asked Her Majesty's Government:How many Law Commission Bills are at present waiting for parliamentary time.

The question whether Law Commission Bills should be included in the Government's legislative programme is for government. The Government value the work done by the independent Law Commission highly but law reform proposals must be assessed against wider legislative priorities. The Government are, however, content to bring forward legislation on two topics covered by Law Commission reports, namely Law Com 220, Delegation by Individual Trustees and the first part of Law Com 227, Restitution for Mistake of Law: Ultra Vires Public Authority Receipts and Payments, when time permits. Other reports remain under consideration and the Government's decisions will be announced in due course.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the duties of a Judge of the High Court take precedence over the duty to give top priority and as much time as it proves to require the job of an Inspector under Sections 432(2) and 442 of the Companies Act 1985, if previously appointed as such and continued in the appointment after promotion.

It is a matter for each High Court Judge, in consultation with their Head of Division, to determine their duties as they see fit, including such duties as those imposed by appointment as an Inspector under the Companies Act 1985.

asked the Chairman of Committees:Whether child care vouchers have ceased to be issued to staff of the House during recesses.

Child care vouchers are issued during recesses in respect of any days on which a recipient member of staff is required to work. The vouchers may be used to defray costs of child care for children of pre-school age and attendance at holiday playschemes for children up to the age of eleven. There has been no change in practice.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether Baroness Jay of Paddington's statement of 18 June (

The Government have already made a significant investment into direct patient services and away from bureaucracy, in line with our commitment to ensure that more of every pound spent in the NHS goes into frontline patient services. We have also honoured our commitment to increase NHS income in real terms by providing an extra £1.2 billion for 1998–99.Our legacy from the previous administration is record numbers waiting for treatment and longer waits. The action the Government are taking now will deliver our manifesto commitment to treat an extra 100,000 patients from the NHS waiting lists during this Parliament.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they will publish the annual report and accounts of the Medicines Control Agency.

We have received the report, 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.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they expect to receive the annual report of the Medicines Commission for 1996.

We have received the report, and copies have been laid before both Houses of Parliament today in accordance with the requirements of Section 5(2) of the Medicines Act 1968.Bound volumes have been placed in the Library containing the 1996 reports of the Medicines Commission, the Committee on Safety of Medicines, the Advisory Board on the registration of Homoeopathic Products, the British Pharmacopoeia Commission and the Veterinary Products Committee.

asked Her Majesty's Government:On what date they were informed by the European Commission of their suspicions that British beef had been exported to Europe, and on what date the European Commission made their suspicions public.

The European Commission formally notified the Government of its concern over alleged illegal exports of UK beef on 2 July, the same day that it made its suspicions public. Government officials have been involved in investigations into the allegations, in co-operation with officials from some other member states and the Commission's anti-fraud unit, since May.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What steps they are taking to prevent the spread of the parasite gyrodactylus salaris into United Kingdom rivers.

At the request of the United Kingdom, a safeguard measure was adopted last year by the European Commission prohibiting the import into the UK and Ireland of all live salmonids and requiring all imported salmonid eggs to be disinfected. While the risk of introducing gyrodactylus salaris on angling equipment or clothing is very low, we also advise all those fishing abroad to ensure that any such equipment or clothing is either thoroughly dried or is disinfected before or on return to the UK.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is their response to the Second Report of the House of Commons Agriculture Select Committee on Environmentally Sensitive Areas and Other Schemes Under the Agri-Environment Regulation (HC 45, Session 1996–97) published on 19 March 1997.

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

asked Her Majesty's Government:What action he has taken over allegations of illegal exports of United Kingdom beef.

The department's officials, in conjunction with officials from other member states, the Commission's Anti-Fraud unit and DGXXIV, are pursuing investigations in this country and elsewhere into allegations of the illegal export of UK beef. It will be some time before those investigations are complete. Criminal proceedings will be instigated if sufficient evidence of illegal activity is found. All allegations of illegal exports of beef are urgently and rigorously investigated.As a result of serious hygiene concerns arising out of our investigations, however, my department yesterday issued Notices preventing two meat plants in the UK from trading in beef.In the light of recent events my right honourable friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has undertaken a thorough review of the measures currently in place to implement the ban on the export of UK beef imposed by EC Decision 96/239, as amended by EC Decision 96/362, and has concluded that those measures should be enhanced and extended. He has yesterday informed the European Commission that he intends to:introduce new secondary legislation to both clarify and strengthen the powers available to UK officials where illegal exports are suspected;to enhance the checks that are carried out at ports of despatch.My right honourable friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is also giving urgent consideration to enhancing veterinary checks at beef plants.The UK is under an obligation to implement and enforce the export ban firmly and effectively for as long as it is in place. Only in this way will we regain the trust of our European partners, which is an essential prerequisite to an early lifting of the export ban.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many applications have been received in (a) England, (b) Scotland and (c) Wales to kill cormorants, grey herons or goosanders; how many licences have been issued and how many of each of these birds have been reported shot under these licences, in each of the last five years, including this year to date.

