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Pupils in maintained schools in each LEA in England                       
January 1994                                                              
                        Primary and                                       
                        secondary schools                                 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       |LEA maintained  |Grant-maintained                 
Corporation of London  |214             |0                                
Camden                 |19,204          |2,381                            
Greenwich              |35,060          |0                                
Hackney                |24,328          |0                                
Hammersmith            |13,839          |1,237                            
Islington              |22,872          |0                                
Kensington and Chelsea |8,659           |944                              
Lambeth                |20,645          |4,593                            
Lewisham               |31,281          |421                              
Southwark              |27,771          |4,133                            
Tower Hamlets          |32,729          |891                              
Wandsworth             |19,197          |7,181                            
Westminster            |16,690          |0                                
Barking                |25,858          |0                                
Barnet                 |33,023          |9,769                            
Bexley                 |30,746          |3,287                            
Brent                  |26,095          |8,997                            
Bromley                |27,777          |11,803                           
Croydon                |37,245          |4,680                            
Ealing                 |31,667          |7,408                            
Enfield                |35,880          |5,791                            
Haringey               |28,999          |0                                
Harrow                 |27,140          |528                              
Havering               |31,123          |3,877                            
Hillingdon             |19,487          |15,171                           
Hounslow               |31,998          |2,123                            
Kingston upon Thames   |15,409          |3,149                            
Merton                 |22,967          |0                                
Newham                 |39,071          |582                              
Redbridge              |33,944          |1,125                            
Richmond upon Thames   |18,817          |0                                
Sutton                 |17,257          |7,572                            
Waltham Forest         |29,571          |2,099                            
Birmingham             |157,626         |14,802                           
Coventry               |48,838          |0                                
Dudley                 |42,652          |5,054                            
Sandwell               |50,056          |653                              
Solihull               |33,066          |559                              
Walsall                |41,666          |6,366                            
Wolverhampton          |39,205          |2,404                            
Knowsley               |27,365          |731                              
Liverpool              |79,806          |2,366                            
St. Helens             |29,394          |0                                
Sefton                 |46,429          |0                                
Wirral                 |50,684          |2,107                            
Bolton                 |41,408          |3,261                            
Bury                   |27,348          |232                              
Manchester             |68,616          |0                                
Oldham                 |41,105          |0                                
Rochdale               |32,590          |2,010                            
Salford                |34,474          |430                              
Stockport              |41,614          |0                                
Tameside               |34,297          |2,371                            
Trafford               |29,429          |3,083                            
Wigan                  |49,486          |0                                
Barnsley               |34,232          |0                                
Doncaster              |51,327          |0                                
Rotherham              |43,141          |0                                
Sheffield              |69,039          |2,505                            
Bradford               |81,961          |5,565                            
Calderdale             |28,562          |4,709                            
Kirklees               |61,327          |1,267                            
Leeds                  |111,871         |1,184                            
Wakefield              |50,792          |0                                
Gateshead              |30,117          |0                                
Newcastle upon Tyne    |39,343          |0                                
North Tyneside         |30,957          |0                                
South Tyneside         |25,593          |0                                
Sunderland             |49,493          |0                                
Isles of Scilly        |291             |0                                
Avon                   |133,408         |1,710                            
Bedfordshire           |78,655          |9,567                            
Berkshire              |99,627          |9,833                            
Buckinghamshire        |87,878          |11,653                           
Cambridgeshire         |82,757          |17,274                           
Cheshire               |150,600         |2,927                            
Cleveland              |101,539         |0                                
Cornwall               |69,508          |0                                
Cumbria                |64,282          |9,773                            
Derbyshire             |125,694         |17,272                           
Devon                  |134,476         |4,983                            
Dorset                 |77,498          |9,591                            
Durham                 |94,042          |0                                
East Sussex            |86,330          |0                                
Essex                  |143,358         |76,532                           
Gloucestershire        |55,272          |21,714                           
Hampshire              |197,332         |19,180                           
Hereford and Worcester |93,080          |3,643                            
Hertfordshire          |134,073         |19,099                           
Humberside             |141,179         |341                              
Isle of Wight          |17,712          |0                                
Kent                   |180,360         |51,103                           
Lancashire             |207,730         |7,103                            
Leicestershire         |137,141         |3,270                            
Lincolnshire           |65,275          |22,410                           
Norfolk                |92,362          |11,347                           
North Yorkshire        |103,253         |0                                
Northamptonshire       |83,709          |12,466                           
Northumberland         |50,371          |650                              
Nottinghamshire        |154,815         |1,837                            
Oxfordshire            |76,359          |81                               
Shropshire             |57,225          |3,989                            
Somerset               |63,860          |631                              
Staffordshire          |158,531         |4,470                            
Suffolk                |92,379          |0                                
Surrey                 |105,591         |13,139                           
Warwickshire           |66,750          |4,783                            
West Sussex            |93,110          |0                                
Wiltshire              |69,765          |12,927                           
                                                                          
