Sitting of 11 November 1999

Preamble
The House met at half-past Eleven o'clock
PRAYERS
[MADAM SPEAKER in the Chair]
Oral Answers to Questions
  TREASURY
  The Chancellor of the Exchequer was asked —
  TREASURY

    Working Families Tax Credit
    Mr. Alan W. Williams: What is the total number of inquiries to date on the telephone hotline for the working families tax credit; and what percentage of these has led to successful awards. [96990]
    Mr. Ian Stewart: What steps he is taking to increase public awareness of the working families tax credit. [96997]
    Liz Blackman: How many people have been identified to date as eligible for the working families tax credit who were not previously claiming family credit. [96998]
    Mr. Ben Chapman: If he will make a statement on the working families tax credit. [97001]
    Ms Linda Perham: What progress is being made towards the implementation of the working families tax credit. [97003]
    The Chancellor of the Exchequer (Mr. Gordon Brown): Since the Prime Minister and I launched the publicity campaign, there have been 700,000 inquiries about the working families tax credit—the biggest ever response to a Government advertising campaign—and 250,000 new applications have been made. We believe that 800,000 children will be taken out of poverty as a result of that and other measures.
    Mr. Williams: I congratulate the Chancellor, and I pay tribute to the Financial Secretary for her excellent work in publicising and increasing awareness of that excellent new benefit. It will give poorly paid families £10, £20 or £50 a week, and will be a great help in tackling child poverty.
    However, might there be a proactive role for the Inland Revenue in increasing awareness of the working families tax credit? Although we think of the Inland Revenue as being responsible for detecting tax evasion and
    1270
    maximising the tax take, does it have an equivalent obligation to advise people, especially low-paid workers, of their rights and entitlements?
    Mr. Brown: The Inland Revenue will continue to publicise the new tax credits available to working families, but the best publicity for the benefit will be those working families who have been able to acquire it. Many of them are £50 a week better off as a result of what has happened. It is time for the Conservatives to tell us whether they will now drop their opposition to the working families tax credit and start supporting working families in this country.
    Mr. Stewart: I welcome the measures taken by the Government to date, which were enhanced by the Chancellor's statement yesterday. My constituents in Pendlebury, Swinton, Eccles, Irlam and Cadishead will, as they say in Salford, be well chuffed. The working families tax credit will allow families with a full-time worker to achieve a guaranteed income of £200 a week, and to earn up to £235 before income tax kicks in. Does the Chancellor agree that the Opposition are very sad—indeed, quite mad sometimes—in saying that they will scrap that tax credit? Does that not show that they are extremely unelectable?
    Mr. Brown: I agree with my hon. Friend. He represents a constituency in the north-west, and I can tell him that 210,000 families in the north-west are benefiting from the new working families tax credit. He is absolutely right to draw attention to the fact that if the Opposition abolished the working families tax credit, it would be a £24-a-week tax increase for some of our poorest working families. It is unfortunate that the Opposition has said that they will abolish it. Perhaps today the shadow Chancellor will answer the question—will he now drop his opposition to the working families tax credit?
    Liz Blackman: Why has my right hon. Friend the Chancellor extended working families tax credit and the attendant child tax credit so far above family credit? Does he consider that over-generous?
    I must tell him that those are not questions that are posed by families in my constituency, who welcome the additional resources that give them the security to bring up and care for their families. Apart from the general opposition to working families tax credit espoused by the Conservatives, why are they so particularly opposed to this extension? Does my right hon. Friend think that they have canvassed eligible families in their constituencies—or do they rely on getting their information from the Dispatch Box?
    Mr. Brown: In my hon. Friend's region, 110,000 people are benefiting from the working families tax credit. She is absolutely right to draw attention to the fact that the working families tax credit is similar to the earned income tax credit in the United States. It was a policy that Ronald Reagan could support—even Milton Friedman supported it—but it is not supported by the Opposition.
    Mr. Chapman: I am sure that my right hon. Friend is aware that 1,200 families in my constituency will benefit from this boost to their income. However, many are still to apply. Will my right hon. Friend join me in

    1271
    encouraging those people who have not yet applied to do so as quickly as possible, because that will mark their entitlement date for the credit?
    Mr. Brown: We shall continue our campaign to advertise the benefits of the working families tax credit, which reduces the marginal tax rate for thousands of families in Britain and eliminates the poverty trap for many of them. Under the previous Government, there was sometimes a marginal tax rate of more than 100 per cent. for some of the lowest paid families in Britain. Working families throughout Britain will be sad to know that the Leader of the Opposition says that this is a tangible difference between Labour and Conservatives, and that a former Opposition social security spokesman says:
    "We would cut the working families tax credit".—[Official Report, 19 October 1998; Vol. 317, c. 951.]
    I again appeal to the Opposition: will they change their approach to the working families tax credit and to the minimum wage which underpins it?
    Ms Perham: Will my right hon. Friend confirm that, by contrast with the more than 1.5 million people in London who were unemployed at least once between 1992 and 1997, nearly 125,000 families in London will receive extra help from the working families tax credit? Since 1997, unemployment has fallen by 31 per cent. in my constituency of Ilford, North. The working families tax credit and the measures that my right hon. Friend announced on Tuesday, including the enhanced new deal for lone parents, will be welcomed in my constituency, especially by those working families who need to get off benefit and make work pay.
    Mr. Brown: I should have thought that all parties in the House would want to support measures that, first, give a guaranteed minimum family income of £200 a week; secondly, are backed up by a minimum wage which is available to 2 million workers; thirdly, at the same time give additional help for child care to millions of working parents in Britain now eligible for it; and fourthly, raise child benefit by 30 per cent., something that, unfortunately, the Conservative Government were unable to do—they froze it for two years. Again, the Conservative party must answer this question: will they help working families in Britain or hurt them by abolishing the minimum wage, the working families tax credit and child benefit tax increases?
    Mr. Peter Bottomley: Does the working families tax credit give help to families rearing their families at home? If there is a preference for institutionalised child care, can the right hon. Gentleman explain why?
    Mr. Brown: The working families tax credit is a help for people bringing up children at home. If, for example, a mother wants to be off work with a child, whether for months or years, the household's income is protected by the working families tax credit. The Conservatives fail to understand that this is a benefit that helps lone parents get to work, and helps working families make decisions and gives them choices. It is about time that the hon. Gentleman, who has a reputation for being a bit more
    1272
    compassionate than today's Conservative Front-Bench spokesmen, started to support the working families tax credit instead of opposing it.
    Mr. Nick St. Aubyn: Is the Chancellor aware that the Federation of Small Businesses has described the working families tax credit as yet another administrative burden on small business owners, and that the Institute of Directors has protested that it is not the job of business to run the welfare system for the Government? Why have the Government designed the welfare tax credit system in a bureaucratic way that creates such a burden for British business?
    Mr. Brown: The working families tax credit rewards work and is a good measure for business. It is about time that Conservative Members recognised that they left millions of people in poverty in Britain. They now say that they would do absolutely nothing about it. They would abolish the measures that we have taken, even those supported by right and left in the United States and elsewhere. It is about time that the Conservative party woke up.
    Mr. Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: Without blaming the Conservative party, will the Chancellor say what the cost of the working families tax credit is to business?
    Mr. Brown: The cost of the working families tax credit depends on the business and the numbers, but it is a general benefit to business. Businesses can now tell their employees the benefits for work and for childcare. It is about time that the Conservative party saw the benefits not only to families but to business.
    Mr. Oliver Letwin: I hardly dare hope that we get a straight answer to a straight question. Will the Chancellor confirm that the cost to business of the working families tax credit is about £100 million a year? Does he agree with Chantrey Vellacott that that is just a part of the £5.2 billion a year of extra cost on business? What will he say to Mr. Nigel Fielding, who says in today's Daily Mail:
    "I don't mind doing civil servants' work for them if I'm paid for my time and effort. But no such luck"?
    Mr. Brown: The answer is no. The working families tax credit is a benefit to business. I do not think that the Conservative party understands that if wages are higher, if there is a reward to work as a result of the credit and if child care is available for mothers and for companies where those mothers work, that will benefit employment and industry. I repeat: a measure that can be supported by Ronald Reagan and Milton Friedman, but is too extreme for the Conservative party, says something about that party.
    Mr. Dennis Skinner: Is it true that someone who has four jobs does not qualify for the working families tax credit? If it is, there lies the answer to why the shadow Chancellor will not support it—he has four jobs.
    Mr. Brown: I do not know why the shadow Chancellor does not have time to do the research for Question Time and for other matters, but I will leave that to further debates in the House.

    Euro
    Mr. John Bercow: What assessment he has made of the effect on his policy of Bank of England independence of entry to the eurozone. [96991]
    Mr. Piara S. Khabra: What assessment he has made of the impact of his policy of independence of the Bank of England. [96996]
    The Chief Secretary to the Treasury (Mr. Andrew Smith): The new monetary policy framework is already yielding significant benefits: inflation is low and close to target. The Government's reforms have helped to create a sound and credible platform of economic stability.
    As the Chancellor has repeatedly stated, a decision to join economic and monetary union would be taken only if the economic benefits to the United Kingdom from joining were clear and unambiguous.
    Mr. Bercow: I warmly congratulate the right hon. Gentleman on his appointment.
    Given that the European interest rate is set by the European Central Bank, whose governing council comprises three Germans, two Dutchmen, two Finns, two Frenchmen, two Italians, two Spaniards, a Belgian, an Irishman, a Luxemburger and a Portuguese, and that Governments are prohibited from seeking to influence that rate, why does not the Chief Secretary have the guts to admit that, within the euro, the Bank of England would be merely an administrative jobsworth and that crucial decisions affecting this country would henceforward be taken by people whom we do not elect, whom we cannot remove and whom it would be illegal to seek to persuade of our view?
    Mr. Smith: I thank the hon. Gentleman for his kind remarks and, indeed, for trailing me to Treasury questions from Education and Employment questions, where we had so many enjoyable exchanges.
    The House will have got the hon. Gentleman's message that he is opposed to the euro in every shape and form. What is equally clear is that there are two routes to stability. Of course, were we to join the euro, the Bank of England would have to be brought into conformity with the treaties, but there are two routes to stability: the independent Bank of England that we have established, or a European Central Bank arrangement. There is no route to stability on offer from the Conservative party, under which we would be back to boom and bust.
    Mr. Khabra: I thank the Chancellor and welcome the pre-Budget report that he announced to the House the day before yesterday. As a result of his economic competence, we have a sound and credible economic policy, economic stability and steady growth; during the 1980s, the Conservatives had a policy of bust and boom. Interest rates have peaked at 7.5 per cent., half the peak interest rate in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Does my right hon. Friend agree that the shadow Chancellor is as incompetent today as his party was in government?
    Mr. Smith: Absolutely. I thank my hon. Friend for his question. As a result of the policies for stability to which he draws attention, this country has 700,000 more people
    1274
    in work now than when the lot opposite left office. Moreover, whereas the previous Government left us a deficit in the public finances of £28 billion and doubled the country's indebtedness, we have balanced the public finances while improving public services and helping pensioners and hard-working families. My hon. Friend is right: any return to the Conservative party's policies would be a return to the deprivation, division, unemployment and instability that disfigured this country in the past.
    Mr. Ian Taylor: Would the Chief Secretary admit that achieving the economic tests that the Chancellor has set for entry into the euro will require careful management—they will not suddenly be achieved by magic? Is he aware of the criticism that the Chancellor's statements do not do enough to show how the fiscal balance could be managed so as to take pressure off interest rates and allow the Monetary Policy Committee to think in terms of setting interest rates that converge with the much lower interest rates on the continent, enabling us to have at least the prospect of joining the euro in the near future?
    Mr. Smith: Fiscal and monetary policy sticks to the sensible rules that we have laid down to maintain stability and steady growth. I welcome a question from a Conservative Member who takes a more balanced view on these issues. Of course, the tests will have to be carefully measured. We have said what those tests are, and as we have said all along, we shall make that assessment early in the next Parliament.
    Mr. Robert Sheldon: Does it not seem that the differences within the Monetary Policy Committee are between the committee's external and internal members on interest rates? Might not the external members have a better understanding of the level of interest rates required, because they come from the competitive sector of our economy and therefore have a better understanding of that sector, which my right hon. Friend has done so much to stimulate?
    Mr. Smith: I thank my right hon. Friend. One of the strong advantages of the Monetary Policy Committee is that a combination of voices with different experience makes that important judgment. Ultimately, however, we judge the Bank of England's operational independence and the Monetary Policy Committee's decisions on what they deliver. What they have delivered is low and stable inflation, which has hit the target that they have been set.
    Sir Michael Spicer: Are we closer to, or further from, meeting the euro convergence conditions than when the policy was first announced?
    Mr. Smith: As I said, we shall make the assessment early in the next Parliament. We are not giving a running commentary on this. The British economy is, beyond doubt, immeasurably stronger as a result of the measures that we have put in place for fiscal stability, investment and helping people into jobs.
    Dr. Vincent Cable: One of the Government's earliest commitments was to a stable and

    1275
    competitive exchange rate. Does the Minister think that we currently have a competitive exchange rate? If not, what is the role of the Bank of England in securing one?
    Mr. Smith: The role of the Bank of England and the Monetary Policy Committee is clear: it is to hit the inflation target. It is by sustaining low inflation that we make the best contribution to economic success and stability for the future—including the effects on the exchange rate.

