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Small Firms

Mrs. Roche: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many firms with fewer than (a) 100, (b) 50, (c) 20 and (d) 10 employees were used by his Department in each of the last five years. [29432]

Mr. Hague: My Department does not hold the information requested.

Performance Bonds

Mrs. Roche: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his Department's policy on the use of performance bonds; in what circumstances they are used; what was the total sum paid by bond in each of the last five years; and if his Department requires bonds from businesses with fewer than (a) 100, (b) 50 and (c) 20 employees. [29429]

Mr. Hague: Advice on the use of performance bonds is set out in the central unit on procurement's guidance note No. 48 "Bonds and guarantees", copies of which are available in the Libraries of both Houses. This guidance makes it clear that bonds are not always necessary and are no substitute for considered judgments about the risks of a particular contract and the capabilities and financial resources of the available contractor. These factors will vary for each contract independent of the size of the contractor. Information regarding the total sum paid by bond in each of the last five years is not held by my Department

EU Funding

Mr. Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the recipients of funding for education and training purposes from the European Union in each of the last three years, giving the programme under which the funding was provided. [29303]

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Mr. Richards: The information requested is not held centrally.

Rendering and Incineration Facilities

Mr. Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to the letter of 15 May of the Minister of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give details of the rendering facilities and incineration facilities available in Wales to be used in conjunction with the abattoirs listed; and if he will make a statement. [30188]

Mr. Hague: There are no rendering facilities in Wales, the intervention board is considering which incinerators in Wales could be used under the scheme.

Slaughterhouses

Mr. Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to the letter of the Minister of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food of 15 May, if he will give details of the pattern of alternating use of the slaughterhouses listed in Wales as between participation in the cull scheme and normal slaughter for sale. [30189]

Mr. Hague: The precise pattern of slaughtering is a matter for abattoirs themselves, as long as they meet the normal hygiene regulations.

Mr. Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the (a) slaughtering industry and (b) food retailing industry concerning the desirability of (i) exclusive use of slaughterhouses designated for the 30-month and over special beef slaughter schemes and (ii) alternating use of such facilities with normal slaughtering of meat for sale; and if he will make a statement. [30190]

Mr. Hague: (a) My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State met a delegation last month. (b) None.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

WPC Yvonne Fletcher

Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Attorney-General, pursuant to the oral statement of the Minister of State of 8 May, Official Report, column 214, if he will make it his policy

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to give permission to grant an application under section 13 of the Coroners Act 1988 to order a fresh inquest in the case of WPC Yvonne Fletcher. [29296]

The Attorney-General: I have no power to order a fresh inquest. Section 13 of the Coroners Act 1988 permits the High Court to do so where an application is made on my authority. Any request to me for the grant of my authority would be considered on its own merits. In each instance, I consider whether there is a reasonable prospect of establishing that it is necessary or desirable in the interests of justice for a fresh inquest to be held.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

Tourism

14. Mr. Hain: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will make a statement on the Government's policies on tourism. [28771]

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley: The Government's work programme set out in "Tourism--Competing with the Best" fully recognises the importance of the industry as a creator of wealth and employment. My Department continues to work in partnership with the industry to improve our competitiveness in the world market. We have made significant progress on measures to help improve quality and value for money in the accommodation sector, and we are developing an agenda for action on the industry's use of its human resources.

24. Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what recent representations she has received regarding deregulation of the tourism industry; and if she will make a statement. [28783]

Mrs. Bottomley: Last week, I took part in the Government's deregulation seminar for the tourism and hospitality industry. We will respond to the concerns raised about burdensome regulations. Much has already been achieved in the Government's drive towards deregulation, but we will continue to work towards removing unnecessary obstacles to the growth of this £35 billion industry.

National Lottery (Gambling)

16. Mr. Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what proposals she has to assess the impact of the national lottery on the gambling habits of individuals. [28774]

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley: The protection of participants in the national lottery is the responsibility of the Director-General of the National Lottery, who has carried out research on playing, and has plans to carry out further work. Gambling is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary, whose Department has undertaken to monitor the impact of the national lottery on the horserace betting levy which involves examining betting expenditure.

National Lottery (Drama Groups)

17. Mr. Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many drama groups have been awarded funds from the national lottery. [28775]

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Mr. Sproat: Drama groups throughout the United Kingdom have benefited from the national lottery. To date, there have been 64 awards to a total of over £3.5 million, including, for example, an award to the Weymouth drama club to help it create a new rehearsal and performance space.

Euro 96

18. Mrs. Bridget Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what financial support the Government have given to the promotion of cultural events in London at the Euro 96 tournament. [28776]

Mr. Sproat: The Government have contributed £100,000 towards cultural events in the eight host cities, including London. A further £150,000 has been made available from both the Sportsmatch and ABSA business sponsorship schemes, and £130,000 from the Sports Council. A wide range of musical events will also take place as part of the national music festival.

Museums and Galleries

19. Mr. Matthew Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how much her Department is spending on capital projects at museums and galleries in 1996-97. [28777]

Mr. Sproat: My Department will provide £217 million in 1996-97 to museum and galleries and to the Museums and Galleries Commission. It is for the boards of these institutions to decide how much of this money should go towards capital projects.

Dance and Drama Students

20. Mr. Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will make a statement about future assistance available to young people from the lottery fund to assist them in taking up places in dance and drama schools. [28778]

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Morley and Leeds, South (Mr. Gunnell).

Millennium

21. Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how young people will be encouraged to participate in projects marking the millennium. [28779]

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley: I am keen to see young people playing a full part in the millennium celebrations. The Millennium Commission is currently considering applications from partner organisations for its millennium awards. Among the ideas put forward are schemes which offer new opportunities to young people in inner cities. Other commission--funded capital projects will provide opportunities for children to benefit both in terms of education, at sites such as the Earth centre at Doncaster and enjoyment, such as the Sustrans national cycleway.

The Government are currently considering what machinery is needed to co-ordinate other millennium events and projects and they are mindful of the need to involve all sections of the community.

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Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will make a further statement on her Department's plans to celebrate the millennium. [28772]

Mrs. Bottomley: The Government are currently putting in place machinery to co-ordinate the many projects and events that are being planned around the United Kingdom to celebrate the millennium. These will embrace the projects which the Millennium Commission is funding through the national lottery, including the millennium exhibition and festival. My Department will take the lead in this co-ordination.

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