England                |6,618,649       |556,699                          
The numbers of pupils are a headcount of pupils of all ages on roll.      
Information on pupils is derived from returns made by the schools to the  
Department in January each year (annual schools census-form 7).           
Does not include special schools.                                         

Head Lice

Mr. Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment she has made of the incidence of the problem of head lice in schools; and if she will make a statement.

Mr. Forth: Neither the Department for Education nor the Department of Health, which leads in this subject,


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conducts surveys of the incidence of head lice in schools. There are limited benefits in holding such information centrally because the incidence fluctuates so quickly and widely. However, figures maintained by the pharmaceutical industry show that around 2.5 million units of head lice treatment are supplied through retail pharmacies each year.

The Government seek to combat this distressing problem through advice to teachers, children and parents as part of health promotion in schools.

Departmental Funding

Mrs. Angela Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what changes she has to announce to cash limits and running costs on votes within her responsibility for 1994 95.

Mrs. Gillian Shephard: Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimates, the cash limits for class X, vote 1-- schools, research and miscellaneous services--vote 2--higher and further education--and vote 6--Office of Her Majesty's chief inspector of schools in England--will be amended. The changes are as set out:


               |Current                      |Revised                      
               |cash limit    |Change        |cash limit                   
Class and vote |£             |£             |£                            
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
X.1            |800,296,000   |-12,500.000   |787,796,000                  
X.2            |5,672,793,000 |+3,415,000    |5,676,208,000                
X.6            |76,901,000    |-12,500,000   |64,401,000                   

The reduction in cash limits on class X, vote 1 and vote 6 are made as a contribution towards offsetting the increase of £117.5 million sought via a supplementary estimate for class X, vote 3--student awards, loans and compensation payments--which is not cash limited. The opportunity is being taken to provide for the appropriation in aid to class X, vote 1 of additional receipts from the Welsh office, representing contributions to the Centre for Information on Language Teaching, and from OFSTED, representing their contribution to the costs of the third international maths and science study. There will be no increase in net provision on the vote as a result.

The increase of £3,415,000 on class X, vote 2 is to be made available to the Higher Education Funding Council for the costs of students attending diploma in social work courses and funding of probation training. The opportunity has also been taken to provide for the appropriation in aid of additional receipts from the scale of properties by the Royal College of Art to support increased capital expenditure by the Higher Education Funding Council for England. This increase will be offset by transfers of £2,946,000 from the Department of Health and £469,000 from the Home Office and increased receipts, and will not therefore add to the planned total for public expenditure.

The reduction to the cash limit on class X, vote 6 arises principally because fewer independent registered inspectors than expected put themselves forward to lead


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primary and special school inspections. A number of the inspections planned for 1994 95 have therefore been postponed.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Rwanda

Mr. Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made by the United Nations towards achieving its target of human rights monitors in Rwanda.

Mr. Douglas Hogg: On 26 January, 79 human rights monitors were in Rwanda. The eventual target is 147. We expect more to be deployed shortly.

Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what discussions he has had with representatives of the United Nations in regard to assisting the Rwandan authorities in bringing those responsible for human rights violations to justice;

(2) what discussions he has had with the United Nations regarding the establishment of an international criminal tribunal for Rwanda.

