Sitting of 2 July 1999

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Arms Decommissioning
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the cost to date of implementing the provisions of the Northern Ireland Arms Decommissioning Act 1997. [88811]

  Mr. Ingram
  It is not possible to give the exact total cost to date as the expenditure incurred by the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning is shared with the Irish Government. To date, the British Government have contributed £1,099,439, which represents approximately 50 per cent. of the total cost.

  Visitor Statistics
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many(a) Holiday Visitors and (b) Business Visitors to Northern Ireland from (i) Great Britain, (ii) the Republic of Ireland and (iii) the rest of the world there were in the last year for which figures are available. [89130]

  Mr. Ingram
  During 1998, 277,000 Holiday Visitors came to Northern Ireland, 81,000 from Great Britain, 90,000 from the Republic of Ireland and 106,000 from the rest of the world.

  434,000 Business Visitors came in 1998—an estimated 302,000 from Great Britain, 80,000 from the Republic of Ireland and 52,000 from the rest of the world.

CABINET OFFICE

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Levitt
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what are the increases to the Special Adviser pay bands for 1999–2000; and how many Advisers are in each pay band, by Department. [88645]

  Dr. Jack Cunningham
  The minima and maxima of the Special Adviser pay bands have each been increased by 2.8 per cent. with effect from 1 April 1999, the same increase as for the Senior Civil Service pay bands. The three pay bands are now:

  Pay band

  Scale

  Band A

  £26,728 to £46,260

  Band B

  £41,120 to £61,680

  Band C

  £55,512 to £78,186

  284
  The number of Special Advisers in each pay band is as follows:

  Number in bands

  Department

  A

  B

  C

  No. 101

  3

  10

  7

  Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

  1

  —

  —

  Cabinet Office2

  —

  2

  1

  Chief Whip's Office

  —

  2

  —

  Culture, Media and Sport

  1

  1

  —

  Defence

  —

  1

  1

  Education and Employment3,4

  2

  1

  —

  Environment, Transport and the Regions5

  —

  3

  1

  Foreign and Commonwealth Office

  —

  2

  —

  Health

  —

  1

  1

  Home Office

  —

  2

  —

  International Development

  2

  —

  —

  Leader of the House of Lords

  —

  2

  —

  Lord Chancellor's Department

  —

  —

  1

  Northern Ireland Office

  2

  —

  —

  President of the Council

  1

  1

  —

  Scottish Office6

  —

  1

  —

  Social Security

  —

  1

  1

  Trade and Industry

  —

  2

  —

  HM Treasury7,8

  1

  1

  1

  2

  —

  —

  Welsh Office

  Total

  15

  33

  14

  1 Plus Jonathan Powell and Alastair Campbell who are paid outside the band structure, and Iain Anderson who is an unpaid Adviser

  2 Plus Keith Hellawell, UK Anti-Drugs Co-ordinator, who is paid outside the band structure

  3 Plus Michael Barber, the Standards and Effectiveness Adviser

  4 Includes two part-time posts; one additional Adviser has been appointed at a salary to be determined

  5 Includes two part-time posts

  6 One additional Adviser has been appointed at a salary to be determined

  7 Plus the three members of the Council of Economic Advisers (two in Band C and one in Band B; one of them part-time)

  8 One additional Adviser has been appointed at a salary to be determined.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Documents of Record
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee if he will make a statement on the extent of use of paper containing acid for (i)the Official Report, (ii) House of Commons printed papers and (iii) other House of Commons documents of record; and what assessment he has made of the estimated durability and life expectancy of paper copies of (i), (ii) and (iii). [89112]

  Mrs. Roe
  The contract for the printing of the House's core documents (including the Official Report, Vote Bundle, Bills and Select Committee Reports) specifies the use of acid free paper of archival quality. The paper used has an alkali reserve of a minimum of 2 per cent., and an archival life in excess of 100 years.

  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Chairman of the Information Committee what estimate he has made of the durability and life expectancy of paper copies of the(a) Official Report and (b) other documents of record held by the Library. [89111]
  285
  Mr. Allan
  For information on the current standards for paper used for the Official Report and other House documents of record held by the Library, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him today by the Chairman of the Administration Committee, column 284.

  The durability of older documents varies according to age, the type of paper used, the frequency of use and the storage conditions. The Library regularly monitors the condition of these documents and has a programme of conservation. It is aware of a particular problem with acidic paper used from about 1850 to 1950. Older Parliamentary Papers were moved in 1992 to controlled storage conditions in Broad Sanctuary, where there are also reserve volumes of the Official Report. The Library is investigating the feasibility of producing a digitised text of older Official Reports. As well as giving easy access to the text, this would also reduce use of the paper volumes and so aid their preservation.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  UNHCR
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what is the total cash payment in 1999 to date to UNHCR from her Department. [89620]

  Mr. Foulkes
  The total cash payments made by the Department for International Development (DFID) to United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) between 1 January and 30 June 1999 amount to £14.66 million. Of this total, we have contributed £7 million to UNHCR's General and Special Programmes, £3 million to a DFID/UNHCR scheme to support NGO Refugee projects, and £4.66 million to specific country programmes and regional appeals.

  Departmental Grants
  Mr. Sutcliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what grant support her Department has given to(a) the Foundation for International Community Assistance and (b) the Small Enterprise Foundation in South Africa. [89416]

  Mr. Foulkes
  The Department for International Development (DFID) is providing assistance to the Foundation for International Community Assistance (FINCA) in three African countries. The details are as follows:

  1. FINCA International in Tanzania: £850,000 between 1999 and 2002

  2. FINCA Uganda: £98,000 between 1998 and 1999 (this project is likely to be scaled up if phase 1 is successful)

  3. FINCA Malawi: £721,000 between 1998 and 2001

  DFID has not received any proposals for support to FINCA in South Africa. My Department has had discussions with the South African Small Enterprise Foundation (SEF) about potential proposals.

  DFID has also offered to finance a study to help the Mineworkers Development Agency (MDA; the development arm of South Africa's National Union of Mineworkers) establish a rural banking facility, for micro
  286
  credit as well as savings. The MDA has held discussions with a number of potential partners in this venture, including FINCA and SEF.

  Child Care
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans she has to support child care provision in Romania. [89044]

  Mr. Foulkes
  [holding answer 1 July 1999]: We are presently exploring with the Department for Child Protection of the Government of Romania how best we can assist them, taking account of other donor support in this area.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what humanitarian assistance her Department has provided to improve child care provision in central and eastern Europe. [89045]

  Mr. Foulkes
  [holding answer 1 July 1999]: We financed a Child Care project in Romania between 1995 and 1998. This provided advice on the framing of child care legislation, support for the development of model Centres for Family Support and Child Protection, and assistance at county council (judet) level with the development of sustainable and accountable services to vulnerable children and families. The total cost was about £339,000. The project was managed by the European Children's Trust.

  In Bulgaria, we co-financed with the EU (Phare) a project to advise on child care legislation and good practices. We provided £90,000 in 1998 for a three month study visit to the UK by child care practitioners. We have just started a £300,000 project to advise the Ministries of Education, Health and Labour and Social Policy on alternatives to institutional child care. This is being managed by Save The Children Fund.

  We are also financing projects in south-eastern Europe to address the problems of refugee children in the region as a result of the Kosovo crisis. For example we have contributed £300,000 to Save The Children Fund for regional programmes, which include non-formal education through local groups and volunteer teachers; £160,000 to Children's Aid Direct for the distribution of school materials and equipment for Kosovo refugees and host communities in Macedonia; and an unearmarked sum of £2.25 million to UNICEF for their activities in the region. UNICF are aiming to improve access to health care and primary education. They have been effective in developing and advocating child friendly spaces in camps and other locations. These spaces provide basic services for children and mothers such as baby care, pre-school, primary school, recreational activities, counselling and basic health and nutrition education.

  Through the newly established Humanitarian Assistance Field Office in Pristina, we will continue to identify further areas of support in accordance with the needs of the returning refugees and the displaced people of Kosovo.

TREASURY

  VAT
  Mr. Maude
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) pursuant to his answer of 8 June 1999,Official Report, column 289, regarding discussions with European institutions about VAT on financial services, what his policy is on the application of VAT to financial services; and what position HM Customs and Excise has taken in the consultations with the European Commission on the feasibility of applying VAT to financial services; [86962]

  (2) pursuant to his answer of 8 June 1999, Official Report, column 289, regarding discussions with European institutions about VAT on financial services, if he will place a copy of the consultants' report in the Library; [86963]

  (3) pursuant to his answer of 8 June 1999, Official Report, column 289, regarding discussions with European institutions about VAT on financial services, if he will list the positions held by the Customs officials who have attended the seminars and the conference organised by the European Commission; where and when the seminars and conference took place; what costs were incurred by the Treasury in attending the seminars and conference; and if he will make a statement. [86964]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 17 June 1999]: The European Commission has been studying the feasibility of applying VAT to financial services, including insurance, since 1993. No proposal has been made. The Government's position is clear: they will not accept any measures which damage British business, jobs and competitiveness. Customs' position in discussions with Commission officials have been consistent with this policy.

  Mr. Maude
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will estimate the total annual revenue that would be collected if VAT were charged at(a) 17.5 per cent. and (b) 5 per cent. on the making of arrangements for, or the underwriting of, any security or secondary security; [89595]

  (2) if he will estimate the total annual revenue that would be collected if VAT were charged at (a) 17.5 per cent. and (b) 5 per cent. on the operation of any current, deposit or savings account as defined in subsection 8, Group 5, Schedule 9 (Exemptions) of VAT Notice 701/39 part 2. [89594]

  Dawn Primarolo
  It is not possible to provide the requested estimates due to insufficient data being available on these specific financial activities.