    Directors' Salaries
    Mr. David Winnick: What further discussions he has had with employers over income increases to heads of companies. [96992]
    The Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Mr. Stephen Timms): At the recent Confederation of British Industry conference, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor warned of the danger that unacceptably high pay rises would lead to higher interest rates. In the case of company executives, it is the responsibility of shareholders and remuneration committees to ensure that pay is justified by performance.
    Mr. Winnick: Is it not a fact that many senior directors and executives—many of whom are already on large salaries—have recently given themselves very large pay increases, share options, bonuses and the rest that are very different from the level of salary increases given to the large majority of their employees? In view of that fact, and recognising what my hon. Friend said about the Chancellor's warning, has not the time come for Government action on the matter?
    Mr. Timms: There is evidence of pay running at a high level for some senior positions in some of our firms, and responsibility in pay rises is of the greatest importance. Although pay responsibility is important in the public sector, it is just as important in the private sector. Such responsibility is important on the shop floor, but it is just as important in the boardroom. Responsible pay settlements are essential to achieve the high and stable growth and employment levels to which all of our economic policies are directed.
    Mr. James Gray: Does the hon. Gentleman acknowledge that it is not only company heads who are paying the top tax rate, but hundreds of thousands of public sector workers are also paying at 40 per cent? Does he agree that 26,000 NHS workers, 9,000 policemen and 28,000 teachers pay at 40 per cent? What are the Government doing, not to have a go at those workers as fat cats, but to relieve their tax burden?
    Mr. Timms: We have maintained all our commitments on tax rates. Now, however, the key issue is that, for the first time that most of us can remember, we have a real prospect of full employment in Britain. Most people thought that full employment was only for the history books, but the success of our policies in the past two and a half years has led to a new stability, so that full employment is now a realistic prospect. We have to be
    1276
    vigilant against anything that puts that prize at risk—which means guarding against, among other things, irresponsible pay rises.
    Mr. Derek Twigg: Based on August figures, wage increases are running at 4.9 per cent. Is that level of earnings growth posing a threat to inflation?
    Mr. Timms: The August figures are up 0.3 per cent. on the figure for three months earlier, but the figures are erratic. In the longer term, the figures are still relatively low. The last peak in earnings growth, in 1990—when unemployment was much greater, at 1.6 million—was 10 per cent. Nevertheless, my hon. Friend is right to say that there is no room for complacency: everyone needs to be responsible on pay.

    Poverty Alleviation
    Mr. Archy Kirkwood: What plans he has to include measures relating to the alleviation of poverty in his pre-Budget statement. [96993]
    The Chancellor of the Exchequer (Mr. Gordon Brown): In the pre-Budget report, I set out the long-term ambition for the next decade to halve child poverty as a step on the way to abolishing it within a generation. Building on measures in the last two Budgets that will lift 800,000 children out of poverty, I also announced that we shall consult on a new children's fund to provide project grants for community action to tackle all aspects of child poverty.
    The pre-Budget report also announced measures to tackle unemployment and pensioner poverty. The winter allowance for every pensioner household will be £100 for the rest of this Parliament; there will be free television licences for pensioners who are over 75; and because our intention is to tackle pensioner poverty, we shall uprate the minimum income guarantee for pensioners in line with earnings for the rest of this Parliament. Consequently, by April 2000, the oldest pensioners will be £10.35 per week better off than when we came to power, and the pensioner couple will be £15.90 better off.
    Mr. Kirkwood: I am very grateful to the Chancellor for that answer. However, has he had a chance yet to consider the results published in the British household below-average income study, which examined work that had been done, between 1991 and 1997, by the British household panel study? Does he agree that the panel's study showed that—for that entire seven-year period—9 per cent. of the sample of households studied stayed below 30 per cent. of income distribution? With a potential Department of Social Security underspend of £7 billion, and a current balance of £12 billion in the national insurance fund, does the Minister really believe that a 1.1 per cent. uprating of long-term social security benefits is adequate for families who really cannot find work?
    Mr. Brown: The hon. Gentleman—who is Chairman of the Social Security Committee—is an expert on many of those matters, but he is painting an incomplete picture.

    1277
    First, benefits for the disabled are rising by £1 billion. Secondly, benefits for children are rising by £6 billion annually by the end of the Parliament. Thirdly, we have just announced measures ensuring that benefits for pensioners are rising by £3 billion annually. It is, therefore, simply not correct to state that benefits for those groups who are most in poverty are rising only by the rate of inflation: we are taking additional measures for every group. It is about time that the Liberal party, which in its general election manifesto promised far less—indeed, a fraction—of what we have done, started to support us.
    Mr. Geoffrey Robinson: I congratulate my right hon. Friend the Chancellor on the excellence of his pre-Budget statement, in all the respects that we are discussing. In particular, I welcome his announcement of an important initiative enabling gifts of quoted shares and securities to be made to charitable bodies. During the consultation in which the regulations and legislation involved will be decided, will he make it clear to his colleagues—and, of course, to Inland Revenue officials—that they should bring to the negotiations the positive and flexible spirit that was embodied in his important pre-Budget statement?
    Mr. Brown: I thank my hon. Friend. He is, in fact, saying that the House should unite in tackling child poverty. The children's fund that we have announced will allow voluntary, community and charitable groups to be involved in innovative projects tackling all its aspects. As part of that, we are changing the charity tax laws to make it easier for people—through either payroll giving or direct giving—to donate more to charities, voluntary organisations and other bodies. I would have expected support for those measures throughout the House, but is it not typical of the Conservatives that they cannot support action against child poverty?
    Mr. Desmond Swayne: How many new pensioner couples will be hit by the abolition of the married couples allowance by the end of this Parliament? Did the Chancellor fail to tell the Prime Minister about that yesterday, or did he simply forget? Why did he not mention it in his pre-Budget statement?
    Mr. Brown: It is this Government who, for pensioners—
    Mr. James Gray: Answer the question.
    Mr. Brown: The hon. Gentleman asks me to answer the question, and then does not give me a chance to do so. Is that not typical of the Conservatives? They have learned nothing in two and a half years of opposition. Do they not understand that they lost the election because they never listen to the country?
    First, we have taken more pensioners out of tax. Secondly, we have reduced the savings tax rate to 10p: I would expect the Conservative party to support that. Thirdly, we have reduced the basic rate of income tax from 23p to 22p, in order to help all pensioners. Finally—
    1278
    [Interruption.] I will tell Conservative Members this, if they will listen. Finally, all pensioners who are currently on the married couples allowance will retain it.
    Fiona Mactaggart: Does my right hon. Friend recall that, when he took office, there were 4.4 million children in poverty in Britain? His promise to take 800,000 children out of poverty will still meet only a fifth of the huge challenge that we were elected to meet. He has already committed £1,080 each to the poorest families, but can he assure me that his change to children's tax credit will ensure that women—the main carers for children—will have the necessary resources in their purses, so that the money can benefit children directly?
    Mr. Brown: That is exactly the proposal that we are presenting for consultation. I hope that many people will become involved in the pre-Budget discussions about how we can make progress in providing benefits for all children.
    Our proposals for tackling poverty have four separate strands. First, there are the increased benefits that will help families: child benefit, the working families tax credit, the 10p starting rate of income tax and changes in national insurance will all benefit the poorest working families. Secondly, our proposals include the provision of more resources for nursery and pre-school education, and for school education. Thirdly, there is the sure start programme, which will provide about £1,000 per child in the poorest parts of the country in order to create new opportunities in health care and education. Fourthly, we are expanding our programme relating to the innovative children's fund. I believe that that will involve a partnership between Government, communities and voluntary organisations, and a national crusade to tackle and eliminate child poverty.
    Mr. Matthew Taylor: The Chancellor will understand that the next comprehensive spending review will be crucial for those interested in tackling poverty. Will he clarify a question that I asked when he gave his pre-Budget statement? Does the fact that the new review has been brought forward a year mean that the current 2001–02 spending plans may be changed, as the hon. Member for Bolsover (Mr. Skinner) hopes, or is the Chief Secretary to the Treasury right to say that those plans are set in stone?
    Mr. Brown: I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for asking that question again. We have not changed our position on the comprehensive spending review. The hon. Gentleman suggests that it has been brought forward. It will be at the time that we said and will be happening over the next few months. The Liberals must wake up to the situation in this country. They cannot have it both ways. They cannot keep saying that they are going to be tough on public spending and yet demand more money at every turn. Let me remind the House what a Liberal spokesman said last week:
    "There are a lot of things our party wants to promise, but we have to be realistic about what we can deliver if we want to be seen as fit for government. For example, it would be great to abolish television licence fees for pensioners, but it would cost hundreds of millions and voters would not like it."
    Is it not about time that the Liberals supported the good things that we are doing?

    Prosperity
    Mr. Christopher Leslie: What steps he is taking to ensure that all sections of society share in increasing economic prosperity. [96994]
    The Economic Secretary to the Treasury (Miss Melanie Johnson): The Government is committed to a fair and inclusive society in which everyone can contribute to and benefit from economic prosperity. The Chancellor set out the Government's strategy in the pre-Budget report, published on Tuesday. We want to create employment opportunity for everyone of working age, ensure that children have the best possible start in life and deliver a better deal for pensioners.
    Mr. Leslie: Have not 18 years of Conservative failure made pensioners some of the poorest in society? Is my hon. Friend aware that pensioners' poverty takes its toll particularly in the colder winter months, and has done for far too long? Will she take this opportunity to make it crystal clear that the welcome new £100 winter allowance is not a computer error, a mistake or even a one-off, but a bonus delivered only by a Labour Government?
    Miss Johnson: I am grateful to my hon. Friend for that question. Of course, there is no computer error on the £100 winter allowance. We are delighted to be able to say that it will go to more than 7 million eligible pensioner households this year and—as my right hon. Friend the Chancellor announced on Tuesday—every year hereafter. Under this Government, pensioner households are on average £300 a year better off. In addition to the free television licence, from which more than 3 million pensioner households will benefit, another 1.5 million pensioner households will benefit from the extension of the 10p rate to savings income, which was also announced on Tuesday.
    Mr. Michael Fallon: I welcome the hon. Lady to her new responsibilities. Why does the Government persist in their nasty and mean-spirited attack on pensioners who happen to have saved all their lives? Those who have a few hundred pounds of investment income can no longer reclaim the tax on their dividends. Is she proud to be punishing savers in that way?
    Miss Johnson: We are helping pensioner households across the board. We are also helping those who are paying tax. Pensioners were already paying less tax under this Labour Government than ever before, even without Tuesday's announcement on the lop savings rate, which will be of particular help to many pensioner households. The hon. Gentleman seems to fail to recognise that two thirds of pensioner households pay no tax.
    Ms Sally Keeble: May I draw my hon. Friend's attention to the work of the Northamptonshire Association of Asian, African and Caribbean Businesses and welcome the many measures in the pre-Budget statement that promote enterprise and encourage people to set up small businesses? Will she
    1280
    ensure that steps are taken to encourage organisations that support businesses in ethnic minority communities so that they too can benefit from economic prosperity?
    Miss Johnson: I am grateful for my hon. Friend's comments and her detailed knowledge of the work being done in her constituency to support enterprise. The Government supports such work throughout the country. We want to achieve our economic ambitions for the next decade. They include closing the productivity gap and ensuring that enterprise is open to all. As part of that, we are providing a new £30 million package to promote enterprise in disadvantaged communities, providing better access to finance, better advice and mentoring and demonstrating that our commitment is borne out by practical steps.
    Mr. Francis Maude: I welcome the Economic Secretary to her new post and wish her well in it. I remind her that before the Government share out economic prosperity, they must ensure that it continues to increase. Does she agree that
    "Productivity is a fundamental yardstick of economic performance…poor productivity condemns a nation to be held back"?
    That is what the Chancellor said in his pre-Budget statement document last year. Was she surprised to hear him admit on Tuesday that, since he became Chancellor, productivity growth has fallen by two thirds? Does she call that making Britain more competitive?
    Miss Johnson: I am grateful to the right hon. Gentleman for welcoming me to my new post. However, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor certainly did not make that admission. We are taking steps to address exactly the issues that the right hon. Gentleman is raising. The two worst recessions since 1945 occurred when the Conservatives were in government. They doubled the national debt and presided over interest rates of 15 per cent. In addition, there were 22 Tory tax rises. None of that did very much for productivity, growth or enterprise.
    Mr. Maude: The hon. Lady may not have had a chance to read it, but the admission is in a document published by the Chancellor on Tuesday. It shows productivity and growth falling—she should take a look at it.
    If the Government honestly want to increase prosperity, why did they raise tax by £40 billion—by £30 billion on business alone—and give Britain the fastest rising tax burden in Europe? Does the hon. Lady remember when she was a candidate in the general election the Prime Minister saying that Labour
    "had no plans to increase tax at all"?
    Why are the Government still piling on regulations costing business £5 billion a year? What does the hon. Lady have to say to the president of north-east chambers of commerce, in the Prime Minister's own area, which said that
    "bureaucracy…is stifling business competitiveness"?
    Is that not why the president of the Confederation of British Industry said that the sums that the Government
    "give back are trivial by comparison"?

    1281
    Did not the Chancellor inherit the fastest growing economy in Europe and are they not squandering that inheritance?
    Miss Johnson: We inherited a deficit of £28 billion in public finances. We inherited a boom and bust economy with no possibility for businesses or individuals to plan ahead because of its instability. We have turned that around; we now have stability. The right hon. Gentleman will not even tell us whether he supports one of the key measures to ensure that we have that stability in the British economy—the independence of the Bank of England.

    Working Families Tax Credit
    Mr. Andrew Miller: What estimate he has made of the number of families in the north-west region who will be eligible for working families tax credit. [96995]
    The Paymaster General (Dawn Primarolo): It is estimated that 250,000 families could receive the working families tax credit in the Government north-west administrative region.
    Mr. Miller: Contrary to the rant of the right hon. Member for Horsham (Mr. Maude), something must be right because, since this Government have been in power, unemployment in my constituency has fallen by 34 per cent. It is important that we bring together all agencies that can help promote the working families tax credit and make it work. I commend to my hon. Friend an exercise that I conducted in co-operation with the private sector—Warner cinemas and THI Developments especially—local authorities, the Benefits Agency, and so on, to help to promote the creation of jobs under the new deal and, indeed, outside it. Perhaps similar exercises in co-operation may help to create more jobs.
    Dawn Primarolo: I agree with my hon. Friend that co-ordination is necessary to ensure that people understand that the working families tax credit tackles the traps of unemployment and poverty, and, most importantly, helps parents with children who want to work with their child care expenses. The shadow Chancellor must explain to, for instance, the young woman whom I met last week, who will be £109 a week better off as a result of the working families tax credit—1.5 million families will benefit—why he would take that money away from her and put up her taxes.
    Mr. Michael Jack: I hope that the Minister agrees that one way of helping those on the working families tax credit in the north-west is to ensure a strong export performance in industries such as aerospace in my constituency? To that end, I seek her assurance that the
    1282
    Treasury has no plans to change the present way in which it supports and funds the operation of the Export Credits Guarantee Department—
    Madam Speaker: Order. That does not relate to the question on the Order Paper. The right hon. Member is a long-standing member of the House, and should not try to do things like that.
    Mr. Peter L. Pike: Is not the working families tax credit, together with the national minimum wage, a tremendous help in areas such as Burnley, in the north-west, where we have traditionally suffered low pay and deprivation? Is not it important help not only to the families affected but to the entire economy in such areas?
    Dawn Primarolo: My hon. Friend is right to draw together the national minimum wage and the working families tax credit as underpinning employment. They are good for both the employee, whose wages make work worthwhile, and employers, in ensuring retention and recruitment of the work force, and especially assisting them, through the provision of child care tax credits, to retain the skills of women who would otherwise be forced out of the labour market for a long period when they have young children.

