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Abortion

Sir David Steel: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many deaths were recorded as a result of abortion operations in Scotland in 1995; [31315]

(2) how many abortions (a) in total and (b) per 1,000 women were carried out in Scotland in 1995. [31319]

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: The provisional number of abortions performed in Scotland under the Abortion Act 1967 in 1995 was 11,136; the rate per 1,000 women aged 15-44 was 10.1. None of the abortions performed in Scotland in 1995 resulted in the death of the pregnant woman.

Fire Service

Dr. Reid: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many fire fighters in the fire service in Scotland have had to retire through post-traumatic stress disorder, stress or depression arising from their job. [31350]

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: This information is not held centrally.

6 Jun 1996 : Column: 536

Unitary Authorities

Mr. Morley: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the amount of standard spending assessment per person for each of the new unitary authorities. [31165]

Mr. Kynoch: Standard spending assessments do not apply to Scotland. The equivalent figures are for Government-supported expenditure for which the information requested is as follows:

	(2) (3) (4)GSE per person
Aberdeen City	1,078
Aberdeenshire	1,063
Angus	1,057
Argyll and Bute	1,397
Scottish Borders	1,223
Clackmannanshire	1,121
West Dunbartonshire	1,344
Dumfries and Galloway	1,207
Dundee City	1,281
East Ayrshire	1,150
East Dunbartonshire	1,043
East Lothian	1,100
East Renfrewshire	1,026
City of Edinburgh	1,105
Falkirk	1,076
Fife	1,112
City of Glasgow	1,489
Highland	1,349
Inverclyde	1,292
Midlothian	1,146
Moray	1,146
North Ayrshire	1,156
North Lanarkshire	1,166
Perth and Kinross	1,066
Renfrewshire	1,164
South Ayrshire	1,123
South Lanarkshire	1,143
Stirling	1,214
West Lothian	1,151

(2) Population estimates for mid-1994 supplied by Registrar General for Scotland.

(3) GSE comprises grant-aided expenditure, plus allowances for: loan and leasing charges; expenditure on council tax benefit and housing benefit net of DSS subsidy; and, where applicable, expenditure on urban programme net of specific grant.

(4) The Islands Councils of Orkney, Shetland and Western Isles were unitary authorities prior to 1 April 1996.

Nature Conservation Payments

Ms Roseanna Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the payments made to landowners by Scottish National Heritage for nature conservation purposes and access to their estates in each year since 1991. [30505]

Mr. Kynoch [holding answer 22 May 1996]: Scottish Natural Heritage, which came into existence in 1992, makes payments to landowners in two ways, through management agreements and grants. Details of grant payments are listed in the annual reports of SNH, copies of which are in the Library of the House. A list of all management agreements was published in SNH's first annual report and new agreements are included in subsequent reports.

6 Jun 1996 : Column: 537

Cullen Inquiry

Mr. Dafis: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will amend the terms of reference of the Cullen inquiry to include consideration of the depiction of murder on films, videos and television as a possible contributory cause of violent behaviour. [30510]

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 4 June 1996]: The terms of reference already allow the Inquiry to consider the issues arising from the tragic events at Dunblane primary school on 13 March, as well as the circumstances leading up to and surrounding these events.

Animal Feedstuffs

Mr. Welsh: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when the Ministry for Agriculture Fisheries and Food (a) first evaluated and (b) first had access to a test for mammalian material in animal feedstuffs. [29913]

Mrs. Browning [holding answer 17 May 1996]: I have been asked to reply.

The development of the ELISA test for bovine, ovine and porcine protein in ruminant feed has been a long-term project, based upon previous expertise in the identification of species of origin of meat. There were significant difficulties in purifying raw material to prevent interference by and cross reactions with many plant components of animal feed. Once resolved, there was a period of further validation based on the testing of feed samples collected on farm, commencing in June 1994. Additional testing of feed samples collected on farm, commencing in June 1994. Additional problems were identified, particularly relating to cross reactions with ingredients not previously tested, until the test was considered secure enough by mid-1995 to embark on surveillance at feed mills in compliance with Commission decision 95/287.

