asked Her Majesty's Government:What appointments have been made to the Committee on Standards in Public Life.

My right honourable friend the Prime Minister was pleased to announced four new appointments to the Committee on Standards in Public Life: Sir Anthony Cleaver, Lord Goodhart, Mrs. Frances Heaton and the right honourable John MacGregor. The Prime Minister consulted the Leader of the Opposition and the right honourable Member for Yeovil before making those appointments.The following existing members of the committee have been reappointed for a second term:

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many proposals for gas-fired power stations they have awaiting determination for a licence; and what would be the annual equivalent in tonnes of coal burned that would be displaced if those licences were approved and the stations run at baseload.

Currently there are 29 applications involving gas-firing before the department (a mixture of Combined Cycle Gas Turbine, Combined Heat and Power, Open Cycle Gas Turbine and dual firing). The impact of these proposals will depend on their mode of operation, the competitive position of other stations and the level of demand that is required to be met. It is unlikely that all would run at baseload.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they propose to wind up the British Coal Corporation; and to whom the liabilities of the corporation will be transferred.

British Coal's remaining employees are due to be made redundant on 31 December 1997. However, the corporation will continue as a residuary body managed by DTI for a few more years and correspondence should be addressed to The Secretary, British Coal Corporation, c/o Coal Directorate, Department of Trade and Industry, 1 Victoria Street, London, SW1H OET. The department has already taken on responsibility for a number of British Coal liabilities. Where remaining liabilities have not otherwise been dealt with, they will similarly transfer to the department or another appropriate responsible public body in due course.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the Multilateral Agreement on Investment as at present drafted is consistent with policies aimed at worldwide social justice enunciated by the Prime Minister at Stockholm and at the Commonwealth meeting in Edinburgh.

The Government believe that the MAI will make a useful contribution to stimulating investment and economic growth world-wide, without prejudicing the interests of social justice. It recognises that the MAI is not designed specifically to address the economic and institutional constraints of poorer developing countries and the Government are therefore exploring how their needs can be taken into account. The Secretary of State for International Development is commissioning a study to look at any implications the MAI may have for these countries.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they consider that the Multilateral Agreement on Investment would "ensure that the poorest people in the world benefit as we move towards a new global society" (White Paper on International Development, Cm 3789).

The Government recognise in the White Paper that the MAI is not designed specifically to address the economic and institutional constraints of poorer developing countries. It is exploring how their needs can be taken into account. The Government do not believe that the MAI will prevent the poorest people in the world benefiting from globalisation.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What progress they have made in implementing the recommendations of Lord Donaldson of Lymington's inquiry into the prevention of pollution from merchant shipping.

We have today placed copies of a progress note in the Library. This shows that the bulk of the inquiry's recommendations have now been implemented, that the implementation of the majority of the remainder is ongoing, that some have been overtaken, and that only five are still under consideration.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What conclusions they have reached from the recent consultation on the future of planning policy for opencast coal mining.

We have not yet reached any conclusion because we are still considering the large number of responses to the consultation exercise.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the application by Railtrack for an order under the Transport and Works Act 1992 in respect of the Thameslink 2000 project is to be referred to Parliament as a scheme involving proposals of national significance.

Whilst my right honourable friend the Secretary of State agrees that the proposals in the draft Railtrack (Thameslink 2000) Order are important for London, he does not consider them to be of sufficient significance in national terms to fall within Section 9 of the 1992 Act. The application will not therefore be referred to Parliament under the provisions of that section of the Act.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will publish the report of the Interdepartmental Working Group on Blight.