Mr. Douglas Hogg: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the member for Blaenau Gwent (Mr. Smith) on 30 January, Official Report, column 490.

Kenya

Mr. Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what representations he has made to the Kenyan Government about events in Nakuru just before Christmas involving compulsory dispersal of victims of ethnic clashes; (2) if he will seek a report from the United Nations Development Programme in Kenya about the forced closure of Maela camps, in Nakuru on 23 December, and place that report in the Library;

(3) if he will ask the high commission in Nairobi for a report on the forced closure of Maela camps on Friday 23 December, and the number of people removed and their destination; and if he will place that report in the Library.

Mr. Baldry: The UNDP has not published a report on the dispersal at Maela. However figures from them, confirmed by the British High Commission in Nairobi, indicate that up to 2,500 displaced people were moved from Maela, on or soon after 23 December 1994. Of these, some 1,200 were resettled on Agricultural Development Corporation land in the area; the rest were taken to locations in central province.

We have made clear to the Kenyan Government at high level our concerns about the way in which the dispersal was carried out. We support the joint Kenya Government-UNDP programme which is addressing the needs of displaced people in Kenya both financially and through the High Commission's participation in Nairobi in the National Committee for Displaced Persons. We are keen to see the programme continue in an orderly fashion.

European Council

Mr. Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement


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on forthcoming business in the Council of the European Union.

Mr. Goodlad: The following meets are planned:


Date                    |Business                                       
------------------------------------------------------------------------
February 6-7            |Foreign Affairs Council                        
February 20             |ECOFIN                                         
February 20-21          |Agriculture Council                            

The following subjects are likely to be discussed:

6 to 7 February: Foreign Affairs Council

Provisional agenda.

Adoption of the agenda

Approval of the list of "A" items

Resolutions adopted by the European Parliament at its part-session (Strasbourg, 16-20 January 1995)

Commission report on the setting up of the WTO, policy debate on the sectoral negotiations (aeronautics, steel, negotiating directives on services) and on new subjects (environment, Social standards) Negotiations under article XXIV-6 of GATT following Enlargement: adoption of negotiating directives

Relations with the countries of cEntral and eastern Europe Commission report on the preparation of the White Paper Current state of negotiations with the Baltic Countries Slovenia: Adoption of negotiating directives

Stability pact, including submission by the Commission of the report on accompanying measures

Former Yugoslavia, in particular:

financing the Mostar administration in 1995

Chechnya

Ukraine: European Union action programme for nuclear safety progress report

Mediterranean policy

(poss) Relations with Israel

Preparation for the 13th meeting of the EC-Israel cooperation council at ministerial level.

Mid term review of the Lome IV and 8th EDF preparation for the second ministerial conference to renegotiate the fourth ACP-EC convention (Brussels, 16 and 17 February 1995)

Rum: discontinuation of the ACP and OCT import quotas and measures to be adopted within the framework of Poseidom

(poss) Preparation for the Panama meeting with the San Jose group (23 and 24 February 1995)

Adoption in the official languages of the communities of a common position on the directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data. 20 February, ECOFIN

Presentation by Commission of work programme within ECOFIN's area of competence

Follow up to Essen European Council

Fight against money laundering. Examination of Commission report Fight against fraud. Commission work programme for 1995 Preparation for meeting with associated countries of central and Eastern Europe.

20 to 21 February: Agriculture Council

Reform of the wine regime

Reform of the sugar regime

Set-aside (biomass)

CAP financing

Rules for the recovery of FEOGA securities

Amending directive 64/432 (trade in live animals).


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Human Rights

Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what representations he has received from human rights organisations regarding human rights violations in Rwanda and Nigeria;

(2) what investigation he has made of human rights violations in Rwanda and Nigeria regarding (a) the welfare of refugees and (b) allegations of killings taken place.

Mr. Baldry: We have received many representations from human rights organisations, hon. Members and members of the public concerning human rights in Nigeria and Rwanda.