The information requested is as follows.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What steps they will take to ensure that public safety is not compromised by the increase in interference between consumer electronic devices and navigational systems.

Standards relating to Electro Magnetic Compatibility (EMC) for aircraft and their systems already exist and are continuously updated as the level of understanding of EMC and the possibility of Electro Magnetic Interference (EMI) increases. Consequently, aircraft systems demonstrate a high level of immunity to EMI.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether Article 36 of the Treaty of Rome has ever been invoked and, if so, in what circumstances, to enable the United Kingdom to act unilaterally in pursuit of improving transport safety.

Article 36 provides an exception from the Treaty requirement that prevents one member state from restraining imports of goods from, or exports of goods to, another member state, by means of a national quantitative restriction or other measure which has an equivalent effect (e.g. a licensing system).Article 36 may be based on various grounds one of which is "the protection of health and life of humans". It therefore covers transport safety. Whereas the UK may, in the future, wish to rely on this article in order to preserve transport safety, preliminary research indicates that it has not, so far, found it necessary to invoke it. A comprehensive search to find whether there is such an instance would incur a disproportionate cost.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What was the number of bus franchises or contracts in each member state advertised in the European Journal during the last three years, and the number awarded to operators based outside that member state.

We do not collect this information.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What qualifications and track record are required by firms tendering for contracts to operate passenger bus services.

The operator of a local authority tendered bus service must hold a Public Service Vehicle Operator's Licence or a Community Bus Permit issued by the Traffic Commissioner, who must be satisfied that the operator is professionally competent and of good repute and has adequate financial resources and facilities for maintaining vehicles.The authority awarding the contract may, at their discretion, specify other requirements relating to service quality and performance and take into account the bidder's past performance.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they decided the approximate date of the publication of the White Paper on Devolution.

The Government from the outset intended that the White Paper on Scotland and Wales should be published before the Summer Recess.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many empty council houses there are in Glasgow, and what this represents as a percentage of the city's council housing stock.

There were 6,435 vacant local authority dwellings in Glasgow as at 1 April 1996, the latest date for which information is available. This represented 5.8 per cent. of their total stock. Over half of the vacant dwellings were due to be demolished or sold with vacant possession.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have reached a view on the date of the referendum to be held in Scotland on the establishment of a Scottish Parliament.

Subject to the Referendums (Scotland and Wales) Bill receiving Royal Assent, the referendum on our proposals for a Scottish Parliament will be held on Thursday 11 September 1997.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they consider that BSkyB's participation as a long-term supplier of pay-television services to British Digital Broadcasting, in particular of sports programming, raises substantial competition concerns in the pay television network and conditional access markets.

Any such competition concerns would be considered by the Office of Fair Trading and by the regulators statutorily responsible for particular aspects of these markets: the Independent Television Commission; and OFTEL.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they repudiate the report by George Parker "Government may drop non-profit lottery pledge" in the

Proposals for the future of the National Lottery will be set out later this month in a White Paper to be issued by my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will take steps to prevent insurance companies within the European Single Market from allowing unjustifiable delays to elapse when settling insurance claims made by United Kingdom nationals in relation to road traffic accidents which occur in continental Europe.

In its recent Communication, Financial Services: Enhancing Consumer Confidence, the European Commission has indicated its intention to bring forward, by autumn 1997, proposals for a fourth directive on motor liability insurance. This directive would address the problems faced by the persons making a claim for compensation for injury or loss which they have suffered through being involved in a road accident while visiting another EU member state. In the course of drawing up its proposals for this directive, the Commission has been holding discussions with member states' representatives. The Government are participating in these informal discussions, but will wish to consider their position further when the Commission presents a formal proposal to the Council of Ministers.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What representations they will make to the Government of Kenya following the recent action by police officers in Nairobi Cathedral.