    Climate Change Levy
    Mrs. Ann Winterton: What assessment his Department has made of the impact on chemical industries of the proposed climate change levy. [96999]
    The Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Mr. Stephen Timms): We have studied the impact very carefully. Together with the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and the Minister for the Environment, I recently met representatives of all the energy-intensive industries including the Chemical Industries Association Ltd. Last week, I had a useful discussion with members of the all-party parliamentary chemical industry group.
    The chemical industry will have the opportunity to benefit from the 80 per cent. discount for energy-intensive sectors that sign energy-efficiency agreements with the Government, and from exemptions for electricity for good quality combined heat and power plant, which is widely used in the chemical sector.
    Mrs. Winterton: I welcome the fact that the climate change levy will not be as punitive, as announced in Tuesday's statement, although it should be noted that there will be an annual increase of £1 billion a year, starting next year. What other measures do Treasury Ministers envisage taking to assist the competitiveness of the chemical industry as the UK's top manufacturing export earner?
    Mr. Timms: All the £1 billion will be refunded through the reduction in employer national insurance contributions.
    I do not know whether any of the hon. Lady's constituents work for ICI Chlor-Chemicals—I suspect that they may.

    1283
    Today, my hon. Friend the Member for Halton (Mr. Twigg) has been talking to the chief executive there who said that he was encouraged by the way in which the Government have responded to his company's concerns about competitiveness. He said that the Government had clearly listened and made a significant and intelligent response. Those views will be widely shared by people in the chemicals industry and hon. Members who represent constituencies with substantial employment in chemicals, like that of the hon. Member for Congleton (Mrs. Winterton). The two aims for the climate change levy are to maximise environmental benefit and not to pose a threat to the competitiveness of UK firms. We have made progress on both this week with the announcements of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer: there will be substantially greater environmental benefits, which have been welcomed by environmental organisations, and we have taken steps to protect competitiveness in the chemical sector and other industries.
    Dr. Alan Whitehead: I welcome the exemption of renewables from the climate change levy announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his pre-Budget statement. What appraisal has my hon. Friend made of the effect on growth and competitiveness of the United Kingdom renewables industry that the exemption will produce?
    Mr. Timms: My hon. Friend makes an important point. The renewable energy industry is important and the UK has considerable strength there already. The combined heat and power industry is also important and we have some leading technologies in that area, too. Both industries will benefit from the exemptions that my right hon. Friend announced this week, so that is good for British business and technology.
    Mr. David Heathcoat-Amory: Will the Minister confirm that despite the Government's climb-down on the energy tax on Tuesday, major sectors of industry will continue to pay in net amounts of tens of millions of pounds which their overseas competitors will be exempt from? Has he seen that, as well as the chemical industry, the Steel Association said yesterday that the tax
    "will still result in more steel being produced overseas, often by producers using less environmentally friendly plant than those in the United Kingdom"?
    According to that association, the tax is bad for industry, jobs and the global environment. Will Ministers stop mouthing slogans about competitiveness, fairness and enterprise, and start listening to those who work in industry and can deliver all the necessary reductions in these damaging gases, and so meet our international obligations without exporting British jobs, as the energy tax will do?
    Mr. Timms: No, the energy tax will certainly not do that. First, there is no climb-down because the new package will have substantially greater environmental benefits than the package that was outlined earlier in the year. We said in the Budget that the levy would save 1.5 million tonnes of carbon emissions a year by 2010. Under the new proposals that figure will rise to at least 2 million tonnes, and the negotiated agreements could easily provide the same amount again. The steel industry
    1284
    is a big winner from this week's announcements. It will benefit from the 80 per cent. discount for sectors that reach energy efficient agreements with the Government. There is one being dealt with in the steel sector. It will also benefit from the exemptions for feedstocks—fuel used as feedstock.
    Mrs. Anne Campbell: Is not the climate change levy to be welcomed, saving 2 million tonnes of carbon each year? Has my hon. Friend heard anything from the other side of the House that would meet these commitments to the environment and be just as warmly welcomed by environmental groups as my hon. Friend's proposal is today?
    Mr. Timms: My hon. Friend is absolutely right. The climate change levy is a big winner for Britain in terms of the environment and our industry. We have always said that protecting the environment goes hand in hand with building the economy. It must be good to tackle pollution—to work to reduce emissions. Surely even Conservative Members support that aim. We are delivering it.
    Mr. Peter Atkinson: What estimate he has made of the net financial gain to Government Departments as a result of the introduction of the climate change levy. [97000]
    The Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Mr. Stephen Timms): Education, health and other public services will gain, along with the majority of firms, from a reduction in employers' national insurance contributions that will exceed their payments under the climate change levy. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor made it clear in his statement on Tuesday, however, that the net gain to public services will be wholly offset by the additional support he has announced for energy efficiency measures in the private sector. There will therefore be no net financial gain to the public finances from the introduction of the levy.
    Mr. Atkinson: The people who will lose, of course, are the unemployed in the north-east of England, because it is estimated that foreign inward investors will be put off by that billion pound energy tax. What assessment has the Financial Secretary made of the damage that will be caused to inward investment by the imposition of that new tax?
    Mr. Timms: We have protected the competitiveness of UK firms and we have made big progress with the announcements that have been made this week. We want to provide additional incentives at the margin in every sector to reduce emissions, because everybody has a role to play in meeting our legally binding targets, which also have to be met by other countries in the same way. That is the right thing to do, because we all want to cut down on pollution and that is the effect that the levy will have.
    Mr. David Kidney: With last year's pre-Budget report, Lord Marshall's report, the Customs and Excise consultation and the wide consultation meetings held by my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary, does he agree that vast consultation has taken place about the design of the levy before it was introduced? My right

    1285
    hon. Friend the Chancellor promised when he was appointed that our financial affairs would be managed with openness, good practice and transparency, and does my hon. Friend agree that the levy is a good example of his promise being kept?
    Mr. Timms: My hon. Friend is right and the process that we have followed is a model for how such things should be done. We had Lord Marshall's report, the initial announcements in March, the following consultation, and the announcements this week. Of course, the levy itself will only be introduced a year from next April. That is in contrast to the imposition of VAT on fuel under the previous Government.
    Mr. Owen Paterson: What is the gain to this country of closing large sectors of the horticultural industry and flying in cut flowers on jumbo jets that do not pay duty on fuel?
    Mr. Timms: The horticultural industry will also gain from what has been announced this week. It is a big user of combined heat and power plants and it will therefore benefit substantially from what my right hon. Friend the Chancellor has announced.

    International Monetary Fund
    Barbara Follett: What representations he has made concerning the composition of the board of the IMF. [97002]
    The Economic Secretary to the Treasury (Miss Melanie Johnson): The Government have not made any representations concerning the composition of the board of the IMF.
    Barbara Follett: I thank my hon. Friend for that reply and welcome her to her new post. Is she aware that in September the IMF replaced its much maligned enhanced structural adjustment facility, which one non-governmental organisation described as treatment by asphyxiation, with its new poverty reduction and growth programme? Will she and her ministerial colleagues do
    1286
    all that they can to ensure that that is not only a name change, but that poverty reduction is central in future IMF interventions in developing countries?
    Miss Johnson: I am grateful to my hon. Friend for her work in that area as a member of the Select Committee on International Development. I know how seriously she takes those issues and that she will appreciate how seriously my right hon. Friend the Chancellor and the Treasury team take them, too. The poverty reduction and growth facility replacement programmes for the IMF enhanced structural adjustment facility will bring about a big improvement in the work that can be done and will ensure that the IMF and the World Bank work together more closely. It will also emphasise country ownership and focus much more strongly on poverty, with the aim of achieving poverty eradication goals that are set in the international development targets. I know that that will be most welcome.
    Sir Peter Tapsell: Will the Economic Secretary try to get the Chancellor to explain how it came about that, within hours of his election as chairman of its key committee, the IMF announced that it would after all not be selling any of its gold through the market?
    Does the Chancellor remember that whenever I suggested to him earlier in the year that it was not a good way of helping poor countries for the IMF to sell its gold through the market, he got rather cross with me and denounced me for not being genuinely interested in helping them? What was it that led him eventually to conclude that I had been right and that he had been wrong?
    Miss Johnson: I do not know what led the hon. Gentleman to come to that remarkable conclusion. I am disappointed, in that he ought to be congratulating my right hon. Friend the Chancellor on the key role that he will be playing in those arenas as a result of taking over the committee. He ought also to be complimenting the Government on the relationship between the sale of gold and our ability to deal with poverty-stricken countries and the highly indebted poor countries issue. We have made massive progress, and the gold sales have contributed to that. Congratulations are due when real achievements are made by the Government in key areas.

Points of Order
12.31 pm
Mr. Tim Yeo: On a point of order, Madam Speaker. Yesterday, at column 1122 of Hansard, the Prime Minister said that Britain must choose between taking France to court for its illegal ban on British beef and trying to persuade France to lift it. As the Government's attempts at persuasion have now collapsed in utter failure, and as, even in the last hour, British officials have been summoned to Brussels—no doubt to prepare for yet more unjustified concessions—can you tell the House whether the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has requested permission to make a statement about this devastating blow to his whole strategy?
Madam Speaker: I have had no request from the Minister to make a statement today.
Mr. David Maclean: On a point of order, Madam Speaker. I am sure that you will have noticed early-day motion 1007, condemning the Chancellor for the serious error that he made when addressing the House on Tuesday. Have you had any request from the Chancellor to make a personal statement so that he can correct what is a serious, but no doubt inadvertent, error?
Madam Speaker: I have seen the early-day motion to which the right hon. Gentleman refers, but I have not been told by the Chancellor that he is seeking to make a statement.
Mr. Desmond Swayne: On a point of order, Madam Speaker. It was widely trailed on the wireless this morning that the Home Secretary would today be making clear his intentions with respect to legislation on the future of hunting. Have you had any notice from the Home Secretary that he is seeking to make a statement? If you have not, is it within your competence to detail the runner on the Treasury Bench to fetch the Home Secretary, since we have so much time between now and seven o'clock?
Madam Speaker: I am afraid that I do not have the authority to order a Minister to come here, and I am not aware that any such statement is being made.
Mr. Paul Flynn: On a point of order, Madam Speaker. As a defender of the rights of all Members of this House, you will recall that there was a vote in November 1997 in which 411 Members of this House expressed the opinion that foxhunting is animal abuse and should be banned. Can we have an assurance that, in the next Session of Parliament, you will ensure that there is a full debate, so that all hon. Members can express that view again?
Madam Speaker: We are now getting into bogus points of order, and there will be no more.

Business of the House
Motion made, and Question proposed,
That, at this day's sitting,

1. the Speaker shall not adjourn the House until any Messages from the Lords shall have been received; and

2. if the House has completed its consideration of any Messages received from the Lords and the Lords have adjourned their sitting, the Speaker shall adjourn the House without Question put.—[Mr. Allen.]

12.34 pm
Mr. Eric Forth: The motion is important because it sets out the relationship between another place and this House on a crucial but rather sad day, which may be the last of the Session—that remains to be seen. The motion refers to "Messages from the Lords" and to the fact that you, Madam Speaker, may adjourn the House. Before you can make that decision, you must consider the possibility that other matters may intervene. To follow on from the point made by my hon. Friend the Member for New Forest, West (Mr. Swayne) a moment ago, you may be approached before the House adjourns by Ministers who want to make a statement. Beef on the bone and beef imports to France are subjects about which a Minister might want to make a statement and clarify the Government's position.
Mr. James Gray: Does my right hon. Friend agree that foxhunting might also merit a statement at this point in the week? Does he agree that the Home Secretary might have cried off until now because such a statement would prove controversial for one side or the other?
Mr. Forth: My hon. Friend is right. Madam Speaker may wish to postpone the Adjournment of the House, which is the subject of the motion, to give the Home Secretary time to prepare a statement on foxhunting. The statement has been widely trailed but, so far, we have had no opportunity to hear it. Therefore, it would be appropriate to postpone the Adjournment of the House to give the Home Secretary time to clarify the Government's position.
Mr. Nick Hawkins: Does my right hon. Friend agree that Madam Speaker might receive a request from the Chancellor to deal with the disgraceful error to which my right hon. Friend the Member for Penrith and The Border (Mr. Maclean) referred, or a request from the Prime Minister to apologise for his appalling abuse of Question Time yesterday, when he behaved like a bad vaudeville ham actor?
Mr. Forth: My hon. Friend puts those points so much better than I could. I propose to deal with that subject later, strictly in the context of the Adjournment of the House, which is the subject of the motion.
Sir Brian Mawhinney: After my right hon. Friend has fully dealt with the good interventions of my hon. Friends, will he return to the possibility of a statement, before the Adjournment of the House, on the French attitude to beef? Does he agree that the House may also wish to hear a statement about the