Britain fully supported the UN Commission of Experts' investigation into the atrocities committed in Rwanda last year and subsequently co-sponsored the resolution that established the International Criminal Tribunal which is now being set up in Rwanda and which aims to bring the organisers of the genocide to justice. We have also made it clear to the Rwandan authorities that we hold them responsible for the safety of returning refuges and internally displaced persons. We are well aware of the recent reports of extra-judicial killings in Nigeria. The European Union has made efforts to establish the truth of the allegations, but the results have been inconclusive. We continue to watch the situation closely.

Departmental Funding

Mr. Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further changes he proposes to make in his Department's diplomatic wing cash limits and running costs limits for 1994 95.

Mr. Goodlad: Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimates, the following changes will be made. The cash limit for class II, vote 1, overseas representation, will be increased by a token amount of £1,000 from £688,207,000 to £688, 208,000. Parliamentary authority will be sought for additional provision for higher than expected expenditure on running costs, other current expenditure and capital as a result of adverse overseas price expenditure and capital as a result of adverse overseas price movements; to take up capital provision of £13,940,000 under the end-year flexibility scheme, as announced by the then Chief Secretary of the Treasury on 14 July 1994, Official Report, columns 729-34, and to reflect inter-departmental transfers totalling £239,000 net. These increases are offset by reduced running costs and by increased appropriations in aid.

The gross running costs limit on class II, vote 1 will be reduced by £12,715,000 from £512,892,000 to £500,177,000. This is a net decrease taking account of


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transfers between departments, adjustment for adverse overseas price movements and additional VAT receipts.

The cash limit for class II, vote 2, other external relations, will be increased by a token amount of £1,000 from £456,842,000 to £456, 843,000. Parliamentary authority will be sought for additional expenditure in respect of certain international organisations and for adverse overseas price movements. The increase will be met by increased appropriations in aid and by provision from elsewhere in the vote.

The cash limit for class II, vote 4, the British Council, will be increased by £2,119,000 from £97,499,000 to £99,618,000 in respect of adverse overseas price movements. The increase will be met from the reserve.


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All the increases will be offset by savings or charged to the reserve, and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Primary School Pupils

Mr. John D. Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the number of pupils enrolled at each maintained primary school in the constituencies of Belfast, West and Belfast, North, in each of the past five years.

Mr. Ancram: Information requested is as set out:


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North Belfast                                                              
                            Enrolments                                     
School                     |1989-90|1990-91|1991-92|1992-93|1993-94        
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Holy Cross Boys' PS        |441    |439    |439    |430    |443            
Holy Family Boys' PS       |291    |290    |284    |291    |228            
Our Lady of Lourdes CB PS  |506    |526    |545    |572    |580            
Our Lady's Girls' PS       |466    |458    |462    |463    |463            
Edmund Rice CB PS          |439    |427    |416    |418    |417            
Holy Family Girls' PS      |303    |305    |285    |285    |268            
Holy Cross Girls' PS       |223    |217    |245    |248    |243            
Mercy PS                   |708    |674    |628    |602    |593            
St. Vincent De Paul PS     |247    |254    |247    |235    |214            
St. Mary's Star of the Sea |256    |253    |253    |244    |236            
St. Therese of Lisieux PS  |471    |501    |500    |494    |482            
Star of the Sea PS         |243    |260    |269    |289    |305            
Sacred Heart Boys' PS      |305    |311    |344    |377    |399            
St. Patrick's Boys' PS<1>  |220    |213    |413    |425    |376            
St. Patrick's Girls' PS<1> |214    |211    |413    |425    |376            
<1> St. Patrick's Boys' and St. Patrick's Girls' amalgamated in 1991 to    
form St. Patrick's Primary School.                                         