We have issued a statement with other donors in Nairobi expressing our shock at the storming of the All Saints Cathedral by the Kenyan police on 7 July. My honourable Friend the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Mr. Tony Lloyd, has also written to the Kenyan Government condemning the violence and urging them to put in place the conditions for free and fair elections.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether it is still their policy not to sell arms to regimes which might use them for internal repression or international aggression, or to abuse human rights; and, if so, what evidence they have that Indonesia is not guilty in this respect.

We have serious concerns about the human rights situation in both Indonesia and East Timor. We are reviewing the criteria used in considering licence applications to export conventional arms so as to meet our commitment not to sell arms to regimes which might use them for internal repression or international aggression. The review does not focus on individual countries but will result in criteria applicable to all destinations for such arms sales.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they will announce the review of pensions which they are to undertake.

Our Election Manifesto promised a review of the central areas of insecurity for elderly people in this country. My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Social Security has today set up a wide-ranging review of pensions.We have inherited a major pensions challenge. The failure over the last two decades to develop an adequate pensions strategy has resulted in widening inequalities amongst pensioners. Too many of our older citizens do not enjoy security in retirement.Only by achieving a sustainable consensus for change can the country meet the pensions challenge. We want everyone who can make a positive contribution to this review to do so. Our starting-point must be the health and success of the wider economy. We must give everyone a real opportunity to be able to participate in it. By establishing the conditions for stable, sustainable growth, we will build a stronger economy and provide the essential foundations for decent and secure pensions. By opening up fresh opportunities to come off welfare and into work, we will ensure that more people have the opportunity to contribute to their own pensions.The review will address nine fundamental challenges:To achieve a sustainable consensus on pensions policy. We need to reach a broad based agreement, which will allow people to plan for their long-term future and avoid the constant changes in pensions policy we have seen in the last 20 years.To agree where the responsibility for funding pensions should lie and to establish the right balance between the public and private sectors.To respond to demographic change. Talk of a demographic "time-bomb" is exaggerated, but there are real issues to address as the ratio of working age people to pensioners falls in the first half of the next century.To respond to social and labour market change. The last 50 years have seen far-reaching changes in the way we live and work. The pension system needs to reflect this. It must be capable of responding to future change. We need to ensure that it provides everyone—men and women, the self-employed, full and part-time workers, those in permanent jobs and those on short-term contracts—with the chance to build up better pensions in their own right.To ensure resources devoted to pensions are used to maximum effect. We need to make sure that every penny available for pensions is used as efficiently and effectively as possible, whether it comes directly from individuals and employers, or indirectly from them through the tax system.To get the regulation of pensions right. The personal pensions mis-selling scandal illustrates too clearly what can go wrong when pensions are not properly regulated. People need to have confidence in pensions and be sure their pensions are secure. We need to find a balance which provides an appropriate level of security, eliminates the scope for abuse and does not impose an undue burden on providers.To raise awareness of pensions and improve the level of financial education so that people understand the importance of saving for retirement and make the right choice about which pension product is best for them.To narrow the pensions gap between men and women so as to give women more security in retirement. Many pensions are simply not flexible enough to cope with women's working patterns. Women still earn less on average than men and are more likely to have caring responsibilities.To strike the right balance between the generations. We face the challenge of providing for the future, but we must also look at the position of today's pensioners. The views and concerns of current pensioners will be at the heart of the review process. We will ensure that current pension costs are manageable and that excessive costs are not placed on future generations.This is a formidable challenge and the Government has a key role in bringing change about. But it cannot tackle the issues on its own. We want to receive advice and hear new ideas from everyone with an interest in pensions.We shall retain the basic state pension as the foundation of pension provision, and SERPS for those who wish to remain in it.We will also build on the good quality second pensions that many employees enjoy by supporting and strengthening the existing framework of occupational pension provision where that is necessary. And we wish to consider with the pensions industry how an Investors in Pensions award could be established to set a benchmark against which employers, employees and trustees can measure the quality of their own scheme.We recognise that, for many people, security in retirement can best be achieved by building up their own funded second pension. We shall therefore consult widely on how best to take forward our proposals for new Stakeholder Pensions. These will offer secure, flexible and value of money second pensions for those who cannot join an employer's occupational scheme, whose pay is low or intermittent, and for whom personal pensions are usually unsuitable.The review will take forward consultation on the development of Citizenship Pensions for carers who are unable to contribute to pensions in their own right. As a result, carers can lose out on the pension entitlements they would otherwise acquire, and end up on means-tested benefits.Both these proposals, which we plan to legislate for and implement in this Parliament, will be particularly good news for women.As part of our consultative approach, the Secretary of State for Social Security has invited Tom Ross, of Alexander Clay and vice-president of the National Association of Pension Funds, to chair a group of pensions experts to report to me on the current state of pension provision in the United Kingdom and on likely future trends. Their work will inform the development of our plans for a modern, responsive pensions system for the future.Modernising the social security system is a key priority of the Government. Our long-term objective is to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to build up an adequate pension to guarantee security in retirement. We aim to build a society in which there is a wide consensus on the future for pensions, both now and tomorrow, and provide dignity in retirement for the whole nation.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What plans they have to introduce a proportional voting system for the 1999 European election.