  Mr. Maude
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the total annual revenue that would be collected if VAT were charged at(a) 17.5 per cent. and (b) 5 per cent. on the making of any arrangements for
  (i) the issue, transfer or receipt of, or any dealing with, money, any security for money or any note or order for the payment of money, (ii) the making of any advance or the granting of any credit, (iii) the provision of the facility of instalment credit finance in a hire-purchase, conditional sale or credit sale agreement for which facility a separate charge is made and disclosed to the recipient of the supply of goods and (iv) the provision of administrative arrangements and documentation and the transfer of the
  288
  title to the goods in connection with the provision of the facility of instalment credit finance in a hire-purchase, conditional sale or credit sale agreement for which facility a separate charge is made and disclosed to the recipient of the supply of goods if the total consideration therefore is specified in the agreement and does not exceed £10. [89596]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Insufficient data are available to provide the estimates sought, as I explained to the right hon. Gentleman in my written answer of 30 June 1999,Official Report, columns 226–27.

  Withholding Tax
  Sir Michael Spicer
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the commitments he has made with respect to the withholding tax will apply to all forms of savings in addition to eurobonds. [89567]

  Dawn Primarolo
  We have made it very clear that the draft Directive on savings in its current form is unacceptable because of its likely impact on our financial markets. The Conclusions of the ECOFIN Council meeting on 1 December 1997 record that the United Kingdom considers the Directive should not apply to eurobonds and other similar instruments.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Departmental Car Pool
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many cars are available for the use of(a) his Department's Ministers, (b) his Department's officials and (c) executives and officials of his Department's non-Governmental bodies and agencies. [88087]

  Mr. Prescott
  As at July 1998, my Department owned or leased the following number of motor vehicles:

  No. of vehicles

  (a) Ministers

  18

  (b) DETR (Central)

  27

  (c) Agencies

  564

  (d) Government Offices for the Regions

  80

  Total

  679

  1 Leased from GCDA

  Information is not available centrally in respect of vehicles owned or leased by the Departments non-departmental public bodies and other associate bodies.

  Environment Agency Car Pool
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many cars are owned or leased for use by members and employees of the Environment Agency. [88090]

  Mr. Meacher
  237 cars are owned by the Environment Agency and 2,500 cars are leased.

  Euro Preparations
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what budget(a) his Department, (b) the regional offices and (c) the Regional Development Agencies have for preparations for the euro; [88095]

  (2) what action is being taken by (a) the Regional Development Agencies and (b) his Department to prepare businesses for the introduction of the euro. [88096]

  Mr. Prescott
  Following the publication of the Government's Outline Changeover Plan, my Department is considering what preparations may be necessary for the introduction of the euro as far as its own areas of responsibility are concerned. Beyond this, my Department and the Government Offices for the Regions have no specific budget for euro preparations, neither do the Regional Development Agencies.

  Government advice for business on the implications of the introduction of the euro in the eurozone countries is co-ordinated by HM Treasury. Government support includes the setting up of 12 regional euro fora, in which the Government Offices for the Regions were involved and in which the Regional Development Agencies have been invited to participate.

  EU Environment Council
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will publish the latest agenda of the Environment Council of 24–25 June prior to the meeting. [88169]

  Mr. Meacher
  I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave on 23 June 1999, to my hon. Friend the Member for Blaenau Gwent (Mr. Smith),Official Report, columns 405–06, which lists the proposals due for discussion at the Environment Council in Luxembourg on 24–25 June. Apart from the proposals listed in my earlier answer, the following items were also on the agenda:
  Report on the Protocol on biosafety:
  Procedure
  Commission Communication to the Council and the European Parliament on the internal market and the environment:
  Presentation
  Commission communication to the Council and the European Parliament: "Preparing for implementation of the Kyoto Protocol":
  Presentation
  Other business:

  (a) Conference on organic farming (Vienna 27 and 28 May 1999) Commission Statement

  (b) Best environmental protection practices in other policies (Seminar in Bonn 25 May 1999): Briefing by the German Delegation

  London Underground
  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he was first informed that the engineering works on the Circle line might necessitate the suspension of the Circle line service. [88429]
  290
  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The Circle line service is not suspended. London Underground (LU) continues to operate services at all Circle line stations. Where possible, they are running extra trains on other lines to minimise passenger disruption.

  LU first informed officials in my Department in November 1997 that engineering works might necessitate the closure of the Circle line between High Street Kensington and Gloucester Road stations.

  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what are the closure dates for(a) the Circle line and (b) the Northern line. [88603]

  Mrs. Liddell
  Engineering works between High Street Kensington and Gloucester Road, which are preventing a normal Circle line service from operating, began on 12 June 1999 and will continue to 16 August 1999. The Northern line City branch will be closed between Moorgate and Kennington from 3 July 1999 to 5 September 1999.

  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans have been made to provide alternative public transport for people who normally use the Northern and Circle lines. [88493]

  Mrs. Liddell
  Although engineering works are disrupting services, all Circle line stations remain open. London Underground are operating additional services on the Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan lines, along part of the route where Circle line services usually run, and a normal District line service along most of the rest of the Circle line. Additional buses are also running on routes 16, 23 and 52. Underground tickets and passes are valid on these buses.

  While the Northern line City branch is closed between Moorgate and Kennington, a rail replacement bus service will operate and there will be also be an enhanced service on the 133 bus which runs along the route. In addition, there will be a 15 per cent. increase in services on the Northern line Charing Cross branch. Alternative routes will be advertised and extra station staff will help to keep passengers informed.

  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of London Underground's planned investment in (i) 1999–2000, (ii) 2000–01 and (iii) 2001–02. [88492]

  Mrs. Liddell
  London Underground's planned investment for these years is currently under review.

  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many trains were(a) cancelled and (b) more than 10 minutes late on the Underground in the last available month. [88489]

  Mrs. Liddell
  Between 2 May and 29 May, 1,258 trains were cancelled or withdrawn from service and 239 trains were delayed for more than 10 minutes.

  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what proportion of and how many tube travellers used(a) the Circle line and (b) the Northern line in each of the last six months for which figures are available. [88488]
  291
  Mrs. Liddell
  As all stations served by Circle line trains and many served by Northern line trains are also served by other lines, London Underground (LU) are not able to provide detailed line specific information in the format requested.

  However, LU estimate that 220,000 passengers use the Circle line and 540,000 use the Northern line on a typical weekday—6.2 per cent. and 15.5 per cent. of total network traffic respectively.

  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions which tube lines other than the Circle and Northern lines London Underground proposes to close during the next 12 months. [88487]

  Mrs. Liddell
  London Underground (LU) proposes to close the Victoria line between Brixton and Victoria stations from 23 October until 7 November 1999. The Bakerloo line will be closed between Queens Park and Harrow and Wealdstone stations between 23 and 31 October 1999 while Railtrack, who own this section of the track, carry out engineering work. And LU are planning to close the District line between High Street Kensington and Earl's Court stations in June 2000 for approximately 10 weeks.

  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he was first informed that London Underground might have to close(a) the Circle and (b) the Northern line; and what meetings he held about these potential closures. [88486]

  Mrs. Liddell
  London Underground (LU) first informed my Department in November 1997 and September 1998 respectively that engineering works might necessitate the closure of the Circle line between High street Kensington and Gloucester Road stations and the Northern Line City Branch between Moorgate and Kennington stations.

  I met the managing director of London Underground to discuss these closures on 23 June 1999. Issues such as these closures are also discussed by my hon. Friend the Minister for Transport in London when she meets each month with the managing directors of London Underground and London Buses.

  Car Parks (Tube Stations)
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to encourage increased provision of commuter car parking at tube stations. [88490]

  Mrs. Liddell
  London Underground is working to provide more commuter car parking at Underground stations and expect to increase the number of parking spaces by more than 10 per cent. before the end of 2000.

  European Communities Working Groups
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the European Communities working groups which met over the last 12 months with a representative from his Department in attendance; if he will list the number of times each met; if he will indicate the nature of the Government's representation; and if he will make a statement. [88479]
  292
  Mr. Meale
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer of 18 June 1999,Official Report, column 255, given by the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, my right hon. Friend the Member for Gateshead, East and Washington, West (Ms Quin).

  Rail Industry (Subsidies)
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what was the subsidy(a) per kilometre and (b) per passenger given to the rail industry within each European Union country in the last year for which figures are available. [88634]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  [holding answer 29 June 1999]: The Department does not have the requested information.

  Jubilee Line Extension
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many man hours have been lost on work on the Jubilee Line Extension on average per month since 1 January owing to interruptions from unnecessary use of the fire alarm system. [89398]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Approximately 700 hours on average.

  Coastguard (Donaldson Report)
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 28 June 1999,Official Report, column 22, on Lord Donaldson's report on the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, if the report will be made available to the public. [89395]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  In accordance with his terms of reference, Lord Donaldson will be giving his advice to the Deputy Prime Minister and will do so shortly. The decision on whether to publish his advice will be taken after it has been received.