We have today placed copies of the final report of the Interdepartmental Working Group on Blight in the Library. The report is accompanied by a draft code of practice on the dissemination of information during the various stages of major infrastructure developments. We have also deposited copies of the report of the research conducted by the City University Business School into the operation of compulsory purchases orders, which is published today by The Stationery Office.The Interdepartmental Working Group on Blight was set up to review the scope, cause and effects of blight arising during the various stages of major infrastructure projects and to consider whether any practical changes can be made to the existing arrangements for property purchase and compensation throughout Great Britain.The group has identified a number of options. One relates to the desirability of improving information flows at all stages of major infrastructure developments, and this provided the impetus for the code of practice. A further tranche of recommendations relates to relatively small-scale amendments to existing legislation. However, one recommendation (that a new property purchase guarantee and compensation scheme should be devised) would, if it were accepted, involve major changes to legislation. We should emphasise that this recommendation, which is born of a desire to reduce or eliminate generalised blight, does not undermine the fundamentals of the existing blight and compensation arrangements.The group points out that although the focus of the review was generalised blight consequent upon proposals for major infrastructure projects, responses to the discussion paper issued in June last year suggested that the most effective remedy might lie in changes to the arrangements for addressing statutory blight. However, the group, in seeking to ameliorate the worst effects of generalised blight in this way, has not sought to reassess compulsory purchase and compensation law in its entirety, nor has it considered it consistent with its terms of reference to recommend changes to the law which are not germane to the issue of generalised blight.The group has delivered a detailed report on a subject of some complexity. None of the issues is clear-cut, nor is any of the options it has identified free from wider consequences. For this reason we are anxious that the report should be made widely available for discussion and comment before Her Majesty's Government give further consideration to its findings. We are therefore publishing the report of the Interdepartmental Working Group on Blight, the draft code of practice and the draft Property Purchase Guarantee and Compensation Scheme. Comments from all those with an interest are invited by 31 March.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they will publish guidance to those concerned with the disposal and subsequent development of surplus Ministry of Defence (MoD) properties.

We have today published guidelines on the joint working of Ministry of Defence and Regional Government Offices on the disposal of surplus MoD property. Copies have been placed in the library.The guidelines, which have been prepared with the close co-operation of the Government Offices in the Regions, MoD and my department, are designed to help mitigate any adverse impact on a local community which may follow the closure of a defence establishment. We hope that, by putting in place arrangements for joint working between MoD and the Government Offices, and by bringing into discussions at an early stage local authorities and other agencies which may be involved in planning the future use of redundant sites, the full potential of these sites will be realised, consistent with the principles of sustainable development. It is hoped that these arrangements will also help speed up the disposal process. It should be noted, however, that these guidelines may, in due course, need to be revised to take account of research currently under way into the development of the redundant defence estate, and to reflect the establishment of the Regional Development Agencies. For this reason, they should be seen as interim.The guidelines, which I am sending to local authorities, bodies responsible for urban and rural regeneration, Government Offices and other interested bodies, will be freely available to others with an interest.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Minister for Local Government and Housing on 1 December (HC Deb,

Civil servants are already instructed on the security classification to be applied to government documents containing commercially sensitive material. Such classification is not of itself a justification for refusing access, but would be an important consideration in reaching decisions on individual cases.Government security markings are not generally used in correspondence between the department and non-government bodies, such as local authorities, which may nevertheless contain sensitive information. Where the volume of correspondence is large, identifying the commercially sensitive elements as a matter of general policy could involve disproportionate cost. The department therefore follows a policy of determining on a case by case basis whether commercial sensitivity should prevent release of any information requested.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer given by the Baroness Hayman on 30 October (

The European Commission has instructed us to defer implementing the proposals set out in our recent consultation. This instruction is part of a legal procedure that governs the making of technical regulations which could have trade implications within the EU. We remain confident that the British Single Vehicle Approval scheme does not have any adverse effect on the internal market, whilst removing barriers to trade with other parts of the world. Subject to resolution of these matters with the Commission, the date on which we now expect the regulations to come into force is 1 May 1998.Our proposals to amend the Motor Vehicle (Approval) Regulations 1996 were included with a consultation letter dated 24 September 1997. I have arranged for a copy to be placed in the Library of the House.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What steps they are taking or have taken to prevent vehicles (cars and motorcycles) that have failed to reach a production standard in the country of manufacture, and second-hand or nearly new vehicles, being "dumped" in the United Kingdom, other than genuine personal imports; and what steps they propose taking to prevent the abuse of single vehicle approval under the Motor Vehicle (Approval) Regulations 1996 by such imports.