Legislation will be brought forward this session to enable the 1999 European elections to be conducted by a regional list electoral system.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When he expects to announce the date of the referendum to establish a Welsh Assembly.

Subject to the approval of a Motion in another place, to disagree with the amendment on dates of referendums inserted into the Referendums (Scotland and Wales) Bill in this House, the agreement of this House and subject to Royal Assent, the referendum in Wales will be held on 18 September 1997.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will establish an independent inquiry into prison conditions on the Isle of Man to consider questions relating to international human rights law and best practice.

The committee of inquiry set up in January 1996 to consider the circumstances relating to the death of two inmates has made a number of recommendations for changes in the staffing and organisation of the Isle of Man prison. The Isle of Man Government do not consider that a further inquiry is needed at this stage.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the inquiry into the suicide of two inmates of the Isle of Man Prison has been completed; and, if so, whether the Government will publish the report of the inquiry.

I understand that the inquiry has been completed and that the Isle of Man Government announced on 14 July that the segregation unit in the Isle of Man prison would be closed later this month. At the same time they published a summary of the report's recommendations. Any decision about publication of the full report would be for the Isle of Man Government.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Answers given by Lord Williams of Mostyn on 18 June 1997 (

The provision of prison accommodation in the Isle of Man is a matter for the Manx authorities. I understand that the secure juvenile unit is on the same site as the Isle of Man prison but is a separate institution. As there is no communication between the two institutions, the Manx authorities consider that there is no objection to young detainees being placed in the secure unit.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Answers given by Lord Williams of Mostyn on 18 June 1997 (

Her Majesty's Government are responsible for the Isle of Man's compliance with international obligations under international conventions into which the United Kingdom has entered on its behalf, including the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Answers given by the Lord Williams of Mostyn on 18 June 1997 (

Her Majesty's Government do not consider that the law of the Isle of Man, which provides that a child or young person may not be detained in custody unless the court is of the opinion that the circumstances are so exceptional that it would be inappropriate to deal with him by any other method, contravenes the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will give urgent consideration to raising the age of criminal responsibility in the Isle of Man in accordance with the recommendation of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child in January 1995.

This is a matter for the Isle of Man Government. I understand that they have no present plans to review the age of criminal responsibility, which is the same in the Isle of Man as in England and Wales.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the age of criminal responsibility in the Isle of Man is lower than elsewhere in the United Kingdom and its islands.

The age of criminal responsibility in the Isle of Man is 10. This is the same as in England and Wales, and in the Bailiwicks of Guernsey and Jersey.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether there has been an increase in the number of applications for extensions to stay in the United Kingdom being declared invalid, and an increase in the number of such applications being refused without the right of appeal, following the introduction in November 1996 by the Immigration and Nationality Directorate of compulsory application forms for extensions of stay in the United Kingdom.

Following the reintroduction of compulsory application forms, the initial number of applications declared invalid was approximately 50 per cent. Since that time it has fallen to approximately 35 per cent. No separate figures are available for the number of applications that are initially invalid, but are subsequently resubmitted, accepted as valid and later refused without the right of appeal.

asked Her Majesty's Government:In relation to each month so far in 1997, how many people applied for asylum (a) in-country, (b) at point of entry and (c) in total; and what were the corresponding figures for each month in 1996 and 1995.

The information requested is given in the table and takes into account recent revisions to the number of in-country asylum applications lodged between September 1996 and May 1997.