  Strategic Rail Authority
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to introduce legislation establishing a strategic rail authority. [90055]

  Mr. Prescott
  We are making good progress in relation to the proposals for a Strategic Rail Authority and in making railway regulation more effective and accountable. The shadow Strategic Rail Authority has been operational from 1 April, and the new Rail Regulator takes up his appointment next week. We hope to introduce a Railways Bill shortly.

DEFENCE

  3rd Battalion Parachute Regiment
  Mr. Duncan Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current strength of 3rd Battalion Parachute Regiment. [88127]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  [holding answer 24 June 1999]: The strength of the 3rd Battalion Parachute Regiment, including all attached Arms, as at 1 May 1999 is shown

  293
  in the table. The figures are for UK Trained Personnel only, and exclude locally employed personnel, Royal Irish (Home Service) personnel, those reservists mobilised for duties associated with Bosnia and full time reserve personnel.

  3rd Battalion Parachute Regiment

  Strength

  Royal Armoured Corps1

  1

  Royal Engineers1

  1

  Infantry2

  3

  Parachute Regiment

  430

  Royal Logistic Corps

  20

  Royal Army Medical Corps

  3

  Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers

  22

  Adjutant General's Corps (Staff and Personnel Support)

  23

  Army Physical Training Corps

  1

  Total

  504

  1 Officers and Soldiers on attachment to the 3rd Battalion Parachute Regiment

  2 The figures for Infantry personnel include all those whose cap badge is of another Infantry Regiment

  Learning Forces Initiative
  Mr. Ottaway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much has been spent on the Learning Forces initiative; and what is the forecast expenditure for each of the next five years. [88701]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  As part of the Strategic Defence Review, the Learning Forces initiative substantially increased provision to assist service personnel with their personal development. This reflects our determination that the armed forces benefit fully from the Government's commitment to lifelong learning. Additional provision in the current financial year is some £10 million.

  Armed Forces Personnel
  Mr. Ottaway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many personnel have(a) left and (b) joined the (i) Army, (ii) Navy and (iii) RAF in the last two years for which figures are available. [88704]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  The table show the information requested.

  1 April 1997 to 1 March 1998

  1 April 1998 to 1 March 1999

  (a) Outflow of UK Regular Forces

  Naval Service

  5,271

  5,531

  Army

  14,378

  17,015

  Royal Air Force

  4,609

  4,898

  Total

  24,258

  27,444

  (b) Intake to UK Regular Forces from civilian life

  Naval Service

  4,600

  4,767

  Army

  15,379

  16,963

  Royal Air Force

  3,526

  4,246

  Total

  23,505

  25,976

  Royal Hospital, Haslar (Orthopaedic Surgeons)
  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many orthopaedic surgeons are currently serving at 294
  the Royal Hospital, Haslar; and of these, how many have given notice of their intention to leave the Armed Forces. [88338]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  [holding answer 25 June 1999]: Of the six Service orthopaedic surgeons currently serving at the Royal Hospital, Haslar, five have applied to leave the Armed Forces.

  Armed Forces Civilian Ports Recruitment
  Mr. Ottaway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much has been spent in each year since 1989 on recruitment for(a) the Army, (b) the RAF, (c) the Royal Navy and (d) Ministry of Defence civilian posts; and what is the planned expenditure for the next five years. [88705]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  Figures for the Armed Forces are available only from 1990–91. The cost of recruitment, including the recruiting organisations, in each of the Services, since 1990–91 is as shown. Total Army recruitment costs for the year 1990–91 are not available as they cannot be identified separately.

  £ million

  Year

  Naval Service

  Army

  RAF

  1990–91

  23.48

  n/a

  26.33

  1991–92

  26.83

  42.20

  27.98

  1992–93

  19.00

  42.60

  27.45

  1993–94

  21.10

  48.61

  27.60

  1994–95

  19.50

  45.91

  27.87

  1995–96

  21.88

  56.20

  26.88

  1996–97

  21.57

  49.80

  25.88

  1997–98

  25.04

  59.55

  29.73

  1998–99

  28.07

  49.96

  30.47

  Expenditure on recruitment to the Services is expected to continue at broadly comparable amounts over the next five years.

  The table shows the Departmental civilian recruitment expenditure for advertising only, plus all elements of fast stream recruitment, together with forecast expenditure for the next five years. Actual costs prior to 1997–98 are not fully available.

  £ million

  Year

  Expenditure

  1997–98

  4.56

  1998–99

  4.80

  Expenditure on civilian recruitment is expected to continue at broadly comparable amounts over the next five years.

  Death and Serious Injuries
  Mr. Livsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many(a) deaths and (b) serious injuries occurred during (i) territorial, (ii) regular units and (iii) special forces training in the Brecon Beacons and Epynt Range between 1974 and 1999. [88937]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  I regret that the information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. I can confirm, however, that there were 141 deaths and 14,441 injuries in the UK resulting from training and exercises during the last 20 years.

  Service Families
  Mr. Ottaway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many meetings have been held by the Service Families Task Force Ministerial Working Group. [89026]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  [holding answer 29 June 1999]: There has been one meeting of the Ministerial Group thus far. I wrote to my colleagues on the Ministerial Group on 1 June 1999 reviewing progress to date and giving notice of the next meeting, which I will be chairing shortly.

  Mr. Ottaway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many meetings of the Families Forum have taken place; and on how many occasions the Forum is scheduled to meet in the next year. [89025]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  [holding answer 29 June 1999]: I chair the Families Forum which is attended by the Chairs of the three Service Families Associations. The first meeting of the Families Forum took place on the 22 April 1999. This was the day after the Charter of Royal Navy and Royal Marines Families Association was signed. It is anticipated that the Forum will meet about twice a year and the next meeting is planned for the autumn.

  In between meetings of the Families Forum, the Chairs of the Service Families Associations have regular contact with my officials. They were last briefed on the progress of the Task Force on 16 June 1999.

  Mr. Ottaway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much has been spent on the Service Families Task Force; and what is the planned expenditure for each of the next five years. [88702]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  The Service Families Task Force was created to address those problems, caused by the mobility of Service families, outside the direct control of the MOD. These are largely concerned with access to education, health and employment services which can be resolved only through joint action with other Government Departments.

  There have been no new or additional costs to the Departmental budget caused by the creation of the Service Families Task Force. No additional expenditure is planned. The provision of support to the Task Force has fallen within the normal work of the Department.

  Young Soldiers
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the policy of the Government in respect of(a) the recruitment of soldiers aged under 18 years and (b) their use in situations of conflict. [89127]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  The minimum age of entry to the regular UK Armed Forces is 16 years. All young people under the age of 18 who volunteer to enlist must first obtain the written consent of their parents or guardians and great care is taken to ensure that young people understand precisely the nature of the commitment they are making. In respect of deployment, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 22 October 1998,Official Report, column 1161, in which I stated that in future only service personnel over the age of 17 years would be deployed.

  Armed Forces (Under-18s)
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of(a) the Royal Navy,
  296
  (b) the RAF and (c) the Army were under 18 years of age on 23 June; and what percentage of force numbers this represents. [89039]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  [holding answer 30 June 1999]: At 1 June, the latest date for which information is available centrally on all three services:
  992 Naval Service personnel (Royal Navy and Royal Marines) were under 18 years of age, 2.3 per cent of the total strength.
  4,991 Army personnel were under 18 years of age, 4.5 per cent. of the total strength.
  438 RAF personnel were under 18 years of age, 0.8 per cent. of the total strength.

  Defence Evaluation and Research Agency
  Sir Michael Spicer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will answer the question of 15 June tabled by the hon. Member for West Worcestershire on the public/private partnership proposals for DERA (ref. 87372). [89599]

  Mr. Spellar
  I answered the hon. Member's question on 30 June 1999,Official Report, columns 158–59.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  RDX Explosives
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer of 26 May 1999,Official Report, columns 200–01, what export licences his Department has issued since September 1998 for explosives which have RDX as a component part; and how many applications are pending. [87954]

  Dr. Howells
  By the term in my earlier answer "RDX in its its raw form", the intended meaning was "RDX or explosives containing RDX, not incorporated into other products such as ammunition or missiles." All of the licences and pending applications listed in my answer of 26 May 1999,Official Report, columns 200–01, covered explosive mixtures containing RDX as a component at a range of concentrations.

  However, I regret that there were two errors in my answer of 26 May. Three (rather than two) of the Standard Individual Export Licences (SIELs) issued between 1 September 1998 and 6 May 1999, and covering goods with a rating of ML8 covered RDX in its raw form; the additional licence covered exports to the United States. Six (rather than seven) of the applications for such licences pending a decision as at 6 May covered RDX in its raw form; that one mentioned as covering an export to Japan did not in fact cover RDX.

  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer of 26 May 1999,Official Report, columns 200–01, if the destinations of the four pending licences for export of goods rated ML8 to the USA are private companies. [87953]

  Dr. Howells
  The US Government is the stated end user on three of the applications concerned. Licences have now been issued in respect of two of these applications; the third is still pending.
  297
  The US Government is the stated end user of the goods covered by the fourth application, although in this case the goods are first to be exported to a private company in the United States for explosives production. This application too is still pending.

  Anti-personnel Landmines
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assurances his Department seeks to ensure that explosives exported from the United Kingdom are not used in the production of anti-personnel landmines. [87956]

  Dr. Howells
  Licences to export arms or other goods controlled for strategic reasons are issued by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, acting through the Export Control Organisation of the Department of Trade and Industry. All relevant individual licence applications are circulated by the DTI to other Government departments with an interest, as determined by these departments in line with their policy responsibilities. These include the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Ministry of Defence and the Department for International Development.