Most cars must be type-approved before they can enter service on public roads in Great Britain. The main exceptions are personally imported and amateur-built vehicles. Cars originating in the European Union usually conform with either an EU-wide EC Whole Vehicle Type Approval or a national type approval. Compliance is confirmed by a Certificate of Conformity or a Mutual Recognition Certificate respectively, which must be produced at the time of first registration in Great Britain. For cars that are not the subject of a European type approval, the personal import exemption must be demonstrated by evidence such as a registration or insurance document issued in the exporting country and naming the individual as the keeper of the car. The production standard in the country of origin for cars that have not been type-approved in the EU is not strictly relevant for use in Great Britain. Such cars must comply with the appropriate standards in the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 and the Road Vehicles (Lighting) Regulations 1989 both as amended. That might require modification of the vehicle.The proposed Single Vehicle Approval (SVA) Scheme has been devised to minimise the scope for abuse. We intend that all cars up to three years old that are not type-approved will have to undergo an SVA inspection irrespective of who imports them. Cars between three and ten years old not personally imported would also have to undergo SVA. Individuals who can prove they have lived abroad for at least 12 months and used their car there for at least six months will be exempt from SVA if their vehicle is over three years old; if they cannot produce evidence of this, the car will have to undergo an SVA inspection.Northern Ireland has, or, in the case of SVA plans to have, a similar regulatory framework.Motorcycles are not currently subject to EU-wide type approval, national type approval, or single vehicle approval procedures, so there are no personal import exemptions for this category of vehicle. All motorcycles must comply with the appropriate standards in the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 and the Road Vehicles (Lighting) Regulations 1989 as amended. A framework for EU-wide whole vehicle type approval for two and three-wheeled vehicles was established in 1992 and will begin to take effect from June 1999. Enabling legislation for the UK was made in 1995 and we expect to make proposals for implementation dates and for a complementary single vehicle approval scheme during 1998.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether a devolved Scottish Parliament will have power to legislate for the harmonisation of British Standard Time (BST) with Central European Time (CET) for Scottish residents.

The White Paper Scotland's Parliament sets out the Government's proposal that the regulation of time zones should be a reserved matter. The Scottish Parliament would not therefore have power to legislate for the introduction of Central European Time.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether, in the light of the statement by Lord Sewel in Aberdeen on 21 November that the common fisheries policy gives the United Kingdom access to lucrative European markets when otherwise our fish exports would be subject to price tariffs, they will state what evidence they have that the European Community would impose tariffs on British fish exports if the United Kingdom withdrew from the common fisheries policy; and whether the imposition of such tariffs would be legal.

As a member of the European Community, the United Kingdom participates in a common fisheries policy. The common fisheries policy establishes a single market in fisheries products which ensures freedom of movement of goods within the Community. Under Community law, tariffs are set on goods entering the single market from non-member states.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they intend to increase or decrease Scotland's capital allocations for (a) the police; and (b) the fire service in real terms for the next financial year in comparison to this financial year: and what percentage change this represents in each case.

Capital allocations in Scotland for the police in the next financial year will support expenditure of £20.768 million compared with £22.821 million in the current year, a decrease of 9 per cent. Following consultation with chief constables, £2 million of the 1998-99 baseline for capital expenditure has been transferred to current expenditure.The capital allocation for the fire service in 1998-99 is £15.6 million, which is the same as the capital allocation for the current financial year. These allocations are decided in cash terms.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the entire dual carriageway and motorway networks in Scotland have safety barriers installed in the central reservation; and if not, what mileage remains to be so equipped and what percentage of the total mileage this represents.

All motorways in Scotland are equipped with central reserve safety barrier. All trunk road dual carriageways are equipped with central reserve safety barrier except approximately 22 miles which is without barrier. This represents 4 per cent. of the total length of motorway and trunk road dual carriageway in Scotland.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether special support will be given to medical students studying for an additional intercalated year in order to achieve a science degree.

Where medical and dental students take an intercalated degree, it will be counted as part of their overall course. As the Government announced on 23 September, the Department of Health will pay the students' contribution towards tuition fees and provide means-tested National Health Service bursaries for those students who are eligible from year five of their course onwards.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the future of the new 640-bed development for University College Hospital which received planning permission granted by Camden Council on 9 October, in the light of the White Paper

The assumptions underlying the University College London Hospital's National Health Service Trust's redevelopment have been considered by the London Review Panel. Their report and the Government's response will be published in due course. The proposed redevelopment is not directly affected by the White Paper The New NHS.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will place in the Library of the House a copy of

This report was commissioned as an aid to develop policy and to identify areas for further work. It was not intended for publication. I am writing to the noble Lord about this.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether it accords with government policy to make better use of energy by insulation for the district valuer and valuation officers of the Inland Revenue to increase the rateable value of small business workshops purely because they have been insulated.

The rateable value of a property is, broadly, an estimate of the amount for which it might reasonably be expected to let on the open market. This estimate is derived from evidence of lettings in the open market.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether Turkey is bound by Article 4 of the Council of Europe Convention on Transfrontier Television; and if so whether they will remind the Government of Turkey of their obligation not to jam transfrontier broadcasts; andWhether Turkey is bound by Article 10 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms to ensure freedom of reception of transfrontier broadcasts; and what remedies are available if non-compliance can be shown.