1289
Government's view on the German attitude to beef, and the likelihood that, after the French have agreed to accept British beef, the Germans will continue to hold out? Ministers should make a statement on the steps that they are taking about Germany.
Mr. Forth: I am grateful to my right hon. Friend for making that point. It is not too late for the House to deal with those matters. Today is a sitting day. The House must make a judgment, in the context of the motion, on whether it is appropriate to adjourn earlier or later, given the sort of developments that my right hon. Friend mentioned.
Hon. Members might believe that it is appropriate to consider other matters today. I have a few modest suggestions.
Mr. Geoffrey Clifton-Brown rose—
Mr. Gerald Howarth rose—
Mr. Forth: I shall give way first to my hon. Friend the Member for Cotswold (Mr. Clifton-Brown).
Mr. Clifton-Brown: Does my right hon. Friend agree that, when considering the motion, Madam Speaker may wish to take into account the written question from the hon. Member for Worcester (Mr. Foster):
"To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his plans in respect of hunting with dogs."
Would it not be a disgrace and an abuse of the House if we obtained a written answer tomorrow, after the House had prorogued? It is such a controversial matter that Madam Speaker might have expected a message from the Home Secretary to say that he would make a personal statement before the House prorogues today.
Mr. Forth: Those are the judgments that the House and Madam Speaker will have to make today. I cannot conceive that, with Madam Speaker's guidance, we could make the tragic mistake of adjourning unnecessarily early, and thus deny an opportunity for such statements to be made. It would surely be a tragic mistake if, at this stage of the Session, we were to adjourn without having given Ministers a proper opportunity to come to the House to clarify these matters and one or two others that I want to refer to. What would people think of us then? The House of Commons has all the opportunities in the world today—and perhaps tomorrow; who knows?—to give these matters proper consideration and to allow the Government to clarify their position, to the benefit of everybody, including the House. If we were to deny the Government and the House those opportunities, we would not be readily forgiven.
That is a serious matter, and one to which we must give consideration, but I want to return for a moment to the point made by my right hon. Friend the Member for North-West Cambridgeshire (Sir B. Mawhinney). At Scottish questions the other day, I asked a question—which I thought was rather a good one, if I may say so—about a Minister's judgment on what would be more damaging to health: the consumption of beef on the bone
1290
or the consumption of beef produced from a food chain originating with human sewage. I thought that that was a perfectly reasonable question.
Mr. Barry Gardiner: On a point of order, Madam Speaker. Are scripts being given out in the House? Might it be possible for all Members of the House to have them?
Madam Speaker: If papers are being passed around the House, that is not a matter for me.
Mr. Forth: I do not operate from scripts, as you well know, Madam Speaker. The only script that I have is a few handwritten notes to guide me and to ensure that I stay in order in terms of the motion before us.
As the hon. Member for Brent, North (Mr. Gardiner) has raised the point, it has been drawn to my attention that a written question on foxhunting, tabled by the hon. Member for Worcester (Mr. Foster) to the Home Secretary, which has just been handed to me, is being answered today. The Home Secretary says:
"I am announcing today how the Government wish to proceed on this issue."
That is exactly the point that my hon. Friend the Member for New Forest, West was making. The Home Secretary normally prides himself on openness and, if I remember rightly, he is responsible for the Freedom of Information Bill, but the very man who will introduce that Bill to the House is trying to sneak out a grubby little statement in a written answer. He is not here today, although he has every opportunity to be so. If ever there were a good example of the need for the House to give him an opportunity to clarify the position, surely this is it.
Mr. Nigel Evans: Does my right hon. Friend agree that this is a sad day? His remarks and what is going on in the other place make it clear that the Government are savaging one Chamber and completely ignoring the other.
Mr. Forth: I am grateful to my hon. Friend because I wanted to come on to today's proceedings in the other place, which have direct relevance to the relationship between the other place and the House—do they not? In the context of what the House did yesterday—to the House of Lords Bill in particular—and their Lordships' deliberations on that Bill today, we have to make our own judgment about
"any Messages from the Lords",
to which the motion refers, and whether to adjourn the House. We must give some thought to the possibilities that exist of their Lordships making further amendments to the Bill. [Interruption.]
Madam Speaker: Order. May I have one of the papers that are being passed around the Chamber?
Mr. Forth: Thank you, Madam Speaker.
Mr. Clifton-Brown: Does my right hon. Friend think that the House ought to be suspended while the Labour party hands out its own scripts?
Mr. Forth: It seems—
Mr. Peter Bottomley: On a point of order, Madam Speaker. Can you confirm that it would be

1291
in order for a Home Office Minister—whether the Home Secretary or not—to apply to you to make a statement if he chose to do so?
Madam Speaker: If any Minister wishes to make a statement, he simply lets me know. In this case, the statement is being made by means of a written answer, and, as the hon. Gentleman knows, according to our procedures, that is perfectly in order.
Mr. Forth: Of course that is in order, as you, Madam Speaker, have just ruled. However, the House will be very conscious of the fact that, by using a written answer to reply to a question that Labour Members think is important and by not asking your permission to make a statement to the House, the Home Secretary has denied the House the opportunity to question him on what lies behind his answer. I am afraid that that is all too typical of the attitude that Ministers, including the Home Secretary, have repeatedly shown. I presume that the Home Secretary has something to hide, and I suspect that he has as much to hide from his own colleagues as from Conservative Members because he has not asked you for permission to make a statement and to be questioned by the House.
Mr. Patrick Nicholls: I have just had the opportunity to look at the Home Secretary's answer, and there may be another reason why, even now, he might feel embarrassed enough to want to come to the House to make a statement. He refers to the setting up of an inquiry into the consequences of banning hunting, whereas an honest approach would be to set up an inquiry and a royal commission into fox control generally. Will my right hon. Friend speculate as to why the Home Secretary is setting up a much more limited inquiry?
Madam Speaker: Order. I will not allow the right hon. Member for Bromley and Chislehurst (Mr. Forth) to speculate on that. As the hon. Member for Teignbridge (Mr. Nicholls) knows, the right hon. Member is doing very well simply by making passing references to subjects, but I cannot allow him to discuss the details.
Miss Julie Kirkbride: On a point of order, Madam Speaker. For the new Members of the House, will you offer us your guidance as to when it is appropriate for a Minister to answer a question on a matter of considerable public interest via a written answer as opposed to making a statement in the House?
Madam Speaker: Ministers' choices are not a matter for me.
The President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Mrs. Margaret Beckett): Further to that point of order, Madam Speaker. Am I right in thinking that it would be almost unprecedented for a Minister to make a statement to the House about the mechanism whereby an agreed policy was delivered?
Madam Speaker: The right hon. Lady is correct. I caution the House that we must not get into such details on
1292
this motion. The right hon. Gentleman who had the Floor was conducting himself quite properly, but I hope that he will not be led down the path by some of his colleagues.
Mr. Peter Bottomley: On a point of order, Madam Speaker. If the Government approach the House authorities about an issue on which a Minister had said that the authorities would not be approached until a particular inquiry had been completed, will the House authorities say that they will not talk to the Minister because he had said that he would not approach them earlier? The detail of the Home Secretary's answer says specifically that the House authorities will be consulted, but, in the next paragraph, it states that the inquiry will take place first. What responsibility do the House authorities have for carrying out the Minister's words?
Madam Speaker: That is totally hypothetical at this stage. I would like the right hon. Member for Bromley and Chislehurst to continue.
Mr. John Bercow: On a point of order, Madam Speaker. Would it not be in order, before the House adjourns, for the Prime Minister, recognising the inadequacy of one of his answers yesterday, to come before us to provide further and better particulars of his view and that of the Government on the matter in question?
Madam Speaker: Any Minister, including the Prime Minister, can come before the House when they have something to say.
Mr. Forth: I was considering the possibility of another place making further amendments to the House of Lords Bill. I was doing that in the context of yesterday's debate and considering whether we would benefit from a further amendment that would establish a timetable for stage 2 of the reforms. One of the things to emerge clearly from yesterday's debate was the widespread unease and dissatisfaction in the House about the fact that we are being asked to endorse an important constitutional change with no sign or commitment from the Government about the timetable for a further stage of that reform. That is a good reason for the House to be careful about adjourning prematurely, because we might want to give very full consideration to further changes that the other place might want to make to the House of Lords Bill.
Mr. Michael Fabricant: My right hon. Friend will be aware that the Government say that the steps that they have taken so far for the House of Lords are merely interim measures.
Madam Speaker: Order. I have already cautioned the House, but perhaps the hon. Gentleman was not listening. Members must not go into the details of legislation. There is a motion on the Order Paper which, at the moment, the right hon. Member for Bromley and Chislehurst is debating quite correctly.
Mr. Forth: I believe that another possibility exists. Either an emergency Bill could be tabled in another place, or a statement could be made by a Minister—I accept that, as yet, none has been requested—on the matter of probity, openness and reliability of information given in the House of Commons.

1293
One of the weaknesses evident in the House over the past few months has become even more critical recently. That is the ability of hon. Members—especially Labour Members—to make statements in the House that are demonstrably and patently unverifiable. I think that I am correct in saying that it would be possible for the House of Lords to introduce an emergency Bill even at this late stage in the Session—although some other mechanism may exist—that would allow us to give the National Audit Office or the Public Accounts Committee, for example, a role in ensuring the immediate correction of misleading and false information purveyed or peddled in this House. I feel that, given what has happened recently, the House is coming to the view that a proper mechanism to ensure that should exist.
I do not want to test your patience any further, Madam Speaker, and I know that this is a matter largely for your judgment. My intention was to give you an idea of why I believe that it is of the utmost importance that the House must not adjourn at this stage. Today is a parliamentary day, and proper opportunity must be given for matters to be considered for the benefit of all our constituents.
12.51 pm
Mr. Peter Bottomley: If the motion is agreed to, the hon. Member for North-East Derbyshire (Mr. Barnes) will not be able to introduce his Adjournment debate. Leaving party politics aside, I believe that an extra reason not to agree with the motion is that the names of hon. Members come to the top of the Adjournment debates lottery only infrequently. I hope that the hon. Gentleman will be able to say a few words about buses in north Derbyshire if he chooses to explain why he supports the motion, or otherwise.
The matter that I raised in my further point of order, Madam Speaker, which you dealt with well—
Madam Speaker: Very well.
Hon. Members: Extremely well.
Mr. Bottomley: I have reflected on your judgment, and a slight ambiguity remains. You confirmed that there is an opportunity for the Home Secretary or another Home Office Minister to come to the House and ask to make a statement. I shall read the two relevant sentences from the written answer. The answer states:
"We shall consult the House authorities, as appropriate, on how this can best be taken forward.
The Government has decided that there should first be an inquiry."
There is a paragraph break between those two sentences, but a normal understanding of their meaning would be that the Government is committing them to delay consulting the House authorities until an inquiry has reported in the spring.
The first question that arises has to do with who the "House authorities" are. We have tiptoed around that problem on previous occasions when the House authorities instructed counsel to go to the High Court or to the Appeal Court. I shall take the phrase "House authorities" to mean a mixture of Murdo Maclean, the private secretary to the Government Chief Whip, and the Clerk's Office. That would probably give us the best group. Should Mr. Maclean or the Clerk's Office respond to the Government if, before
1294
spring, the Government ask for advice about how to execute a procedural move—what opponents might see as a wangle, and supporters as assistance—with regard to the Bill that failed in this House a year ago?
I hope, Madam Speaker, that you will be able to give guidance to the House authorities as to whether they should say to the Government, "If you want to talk to us before the inquiry has reported, there must be a further parliamentary answer, so that the House will know the basis on which we are proceeding."
There are other reasons for prolonging the debate until Ministers are able to come to the House. According to an argument that I shall not pursue at length, the subject to fill the gap between questions on a prorogation day and the expectation of a royal commission should be that of the last early-day motion on the Order Paper. I do not need to remind the House that early-day motion 1011 is about the conduct of the Prime Minister.
Unusually, there have been four early-day motions on that subject in this Session. The Prime Minister has chosen to respond to none of them, and neither has any response from him, either through the House authorities or the usual channels, been available for debate. I shall not go into detail, but early-day motion 1011 has been tabled as a consequence of answers that he gave at Prime Minister's questions yesterday, which he must have believed to be true.
I raise this matter now because it has not been picked up by the media. When I asked the BBC whether its correspondents had checked that the Prime Minister had got his facts right—
Madam Speaker: Order. The hon. Gentleman is a very experienced Member of Parliament, but he is straying from the motion before us. I have been very tolerant, but I think that he knows that he must get back to the motion.
Mr. Bottomley: Your guidance, Madam Speaker, is that I should not further illustrate why the Prime Minister should not respond to the early-day motion.
Madam Speaker: Order. I bring the hon. Gentleman back to the motion before us.
Mr. Bottomley: Which is that this House shall adjourn.
Mr. Dale Campbell-Savours: Shall not adjourn.
Mr. Bottomley: If we agree the motion quickly, there will be no further discussion in the House until notice of the Royal Commission is received. I think that I have got that right; I am grateful to the hon. Member for Workington (Mr. Campbell-Savours) for his intervention. If, during that period of silence, a Minister asked whether he could make a statement on the written answer on foxhunting, on the early-day motion on the Prime Minister's conduct or on early-day motion 1007 on the conduct of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, could the House then resume? That is a question to which the House does not know the answer, but no doubt you will be able to tell us, Madam Speaker.
I believe that the arguments for using this time to hold the Government to account are good reasons why the debate on the motion to adjourn should continue.