  If, when an application is being considered, the Export Control Organisation of my department is advised that additional information is required, for example specific supplementary end-use assurances, the applicant is informed and the decision on their application is taken in light of the information subsequently received.

  All applications for licences to export goods entered in Part III of Schedule 1 to the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994 are assessed against the criteria announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary for State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on 28 July 1998, Official Report, columns 26–29, and the European Union Code of Conduct on Arms Exports.

  Climate Change Levy
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will calculate the comparative costs of(a) electricity and (b) gas in (i) the United Kingdom, (ii) the United States of America and (iii) the EU (1) before and (2) after the Climate Change Levy is introduced; and if he will make a statement. [88105]

  Mr. Battle
  The latest year for which international prices are available is 1997. Average industrial electricity and gas prices are as shown in the table. The final Climate Change Levy will not be set until the Finance Bill 2000, and the Chancellor has made it clear that significant discounts will be made available to energy intensive users who agree measures for improving energy efficiency.

  Pence per kWh

  Electricity 1997

  Gas 1997

  United Kingdom

  3.95

  0.52

  United States

  2.67

  0.71

  European Union1,2

  3.97

  0.88

  1 A simple arithmetic average of prices in the EU countries.

  2 EU figures include taxes where not refunded; US electricity prices exclude taxes but gas prices include taxes.

  Source

  Derived from the International Energy Agency publication, Energy Prices and Taxes Q2 1998 and DTI, Energy Trends.

  European Structural Funds
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much funding has been received from European structural funds over the past five years by(a) each of the regions of England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) Northern Ireland. [89188]

  Mr. Wills
  European structural funds allocations for the years 1994–98 are given in the table. They are for objectives 1, 2, and 5b in the United Kingdom. Allocations for the Community Initiatives and for the objectives 3, 4 and 5a are given separately because they are national programmes.

  United Kingdom structural funds

  Million euro

  Allocations 1994–98: Objective 1, 2 and 5B–1998 prices

  England: of which

  East Midlands

  207

  Eastern Region

  53

  London

  143

  North East

  594

  North West1

  1,491

  South East

  27

  South West

  247

  West Midlands

  651

  Yorkshire and The Humber

  580

  England (total)

  3,993

  Wales

  494

  Scotland

  1,096

  Northern Ireland

  1,049

  Total UK

  6,632

  National programmes: UK allocations—1994–99

  Objective 3

  3,202

  Objective 4

  248

  Objective 5a

  212

  Community Initiatives

  1,513

  Total National Programmes

  5,175

  1 Includes Northern Uplands 5b SPD, which also covers areas of North East and Yorkshire and The Humber

  Assisted Areas
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans the Government have to introduce operating aid to assist the viability of commercial and industrial concerns in Assisted Areas; and if he will make a statement. [89183]

  Mr. Wills
  I have no such plans. The Government will, however, continue to offer selective financial assistance to firms investing in the Assisted Areas and creating or safeguarding jobs.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to announce the Government's proposals for new regional selective assistance maps and regulations; and if he will take steps to expedite this matter. [89257]

  Mr. Wills
  The Government will announce their proposals for new Assisted Areas as soon as possible.

  Bulgaria
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to promote trade with Bulgaria. [89302]
  299
  Mr. Wilson
  My Department is actively involved in a number of initiatives to promote Bulgaria. Earlier this month the London Chamber of Commerce, supported by my Department, took 19 companies to Bulgaria. This was the largest ever trade mission to the market. Companies from the British Nuclear Industries Forum visited Bulgaria last week and my Department is also supporting the Department for the Environment's July mission of water sector companies. We will also be supporting the British stand at the annual Plovdiv Fair in September. Over the last year, we have assisted in strengthening bilateral trade and commercial relations by hosting visits to the UK by the Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister and the Bulgarian Minister for Trade and Tourism. I had a bilateral meeting in March with the Bulgarian Minister for Trade and Tourism, which was then followed by a well attended business seminar at which we both spoke.

  Under the Export Promoter initiative, my Department currently employs a private sector secondee to assist with our efforts to promote trade and investment with Bulgaria.

  Companies (Liquidation)
  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many firms in the UK have ceased trading since May 1997 [89315]

  Dr. Howells
  [holding answer 1 July 1999]: Companies House maintain statistics on the number of companies in liquidation and/or dissolution in England, Wales and Scotland. During the period from 5 May 1997 to 27 June 1999, 105,540 companies were reported as dissolved by means of the voluntary procedures contained in Section 652A of the Companies Act 1985 and 1989. 118,227 were dissolved other than by Section 652A and 38,554 were dissolved following liquidation, making a total of 262,321. As of 27 June 1999, 69,479 companies were in course of liquidation. (The corresponding figure for 4 May 1997 was 76,763.)

  Telecom '99 Conference
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which Minister in his Department plans to attend the Telecom '99 Conference to be held in Geneva from October 10 to 17. [89419]

  Mr. Wills
  Telecom '99 is an international trade fair which serves primarily as an opportunity for industry to meet and do business. There are no plans for a DTI Minister to attend this year's event. Officials from the Department will be present to provide support for UK industry members.

  Trading Standards
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what powers the trading standards officers have to regulate the provision of services; and if he will make a statement. [89661]

  Dr. Howells
  Trading standards officers have powers to regulate the provision of services in a variety of sectors and transactions under existing consumer protection legislation. These cover services provided through retail outlets i.e. price marking legislation, legislation with respect to package travel etc. They are also responsible for monitoring the provision of services and transactions 300
  which may take place outside the retail environment—i.e. the Trade Descriptions Act, the provision of consumer credit, doorstep selling, time share schemes etc.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to his answer of 10 May 1999 to the hon. Member for Chichester (Mr. Tyrie),Official Report, column 34, on what dates special advisers from his Department visited the United States of America; which of his special advisers took part in this visit; and if he will list the meetings which these special advisers held with members and officials of the US Government during this visit, specifying the dates and locations of each meeting and the names of the US ministers and officials at each meeting. [88438]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  From 21 to 25 January 1998, special adviser Mr. John Newbigin visited the USA. He held no meetings with US Ministers or officials, but did meet with my right hon. Friend the Member for Coatbridge and Chryston (Mr. Clarke) and Steve Norris in Los Angeles. He also had meetings with John Calley, CEO of Sony Tristar, Bill Mechanic, CEO of 20th Century Fox, and senior executives at Paramount to discuss the emerging proposals from the Film Policy Review, in particular the idea of the All Industry Fund.

  He also had meetings with Jack Valenti and most of the senior staff of the Motion Picture Association, also to discuss the Film Policy Review, and a meeting with Jeff Berg, the CEO of ICM who made his offer to help "sell" the film policy review to the US studios.

  He had a presentation by Polygram of their activities in and plans for the US distribution market.

  He had meetings with Paul Dimond, the UK Consul-General and with John Houlton to discuss the setting up of the LA Film Office. He attended a dinner at the Consulate to meet senior executives drawn from various sections of the US film industry.

  Lottery Sports Funding
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if governing bodies of sports currently with a unified Great Britain governing body will need to split into English, Scottish and Welsh bodies in order to have guaranteed eligibility for funding for the World Class Start and World Class Potential programmes from the English, Scottish and Welsh sports councils. [89141]

  Mr. Banks
  The World Class Potential and World Class Start development programmes have been formulated by Sport England to support young athletes in England. Other home countries have developed their own Lottery Sports Funded talent development programmes. British or UK governing bodies will not need to separate into English, Welsh, or Scottish bodies in order to secure such development funding. They will need to identify the home country of each nominated athlete in order to direct a funding request to the relevant Sports Council.
  301
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what are the criteria set by the Government and the United Kingdom Sports Council for sports bodies to be included in the World Class Potential Programme; and on what basis basketball and hang-gliding are excluded. [89140]

  Mr. Banks
  Both basketball and hang-gliding are eligible to apply for Lottery Sports funding from the World Class Potential Programme. However, as World Class Potential funds are limited it may not be possible to meet the demands from all eligible sports, and priority will be given on the basis of criteria established by Sport England as the statutory distributor of Lottery Funds for Sport.

  I understand that Sport England's criteria include: the status of the primary competition; the likely degree of sporting success to be achieved within 10 years; and the significance to the public of both a particular sport and any likely competitive success.

  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) if the new financial directions for the allocation of Lottery funding will permit commercial organisations to obtain funds from the Lottery in order to fund non-commercial sporting activities; [89144]

  (2) if, under the terms of the new financial directions for the allocation of Lottery funding, professional sporting bodies will be able to obtain funds for the non-professional side of their game. [89143]

  Mr. Banks
  Commercial organisations and professional sporting bodies are eligible to receive Lottery funds provided the projects for which Lottery funding is sought are intended to promote the public good, and are not intended primarily for private gain.

  Liverpool Philharmonic
  Mrs. Ellman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on funding for the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Society. [89589]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  I am aware of the RLPO' s current financial difficulties, and understand that the Arts Council, North West Arts Board and the relevant local authorities are working hard to secure the orchestra's long-term future.

  Films
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the percentage of gross box office rentals currently received by film distributors. [89411]

  Janet Anderson
  My Department does not compile information of this type. However, a recent report prepared by London Economics for my Department estimated that film rentals as a percentage of gross box office ranged between 27 per cent. and 35 per cent. Some popular films may achieve rentals above this range.