West Belfast                                                                   
School                          Enrolments                                     
                               |1989-90|1990-91|1991-92|1992-93|1993-94        
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
St. Catherine's PS             |232    |255    |253    |261    |264            
St. Gall's Monastery PS        |317    |325    |329    |336    |350            
St. John's Girls' PS           |92     |88     |111    |109    |125            
St. Mary's Boys' and Girls' PS |119    |115    |110    |102    |102            
St. Aidan's CB PS              |384    |378    |376    |411    |382            
St. Bernadette's Girls' PS     |399    |391    |391    |383    |385            
St. Paul's Boys' PS            |191    |203    |216    |239    |218            
St. Teresa's Boys' PS          |336    |334    |339    |343    |347            
St. Teresa's Girls' PS         |307    |296    |290    |302    |305            
Holy Trinity Boys' PS          |416    |435    |449    |472    |465            
St. Oliver Plunkett Boys' PS   |384    |374    |379    |363    |387            
St. Oliver Plunkett Girls' PS  |391    |376    |394    |380    |380            
Holy Trinity Girls' PS         |409    |421    |430    |418    |403            
St. Bride's PS                 |694    |700    |710    |739    |755            
St. John the Baptist Girls' PS |625    |639    |646    |664    |679            
St. John the Baptist Boys' PS  |723    |725    |738    |757    |753            
St. Mary's Girls' PS           |197    |189    |214    |214    |218            
St. Paul's PS                  |135    |127    |140    |183    |171            
St. Malachy's PS               |290    |277    |291    |287    |299            
St. Peter's PS                 |535    |517    |495    |492    |474            
St. Joseph's PS                |253    |264    |266    |261    |257            
St. Comgall's PS               |152    |159    |153    |137    |122            
St. Kevin's Boys' PS<1>        |311    |325    |328    |647    |673            
St. Kevin's Girls' PS<1>       |261    |278    |298    |647    |673            
Holy Child Boys' PS<2>         |364    |354    |366    |366    |764            
Holy Child Girls PS<2>         |321    |329    |354    |371    |764            
Bunscoil Ghaelach PS           |361    |370    |382    |387    |371            
Gaelscoil Na Bhfal             |-      |-      |-      |97     |122            
<1> St. Kevin's Boys' and St. Kevin's Girls' amalgamated in 1992 to form St.   
Kevin's Primary School.                                                        
<2> Holy Child Boys' and Holy Child Girls' amalgamated in 1993 to form Holy    
Child Primary School.                                                          

Patients Charter

Mr. Barnes: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the cost to public funds of the production, printing, distribution and advertising of the patients charter when launched in 1991; and how many copies were printed.

Mr. Moss: The total cost to public funds of the launch of the Northern Ireland charter for patients and clients in March 1992 was £85,328. This was made up of £17,900 for production, £49,318 for printing and £18,110 for distribution. There were no advertising costs. Some 17,000 copies of the full charter and 1 million copies of the summary guide were printed.

Super Dump, Magheramorne

Mr. Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how objectors to the proposal for a super dump at Magheramorne, County Antrim former limestone quarry will be able to know that their response to the Blue Circle published planning application has been received at the Department of Environment Northern Ireland planning service if no acknowledgement is issued to each objector who writes to the Department of Environment, Northern Ireland.

Mr. Moss: All representations received will be acknowledged.

Fishing

Mr. John D. Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many fishing boats over 10m there were at Portavogie harbour; how many persons were employed in the fishing industry in Portavogie in 1985; and what are the current figures.

Mr. Ancram: Information on the number of fishing boats at Portagovie harbour over 10m length in 1985 is not available but there were 62 vessels of 40ft and over in length at 31 December 1985. The comparable figure at 31 December 1994 was 68 vessels, six of which are to be taken out of the fleet under the decommissioning scheme. In February 1985 it was estimated there were 586 full-time and part-time persons employed at Portagovie in fish catching, processing and ancillary services. The comparable estimate in February 1994 was 454 persons.

Agricultural Land

Dr. Strang: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what information he has showing the proportion of agricultural land which was tenanted in Northern Ireland for (a) 1965, (b) 1970, (c) 1980, (d) 1990 and (e) the latest available date.

Mr. Ancram: The requested information is not readily available. However, in general terms, tenancies do not feature to any meaningful extent as a basis of land tenure in Northern Ireland and the proportion of agricultural land involved in tenancies is therefore negligible.