Turkey has ratified both the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and the Convention on Transfrontier Television, and thus is bound by the provisions of both conventions. Allegations of violations of the Human Rights Convention, Article 10 of which concerns the right to freedom of expression, are referred to the European Commission of Human Rights. The nature of any remedy, should the violation be upheld, is for whichever of the convention's institutions deals with the complaint.The procedures for dealing with alleged violations of the Transfrontier Television Convention are set out in Articles 24 and 25 of the Convention. If there were firm evidence of jamming of transfrontier broadcasts of a UK broadcaster by any state party to the convention. then the Government would take appropriate action in accordance with those provisions of the convention.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether it is their prime consideration in policy to ensure that electricity in the United Kingdom is generated at the lowest price achievable for United Kingdom householders and consumers; and, if not, whether they will list the factors which in their view justify raising domestic electricity prices above the minimum achievable.

The Government's policy is to ensure secure, diverse and sustainable supplies of energy at competitive prices.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether any United Nations, inter-governmental, or non-governmental environmental or human rights organisations have been observers at the negotiations for the proposed OECD Multilateral Agreement on Investment, and, if so, which.

The WTO, IMF and Energy Charter Secretariat have observer status at the MAI negotiations. The UNCTAD Sectariat is also regularly updated on progress. Non-governmental organisations have met the MAI negotiating group, as well as individual country delegations including the UK. More meetings are planned, the next in January 1998.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether "defence" is being excluded from the operation of the proposed OECD Multilateral Agreement on Investment; and, if not, whether it will be defined so as to exclude "dual use" (that is, for both military and civilian use) and "off-the-shelf" defence procurement, particularly in the field of electronic information.

The MAI will contain a general exception for matters relating to national security.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What are the implications for the sovereignty of independent states in economic, social, labour, environmental and other fields of the proposal OECD Multilateral Agreement on Investment.

The MAI will prevent governments discriminating on the grounds of the nationality of an investor unless an exception has been listed by that government for a particular measure. The MAI will not prevent general regulation in economic, social, labour, environmental and other fields.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether a world trade "court" is being proposed to deal with disputes under the proposed OECD Multilateral Agreement on Investment.

Disputes between states will be arbitrated through ad hoc panels. Investors will be able to take action through independent arbitral bodies such as ICSID (the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes). This follows the practice of bilateral investment treaties and similar agreements such as the Energy Charter Treaty.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How "investment" is defined, and how it is distinguished from "speculation", in the proposed OECD Multilateral Agreement on Investment.

"Investment" is defined very broadly in the draft agreement, including every kind of asset owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by an investor, including an enterprise; shares stocks or other forms of equity participation in an enterprise; bonds, loans and other forms of debt; rights under contracts; claims to money and to performance; intellectual property rights; rights such as concessions, licences, authorisations and permits; and any other tangible and intangible, movable and immovable property. The term "speculation" is not mentioned.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have conducted, or are aware of, any studies of the proposed Multilateral Agreement on Investment's implications for the global distribution of wealth; and if so, what are the results.

I am not aware of any such studies.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether (a) in their view; and (b) in the view of the NGOs which they have consulted, the draft text of the Multilateral Agreement on Investment "takes account of our sustainable development objectives" (White Paper on International Development, Cm 3789).

The government are working for an MAI which will be consistent with sustainable development. NGOs have raised some concerns about the environmental impact of the MAI. These are being addressed in the negotiations, in part through an environmental review requested by the UK.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Which jurisdictions have banned rapid draw lotteries.

We do not have a precise answer. Some jurisdictions ban all or most forms of gambling. Others, particularly in Europe, North America and Australia, allow state lotteries, some with and some without rapid draws.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What information on recruitment the Home Office is required to publish and whether they will make this information available for 1996.

The Civil Service Order in Council 1995 authorises the Civil Service Commissioners to require departments and agencies to publish summary information about their recruitment and the use of permitted exceptions to the principles of fair and open competition and selection on merit.The number of staff recruited to the central Home Office, including outstations, during 1996 is shown in the following tables. There were two permitted exceptions to fair and open competition and selection on merit in 1996, and this information was published in the Home Office Annual Report 1997.