  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions have taken place with independent British film distributors regarding the establishment and remit of the Film Council. [89412]
  302
  Janet Anderson
  Representatives of the independent British film distributors were included in the consultation exercise on my Department's spending review, which covered the establishment and remit of the Film Council. The report of that spending review, and the earlier Film Policy Review, made clear that one of the main objectives of the Film Council will be to assist the development of sustainable industry structures in the area of distribution.

  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to ensure that films supported by the National Lottery are released through British-owned distributors. [89407]

  Janet Anderson
  Future policy on the distribution of Lottery-supported films will be set out in the strategic plan on which the new Lottery distributor, the Film Council, will consult my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State. The Film Council will consider a variety of issues in determining that policy, including the needs of the UK distribution sector; the importance of maximising public access to Lottery-supported films; and the importance of maximising the commercial benefits from the distribution of such films.

  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to replace the MEDIA II programme to provide support for independent film distributors. [89410]

  Janet Anderson
  It is for the European Commission to pub forward proposals for possible changes to the MEDIA II programme for member states to consider. Independent film distributors are eligible to receive support from the current MEDIA II programme to assist the trans-national distribution of European films.

  Stonehenge
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on the current status of his proposals for Stonehenge. [89434]

  Janet Anderson
  Our proposals for improving the setting and presentation of the Stonehenge World Heritage Site continue to make excellent progress, thanks to co-operation across Government and the support of English Heritage, the National Trust and other interested parties. On 23 April, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State formally launched both the Master Plan for the site and the marketing process for development of the proposed new visitor centre. On 25 June, my noble Friend, the Minister for Roads announced the preferred route for the A303 improvement scheme, which will remove traffic from the vicinity of the monument.

  Landmark Projects
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list the Millennium Commission grants paid to date to the Landmark projects; and if he will make a statement. [89399]

  Janet Anderson
  This is a matter for the Millennium Commission. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will write to the hon. Member in his capacity as Chairman of the Commission, and place copies of his reply in the Libraries of the House.

  BBC
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if the conclusions of the panel conducting the review of the future funding of the BBC will be published before Summer Adjournment; and if he will make a statement. [89597]

  Janet Anderson
  The Panel has been asked to report by 30 July. My Department will publish the report as soon as we receive it.

WALES

  Devolved Functions
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will make a statement on hill livestock compensation allowances; [89665]

  (2) what is his assessment of the prospects for the export of Welsh beef; and if he will make a statement. [89666]

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  These are matters for the National Assembly for Wales.

  Rail and Bus Services
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what new measures he is taking to improve(a) rail services and (b) bus services in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [89669]

  Mr. Hain
  Rail and bus services regulations in Wales are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions.

  The National Assembly for Wales is pursuing the development of bus and rail services in Wales.

  Education Funding
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what extra moneys he has given to each of the local education authorities of Wales since 1997; and if he will make a statement; [89667]

  (2) what amounts of money each of the university colleges received in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [89668]

  Mr. Hain
  I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible and place a copy of my reply in the Library of the House.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Bovine Tuberculosis
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list by county the number of cattle herds with confirmed bovine tuberculosis breakdowns during 1998; how many were ongoing from 1997; and how many were on holdings with no previous breakdowns for 10 years. [87687]
  304
  Mr. Rooker
  There were 740 new confirmed TB incidents in cattle herds in GB during 1998. The table shows this figure on a county basis. In the time available it has not been possible to identify either those herds in which no previous outbreak of TB has been recorded for 10 years, or how many were ongoing from 1997, but I will write to the hon. Member with the information when it is available.

  County

  New Confirmed 1997

  TB incidents 1998

  Avon

  10

  25

  Bedfordshire

  0

  0

  Berkshire

  0

  0

  Buckinghamshire

  0

  0

  Cambridgeshire

  0

  0

  Cheshire

  0

  2

  Cleveland

  0

  0

  Cornwall

  74

  139

  Cumbria

  0

  1

  Derbyshire

  1

  6

  Devon

  82

  99

  Dorset

  12

  8

  Durham

  0

  0

  East Sussex

  4

  1

  Essex

  1

  0

  Gloucestershire

  85

  132

  Greater London

  0

  0

  Greater Manchester

  0

  0

  Hampshire

  0

  0

  Hereford and Worcester

  86

  116

  Hertfordshire

  0

  1

  Humberside

  0

  0

  Isle of Wight

  0

  0

  Isle of Scilly

  0

  0

  Kent

  0

  0

  Lancashire

  0

  3

  Leicestershire

  0

  1

  Lincolnshire

  0

  1

  Merseyside

  0

  0

  Norfolk

  0

  0

  North Yorkshire

  0

  0

  Northamptonshire

  0

  0

  Northumberland

  0

  2

  Nottinghamshire

  0

  1

  Oxfordshire

  0

  4

  Shropshire

  7

  5

  Somerset

  27

  27

  South Yorkshire

  0

  0

  Staffordshire

  24

  30

  Suffolk

  0

  1

  Surrey

  0

  0

  Tyne and Wear

  0

  0

  Warwickshire

  0

  1

  West Midlands

  0

  1

  West Sussex

  0

  0

  West Yorkshire

  0

  1

  Wiltshire

  30

  34

  England total

  443

  642

  Clwyd

  0

  0

  Dyfed

  24

  53

  Gwent

  33

  25

  Gwynedd

  0

  1

  Mid Glamorgen

  2

  1

  Powys

  1

  9

  South Glamorgan

  0

  1

  West Glamorgan

  2

  4

  Wales total

  62

  94

  305

  County

  New confirmed 1997

  TB incidents 1998

  Aberdeenshire

  2

  1

  Angus

  0

  0

  Argyll

  0

  0

  Ayrshire

  0

  1

  Banffshire

  0

  0

  Berwickshire

  0

  0

  Bute

  0

  0

  Caithness

  2

  0

  Clackmannan

  0

  0

  Dumbartonshire

  1

  0

  Dumfriesshire

  0

  0

  East Lothian

  0

  0

  Fife

  0

  0

  Inverness-shire

  0

  0

  Kincardine

  1

  0

  Kinross

  0

  0

  Kircudbright

  1

  0

  Lanarkshire

  1

  0

  Midlothian

  0

  0

  Moray

  0

  0

  Nairn

  0

  0

  Orkney

  0

  0

  Peebles

  0

  0

  Perthshire

  1

  0

  Renfrew

  0

  0

  Ross and Cromarty

  0

  0

  Roxburgh

  0

  0

  Selkirk

  0

  0

  Shetland

  0

  0

  Stirling

  0

  1

  Sutherland

  0

  0

  West Lothian

  0

  0

  Wigtown

  1

  1

  Scotland total

  10

  4

  Great Britain total

  515

  740

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Polyostropathy
  Mr. Gordon Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claims for benefit under the industrial injuries scheme were refused on the grounds that polyostropathy is not a prescribed condition, in the last three years for which records are available. [88938]

  Mr. Bayley
  The information is not available. Information is collected only about those diseases prescribed under the scheme.

  Departmental Estate (Scotland)
  Ms Roseanna Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list premises owned or rented by his Department and its agencies in Scotland, indicating the purpose of each building. [89078]

  Mr. Timms
  Early last year all of the Department's buildings throughout the UK, both freehold and leasehold, were transferred to the private sector under two separate Private Finance Initiative deals. We now no longer own or rent any of the buildings. Instead, we purchase serviced accommodation from our two private sector partners, Trillium and the Newcastle Estate Partnership.
  306
  The following is a list of all the buildings of which the Department is the main occupant in Scotland. The accommodation is maintained for the purposes of carrying out the business of the Benefits Agency, the Child Support Agency, the Information Technology Services Agency and the Independent Tribunal Service, accordingly.

  Benefits Agency

  Glasgow Northgate

  Glasgow Pentagon Centre

  Cumbernauld Fleming House

  Dumfries Irish Street

  Campbeltown Hall Street

  Glasgow Cranstonhill Minerva Street

  Largs Brisbane Road

  Ayr Wallacetoun House

  Stranraer Ashwood Drive

  Stornoway Castle Street

  Wick Girnigoe Street

  Ardrossan Princes Street Ground Floor Office

  Glasgow Partick Benalder Street

  Fort William Tweeddale

  Glasgow Shettleston Road

  Glasgow South West Couston-holm Road (Newlands BO)

  Alexandria Mitchell Way

  Kirkintilloch Townhead

  Paisley Lonend

  Thurso Traill House

  Girvan Montgomerie Street

  Glasgow Pollok Nitshill Road

  Johnstone Willam Street

  Cumnock Glaisnock Street

  Glasgow West Regent House

  Dingwall Castle Street

  Elgin Trinity Road

  Glasgow Anniesland Herschell Street

  Glasgow Provan Stepps Road

  Greenock Dalrymple Street

  Edinburgh West Haymarket House

  Galashiels Market Street

  Stirling St. Ninian's Road

  Forfar Castle Street

  Dundee Magdalene Yard Road

  Arbroath Grant Road

  Edinburgh East High Street—Portobello

  Lerwick Charlotte House

  Dundee Lindsay House

  Edinburgh Leith Lyndean House

  St. Andrews South Street

  Glasgow Corunna House (39) Phase 2

  Glasgow Corunna House (29)

  Kilmarnock Woodstock Street

  Glasgow Craigton Paisley Road West (1479)

  Oban Mathieson House

  East Kilbride Murray House

  Glasgow Bridgeton Muslin Street

  Glasgow Rutherglen Mitchell Arcade

  Irvine Bank Street

  Clydebank Radnor House

  Inverness Church Street

  Glasgow Blythswood

  Glasgow Laurieston House

  Benbecula Druim Na H'Airde

  Glasgow Springburn Atlas Road

  Port Glasgow Scarlow Street

  Glasgow Maryhill Road

  Alloa Bank Street

  Coatbridge South Circular Road

  Airdrie Graham Street

  Aberdeen Greyfriars House

  307

  Bathgate Whitburn Road

  Shotts Dyfrig Street

  Peterhead Government Buildings

  Falkirk Heron House

  Leven Walton House

  Falkirk Heron House (Portable Accommodation Unit)

  Edinburgh Murraybum House

  Hamilton Douglas Street

  Blairgowrie Leslie Street

  Falkirk The Forum

  Edinburgh Argyle House

  Cowdenbeath Factory Road

  Blantyre DIRC

  Motherwell Flemington House

  Glenrothes North House

  Bellshill Bowling Green St. New Buildings

  Montrose Murray Street

  Dalkeith Eskdaill St.

