russian Government to be a breach of an informal undertaking given by the Prime Minister, when he was Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, during discussions on German reunification.

I refer the noble Lord to the Answer I gave to his question on this subject on 20 November 1996 (WA 137)

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Answer given by the Baroness Chalker of 20 February

Statements made by NATO Foreign Ministers at their meetings are politically binding on the 16 NATO governments.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the decision of the United States of America to sell Amraam missiles to Thailand is in accordance with the provisions of the Missile Technology Control Regime.

While it is for the United States to judge, on the basis of all available information, whether its missile exports are in accordance with the provisions of the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), we have no reason to believe that the proposed transfer contravenes such provisions.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What meaning they attach to the statement made by the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, that "we cannot deny [the countries of Central Europe] a guarantee for their security that they desire and desperately need" (HC Deb., 26 Feb., col. 274) and what is the desperate need that is not satisfied by the existing OSCE and United Nations security arrangements.

As my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs said in Washington, "For countries of Central Europe to feel secure, they need to join the European institutions: NATO, the European Union, the Council of Europe".

asked Her Majesty's Government:What improvements have been made to access to the collections of the National Galleries of Scotland.

I am anxious that the people of Scotland should have the fullest possible opportunity to see and appreciate the country's heritage of art and design in appropriate surroundings. At present only one-fifth of the Scottish paintings held by the National Galleries of Scotland (NGS) are on permanent public view. It is right that action should be taken to improve the position.To this end, my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Scotland is inviting the NGS Trustees to consider the establishment of a new national loans scheme whereby coherent groups of good quality works of art from the National Galleries are made available for exhibition at suitable local museums and galleries and other appropriate locations throughout Scotland. This initiative would also encourage local museums and galleries to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the Heritage Lottery Fund to upgrade their facilities to a standard appropriate to housing works of national importance.As a further step, the Board of Trustees of the NGS has put to me revised outline proposals to establish a new National Gallery of Scottish Art and Design in Glasgow. These proposals reflect the advice of the National Heritage Memorial Fund that it could not support a project of the scale described in the NGS's original application for Lottery funding towards the capital costs of acquiring and fitting out the former Post Office building in George Square. The new proposals, which take account of that advice, are smaller in scale and more focused on the objective of making available to the public good quality works of Scottish art which are not currently on permanent display.The trustees are aware that the capital costs of the revised project would need to be met from non-government sources and I would require half of the running costs for at least the first four years to be met from private sources. The provision of the balance from public funds would be a matter for consideration in future public expenditure rounds. The project would also have to meet normal requirements of public sector investment appraisal.On the basis of these assurances about the funding of the capital and running costs of a Glasgow gallery, we are prepared for further detailed work to go ahead on this proposal, in parallel with the development of the new national loans scheme initiative, with the objective of maximising access to the national collections.

asked Her Majesty's Government:(i) What was the United Kingdom's total gross contribution to the European Union's budget in 1995; (ii) what were the total receipts to local authorities, public bodies and others through the European Regional Development Fund and the European Social Fund in 1995; and (iii) what was the United Kingdom's total net contribution to the EU budget not including subsidies paid to farmers in 1995.

The United Kingdom paid a total of £8,889 million in respect of its gross contributions, before abatement, to the European Community in 1995. Payments made from the European Regional Development Fund and the European Social Fund to UK government departments during the course of 1995 amounted to £436 million and £756 million, respectively. It is not possible to provide disaggregated figures for the net contribution in terms of the cash transactions which took place in 1995. This is because the abatement relating to our contributions and receipts in respect of a year is paid in the following year.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When a memorandum concerning the prior options review of the Police Scientific Development Branch will be placed in the Library.

My right honourable friend has today placed in the Library a memorandum setting out the rationale underlying the decision he announced on 29 January, that the Police Scientific Development Branch should remain in the public sector as an integral part of the Home Office.

asked Her Majesty's Government:In what conditions the Prison Service is holding Roisin McAliskey.

Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about the conditions in which Roisin McAliskey is being held at Holloway prison.Following a routine review of her security status, Roisin McAliskey remains a Category A prisoner but has been downgraded from high risk to standard risk within that category. As a result, some of the security arrangements which have been in operation have been relaxed.The number of strip searches to which Roisin McAliskey had been subject has already been reduced and she is no longer being strip searched before and after every open visit within the prison. She is now only being strip searched on the same basis as all other prisoners at Holloway. This means before leaving the prison for court appearances and on return to the prison; as part of a cell search and drug testing procedures; on a random basis; or if there were reasonable suspicion she had secreted something about her person.Further relaxations as a consequence of the security review will take effect from now on. She will be able to attend chapel, to use the gym and the swimming pool, and to attend ante-natal classes with other prisoners. The number of overnight security checks will be reduced so that the light in her cell can be extinguished for most of the night.Separately from the review of her security status, Roisin McAliskey applied on 14 February to be located on the Mother and Baby Unit at Holloway with her baby after it is born. Her application was considered, following the normal processes which apply to all expectant mothers, by the Admissions Board at Holloway, who considered the views of independent experts in the development needs of babies, as well as logistical issues.The Assessment Board has now advised the Governor that Roisin McAliskey's application should be approved, the Governor has recommended approval and I have accepted this recommendation. She has been told that she may keep her baby with her after the birth. She will, as do all other mothers, have to sign a compact agreeing to be of reasonable behaviour and to co-operate with the ethos and regime of the unit. Babies in the unit normally remain with their mothers until the age of nine months.Both the reduction in security classification and the decision to allow Roisin McAliskey to keep her baby have followed the standard procedures and processes that would apply to any other prisoner.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they will publish the final National Air Quality Strategy.

Following extensive consultation on proposals for a United Kingdom National Air Quality Strategy, and careful consideration of the responses, the Government have decided to press ahead with steps to achieve by 2005 major reductions in the principal air pollutants which threaten health in the United Kingdom.During a three-month consultation period, the Government received around 450 responses, 210 of them from local authorities. Most offered broad support for the general principles and approach proposed by the Government. They recognised the need for a strategic, integrated approach which is health-based and objective-led. While some responses urged even tighter objectives, and others raised concerns about the impact of costs on industry, a clear majority endorsed them and accepted that the target of achievement by 2005 was appropriate.The strategy sets out standards and objectives for the control and reduction of the eight main health-threatening air pollutants in the United Kingdom—nitrogen dioxide, particles, ozone, sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide, lead, benzene and 1,3 butadiene. The standards are health-based, on recommendations either by a panel of independent medical and scientific experts, or the World Health Organisation. Achievement of the objectives set out in the strategy should minimize the impact of air pollutants on human health in the United Kingdom.The strategy is the first of its kind in Europe. It will offer everyone, even those most sensitive to air pollution, a very high level of protection. The objectives are ambitious and in some cases go beyond what is likely to be achieved by measures currently in place. However, the Government believe that protection of human health should be paramount and they will introduce further measures if necessary to achieve their pollution control objectives.Air quality in the United Kingdom has improved considerably since the 1950s and 1960s. However, advances in scientific knowledge since then have led to a better understanding of the health effects of major air pollutants, and provided new technologies to tackle these. The Government have committed themselves, therefore, through the strategy, to the improvement of localised areas of poor air quality, to the reduction of any remaining significant risks to health, and to ensuring consistently good air quality throughout the country by 2005.The strategy sets out the contribution which key sectors, including industry, transport and local government, will need to make towards the achievement of the objectives. It brings together the existing systems for controlling pollution and introduces a new system of local air quality management to complement them and help clear up pollution "hot-spots". Because of remaining uncertainties over the exact reductions in emissions needed or achievable, for some pollutants, some of the objectives remain provisional. The strategy will be subject to periodic reviews, the first in 1999, to assess progress towards meeting the objectives and ensure their continuing relevance and the cost effectiveness of the proposed measures.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is their estimate of the amount which the United Kingdom has spent or is committed to spend to comply with each European water directive currently in force; how much it has spent or is committed to spend during the period covered by those directives on water infrastructure and supply; and how much the other EU member states have similarly spent or are committed to spend.