1295
Of course, the Prime Minister could at this moment be on a plane on his way to South Africa, where he no doubt has international duties, and the Chancellor may have decided to leave because he would not give straight answers at Question Time.
I hope that, in the next Session of Parliament, if not in this one, the Prime Minister and the Chancellor will respond to the early-day motions on their conduct. If they think that criticism does not matter, they do not understand the role of a free Parliament in a free country.
12.57 pm
Mr. Simon Burns: Last night, we discussed the proposals in another place that will fundamentally change the country's constitutional balance. I believe it important that, before we adjourn, there should be an opportunity for the Government to produce the regulations that they have so far failed to produce with regard to those Members of another place who, from today, will no longer have a right to attend the House of peers.
In our democracy, everybody who is a British citizen and fulfils certain requirements is entitled to a vote at elections. That is enshrined in our democracy, and is the critical part of our democratic process. As a result of the legislation on the arrangements for another place that will—today, I assume—be reaching the end of its passage through this House, there will be, if my mathematics is correct, just over 500 individuals who, until today, have been—
Madam Speaker: Order. I am listening very carefully to what hon. Members are saying, but they are now straying far from the motion that is before us. I ask them to look at it; I know full well what we are doing at this particular time.
Mr. Burns: I am grateful for your guidance, Madam Speaker, and do not wish to test your patience. However, I am worried that we may adjourn before the legislation that we have sent to the other place has been tidied up so that individuals are not disenfranchised.
Madam Speaker: The hon. Gentleman may make passing references, but he is getting into matters of great detail. Quite frankly, he should bring his remarks to a close rather than go into details discussed during the passage of the legislation.
Mr. Burns: Madam Speaker, I am again grateful and shall again seek not to try your patience. I remain bothered that, before we adjourn, the other place has time to discuss the Bill again and to make further amendments that would remove an injustice. A number of people from the other place happen to live in the royal borough of Kensington and Chelsea. The Bill, if unamended, will mean that former members of the other place will be disenfranchised at the by-election there on 25 November. Before we adjourn, the House should allow the other place to amend the legislation, because the Government have singularly failed to produce regulations to enfranchise the disenfranchised.
Mr. Dominic Grieve: Alternatively, the House should not adjourn until the business in the other
1296
place has been resolved. The Government could then introduce, if they wished to do so, the order necessary to rectify the problem. That must be done, because failure to do so would put us in danger of breaching the human rights convention and the Human Rights Act 1998.
Mr. Burns: I am grateful to my hon. Friend, who is absolutely right. It is extraordinary that we should be asked to adjourn and to prorogue before next week's state opening when a group of individuals will be disenfranchised at an election in just two weeks' time. Those people are being stripped of their democratic right to cast a vote for a representative in this House, even after the Bill deprives them of their role in the legislative process.
Mr. Christopher Fraser (Mid-Dorset and North Poole): Clause 4(3) of the House of Lords Bill, as amended, does not confer a right to vote on peers removed from the House of Lords by the Bill. Instead, it allows the Secretary of State to make an order to allow peers to vote. No such order has been made, and I am sure that my hon. Friend will shortly ask when such an order will be laid before us.
Mr. Burns: I am extremely grateful to my hon. Friend, who is absolutely right. It seems inconceivable that the Government has not produced that order. It has always been likely that the House of Lords Bill would be on the statute book by the time that we prorogued. The Government has had plenty of time to prepare regulations and place them before the House. For whatever reason, they have not done so, and they seem relaxed about disenfranchising individuals. The other place should amend the Bill to do the job that the Government have failed to do.
Mr. Fraser: The Government argues that it is not possible to update the electoral register. In fact, the Lords are already on it.
Mr. Burns: My hon. Friend is quite right. It is not uncommon, if the Government finds an argument difficult, for them to give it a gloss that has little relation to reality. In fact, the other place could easily amend the Bill. The electoral register came into force in February. Members of the other place were given a vote for the European elections, and they can vote in local elections. That proves that there is no problem with the register. The Lords are already on the register, though far from voting at a general election. The other place could amend the legislation today and send it back to us. Then, if we had not adjourned, we would be able to endorse what it had done, so that peers who will no longer be in another place after today could vote in the by-election.
Mr. Bercow: I am following the impeccable logic of my hon. Friend's thesis and that of my hon. Friend the Member for Mid-Dorset and North Poole (Mr. Fraser), but may I suggest another altogether more prosaic reason why the House should not adjourn yet? The other place will not meet and consider any messages that it might wish to send to us about last night's proceedings for about two and a half hours. In the light of the extraordinary ill grace with which the Government have treated the other place in recent times, is it not a matter of elementary courtesy that we should be here to deliberate upon, and

1297
respond to, any messages, rather than obliging noble members of the other place to wait at least six days to hear of our consideration and our response?
Mr. Burns: I am grateful to my hon. Friend, who knows, as does every other Opposition Member, that sadly, over the past two and a half years, we have experienced a Government who have utter contempt for this Chamber. The Government would be more than happy if we adjourned immediately; we are considered a nuisance and an irritant, because we ask awkward questions and highlight the discrepancies and contradictions in what is, I gather, now known as "The Blair Project". The Government are so arrogant that they are not the slightest bit interested in anyone else's point of view.
Mr. Gardiner: Will the hon. Gentleman enlighten me? I fail to see the logic of his position and that of his hon. Friends. My understanding of the motion on the Order Paper—[HON. MEMBERS: "Hold it up; that is his script."] It is not a script, it is the Order Paper. My understanding of the motion before us is that Madam Speaker
"shall not adjourn the House"—
[HON. MEMBERS: "Hooray, he can read."] Opposition Members seem to have confused adjournment with suspension.
Mr. Burns: I notice that, probably out of embarrassment caused by that inadequate intervention, the Government Whip, the hon. Member for Stirling (Mrs. McGuire), is moving along the Bench away from the hon. Gentleman. Clearly she briefed him but he did not fully understand—now, obviously, she feels that, out of loyalty, to save his face, she must return and sit in front of him.
The hon. Gentleman is right to say that the motion says that we "shall not adjourn". If I did not understand that, Madam Speaker, you would not have allowed me to continue to contribute to the debate. I shall spell it out for the hon. Gentleman. I am arguing that it is right that the House should not adjourn until another place has had the opportunity to amend the legislation that we sent back to it last night. Then, the members of the other place who are to leave it for good when we prorogue would be able to vote in the Kensington and Chelsea by-election. So far, the Government have failed to place the regulations before the two Houses.
Mr. Gardiner: So precisely what is the disagreement between the hon. Gentleman and the motion on the Order Paper? The motion says that the House should not adjourn, the implication being that it should suspend and therefore could be recalled at any time, should that become necessary.
Mr. Nick St. Aubyn: On a point of order, Madam Speaker. Is it in order for the hon. Member for Hove (Mr. Caplin) to wander around the Chamber, chatting to his friends and walking in front of those who are trying to address the Chair?
Madam Speaker: Members very often move around this House, but it is better not to move in front of the person who is being addressed.
Mr. Keith Bradley rose in his place and claimed to move, That the Question be now put.
Question put, That the Question be now put:—
The House proceeded to a Division—
Mr. Hawkins: On a point of order, Madam Speaker. Following earlier points of order about the Home Secretary's written answer this morning, I notice that it says:
"The inquiry will be chaired by the noble Lords,"—
in the plural—
"Lord Burns."
That may be the result of the extreme haste with which the written answer was rushed out, but it occurs to me that, given that the other place is still considering the House of Lords Bill and the statement goes on to say that the other members of the inquiry will be announced later, even at this late stage, the Government might decide to retain in office some noble Lords so that they might be members of the inquiry, and that is another reason why you might feel that the Home Secretary should make a statement, Madam Speaker.
Madam Speaker: I thought that the hon. Gentleman was aware of our new procedures whereby it is possible to raise a point of order during a Division, but it must relate to the Division. Had he given me some indication of his point of order, I could have saved him from making it.
Mr. Joe Ashton: On a point of order, Madam Speaker. The annunciator screen shows only the word "Closure", not "Division", and some hon. Members are not aware that a Division is in progress.
Madam Speaker: I take the hon. Gentleman's point. The screen does say "Closure" and that could be misleading. It should say "Closure motion. Division". I shall see that that is rectified for the next Session. Thank you for drawing that to my attention.
Mr. Shaun Woodward: On a point of order, Madam Speaker. As there was confusion over what the monitors said around the House, should we not declare the Division null and void and have a second Division, so that all Members can vote?
Madam Speaker: I am not prepared to accept that procedure. The Division stands.
The House having divided: Ayes 258, Noes 72.

Division No. 322]

[1.10 pm

AYES

Adams, Mrs Irene (Paisley N)

Bennett, Andrew F

Alexander, Douglas

Benton, Joe

Allan, Richard

Berry, Roger

Allen, Graham

Best, Harold

Anderson, Janet (Rossendale)

Betts, Clive

Armstrong, Rt Hon Ms Hilary

Blizzard, Bob

Ashton, Joe

Bradley, Keith (Withington)

Atherton, Ms Candy

Bradley, Peter (The Wrekin)

Atkins, Charlotte

Bradshaw, Ben

Ballard, Jackie

Breed, Colin

Barnes, Harry

Brinton, Mrs Helen

Bayley, Hugh

Brown, Rt Hon Gordon (Dunfermline E)

Beard, Nigel

Beckett, Rt Hon Mrs Margaret

Brown, Russell (Dumfries)

Benn, Hilary (Leeds C)

Benn, Rt Hon Tony (Chesterfield)

Browne, Desmond

1299

Burden, Richard

Hesford, Stephen

Burgon, Colin

Hill, Keith

Butler, Mrs Christine

Hinchliffe, David

Campbell, Alan (Tynemouth)

Hodge, Ms Margaret

Campbell, Mrs Anne (C'bridge)

Hood, Jimmy

Campbell, Ronnie (Blyth V)

Hoon, Rt Hon Geoffrey

Campbell-Savours, Dale

Hope, Phil

Caplin, Ivor

Hopkins, Kelvin

Casale, Roger

Howarth, Alan (Newport E)

Caton, Martin

Howarth, George (Knowsley N)

Chapman, Ben (Wirral S)

Howells, Dr Kim

Clapham, Michael

Hoyle, Lindsay

Clark, Dr Lynda (Edinburgh Pentlands)

Hughes, Ms Beverley (Stretford)

Hughes, Kevin (Doncaster N)

Clark, Paul (Gillingham)

Humble, Mrs Joan

Clarke, Eric (Midlothian)

Hutton, John

Clarke, Tony (Northampton S)

Iddon, Dr Brian

Clelland, David

Illsley, Eric

Clwyd, Ann

Jamieson, David

Coaker, Vernon

Jenkins, Brian

Coffey, Ms Ann

Jones, Helen (Warrington N)

Coleman, Iain

Jones, Ms Jenny (Wolverh'ton SW)

Connarty, Michael

Corbett, Robin

Jones, Martyn (Clwyd S)

Corston, Jean

Kaufman, Rt Hon Gerald

Cotter, Brian

Keen, Alan (Feltham & Heston)

Cranston, Ross

Kelly, Ms Ruth

Cryer, Mrs Ann (Keighley)

Kemp, Fraser

Cryer, John (Hornchurch)

Kennedy, Rt Hon Charles (Ross Skye & Inverness W)

Cummings, John

Darling, Rt Hon Alistair

Kennedy, Jane (Wavertree)

Darvill, Keith

Khabra, Piara S

Davey, Edward (Kingston)

King, Andy (Rugby & Kenilworth)

Davey, Valerie (Bristol W)

King, Ms Oona (Bethnal Green)

Davies, Rt Hon Denzil (Llanelli)

Kirkwood, Archy

Davies, Geraint (Croydon C)

Kumar, Dr Ashok

Davis, Terry (B'ham Hodge H)

Lady man, Dr Stephen

Dawson, Hilton

Lawrence, Ms Jackie

Dean, Mrs Janet

Laxton, Bob

Denham, John

Lepper, David

Dobbin, Jim

Leslie, Christopher

Donohoe, Brian H

Lewis, Ivan (Bury S)

Doran, Frank

Lewis, Terry (Worsley)

Dowd, Jim

Livingstone, Ken

Eagle, Angela (Wallasey)

Lloyd, Tony (Manchester C)

Efford, Clive

Lock, David

Ellman, Mrs Louise

McAvoy, Thomas

Flint, Caroline

McCabe, Steve

Flynn, Paul

McDonagh, Siobhain

Follett, Barbara

Macdonald, Calum

Foster, Don (Bath)

McDonnell, John

Foster, Michael Jabez (Hastings)

McIsaac, Shona

Foster, Michael J (Worcester)

McKenna, Mrs Rosemary

Fyfe, Maria

McNamara, Kevin

Gardiner, Barry

McNulty, Tony

Gerrard, Neil

MacShane, Denis

Gibson, Dr Ian

Mactaggart, Fiona

Gilroy, Mrs Linda

McWalter, Tony

Godman, Dr Norman A

Marsden, Paul (Shrewsbury)

Goggins, Paul

Marshall, David (Shettleston)

Golding, Mrs Llin

Marshall, Jim (Leicester S)

Gordon, Mrs Eileen

Marshall-Andrews, Robert

Griffiths, Jane (Reading E)

Maxton, John

Griffiths, Nigel (Edinburgh S)

Merron, Gillian

Griffiths, Win (Bridgend)

Michie, Bill (Shef'ld Heeley)

Grocott, Bruce

Milburn, Rt Hon Alan

Grogan, John

Miller, Andrew

Hain, Peter

Mitchell, Austin

Hall, Mike (Weaver Vale)

Moffatt, Laura

Hall, Patrick (Bedford)

Moonie, Dr Lewis

Harman, Rt Hon Ms Harriet

Moran, Ms Margaret

Healey, John

Morgan, Ms Julie (Cardiff N)

Henderson, Doug (Newcastle N)

Morris, Rt Hon John (Aberavon)

Henderson, Ivan (Harwich)

Mountford, Kali

Hepburn, Stephen

Mowlam, Rt Hon Marjorie

Heppell, John

Murphy, Denis (Wansbeck)

1300

Murphy, Jim (Eastwood)

Smith, Miss Geraldine (Morecambe & Lunesdale)

Murphy, Rt Hon Paul (Torfaen)

O'Hara, Eddie

Smith, Llew (Blaenau Gwent)

Olner, Bill

Soley, Clive

Öpik, Lembit

Southworth, Ms Helen

Organ, Mrs Diana

Spellar, John

Osborne, Ms Sandra

Starkey, Dr Phyllis

Palmer, Dr Nick

Stewart, David (Inverness E)

Pearson, Ian

Stewart, Ian (Eccles)

Pendry, Tom

Stinchcombe, Paul

Perham, Ms Linda

Stoate, Dr Howard

Pickthall, Colin

Stringer, Graham

Plaskitt, James

Stuart, Ms Gisela

Pond, Chris

Sutcliffe, Gerry

Pope, Greg

Taylor, Rt Hon Mrs Ann (Dewsbury)

Powell, Sir Raymond

Prentice, Ms Bridget (Lewisham E)

Taylor, Ms Dari (Stockton S)

Primarolo, Dawn

Taylor, David (NW Leics)

Prosser, Gwyn

Temple-Morris, Peter

Purchase, Ken

Thomas, Gareth R (Harrow W)

Quin, Rt Hon Ms Joyce

Todd, Mark

Quinn, Lawrie

Touhig, Don

Rammell, Bill

Trickett, Jon

Reed, Andrew (Loughborough)

Turner, Dennis (Wolverh'ton SE)

Rooker, Jeff

Turner, Dr George (NW Norfolk)

Ross, Ernie (Dundee W)

Twigg, Derek (Halton)

Rowlands, Ted

Vis, Dr Rudi

Roy, Frank

Ward, Ms Claire

Russell, Bob (Colchester)

Watts, David

Russell, Ms Christine (Chester)

White, Brian

Ryan, Ms Joan

Whitehead, Dr Alan

Salter, Martin

Williams, Alan W (E Carmarthen)

Sarwar, Mohammad

Williams, Mrs Betty (Conwy)

Savidge, Malcolm

Winnick, David

Sedgemore, Brian

Winterton, Ms Rosie (Doncaster C)

Shaw, Jonathan

Wise, Audrey

Sheldon, Rt Hon Robert

Wood, Mike

Shipley, Ms Debra

Woolas, Phil

Simpson, Alan (Nottingham S)

Wyatt, Derek

Singh, Marsha

Tellers for the Ayes:

Smith, Rt Hon Andrew (Oxford E)

Mrs. Anne McGuire and

Smith, Angela (Basildon)

Mr. Robert Ainsworth.