  Coatbridge Unit 2

  Larkhall Union Street

  Wishaw Main Street

  Dunfermline Merchiston House

  Kirkcaldy Victoria Road

  Perth Mill Street

  Wishaw Alexander Street

  Child Support Agency

  Falkirk Callendar Park

  Falkirk Antonine House

  Information Technology Services Agency

  Livingston Buchanan House ACC1

  Livingston Firth Road Store

  Independent Tribunal Service

  Glasgow Wellington House

  Pensions
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many complaints the Benefits Agency has received in the past year from people who were not paid their pensions, having reached pensionable age; what discussions he has had with the Benefits Agency about the prompt payment of benefits; and if he will make a statement. [89660]

  Mr. Timms
  The data requested are not available. In the 10 months up to 31 March 1999, the Benefits Agency target of processing 65 per cent. of its claims within 20 days was met in all but one of the months. Since April, the target has been 95 per cent. processed in 60 days and for April and May the percentages achieved were 94.9 and 94.7 respectively.

  Over the last year, more than 10 million people who were receiving their pensions a year ago have continued to receive them without interruption. Ministers have both met with and received written progress reports from Benefits Agency officials on the potential impact on pension and other benefit claims of the delayed implementation of NIRS2. The Benefits Agency has started to review cases that have been affected by the delays in implementing NIRS2 as planned.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Double Jeopardy
  Angela Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the terms of reference for the Law Commission's review of the law on double jeopardy. [90048]

  Mr. Straw
  Following the recommendation in the Report on the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry, I have today formally asked the Law Commission to undertake a review of the law on double jeopardy. The terms of reference for this review are:"To consider the law of England and Wales relating to double jeopardy (after acquittal), taking into account:
  recommendation 38 of the Macpherson Report on the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry that consideration should be given to permit prosecution after acquittal where fresh and viable evidence is presented;
  the powers of the prosecution to re-instate criminal proceedings;
  and also the United Kingdom's international obligations;
  and to make recommendations."

  Drug Testing (Prisons)
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the average cost of(a) a litmus test and (b) laboratory analysis of urine taken for drug-testing purposes in prisons; [89473]

  (2) what plans he has to expand the use of litmus tests in mandatory drug testing in prisons. [89472]

  Mr. George Howarth
  Recent contacts with companies marketing non-instrumented drug test devices (litmus tests) capable of testing for a group of drug types suggests that an average price of £6 per device would apply. The precise cost to the Prison Service for laboratory screening a similar group of drug types is commercial in confidence, although I can advise that it is comparable to that figure. However, if the result from a test is disputed, a more sophisticated and considerably more expensive confirmation test has to be carried out by a laboratory in order to meet the required standard of proof. The Prison Service uses laboratory screening because it produces the most reliable and consistent results and so minimises the number of confirmation tests required. For this reason the Prison Service does not authorise the use of non-instrumented drug test devices in mandatory drug testing.

  Rape
  Ms Drown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what circumstances, under the provisions of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Bill [Lords], the complainant in a rape trial could be denied screening from the defendant. [89664]

  Mr. George Howarth
  Under clause 17(4) of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Bill, all complaints in sexual offence trials will benefit from a presumption that they are eligible for help with giving evidence. As the clause is currently drafted, a complainant would be considered ineligible for help if the court was satisfied that the quality of his or her evidence was not likely to be
  309
  diminished by fear or distress. However, I am considering whether the presumption in clause 17 could be strengthened.

  Once a witness is deemed eligible, the court will go on to consider which (if any) of the special measures in the Bill, including screens, would be likely to improve the quality of his or her evidence. If it decides that a measure would improve the witness's evidence, it must award it. In reaching that decision, it will have to consider all the circumstances of the case. Those circumstances include the witness's views, and whether the measure might tend to inhibit the evidence being tested.

  So a court could decide that a rape complainant should not be screened from the defendant for one of the following reasons: the witness was ineligible for special measures; the witness did not want to be screened; another measure (perhaps live link, or clearing the court) would be more likely to maximise the quality of the witness's evidence; screens might inhibit the ability of the defence to cross-examine the witness; or, for some other reason, in all the circumstances of the case, the quality of the witness's evidence would not be maximised by being screened from the defendant. Having said that, I would not expect courts to commonly refuse screens for rape complainants who want them.

  Kosovar Refugees
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum applications have been lodged by Kosovars since 1 January; how many have been processed; and what were the outcomes. [89623]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The available information is that in the period between January and May 1999 3,455 applications for asylum in the United Kingdom were made by nationals of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, excluding dependants. 2,835 initial decisions were made, of which 2,165 were granted asylum and 165 were refused. 505 decisions were made under the pragmatic measures aimed at reducing the pre-1996 asylum backlog with the large majority being granted asylum and a small number exception leave to remain.

  I regret that it is not possible to separately identify Kosovars within the available statistics for the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Kosovar refugees received in the United Kingdom have(a) been returned to Kosovo and (b) requested a return passage to Kosovo. [89619]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  None of the refugees who have arrived under the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Humanitarian Evacuation Programme have yet been returned to Kosovo. We have asked the International Organisation for Migration to begin taking registrations from those who want to return; so far there have been over 100 inquiries.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Kosovar refugees have been received in the United Kingdom; if he will list the centres receiving Kosovar refugees; and how many Kosovar refugees have left the accommodation where they were originally housed on entering the United Kingdom. [89616]
  310
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  4,346 evacuees have been airlifted to the United Kingdom under the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Humanitarian Evacuation Programme from Macedonia. Most have been housed in reception centres in the Midlands, the North of England and Scotland. Reception centres have been established in Ashton-under-Lyme, Barnsley, Blackburn, Bolton, Bradford, Bury, Cheadle, Clitheroe, Derby, Doncaster, Glasgow, Grimsby, Halifax, Harrogate, Hornsea, Leeds, Leicester, Liverpool, Manchester, Northwich, North Berwick, Oldham, Renfrew, Ripon, Rotherham, Runcorn, Sheffield, Southport, Stockport, Trafford, Ulverston, Wakefield and York.

  424 refugees arriving under the Humanitarian Evacuation Programme are not currently resident in reception centres.

  Closed Circuit Television
  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the compatibility of police-operated Closed Circuit Television cameras with forthcoming changes in European human rights legislation. [89352]

  Mr. George Howarth
  Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) schemes funded by the Home Office are governed by codes of practice and data protection legislation to ensure that the systems are operated fairly and lawfully, and with due regard to individual rights to privacy, as provided in Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights. The Human Rights Act 1998 will give further effect in United Kingdom law to the rights and freedoms guaranteed in the Convention. It will not create any substantive new rights. A properly regulated and controlled CCTV system should therefore fully comply with the requirements of the Act.

  Video Appeals Committee
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department to whom the Video Appeals Committee is responsible; who appoints its members; and if he will make a statement. [89662]

  Mr. Straw
  Section 4(3) of the Video Recordings Act 1984 requires the Secretary of State to be satisfied that adequate arrangements exist for appeals against classification decisions which submitting companies consider to be too strict. The Video Appeals Committee is the independent, appellate body set up for this purpose. Its members are selected by the British Board of Film Classification but it is independent of the Board and the Home Secretary. Although the Committee has no statutory authority, it has been the Board's practice to accept its decisions.

  Ethnic Minorities (Local Authority Support)
  Mr. Sutcliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which authorities have received contributions of over 50 per cent. towards ethnic minority support under section 11 since 1995. [89438]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Information is not readily available in the form requested. From 1 April 1995 until (except where shown) 31 March 1999, one or more projects run by the authorities shown in the table had a maximum section 11 grant allocation that was more than
  311
  50 per cent. of the minimum level of expenditure that needed to be incurred in order to attract that allocation. But, in many cases, actual expenditure exceeded the minimum level of expenditure, thus reducing the proportion of the total cost that was met by section 11 grant.