PRIME MINISTER

Lockerbie

Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his oral answer of 14 May, Official Report, columns 762-63, what consideration he has given to the issue addressed to him by the chairman of United Kingdom Families Flight 103, in a letter of 13 May, as to (a) whether the criminal investigation findings were reliable and complete and (b) whether there has been a fabrication of evidence to conceal certain matters therein set out. [30298]

The Prime Minister: My noble and learned Friend, the then Lord Advocate, concluded after the most intensive investigation in United Kingdom history that there was no evidence to support charges against the nationals of any other country. The alleged involvement of a Palestinian terrorist group was closely investigated during the early stages of the investigation, but no credible evidence emerged to substantiate its involvement in the Lockerbie crime. It is for a jury to decide how reliable the evidence is, but successive Lord Adovcates would not have brought and maintained charges if they had believed that the evidence on which they were based was unreliable, incomplete or fabricated.

6 Jun 1996 : Column: 538

Beef Ban

Sir Russell Johnston: To ask the Prime Minister what representations were made to the United States Government following their banning of British beef in 1989; what further negotiations have taken place since; and if he will make a statement. [31114]

The Prime Minister: It is not true that the United States authorities banned British beef in 1989. However, the USA has not accepted imports of bone in beef from Britain since 1989. After 1989, negotiations concentrated on securing access to US markets for boneless beef, which were successfully concluded in July 1994. Negotiations continue on securing wider access to the US markets, although in regular discussions with representatives of industry, the USA has not been identified as a priority market for the export of beef.

Kashmir

Mr. Madden: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make representations to the Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir concerning the detention in Mirpur prison of Chazanfer Ali; and if he will make a statement. [31422]

The Prime Minister: As Ghazanfer Ali, a Pakistani national, has now been formally charged and has made appearances in court, it is now a matter for the Azad Kashmir authorities. It would not be appropriate for us to make further representations.

European Union Flag

Mr. Redmond: To ask the Prime Minister what instructions were issued to Government offices and agencies in respect of flying the European Union flag on 8 May; and if he will make a statement. [31515]

The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given today by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Engagements

Mr. Harry Greenway: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 6 June. [30456]

Sir Peter Tapsell: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 6 June. [30457]

The Prime Minister: This morning I presided at a meeting of the Cabinet and had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House, I shall be having further meetings later today.

Security and Intelligence Services

Mr. Day: To ask the Prime Minister when the annual report of the commissioner appointed under the Security Service Act 1989 will be laid before the House; and if he will make a statement. [32004]

The Prime Minister: A copy of Lord Justice Stuart-Smith's sixth annual report for 1995 has been laid before the House today in accordance with section 4(6) of the Security Service Act 1989. The confidential annex to the report has been excluded from that copy in accordance with section 4(7) of the 1989 Act. I am grateful to the commissioner for his work in providing

6 Jun 1996 : Column: 539

assistance to the tribunal as provided in that Act and for reviewing the issue of warrants under the Intelligence Services Act 1994. I note that he is satisfied that the Secretaries of State have exercised their powers in accordance with the provisions of the 1994 Act.

Sir Roger Moate: To ask the Prime Minister when the annual report of the commissioner appointed under the Intelligence Services Act 1994 will be laid before the House; and if he will make a statement. [32005]

The Prime Minister: A copy of Lord Justice Stuart-Smith's first annual report, for 1995, has been laid before the House today in accordance with section 8(6) of the Intelligence Services Act 1994. The confidential annex to the report has been excluded from that copy in accordance with section 8(7) of the 1994 Act. I am grateful to the Commissioner for his work in reviewing the issue of warrants and authorisations, and in providing assistance to the tribunal as provided for in the Act. I note that he is satisfied that the Secretary of State has properly exercised his powers under the two sections of the 1994 Act.

Sir Jim Lester: To ask the Prime Minister when the annual report of the commissioner appointed under the Interception of Communications Act 1985 will be laid before the House; and if he will make a statement. [32006]

The Prime Minister: A copy of Lord Nolan's annual report for 1995 has been laid before the House today in accordance with section 8(7) of the Interception of Communications Act 1985. The confidential annex to the report has been excluded from that copy in accordance with section 8(8) of the 1985 Act. I am grateful to the commissioner for his work in reviewing the issue of warrants and in providing assistance to the tribunal as provided for in the Act. I note in particular the commissioner's view that the interception of both postal and telecommunications remains both an effective and essential operation in the interests of national security and the economic well being of the United Kingdom, and the prevention and detection of serious crime.

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