The Director General of the Office of Water Services allowed £24,000 million of capital expenditure during the 10-year period from 1995 to 2005 (financial years), when he set price limits for the water and sewerage companies in England and Wales. Of this, £12,000 million was for the maintenance of assets and £1,000 million for improving water resources and to reduce the risk of flooding from sewers, and £11,000 million was for quality improvements in response both to national priorities and to the requirements of European Community Directives.Many of the existing European water directives were agreed in the 1970s and 1980s and full information on spending is not available. Nor is it possible to separate historic costs associated with individual directives. Current best estimates for the most significant directives, though, are:Bathing Water Directive: £2,000 million; andUrban Waste Water Treatment Directive: £8,000 million.The cost to the water industry in England and Wales of meeting the requirements of the Water Quality Regulations for drinking water between 1990–91 and 1994–95 was £2,600 million. Further improvements to the quality of drinking water planned for the period 1995–2005 would cost in the region of £3,900 million.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many trains on the London Underground have suffered derailment in the past 12 months, and what was the equivalent figure (a) five years ago; (b) 10 years ago; (c) 15 years ago.

I understand from London Underground that there has been one derailment this year and that there were four in 1996, two in 1991 and 10 in 1986. Figures were not collected on the same basis in 1981. These figures are for derailments of passenger trains in service operated by London Underground, where at least one wheel of one vehicle left the rails.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What has been the total cost of legal aid in the United Kingdom for each of the last 10 years, showing separately expenditure on criminal legal aid and civil legal aid.

Net expenditure on criminal and civil legal aid, in each of the last 10 years, was as follows.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What has been the average cost to public funds of the last three years of each case where legal aid has been granted, showing separately criminal and civil cases.

Average payments from legal aid, in criminal and civil cases, in each of the last three years, were as follows:

asked Her Majesty's Government:In which individual cases over the last five years has the cost to public funds of legal aid exceeded £500,000, and what is the cost to date in each such case.

The information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether public expenditure under the legal aid schemes is subject to annual cash limits agreed with HM Treasury and if not what reasons there are for not making it subject to such cash limits.

Public expenditure under the legal aid scheme is not at present subject to cash limits. Under the current legislation, it is not possible to control expenditure sufficiently to make this possible. The Government have embarked on a radical reform programme to put in place the controls we need to cash limit legal aid spending. These will include block contracts to procure the majority of legally aided services at a predetermined price and a new test for civil legal aid which will weigh the merits of civil cases against the resources available.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Which of the changes to the legal aid system proposed in paragraphs A.1-A.37 of the Government's White Paper

The White Paper made it clear that reforms would take four to five years to implement in full. We are committed to proceeding carefully and in stages, consulting widely, and whenever possible piloting the changes to make sure this will work. A pilot for block contracts with voluntary advice agencies is already under way. Three further pilots are due to start this year, covering family mediation and advice and assistance by solicitors in civil and criminal matters.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When work is now expected to start on the demolition of 2 Marsham Street, and what is the expected date for completion of the redevelopment.

Responsibility for this matter has been delegated under the terms of its framework document to the Property Advisers to the Civil Estate under its Chief Executive, Mr. Neil Borrett. The agency is therefore responding to the question.

has asked me to respond to your Question about the demolition and redevelopment of 2 Marsham Street.Tenders for the demolition project have already been invited and the contract is due to be awarded next month, with the demolition works started as soon as possible thereafter. The demolition works are expected to take some 18 months.If no use within government is established, it is proposed to offer the cleared site for sale with the outline planning permission which Westminster City Council resolved to grant after a period of public consultation. Marketing of the site will begin during the latter stages of demolition to achieve the earliest practicable disposal and the new owners will be responsible for the programme for redevelopment.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is their present estimate of the number of teachers in primary and secondary schools in Northern Ireland likely to be declared redundant for 1997–98 in (a) controlled schools and (b) maintained schools.

The information sought is not available. Under the Local Management of Schools arrangements, the number of teachers to be employed is a matter for schools' boards of governors.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have any plans to review the Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors Act 1979.

It is government policy regularly to review non-departmental public bodies. The National Boards for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting in the four countries of the United Kingdom fall into this category. The United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting (UKCC) does not. However, there is a clear relationship between the statutory bodies. The Government therefore, as a first stage, intend to commission an independent and fundamental review of the current operations of the five statutory bodies created by the Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors Act 1979. This will be a comprehensive study of all aspects of their work, including those issues around determining fitness to practise which go to the heart of the council's role in protecting the public. We shall, in particular, want it to consider the need for new powers to impose life bans on people convicted of the most serious offences. We shall then bring forward for consultation specific proposals for change in the light of the outcome of that review.