  Authority

  Barnet

  Bedfordshire1

  Berkshire2

  Bexley

  Birmingham

  Bolton

  Brent

  Buckinghamshire

  Bury

  Calderdale

  Cambridgeshire

  Cheshire3

  Cleveland4

  Coventry

  Croydon

  Derbyshire5

  Devon

  Doncaster

  Durham6

  Enfield

  Gloucester

  Gwent7

  Hackney

  Hampshire8

  Haringey

  Harrow

  Havering

  Hertfordshire

  Hillingdon

  Hounslow

  Humberside9

  Islington

  Kensington & Chelsea

  Kent10

  Kingston-upon-Thames

  Lancashire11

  Leeds

  Leicestershire12

  Lincolnshire

  Liverpool

  Manchester

  Merton

  Newcastle13

  Newham14

  Northamptonshire

  North Tyneside

  North Yorkshire

  Nottinghamshire15

  Oldham

  Oxfordshire

  Redbridge

  Richmond

  Rochdale

  Sandwell16

  Sheffield

  South Glamorgan17

  Staffordshire

  Stockport

  Suffolk

  Sunderland

  Surrey

  Tameside

  312

  Tower Hamlets

  Trafford

  Walsall

  Waltham Forest

  Wandsworth

  Warwickshire

  Westminster

  West Sussex

  Wiltshire18

  1 Also Luton, to whom two projects were transferred following local government reorganisation.

  2 Following local government reorganisation, funding paid instead to Reading, Slough, Windsor and Maidenhead and Wokingham.

  3 Following local government reorganisation, funding paid instead to Warrington.

  4 Following local government reorganisation, funding paid instead to Middlesbrough, and later to Hartlepool, Redcar and Cleveland, and Stockton as well.

  5 Projects transferred to the City of Derby following local government reorganisation.

  6 Project transferred to Darlington following local government reorganisation.

  7 Authority abolished following local government reorganisation; projects transferred to Newport.

  8 Two projects transferred to Portsmouth and Southampton following local government reorganisation; other project remained with the county.

  9 Authority abolished following local government reorganisation; project divided between Kingston-upon-Hull, North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire.

  10 Basis of funding revised to 50/50 after authority obtained increased financial provision in 1997.

  11 Also Blackburn following local government reorganisation.

  12 Also the City of Leciester following local government reorganisation.

  13 Funding for project at over 50 per cent. finished in March 1997.

  14 Funding for project finished in March 1997.

  15 Project divided with the City of Nottingham following local government reorganisation.

  l6 Funding at over 50 per cent. finished in March 1997.

  17 Authority abolished following local government reorganisation; project transferred to Cardiff.

  18 Project transferred to Swindon following local government reorganisation.

  West Yorkshire Fire Authority
  Mr. Sutcliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what specialised rescue appliances will be available in Bradford Metropolitan Area following the proposals made by West Yorkshire Fire Authority. [89435]

  Mr. George Howarth
  Statutory responsibility for ensuring efficient fire services rests locally with the fire authority. However, the approval of my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary is required, under section 19 of the Fire Services Act 1947, if a fire authority wishes to close a fire station or reduce the number of its fire appliances or firefighting posts. West Yorkshire Fire and Civil Defence Authority applied on 23 April for his approval to the removal of four emergency tenders, including one in the Bradford Metropolitan Area, and associated firefighting posts. My right hon. Friend is considering this application in consultation with Her Majesty's Fire Service Inspectorate.
  313
  I understand from the Authority that all the pumping appliances in the Bradford Metropolitan Area have a rescue capability. One appliance has enhanced rescue capability and is termed a heavy rescue pumping appliance.

  Within this financial year the Authority intends to deploy additional heavy rescue pumping appliances to Keighley and Odsal, replacing the existing rescue pumping appliances. In addition, for specialist rescue in the brigade area, there are two major rescue units strategically placed at Cleckheaton and Hunslet.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Indonesia (Arms Sales)
  Audrey Wise
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the applications for arms sales to Indonesia which have been(a) allowed and (b) refused since 1 May 1997. [88590]

  Dr. Howells
  I have been asked to reply.

  Information on export licensing decisions between 2 May and 31 December 1997 was set out in the Annual Report on Strategic Export Controls, published on 25 March by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

  The entry in the relevant legislation under which the export of goods is controlled is known as their rating. The Export Control Organisation's computer databases have been interrogated and the following results were obtained. Between 1 January 1998 and 18 June 1999, 51 Standard Individual Export Licences (SIELs) and 20 Open Individual Export Licences (OIELs) were issued covering the export to consignees or end-users in Indonesia of goods subject to export control by being listed in Part III of Schedule 1 to the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994, the so-called Military List.

  In the same period, two applications for such SIELs were refused: one covering goods rated ML1 and the other covering goods rated ML3. No applications for such OIELs were refused in full.

  Individual licences cover a range of goods with various ratings. Where this is so, the licence is included in the table in the total for all of the relevant ratings.

  Individual licences issued between 1 January 1998 and 18 June 1999 covering the export to Indonesia of goods on the Military List

  Rating

  Number of SIELs issued covering goods with this rating

  Number of OIELs issued covering goods with this rating

  ML1

  3

  0

  ML2

  5

  0

  ML3

  3

  0

  ML4

  1

  1

  ML5

  1

  1

  ML6

  1

  1

  ML7

  1

  0

  ML9

  2

  3

  ML10

  19

  8

  ML11

  11

  8

  ML13

  2

  0

  ML14

  2

  1

  ML15

  2

  1

  314

  Individual licences issued between 1 January 1998 and 18 June 1999 covering the export to Indonesia of goods on the Military List

  Rating

  Number of SIELs issued covering goods with this rating

  Number of OIELs issued covering goods with this rating

  ML21

  2

  3

  ML22

  1

  3

  PL5006

  2

  0

  PL5017

  2

  1

  This information does not cover any Media OIELs that may have been issued during this period. Media OIELs authorise the export to all destinations of protective clothing, mainly for the protection of aid agency workers and journalists, when working in areas of conflict.

  This information should be considered in light of the answer given by the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, my hon. Friend the Member for Hornsey and Wood Green (Mrs. Roche),to my hon. Friend the Member for Don Valley (Caroline Flint) on 30 October 1997, Official Report, columns 870–71.

  In addition, the export to specified countries, including Indonesia, of specified goods on the Military List is permitted under certain Open General Licences; copies of all Open General Licences valid at any time during the period are in the Library of the House.

  Kosovo
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what analysis his Department has made on the effect of the present conflict on the trade and economies of those countries neighbouring Kosovo and Yugoslavia; and if he will make a statement. [86060]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  We are in close touch with the countries of the region to assess the economic impact of the crisis and consider ways to help minimise its effects, working with our EU partners and the International Financial Institutions. The impact will vary widely from country to country. Within the EU, we have strongly supported the provision of additional assistance to the region. So far the European Commission has allocated 150m euros in humanitarian support and a further 100m euros in budgetary support.

  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he intends to have further discussions with other European Ministers regarding the safety of civilian Serbs in Kosovo; and if he will make a statement. [89601]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  We discuss regularly with our European partners issues relating to the safety of all ethnic minorities in Kosovo. KFOR are fully seized of the need to protect all Kosovo citizens. As NATO Secretary General Solana has stated:"KFOR will operate in an impartial and even-handed manner…[it] will not tolerate any …intimidation of any of the people of Kosovo".

  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to publish a White Paper on the atrocities carried out in Kosovo during the Serbian rule. [89600]
  315
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  Our first priority is to investigate and establish the details of atrocities committed in Kosovo. Once that is done, we shall review how these details will be presented to Parliament.

  Ministerial Travel
  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the occasions in the past four weeks on which(a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department have travelled by official car on the M4 between Heathrow Airport and Chiswick roundabout. [89028]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  [holding answer 29 June 1999]: It is not our policy, for security and other considerations, to disclose the routes used by Ministers. But in the course of official business I inevitably travel frequently to Heathrow.

  Sierra Leone
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what assistance he is providing the Sierra Leone Government for the pursuit of perpetrators of war crimes; and if he will make a statement; [89606]

  (2) what support his Department is providing for human rights in Sierra Leone; and if he will make a statement. [89607]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  Britain continues to make clear to all parties in Sierra Leone the crucial importance of respect for human rights; and has consistently condemned human rights violations in Sierra Leone. We unreservedly condemn the appalling human rights abuses committed during the conflict in Sierra Leone. We look to the rebels to demonstrate remorse for the enormous suffering they have inflicted on the people of Sierra Leone.

  Britain is leading the way in providing support for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Sierra Leone. For example, the emergency food, medicine, and disinfectant which Britain provided and distributed in the immediate aftermath of the rebel incursion into Freetown in January helped save lives and alleviate suffering.

  Our latest £10 million package of assistance to Sierra Leone is helping the West African Peacekeeping Force, ECOMOG, to protect the people of Sierra Leone from rebel atrocities. We have made it clear that our support is conditional on ECOMOG and the Government of Sierra Leone respecting human rights.

  We support the efforts being made to confront these issues in the current peace negotiations between the Government of Sierra Leone and the rebels. A long-term reconciliation process will be essential if lasting peace is to be achieved in Sierra Leone. We are ready to consider how we can best contribute to this process following a peace agreement, in support of the United Nations and others.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the present operational status of the United Kingdom High Commission in Sierra Leone. [89605]
  316
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  The British High Commission in Freetown is fully operational, with the exception of the Consular/Visa section. This section remains closed except for genuine emergencies, and will re-open as soon as a permanent Vice-Consul can arrive. We regret the inconvenience caused by the absence of a Vice-Consul, and are taking urgent steps to fill this staffing gap.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his policy towards encouraging the continued deployment of ECOMOG forces in Sierra Leone; what has been the total financial cost to ECOMOG of deployment to date; what has been the total(a) cost and (b) nature of United Kingdom support to ECOMOG; and if he will make a statement. [89657]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  We are providing considerable practical support for ECOMOG's efforts to consolidate the security situation in Sierra Leone. We believe that ECOMOG should continue to play an important role in providing security in Sierra Leone for the time being. We are encouraged by President Obasanjo's recent public commitment that Nigerian troops will remain in Sierra Leone until peace is guaranteed.

