Parliamentary Questions - Written Replies

DEFENCE EXPORTS: Latest estimates show that in 1993 the Government signed defence equipment export contracts worth more than pounds 6bn, Jonathan Aitken, the defence minister, said. This represented a rise of more than 15 per cent on 1992 and made 1993 a record-breaking year for British defence exports.

ASYLUM SEEKERS: At the end of February 1994, the estimated number of applications for asylum outstanding was 47,100, William Hague, the social security minister, said. The number of asylum seekers claiming income support in May 1993 was 37,000.

ENTERTAINMENT: pounds 96,000 was spent on official entertaining in the Department for Education in 1992-93 compared with pounds 57,000 in 1990-91, Tim Boswell, the education minister, said.