NOES

Atkinson, Peter (Hexham)

Hawkins, Nick

Bercow, John

Heathcoat-Amory, Rt Hon David

Bottomley, Peter (Worthing W)

Horam, John

Bottomley, Rt Hon Mrs Virginia

Jack, Rt Hon Michael

Brazier, Julian

Jenkin, Bernard

Burns, Simon

Kirkbride, Miss Julie

Chapman, Sir Sydney (Chipping Barnet)

Lait, Mrs Jacqui

Lansley, Andrew

Clappison, James

Leigh, Edward

Clifton-Brown, Geoffrey

Letwin, Oliver

Collins, Tim

Lewis, Dr Julian (New Forest E)

Cormack, Sir Patrick

Lidington, David

Cran, James

Lloyd, Rt Hon Sir Peter (Fareham)

Davis, Rt Hon David (Haltemprice & Howden)

Loughton, Tim

MacKay, Rt Hon Andrew

Duncan, Alan

McLoughlin, Patrick

Duncan Smith, Iain

Malins, Humfrey

Evans, Nigel

Maples, John

Faber, David

Maude, Rt Hon Francis

Fabricant, Michael

Mawhinney, Rt Hon Sir Brian

Fallon, Michael

Moss, Malcolm

Forth, Rt Hon Eric

Nicholls, Patrick

Fraser, Christopher

Norman, Archie

Gale, Roger

O'Brien, Stephen (Eddisbury)

Gill, Christopher

Page, Richard

Gray, James

Paterson, Owen

Green, Damian

Prior, David

Greenway, John

Randall, John

Grieve, Dominic

Robathan, Andrew

Hamilton, Rt Hon Sir Archie

Robertson, Laurence

Hammond, Philip

Roe, Mrs Marion (Broxbourne)

1301

Ruffley, David

Wells, Bowen

St Aubyn, Nick

Wilkinson, John

Soames, Nicholas

Winterton, Mrs Ann (Congleton)

Spicer, Sir Michael

Yeo, Tim

Stanley, Rt Hon Sir John

Young, Rt Hon Sir George

Syms, Robert

Tredinnick, David

Tellers for the Noes:

Trend, Michael

Mrs. Eleanor Laing and

Tyrie, Andrew

Mr. Keith Simpson.

Question accordingly agreed to.
Question put accordingly,
That, at this day's sitting,

1. the Speaker shall not adjourn the House until any Messages from the Lords shall have been received; and

2. if the House has completed its consideration of any Messages received from the Lords and the Lords have adjourned their sitting, the Speaker shall adjourn the House without Question put:—

The House divided: Ayes 269, Noes 74.

Division No. 323]

[1.25 pm

AYES

Adams, Mrs Irene (Paisley N)

Coleman, Iain

Alexander, Douglas

Connarty, Michael

Allan, Richard

Corbett, Robin

Allen, Graham

Corston, Jean

Anderson, Janet (Rossendale)

Cotter, Brian

Armstrong, Rt Hon Ms Hilary

Cousins, Jim

Ashton, Joe

Cranston, Ross

Atherton, Ms Candy

Cryer, Mrs Ann (Keighley)

Atkins, Charlotte

Cryer, John (Hornchurch)

Ballard, Jackie

Cummings, John

Barnes, Harry

Cunningham, Jim (Cov'try S)

Bayley, Hugh

Darling, Rt Hon Alistair

Beard, Nigel

Darvill, Keith

Beckett, Rt Hon Mrs Margaret

Davey, Edward (Kingston)

Benn, Hilary (Leeds C)

Davey, Valerie (Bristol W)

Benn, Rt Hon Tony (Chesterfield)

Davies, Rt Hon Denzil (Llanelli)

Bennett, Andrew F

Davies, Geraint (Croydon C)

Benton, Joe

Davis, Terry (B'ham Hodge H)

Berry, Roger

Dawson, Hilton

Best, Harold

Dean, Mrs Janet

Betts, Clive

Denham, John

Blears, Ms Hazel

Dobbin, Jim

Blizzard, Bob

Donohoe, Brian H

Bradley, Keith (Withington)

Doran, Frank

Bradley, Peter (The Wrekin)

Dowd, Jim

Bradshaw, Ben

Eagle, Angela (Wallasey)

Breed, Colin

Effort, Clive

Brinton, Mrs Helen

Ellman, Mrs Louise

Brown, Russell (Dumfries)

Flint, Caroline

Browne, Desmond

Flynn, Paul

Burden, Richard

Follett, Barbara

Burgon, Colin

Foster, Don (Bath)

Butler, Mrs Christine

Foster, Michael Jabez (Hastings)

Campbell, Alan (Tynemouth)

Foster, Michael J (Worcester)

Campbell, Mrs Anne (C'bridge)

Fyfe, Maria

Campbell, Ronnie (Blyth V)

Gardiner, Barry

Campbell-Savours, Dale

George, Bruce (Walsall S)

Caplin, Ivor

Gerrard, Neil

Casale, Roger

Gibson, Dr Ian

Caton, Martin

Gilroy, Mrs Linda

Chapman, Ben (Wirral S)

Godman, Dr Norman A

Clapham, Michael

Goggins, Paul

Clark, Dr Lynda (Edinburgh Pentlands)

Golding, Mrs Llin

Gordon, Mrs Eileen

Clark, Paul (Gillingham)

Griffiths, Jane (Reading E)

Clarke, Eric (Midlothian)

Griffiths, Nigel (Edinburgh S)

Clarke, Tony (Northampton S)

Griffiths, Win (Bridgend)

Clelland, David

Grocott, Bruce

Coaker, Vernon

Grogan, John

Coffey, Ms Ann

Hain, Peter

1302

Hall, Mike (Weaver Vale)

Mitchell, Austin

Hall, Patrick (Bedford)

Moffatt, Laura

Harman, Rt Hon Ms Harriet

Moonie, Dr Lewis

Healey, John

Moran, Ms Margaret

Henderson, Doug (Newcastle N)

Morgan, Ms Julie (Cardiff N)

Henderson, Ivan (Harwich)

Morris, Rt Hon John (Aberavon)

Hepburn, Stephen

Mountford, Kali

Heppell, John

Murphy, Denis (Wansbeck)

Hesford, Stephen

Murphy, Jim (Eastwood)

Hill, Keith

Murphy, Rt Hon Paul (Torfaen)

Hinchliffe, David

O'Hara, Eddie

Hood, Jimmy

Olner, Bill

Hoon, Rt Hon Geoffrey

Öpik, Lembit

Hope, Phil

Organ, Mrs Diana

Hopkins, Kelvin

Osborne, Ms Sandra

Howarth, Alan (Newport E)

Palmer, Dr Nick

Howarth, George (Knowsley N)

Pearson, Ian

Howells, Dr Kim

Pendry, Tom

Hoyle, Lindsay

Perham, Ms Linda

Hughes, Ms Beverley (Stretford)

Pickthall, Colin

Hughes, Kevin (Doncaster N)

Plaskitt, James

Hughes, Simon (Southwark N)

Pond, Chris

Humble, Mrs Joan

Pope, Greg

Hutton, John

Powell, Sir Raymond

Iddon, Dr Brian

Prentice, Ms Bridget (Lewisham E)

Illsley, Eric

Primarolo, Dawn

Jamieson, David

Prosser, Gwyn

Jenkins, Brian

Purchase, Ken

Jones, Helen (Warrington N)

Quin, Rt Hon Ms Joyce

Jones, Ms Jenny (Wolverh'ton SW)

Quinn, Lawrie

Rammell, Bill

Jones, Dr Lynne (Selly Oak)

Rapson, Syd

Jones, Martyn (Clwyd S)

Reed, Andrew (Loughborough)

Kaufman, Rt Hon Gerald

Robinson, Geoffrey (Cov'try NW)

Keen, Alan (Feltham & Heston)

Roche, Mrs Barbara

Kelly, Ms Ruth

Ross, Ernie (Dundee W)

Kemp, Fraser

Rowlands, Ted

Kennedy, Rt Hon Charles (Ross Skye & Inverness W)

Roy, Frank

Russell, Bob (Colchester)

Kennedy, Jane (Wavertree)

Russell, Ms Christine (Chester)

Khabra, Piara S

Ryan, Ms Joan

King, Andy (Rugby & Kenilworth)

Salter, Martin

King, Ms Oona (Bethnal Green)

Sarwar, Mohammad

Kumar, Dr Ashok

Savidge, Malcolm

Ladyman, Dr Stephen

Sedgemore, Brian

Lawrence, Ms Jackie

Shaw, Jonathan

Laxton, Bob

Sheldon, Rt Hon Robert

Lepper, David

Shipley, Ms Debra

Leslie, Christopher

Simpson, Alan (Nottingham S)

Lewis, Ivan (Bury S)

Singh, Marsha

Lewis, Terry (Worsley)

Skinner, Dennis

Livingstone, Ken

Smith, Rt Hon Andrew (Oxford E)

Lloyd, Tony (Manchester C)

Smith, Angela (Basildon)

Lock, David

Smith, Miss Geraldine (Morecambe & Lunesdale)

McAvoy, Thomas

McCabe, Steve

Smith, Llew (Blaenau Gwent)

McDonagh, Siobhain

Snape, Peter

Macdonald, Calum

Soley, Clive

McDonnell, John

Southworth, Ms Helen

McIsaac, Shona

Spellar, John

McKenna, Mrs Rosemary

Starkey, Dr Phyllis

McNamara, Kevin

Stewart, David (Inverness E)

McNulty, Tony

Stewart, Ian (Eccles)

MacShane, Denis

Stinchcombe, Paul

Mactaggart, Fiona

Stoate, Dr Howard

McWalter, Tony

Strang, Rt Hon Dr Gavin

Marsden, Gordon (Blackpool S)

Stringer, Graham

Marsden, Paul (Shrewsbury)

Stuart, Ms Gisela

Marshall, David (Shettleston)

Sutcliffe, Gerry

Marshall, Jim (Leicester S)

Taylor, Rt Hon Mrs Ann (Dewsbury)

Marshall-Andrews, Robert

Maxton, John

Taylor, Ms Dari (Stockton S)

Merron, Gillian

Taylor, David (NW Leics)

Michie, Bill (Shef'ld Heeley)

Temple-Morris, Peter

Milburn, Rt Hon Alan

Thomas, Gareth R (Harrow W)

Miller, Andrew

Todd, Mark

1303

Touhig, Don

Williams, Alan W (E Carmarthen)

Trickett, Jon

Williams, Mrs Betty (Conwy)

Turner, Dennis (Wolverh'ton SE)

Wills, Michael

Turner, Dr George (NW Norfolk)

Winnick, David

Turner, Neil (Wigan)

Winterton, Ms Rosie (Doncaster C)

Twigg, Derek (Halton)

Wise, Audrey

Twigg, Stephen (Enfield)

Wood, Mike

Tynan, Bill

Woolas, Phil

Vis, Dr Rudi

Wyatt, Derek

Wand, Ms Claire

Watts, David

Tellers for the Ayes:

White, Brian

Mrs. Anne McGuire and

Whitehead, Dr Alan

Mr. Robert Ainsworth.

NOES

Atkinson, Peter (Hexham)

Leigh, Edward

Baldry, Tony

Letwin, Oliver

Bercow, John

Lewis, Dr Julian (New Forest E)

Bottomley, Peter (Worthing W)

Lidington, David

Brazier, Julian

Lloyd, Rt Hon Sir Peter (Fareham)

Burns, Simon

Loughton, Tim

Chapman, Sir Sydney (Chipping Barnet)

Maclean, Rt Hon David

McLoughlin, Patrick

Clappison, James

Malins, Humfrey

Collins, Tim

Maples, John

Cormack, Sir Patrick

Mawhinney, Rt Hon Sir Brian

Cran, James

Moss, Malcolm

Davis, Rt Hon David (Haltemprice & Howden)

Nicholls, Patrick

Norman, Archie

Duncan, Alan

O'Brien, Stephen (Eddisbury)

Duncan Smith, Iain

Page, Richard

Evans, Nigel

Paterson, Owen

Faber, David

Prior, David

Fabricant, Michael

Randall, John

Fallon, Michael

Robathan, Andrew

Forth, Rt Hon Eric

Robertson, Laurence

Fowler, Rt Hon Sir Norman

Roe, Mrs Marion (Broxbourne)

Fox, Dr Liam

Ruffley, David

Fraser, Christopher

St Aubyn, Nick

Gale, Roger

Simpson, Keith (Mid-Norfolk)

Gill, Christopher

Spicer, Sir Michael

Gray, James

Syms, Robert

Green, Damian

Tredinnick, David

Greenway, John

Trend, Michael

Grieve, Dominic

Tyrie, Andrew

Hamilton, Rt Hon Sir Archie

Wells, Bowen

Hammond, Philip

Wilkinson, John

Hawkins, Nick

Winterton, Mrs Ann (Congleton)

Heathcoat-Amory, Rt Hon David

Woodward, Shaun

Horam, John

Yeo, Tim

Jack, Rt Hon Michael

Young, Rt Hon Sir George

Jenkin, Bernard

Kirkbride, Miss Julie

Tellers for the Noes:

Lait, Mrs Jacqui

Mrs. Eleanor Laing and

Lansley, Andrew

Mr. Geoffrey Clifton-Brown.

Question accordingly agreed to.
Ordered,
That, at this day's sitting,

1. the Speaker shall not adjourn the House until any Messages from the Lords shall have been received; and

2. if the House has completed its consideration of any Messages received from the Lords and the Lords have adjourned their sitting, the Speaker shall adjourn the House without Question put.