  Since September 1998, Britain has provided over £4 million worth of practical logistic support to ECOMOG and the Government of Sierra Leone. As part of our new £10 million package of assistance, we have made available a further £5 million to provide further equipment for ECOMOG. We are providing logistic support in the form of vehicles and spares, boots, rations, tents, helicopter hours, and transportation of a new contingent, as well as light weapons and ammunition.

  The question of the total financial cost to ECOMOG to date of its deployment in Sierra Leone is a matter for the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

  Abkhazia
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Government policy towards Abkhazia. [89612]

  Ms Quin
  The British Government are active in seeking a peaceful and lasting solution to the conflict in the region of Abkhazia, Georgia. We are members of the group known as the Friends of the UN Secretary-General, which supports the parties in their efforts to find a negotiated settlement to the conflict. Most recently, the British Ambassador in Tbilisi joined representatives of the other Friends of the Secretary-General and the parties in UN-sponsored talks in Istanbul from 7 to 9 June. The UK currently has seven military observers in a UN mission (UNOMIG) monitoring the ceasefire in co-operation with the CIS Peacekeeping Force. The British Government fully support a solution to the conflict based on the territorial integrity of Georgia, and maximum autonomy for the region of Abkhazia.

  The Ossetias
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Government policy towards the Ossetias. [89610]
  317
  Ms Quin
  It is the policy of the British Government, together with the rest of the international community, to recognise the North Ossetian Autonomous Republic as part of the Russian Federation and the region of South Ossetia as part of Georgia. We fully support the efforts of the OSCE in South Ossetia to find a lasting settlement to the unresolved conflict in the region.

  Chechnya
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if it is his policy to encourage UK trade with Chechnya. [89613]

  Ms Quin
  The dangerous security situation in Chechnya limits opportunities for trade. Our strong advice is that visitors, including British business people, should not travel there because of the security risks. If a British company wished to trade with Chechnya without its staff travelling to the region, we would provide our normal services to British exporters.

  Millennium Compliance
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the effects of millennium compliance internationally on(a) 9 September 1999 and (b) 1 January 2000; and what measures he is taking to alleviate difficulties identified. [89608]

  Mr. Hoon
  The Government fully recognise the potential problems that might occur as a result of date-related computer and embedded chip failures. That is why we are working closely with our international partners especially in the EU and with the G8 to minimise the potential impact both in the UK and overseas. The conclusions of the G8 and EU Heads of Government meetings that took place in June set out clearly our priorities. A copy of both sets of conclusions can be found in the Library of the House.

  Russia (Millennium Compliance)
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the current level of cooperation with Russia on millennium compliance; what is his assessment of the(a) readiness and (b) cost of Russian compliance; and if Russian (i) ballistic missiles and (ii) power stations are millennium compliant. [89604]

  Mr. Hoon
  As a member of the G8, Russia is working closely with its international partners to address the issue of millennium compliance across all sectors including energy and defence. It is not possible to give an accurate estimate of the costs involved. There is no evidence to suggest that ballistic missiles are affected by millennium date problems. The Russian electricity generation and distribution company has stated that it is increasingly confident that it will be able to continue to supply electricity over the date change period.

  Chinese Embassy (Belgrade)
  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from his US counterpart following the 318
  statement by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry in China concerning the bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade. [89351]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  None.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  New Deal
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the proportion of people participating in the Training and Education Option of the New Deal who obtain unsubsidised employment after completion of their training; and if he will make a statement. [89433]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  The latest Government Statistical Service figures show that, of the 42,100 young people who had entered full-time education and training by the end of April 1999, the majority—22,850 or 54 per cent.—were still on the option. Another 22 per cent.—or 9,270—were still on the New Deal and either on the point of entering another option or receiving intensive help to find a job. Of those young people who had left New Deal after participating in the FTET option, 54 per cent. with known destinations had entered jobs and roughly 27 per cent. of all leavers—including those who did not disclose a destination—had done so.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the future numbers of prospective New Deal recruits. [89432]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Enfield, Southgate (Mr. Twigg) on 14 April 1999,Official Report, column 253.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on(a) the advertising and public relations costs incurred in the promotion of the New Deal for the long-term unemployed in 1998–99 and (b) his estimate of the cost in 1999–2000. [89427]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  The total cost of publicising New Deal for 18 to 24-year-olds and 25 plus in 1998–99 was £9,776,188 as shown in the Departmental Report. The current forecast of spend in 1999–2000 is £1,750,000. There is also a balance of £1,952,000 from 1998–99 that is available for years 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2001–02; with year end flexibility of the Windfall Tax.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what reports he receives on, and what assessment he has made of, the quality of recruits to the New Deal. [89425]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  New Deal Statistical First Releases are published monthly covering 18–24 and 25 plus long-term unemployed clients and lone parents. These Statistical Releases give a range of information on the characteristics of recruits to New Deal, including educational achievement on entry, length of time on benefit, special needs, disability and ethnic group.
  319
  In addition, the wider evaluation of New Deal includes qualitative studies of the experience of individuals, based on interviews at each stage of the New Deal process. Copies of published evaluation findings are held in the Library.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what independent assessment he has commissioned of the quality of information about the New Deal. [89426]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  Published statistics on the New Deal for unemployed people and the New Deal for Lone Parents are drawn from the New Deal Evaluation Database held by the Employment Service. These statistics are published under the auspices of the Government Statistical Service and conform to the standards laid out for the publication of official statistics—namely, that such statistics are processed, analysed, and disseminated in an unbiased, timely and independent manner.

  In addition, the Database has been subject to rigorous internal checking with the result that no systematic errors have been identified. This conclusion is supported by a range of external contractors with whom the Database is shared.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what discussions he has had with representatives of the Employment Service about the number of employers to be contacted about the New Deal. [89564]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  As part of my regular discussions with the Employment Service on New Deal, a full and active campaign of advertising, mailshots and targeted direct contacts with employers was agreed.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the other known reasons for the departure of 9 per cent. of young New Deal participants as referred to in his Department's Statistical First Release /12/1999. [89418]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  The other known reasons for young people leaving New Deal as referred to in the Statistical First Release are:

  gone abroad

  claimant deceased

  entered full-time education (other than as a New Deal option)
  approved training

  starting non-New Deal Government Supported Training in prison/custody

  attending court

  on the witness protection programme

  partner working

  partner claiming

  client signed off voluntarily due to a fraud investigation

  client signed off when a JSA disallowance applied

  or client is over the maximum savings.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps he is taking to increase the number of people who became self-employed after completing their participation in the New Deal. [89429]
  320
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  We are spreading best practice drawn from the successful experience of the increasing numbers already moving towards self-employment through New Deal.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps he proposes to take to increase the supply of New Deal recruits. [89423]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  Eligibility for the New Deal for Young People, and hence the number of young people taking part, is primarily determined by the number of young people who reach six months unemployment, although there is provision for early entry for young people with special needs including those with literacy and numeracy difficulties, disabled young people and ex-offenders.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the role of the Employment Service to date in the development of the New Deal. [89424]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  The Employment Service has played a central role in getting the New Deal off to a good start: the total number of young people going into jobs had by the end of April 1999 reached 105,000; in addition over 70,000 young people have been helped to improve their employability through training and work experience; and more than 50,000 employers have signed up to support New Deal. These encouraging achievements reflect the great efforts which the Employment Service and its partners are putting into the New Deal.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the level of administration required to be carried out by employers for the operation of the New Deal. [89565]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  The administration required of employers who are supporting New Deal was designed to keep bureaucracy to a minimum, while providing an audit trail to ensure public funds are protected and Value for Money achieved. We keep administrative process under review including examination by external consultants.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to change the respective shares of resources for the New Deal to be allocated to those aged (i) under and (ii) over 25 years. [89420]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  The precise allocation of resources between our Welfare to Work programmes are kept under constant review. They are altered when necessary in light of experience of the programmes and labour market developments.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what recent representations he has received from(a) the Trades Union Congress, (b) the Forum of Private Business, (c) the CBI, (d) the British Chamber of Commerce and (e) the Federation of Small Businesses regarding the New Deal for the long term unemployed; and what assessment he has made of them. [89428]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  The Department maintains a continuing dialogue on the New Deal with a wide range of organisations including those representing businesses large and small, and trade unions. The Government also
  321
  receive valuable advice from the New Deal Task Force, chaired by Sir Peter Davis, and which includes members drawn from business, trade unions and the voluntary sector.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps he is taking to increase the participation of(a) his Department and (b) other Government Departments in the New Deal. [89431]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  We have taken a number of steps to increase further New Deal participation by Government Departments. These include exchanging information and good practice through Departmental Establishment Officers, setting up a sub-group of the New Deal Task Force to propose ways to strengthen public sector involvement, and providing support and advice from the 322
  Employment Service. A number of Departments are also participating by working closely with New Deal in its promotion to key service and industrial sectors, eg construction, hospitality, retailing and manufacturing.

  Grammar Schools
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many invitations he and his departmental colleagues have received to speak on the continuation of grammar schools; and if he will make a statement. [89566]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  Ministers receive numerous invitations to speak on a variety of subjects. It is for local parents to decide whether or not they wish grammar schools to continue their current admission arrangements.