TREASURY

Housing Benefit

12. Mr. Bennett: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much a 1 per cent. increase in interest


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rates increases Government expenditure on housing benefit.

Mr. Aitken: Interest rate changes do not affect expenditure on housing benefit which provides assistance towards rents.

Public Sector Debt

13. Mr. David Shaw: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the current public sector debt and its forecast growth.

Mr. Aitken: Net public sector debt stood at 38.3 per cent. of GDP at end-March 1994. It is forecast to peak as a share of GDP at end-March 1996, and to decline thereafter.

Budget (Effects)

14. Mr. Cohen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of how much an individual on five times average earnings will gain from his last Budget.

Sir George Young: Tax measures taking effect over the next year are expected to cost the richest 20 per cent. of households an average of £3.90 a week compared to £2.30 a week averaged across all households. Pensioners, on average, will be no worse off. The effect for any particular individual will vary with their household composition and spending pattern.

Investment Levels

15. Mr. Macdonald: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what will be the level of general and local government investment in 1997 98; and what it is currently, in real terms.

Mr. Aitken: General Government capital expenditure at 1993 94 prices is projected to be £15.2 billion in 1997 98 of which £5.9 billion is projected to be by local authorities. In the current year, we estimate the capital expenditure figure will be £16.8 billion of which local authorities will contribute £7.9 billion.

Private Finance Initiative

16. Mr. Evennett: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on recent progress under the private finance initiative.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke: I announced in the Budget that we are on target to sign contracts in 1995 under the private finance initiative leading to £5 billion of capital investment. Since then, additional projects worth a further £1 billion have been identified and are being taken forward.

Vehicle Excise Duty

17. Mr. Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will review the vehicle excise duty for lorries in the light of the discrepancy between revenue raised and total cost to public funds revealed by the Royal Commission on environmental pollution.

Mr. Heathcoat-Amory: Vehicle excise duty for lorries is reviewed before each Budget.

Ms Walley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to reduce United Kingdom road tax in respect of international hauliers.


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Mr. Heathcoat-Amory: My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer reviews vehicle excise duty before each Budget, taking account of a number of factors, including the competitive position of international hauliers. Vehicle excise duty for most lorry classes has been frozen in the past five budgets.

Public Limited Company Directors

18. Mrs. Roche: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the initiative of the Confederation of British Industry to investigate the structure within which the pay and conditions for public limited company directors is determined.

Mr. Aitken: I welcome the group set up under Sir Richard Greenbury to review this matter and look forward to their proposals. The CBI initiative gives positive proof of the private sector's willingness to respond positively to public concerns.

27. Mr. Clelland: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the initiative of the Confederation of British Industry to investigate the structure within which the pay and conditions for public limited company directors is determined.

Mr. Aitken: I refer the hon. member to the reply I gave the hon. member for Hornsey and Wood Green (Mrs. Roche) earlier today.

Single European Currency

19. Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects the EU will establish a single currency; and what assessment he has made of the benefits and disbenefits of United Kingdom participation.

Mr. Heathcoat-Amory: My right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has made it clear he does not expect conditions to be right for any move to a single currency in 1997. Whether the United Kingdom would benefit from a later move to a single currency would depend a great deal on whether significant convergence had been achieved among the member states concerned. When and if the timing of any moves to stage 3 becomes clearer, the Government have ensured that United kingdom participation could not occur without the approval of a full Act of Parliament.

Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will undertake a compliance cost assessment with regard to the obligations likely to be imposed upon the United Kingdom's financial institutions in order to be prepared for the possible adoption of the single European currency; what discussions he, his Department, or the Bank of England have had on such obligations; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Nelson: At the appropriate time, the Government will make an assessment of the costs and benefits of participating in a single currency, should this question arise. In carrying out their functions, both the Treasury and the Bank of England maintain a wide range of contacts with financial institutions. In this context, a number of them have raised the question of the implications for the United Kingdom financial sector and the wider United kingdom economy of a single European Currency.


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