Mr. Fraser: On a point of order, Madam Speaker. As you issued the writ for the Kensington and Chelsea by-election, would it be possible for you to speak to the appropriate authorities, so that peers who are on the electoral register and who, from tomorrow, will be legally entitled to vote will be able to exercise that right? In
1304
another place, Lady Jay promised that the enfranchisement of those peers would immediately follow the passage of the House of Lords Bill.
Madam Speaker: I had responsibility for issuing the writ for the by-election, and I did so; but I have no responsibility for the electorate in the area.
Mr. Edward Leigh: On a point of order, Madam Speaker. May I seek your guidance? I understand that, because we voted for the motion, we can now be summoned back at any time by the Leader of the House, whereas, if we had not voted for it, we would have had to wait until 7 pm. Am I right in thinking that we can be summoned back before 7 pm for any reason, not just because messages may have arrived from the other place—for instance, because of the screaming headlines in all today's papers about the crisis in the beef industry? The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food might want to make a statement about that.
Madam Speaker: If the hon. Gentleman had read the motion, he would know that only a message from the Lords can bring us back.
Mr. Hawkins: On a point of order, Madam Speaker. You will recall that, during the first of the two Divisions that have just taken place, I sought to raise a matter arising from the written answer that the Home Secretary gave this morning, and you advised me that it would not be appropriate for me to make a point of order at that stage because a point of order during a Division could relate only to that Division.
May I now return to the written answer? According to the Home Secretary, the inquiry that he has announced
"will be chaired by the noble Lords,"—
plural—
"Lord Burns."
We all know that Lord Burns was the super-mandarin when he was permanent secretary to the Treasury, but I do not think that even he would describe himself in the plural.
The written answer continues:
"The names of the other members of the inquiry will be announced as soon as possible."
Is it not possible, even at this late stage, that a Minister might make an announcement that, on reflection, he thought it important to recognise the historic service to this country given by many noble Lords who, even if they were not among the 92 retaining their seats, might—given their experience of country sports—be appropriate members of the inquiry? In those circumstances, might there not be a message from their lordships amending the House of Lords Bill to enable them to serve?
Madam Speaker: That is highly unlikely. As I said earlier, we are waiting only for Lords messages. I anticipate that the Lords will be dealing with the House of Lords Bill at 3 o'clock this afternoon. We must await the message that will come from the Lords at that time.
Pursuant to the Order of the House this day, the sitting is suspended. Before the sitting resumes, I shall see that the Division Bells are sounded so that all Members are made aware of it.
1.41 pm
Sitting suspended.
5.5 pm
On resuming—
Message to attend the Lords Commisioners:
The House went; and, having returned:

Royal Assent
5.36 pm
Madam Speaker: I have to acquaint the House that the House has been to the House of Peers, where a Commission under the Great Seal was read, authorising the Royal Assent to the following Acts:

Food Standards Act 1999

Greater London Authority Act 1999

Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999

Contracts (Right of Third Parties) Act 1999

Mental Health (Amendment) (Scotland) Act 1999 Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

House of Lords Act 1999

Prorogation

  Her Majesty's Most Gracious Speech
  Madam Speaker: I have further to acquaint the House that the Lord High Chancellor, one of the Lord Commissioners, delivered Her Majesty's Most Gracious Speech to both Houses of Parliament, in pursuance of Her Majesty's Command. For greater accuracy, I have obtained a copy and also directed that the terms of the speech be printed in the Journal of the House. Copies are being made available in the Vote Office.
  The Gracious Speech was as follows:

  My Lords and Members of the House of Commons
  The Duke of Edinburgh and I were pleased to receive the State Visits of His Excellency the President of Germany last December, of His Excellency the President of Hungary last June and of His Excellency the President of the People's Republic of China in October.
  We recall with pleasure our State Visit to Korea in April.
  We were delighted to pay State Visits to Ghana, and South Africa, over the last four days, and to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
  My Government have taken action to build a platform of economic stability and steady growth, based on clear long-term objectives for monetary and fiscal policy, with openness and transparency in policy making.
  My Government's goal is high and stable levels of growth and employment. The new system of monetary policy-making ensures that interest rate decisions are taken in the best long-term interests of the economy. As a result, the UK now has a sound and credible platform of stability. Inflation is historically low and expected to remain close to target. And long-term interest rates are also at historically low levels. Employment is up by over half a million since the election, with more people in work in Britain today than ever before.
  To ensure high levels of employment, my Government are extending the new deal, to help more young people and the long-term unemployed. And my Government are tackling the poverty and unemployment traps. To make work pay and encourage job creation, they have introduced the national minimum wage and the new 10p starting rate of tax, cut the basic rate of income tax from next April, and reformed national insurance. And the Working Families Tax Credit, introduced in October, is helping to make work pay for low-paid working families.
  My Government are continually looking at ways to improve productivity, including in the public sector. They have set tough targets for outputs from every department in Public Service Agreements.
  My Government's legislation to raise standards for all children is now coming into effect. There has been a widespread reduction in the number of children in infant classes of over 30 and there is extensive support for the literacy and numeracy strategies. My Government published the Teachers Green Paper—the most radical reform of the teaching profession in a generation—and has since announced progress towards a new pay structure for teachers.
  Parliament has passed for the first time legislation for the creation of a Disability Rights Commission, which will help create a positive climate for people with disabilities in their lives and work.
  My Government have put in place the framework for a modern National Health Service. An Act has been passed to replace the NHS internal market with decentralised arrangements based on partnership, quality and efficiency. Waiting lists have been reduced by 200,000 since their high point in April 1998, and by 69,000 since March 1997.
  An Act has been passed to establish a Food Standards Agency to protect public health and the interests of consumers in relation to food.
  Legislation has been enacted to support minimum standards at work, to promote partnership and to make it easier for people to combine family responsibilities and employment.
  An Act has been passed which takes forward my Government's programme of welfare reform, promoting work for those who are able to work and security for those who cannot.
  My Government has begun the modernisation of local government. Legislation has been enacted to secure the delivery of high quality local services on a sound financial basis.
  My Government have begun the process of restoring democratic, city-wide government in London. Legislation was enacted to establish the Greater London Authority, providing London with a new form of strategic governance.
  An Act has been passed which will enable the implementation of the EU Directive on Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control, which will maintain a coherent pollution control regime for the United Kingdom.
  Legislation has been enacted to provide a fair basis for water charging in England and Wales.
  An Act has been passed to modernise and strengthen immigration control. It will speed up the system of immigration and asylum appeals. This Act is essential to the delivery of a fairer, faster and firmer immigration and asylum system to which my Government is committed.
  An Act has been passed which creates a new sentencing disposal for first-time defendants pleading guilty in the youth court and introduces new measures to help vulnerable witnesses to give their best evidence in criminal trials.
  Legislation has been enacted to establish a Community Legal Service and a Criminal Defence Service. They will replace existing legal aid arrangements and enable resources to be better targeted. The Act also extends the use of conditional fees, removes unnecessary restrictions on the provision of legal services and makes reforms to magistrates' courts and the appeals system. This will increase access to justice. Other law reform measures have been enacted.
  As a first step in a process of reform, legislation has been enacted to remove the automatic right of hereditary peers to membership of the House of Lords.
  The people of Scotland and Wales voted to have their own Parliament and National Assembly and it was my pleasure with The Duke of Edinburgh and The Prince of Wales to open the National Assembly of Wales on 26th May and to open the Scottish Parliament on 1st July.
  In Northern Ireland, my Government have continued to work to secure the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. They have, in co-operation with the Irish Government, established a review to overcome difficulties in its implementation. They have welcomed the Report of the Independent Commission on Policing.

  Members of the House of Commons
  I thank you for the provision you have made for the work and dignity of the Crown and for the public service.

  My Lords and Members of the House of Commons
  Over the last year, my Government have played a leading role in the European Union. They have continued to strengthen bilateral relations with our partners. My Government have welcomed the entry into force of new treaty provisions, which strengthen the European Union's Common Foreign and Security Policy and have welcomed the appointment of the first High Representative. In cooperation with other Member States, they ensured a successful outcome to the Agenda 2000 negotiations that maintained the United Kingdom's budget abatement.
  My Government have played a key role in preparing the European Union for the historic challenge of enlargement. They have also helped the applicant countries prepare for membership.
  My Government welcomed the launch of the euro on 1 January. They have published an outline National Changeover Plan, which could be implemented should Britain decide to join. They have welcomed the appointment of a new European Commission, committed to reform.
  My Government have maintained strong and modern defence for Britain based on the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. They played a leading role in the decisions taken at NATO's 50th Anniversary summit in Washington to modernise further and prepare the Alliance for the challenges and opportunities it will face in the new century.
  My Government launched an historic initiative at the Franco-British St. Malo Summit. This will make the European Union's Common Foreign and Security Policy more effective and will revitalise the Atlantic Alliance.
  My Government launched an initiative at the British-Italian London Summit to improve the effectiveness of European defence forces. My Government have continued successfully to restructure the Armed Forces to meet the demands of the modern world.
  My Government reaffirmed its commitment to support the United Nations by signing a Memorandum of Understanding declaring United Kingdom forces potentially available for United Nations' peacekeeping Operations and by announcing its intention to make an increased contribution to UN police operations.
  My Government made a substantial and vital contribution to the success of the international community's diplomatic, political and military efforts to
  halt and reverse ethnic cleansing in Kosovo. Following the end of the conflict, my Government have played an important role in reconstructing Kosovo and preparing it for free and fair elections.
  My Government's political, military and financial commitment to Bosnia and Herzegovina has continued to help build peace there.
  My Government has supported the democratic transition in Indonesia and has played a leading role, including a military contribution, in the UN process to help bring self-determination to the people of East Timor.
  Following the abolition of the death penalty under United Kingdom law, my Government signed and ratified the 6th Protocol to the European Convention on Human Rights.
  My Government have published a white paper proposing a new partnership with our Overseas Territories and offering British citizenship to their people.
  My Government have negotiated new arrangements which re-establish links between the Falkland Islands and Argentina.
  After extensive diplomatic effort by my Government, the Government of Libya finally agreed to hand over the two suspects in the Lockerbie bombing case. We are pleased that my Government subsequently reached an agreement on the reestablishment of diplomatic relations with Libya.
  My Government supported and welcomed the transition to democratic civilian government in Nigeria.
  My Government have played a leading role in securing international agreement to reduce further the debt burden of very poor countries. My Government have put into place a strategy to increase the proportion of the United Kingdom's bilateral development assistance going to low income countries and to increase the focus of the multilateral agencies on the reduction of poverty. An Act has been passed to convert the Commonwealth Development Corporation to a public-private partnership enabling it to make a larger contribution to development by channelling increased private sector investment into the poorest countries.

  My Lords and Members of the House of Commons
  I pray that the blessing of Almighty God may attend you.
  A Commission was also read for proroguing this present Parliament, and the Lord Chancellor said:
  "My Lords and Members of the House of Commons: by virtue of Her Majesty's Commission which has now been read, we do, in Her Majesty's name, and in obedience to Her Majesty's Commands, prorogue this Parliament to Wednesday the seventeenth day of this instant November, to be then here holden, and this Parliament is accordingly prorogued to Wednesday the seventeenth day of this instant November."
  End of the Second Session (opened on 24 November 1998) of the Fifty-Second Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, in the Forty-Eighth Year of the Reign of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Departmental Vehicles
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the total number of vehicles used by his Department and its agencies fuelled by(a) petrol, (b) diesel and (c) liquid petroleum gas; and what plans he has to increase the rate of conversion of those vehicles to liquid petroleum gas. [98204]

  Jane Kennedy
  In total, The Lord Chancellor's Department uses 40 petrol fuelled vehicles (including four from the Government Car Service) and 594 diesel fuelled vehicles. The Department does not use any liquid petroleum gas vehicles.

  We continue to keep abreast of developments in the use of liquid petroleum gas but the availability of this fuel is currently still prohibitive.

  Decisions on fuel conversion will be made in light of the best environmental advice available and in accordance with our Green Transport Plan.

  Departmental Waste
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has to set targets for the recycling of waste(a) paper, (b) cardboard, (c) glass, (d) metal, (e) plastic and (f) other products created by his Department and its agencies; and if he will make a statement. [98227]

  Mr. Lock
  My Department's approach to waste management is based on recovery, reduce and re-use as the preferred options for minimising waste sent to landfill. This should help us to achieve the Green Ministers' target for Government Departments of recovering a minimum of 40 per cent. of total office waste, with at least 25 per cent. of that recovery coming from recycling or composting, in 2000–01. Our own corporate target is to establish a baseline figure for the amount of waste produced by the end of March 2000. We have no set individual targets for paper, cardboard, glass, metal, plastic or other materials. Our associate bodies have been encouraged to adopt the target I have set as Green Minister.

  Criminal Justice (Review)
  Mr. Gareth Thomas
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has for a comprehensive review of the Criminal Justice System; and if he will make a statement. [98102]

  Jane Kennedy
  My noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor is considering the desirability of a major review of the criminal courts and will make an announcement in due course.

  General Commissioners of Taxation
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what his Department's procedure is for appointing General Commissioners of Taxation; and for what period his committee on appointments of General Commissioners of Taxation has been without a chairman. [98101]

  Mr. Lock
  The procedure for the appointment of General Commissioners of Income Tax is set out in the Lord Chancellor's Directions for Advisory Committees on General Commissioners of Income Tax, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House. Mr. Hugh Wyatt, the Lord-Lieutenant of West Sussex, became the Chairman of the local Advisory Committee on 1 September 1999 in succession to Mr. Nigel Ventham who retired on that day.

  Magistrates Courts (London)
  Mr. Garnier
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what the cost was of the reorganisation of London's magistrates courts, pursuant to the Access to Justice Act 1999; and how many permanent jobs will be(a) lost or (b) created within the court service by virtue of the reorganisation. [98139]

  Jane Kennedy
  The reorganisation of the Magistrates Courts Committees in London is still at an early stage of implementation. It is therefore not possible to provide a costing at this stage. Issues such as redundancy or the creation of new posts will be for the new Greater London Magistrates Courts Authority to determine.

  Immigration and Nationality (Legal Aid)
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many legal aid franchises for the provision of advice in immigration and nationality cases have been created in the North East Region; and how many cases it is estimated these franchises will take up. [97968]

  Mr. Lock
  There are currently 26 solicitors' offices within the North East Region covered by the Legal Aid Board's Newcastle and Leeds area offices that either hold a legal aid franchise for immigration or are in the process of obtaining one. These solicitors' offices submitted bills for 1,150 immigration advice and assistance cases in the 12 month period 1 June 1998 to 31 May 1999. Additionally, there is a Not-for-Profit advice agency that holds an immigration franchise in the Leeds area, and is contracted to provide 1,100 hours case work per annum. The proposed contract awards for next year have not yet been agreed, but will be sent to contractors shortly.

  Judicial Appointments
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will identify, for each of the last three years,(a) the 10 sets of chambers with the highest number of judicial appointments, (b) the number of appointments from those chambers broken down by reference to judicial rank and (c) the total number of judicial appointments in each year, broken down by judicial rank. [97961]
  677
  Mr. Lock
  The following details have been obtained about appointments to the Circuit Bench and above. Details of appointments below Circuit Bench level would require extensive searching through individual records and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  In 1996–97 there were two appointments from the chambers of Mr. Anthony Boswood QC at Fountain Court, London (one High Court Judge and One Circuit Judge) and two each from the chambers of Mr. Guy Boney QC at 3 Pump Court, London, the chambers of Mr. Keith Armitage QC at 8 King Street, Manchester and the chambers of Mr. James Stewart QC and Mr. Robert Smith QC at Park Court Chambers Leeds (all to the Circuit Bench).

  In 1997–98 there were two appointments from the chambers of Mr. David Crigman QC at 1 Fountain Court, Birmingham (one to the High Court and one to the Circuit Bench); and two each from the chambers of Mr. Bruce Blair QC at 1 Mitre Court, London and the chambers of Mr. Stephen Riordan QC at 25–27 Castle Street, Liverpool (all to the Circuit Bench).

  In 1998–99 there were two appointments to the Circuit Bench from the Mr. James Townend QC at 1 King's Bench Walk, London.

  No other chambers has had more than one member appointed to the Circuit Bench or above in any one of the last three years.

  Annual percentage change in UK gross bilateral public expenditure on aid

  % change on previous year

  Region

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  Total—all countries

  -1

  15

  -3

  6

  3

  -9

  5

  Africa

  -13

  20

  -13

  4

  -8

  1

  6

  Sub Saharan Africa

  -14

  20

  -13

  6

  -8

  1

  6

  America

  -26

  28

  -4

  16

  46

  -44

  113

  Caribbean

  -37

  2

  5

  2

  37

  -32

  171

  Asia

  16

  5

  -3

  7

  7

  -14

  -11

  Europe

  264

  39

  36

  5

  -7

  5

  -18

  Pacific

  -33

  28

  -48

  -14

  -4

  -4

  -7

  Non-Region Specific

  -4

  7

  13

  2

  -0

  3

  -7

  Top 20 Recipients1

  India

  35

  -15

  -12

  -2

  55

  -28

  0

  Guyana2

  -62

  -48

  80

  8

  80

  -52

  1,214

  Zambia

  -31

  39

  -0

  18

  5

  -31

  50

  Tanzania

  -22

  93

  -48

  -3

  -3

  81

  -4

  Uganda

  -14

  25

  17

  15

  -13

  20

  6

  Ghana

  53

  -7

  -37

  -10

  11

  8

  70

  Mozambique

  -32

  90

  2

  -28

  -12

  21

  68

  China

  9

  64

  -4

  -16

  16

  -2

  24

  Indonesia

  37

  -5

  7

  47

  11

  -33

  4

  Bangladesh

  15

  10

  -14

  2

  -5

  -17

  -14

  Montserrat

  -29

  9

  74

  2

  13

  120

  165

  Russia

  n/a

  -56

  76

  58

  -6

  4

  4

  Kenya

  -23

  -2

  -16

  -3

  -4

  -10

  16

  Pakistan

  -17

  -6

  37

  73

  -28

  -1

  -49

  Malawi

  -40

  5

  -1

  53

  -13

  26

  -36

  South Africa

  15

  24

  25

  8

  11

  29

  17

  States of ex-Yugoslavia

  n/a

  6,403

  40

  -12

  -16

  11

  -52

  Nepal

  -13

  -17

  -3

  16

  5

  -4

  11

  Philippines

  -19

  76

  9

  56

  -37

  15

  -3

  Zimbabwe

  42

  -7

  -7

  -14

  -43

  4

  -29

  Belize

  -39

  22

  39

  171

  -62

  21

  -69

  1 The top twenty recipients of UK gross public expenditure on aid in 1997–98 in terms of volume.

  2 In 1997–98 Guyana received £85 million in debt relief

  678
  Details of the number of judicial appointments in the past three years is set out in the following table:

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  High Court Judges

  8

  8

  7

  Circuit Judges

  22

  34

  15

  Recorders

  87

  37

  99

  Assistant Recorders

  93

  120

  136

  District Judges (including Family Division)

  18

  38

  43

  Deputy District Judges (including Family Division)

  45

  63

  100

  Stipendiary Magistrates

  2

  5

  7

  Acting Stipendiary Magistrates

  0

  33

  66

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Overseas Aid
  Mr. Peter Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the percentage changes made in(a) the overall overseas aid package and (b) in overseas aid per country in each of the years 1990 to 1997. [96177]

  Clare Short
  As agreed with my hon. Friend, the information is given in the following table, by region, for the 20 largest recipients of British development assistance and Belize. The largest recipients have been identified according to expenditure in 1997–98, the most recent year for which figures are available.
  679
  Mr. Peter Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list for each year from 1990 to 1997 those countries receiving British overseas aid ranked according to(a) benefit per capita of population and (b) average income per capita. [96176]

  Clare Short
  Tables showing this information by region, for the 20 largest recipients of British development assistance and Belize have been placed in the Library. The largest recipients have been identified according to expenditure in 1997–98, the most recent year for which figures are available.

  UK gross bilateral public expenditure on aid

  £000

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  Region

  Total—all countries

  1,184,438

  1,176,845

  1,353,889

  1,308,257

  1,380,234

  1,421,580

  1,288,488

  1,351,663

  Africa

  505,941

  440,598

  526,833

  457,991

  474,887

  437,764

  443,596

  469,982

  Sub Saharan Africa

  485,887

  419,107

  503,001

  438,972

  464,186

  427,785

  431,744

  457,636

  America

  125,330

  92,905

  118,538

  114,208

  132,350

  192,774

  107,315

  228,081

  Caribbean

  97,115

  61,566

  62,598

  65,730

  67,322

  92,154

  62,902

  170,360

  Asia

  348,367

  403,782

  424,574

  410,387

  438,515

  467,595

  403,041

  357,256

  Europe

  19,604

  71,340

  99,362

  134,713

  141,972

  132,158

  138,122

  113,226

  Pacific

  33,751

  22,462

  28,715

  14,935

  12,806

  12,294

  11,849

  11,058

  Non-Region Specific

  151,445

  145,758

  155,868

  176,022

  179,704

  178,996

  184,566

  172,061

  Top 20 Recipients1

  India

  100,751

  135,983

  116,108

  102,367

  100,743

  155,882

  112,368

  112,560

  Guyana2

  21,104

  8,031

  4,215

  7,571

  8,168

  14,668

  7,040

  92,488

  Zambia

  49,868

  34,444

  47,978

  47,752

  56,164

  58,923

  40,594

  60,929

  Tanzania

  41,596

  32,430

  62,457

  32,499

  31,584

  30,674

  55,441

  53,229

  Uganda

  32,211

  27,836

  34,707

  40,551

  46,592

  40,632

  48,827

  51,538

  Ghana

  29,219

  44,659

  41,736

  26,190

  23,546

  26,252

  28,425

  48,287

  Mozambique

  26,593

  18,001

  34,177

  34,744

  25,015

  22,027

  26,611

  44,722

  China

  19,515

  21,243

  34,914

  33,630

  28,337

  32,803

  32,137

  39,875

  Indonesia

  25,158

  34,422

  32,679

  34,885

  51,401

  57,265

  38,477

  39,847

  Bangladesh

  51,600

  59,217

  64,934

  56,068

  56,987

  54,282

  44,937

  38,865

  Montserrat

  4,218

  2,996

  3,271

  5,689

  5,815

  6,568

  14,452

  38,317

  Russia

  8

  26,686

  11,795

  20,749

  32,817

  30,953

  32,205

  33,610

  Kenya

  49,957

  38,351

  37,514

  31,503

  30,678

  29,379

  26,403

  30,542

  Pakistan

  44,824

  37,236

  35,063

  48,197

  83,488

  60,233

  59,367

  30,156

  Malawi

  43,272

  26,093

  27,378

  27,015

  41,246

  35,721

  44,874

  28,873

  South Africa

  8,093

  9,325

  11,558

  14,504

  15,667

  17,337

  22,436

  26,264

  States of ex-Yugoslavia

  6

  569

  37,003

  51,803

  45,514

  38,095

  42,473

  20,385

  Nepal

  19,050

  16,513

  13,646

  13,220

  15,377

  16,081

  15,514

  17,252

  Philippines

  9,086

  7,359

  12,933

  14,045

  21,972

  13,846

  15,885

  15,360

  Zimbabwe

  33,627

  47,690

  44,268

  41,390

  35,393

  20,172

  21,078

  15,058

  Belize

  6,016

  3,674

  4,498

  6,233

  16,886

  6,335

  7,666

  2,383

  1 The top twenty recipients of UK Gross Public Expenditure on Aid in 1997–98 in terms of volume

  2 In 1997–98 Guyana received £85 million in debt relief

  Ukraine
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what have been the levels of spending of the Know How Fund in each year in the Ukraine; and if she will make a statement. [98001]

  Clare Short
  Recent expenditure for DFID's bilateral programme for Ukraine (Know How Fund) has been as follows:

  Year

  £ million

  1996–97

  9.814

  1997–98

  8.873

  1998–991

  8.744

  1 This figure is provisional, pending publication of Statistics on International Development

  680
  Mr. Peter Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what countries were beneficiaries of UK overseas aid and by what amounts for each year from 1990 to 1997. [96175]

  Clare Short
  As agreed with my hon. Friend, the information is given in the following table, by region, for the 20 largest recipients of British development assistance and Belize. The countries have been ranked according to expenditure in 1997–98, the most recent year for which figures are available.

  In line with our Country Strategy Paper of October 1998, which reflects the White Paper on International Development, DFID bilateral assistance pays particular attention to the social, governance and environmental aspects of the transition.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Fuel Poverty
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what research the Buildings Research Establishment has carried out on
  681
  health costs resulting from fuel poverty and inadequate housing; and if he will place copies of the research in the Library. [93736]

  Mr. Meacher
  I will write to my hon. Friend.

  Road Schemes
  Mr. Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) which road schemes satisfied the initial sift criteria announced on 22 March; [95869]

  (2) what the criteria are for undertaking the study in greater depth to determine whether practicable and cost-effective mitigation can be provided for road schemes that meet the initial sift criteria; and what is the timescale for the study. [95870]

  Mr Hill
  The criteria for taking forward studies in greater depth of locations where concerns had been expressed about levels of noise are as stated in the answer to my hon. Friend's question on 22 March 1999,Official Report, columns 50–51. The timing of the studies is an operational matter for the Highways Agency and I have asked the Chief Executive to write to my hon. Friend.

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Jonathan Shaw, dated 11 November 1999:
  You recently asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions which road schemes satisfied the initial sift criteria announced on 22 March and for clarification of the criteria for undertaking the study in greater depth to determine whether practicable and cost-effective mitigation can be provided for road schemes that meet the initial sift criteria and the timescale for these studies.
  The criteria for undertaking detailed studies are as announced to Parliament on 22 March. The majority of studies are expected to be completed by the end of this year. In cases where a road surface has recently been or is about to be replaced in order to meet an operational need, we use a quieter surface wherever possible, which normally provides substantial relief of the problem. In these cases, detailed studies have been deferred for three years in order to better target the available resources.
  The attached list shows the locations where previous concerns about noise had been expressed which were found to satisfy the criteria announced on 22 March. Locations where studies have been deferred because of the use of quiet surfacing have been marked with an asterisk.
  I trust that this information is helpful, although I must point out that the order of appearance of a location on the list does not in any way indicate its priority nor imply that mitigation measures will be provided in every case following the detailed studies.

  Composite list of sites meeting the criteria for further detailed study

  A1(M), Doncaster BP Wadworth-Warmsworth

  A1, Walshford, North of Wetherby

  A12, Boreham

  A12, Ingatestone

  A14 Exning

  A14 Bury St Edmunds

  A19, Castle Eden, Durham

  A27, Portsbridge, Hants

  A3(M) Horndean/A3 Clanfield, Hants

  A34, Kingsworthy Link, Hants

  A34, Hinkseys/Botley Oxford

  A4, Great West Road, Chiswick

  A40 Whitchurch Hereford & Worcs

  682

  A404(M), Maidenhead, Berks

  A404, Marlow Bypass, Berks

  A46, Sherbourne, Warwicks

  A52, Spondon

  M1 Jct 10–11 Luton, Beds

  M1 near J25

  M1, Jct 33–34, Brinsworth (Rotherham)

  M1, Jct 33–34, Tinsley (Rotherham)

  M20, Jcts 2–3, Wrotham, Kent

  M25 West of Jct 5, Westerham, Kent

  M27, Jct 1–2, Copythorne

  M27, Jct 3, Nursling

  M27, Jct 3–4, Rownhams

  M27, Jct 4, Chilworth

  M27, Jct 5–7, Swathling/West End

  M3, Jct 4–4A, Farnborough Street/Hawley

  M42 Jct 1, Lickey End

  M50 Bromsberrow Heath, Hereford & Worcs

  M6, Jct 26–27, Orrell

  M6, Ash Green, Warwicks

  M60, Jct 12–13, Worsley

  M60, Jct 13–14, Swinton

  M602, Jct 1–2, Eccles

  M62, Jcts 30–31 Altofts, West Yorkshire

  M1 Jct 5–6 Watford, Herts

  M3, Jct 5–7 Basingstoke

  M56, Jct 11–12, Preston Brook

  A1 Wideopen, Tyne & Wear

  A1 Long Bennington, Lincs

  A14 Exning

  A14 Bury St Edmunds

  A19, Billingham BP, Cleveland

  A3 Ripley, Surrey

  A3, Hook Underpass, LB Kingston

  A31 Ringwood, Hants

  A406, South Woodford (Waterworks-M11)

  A52 Clifton, Notts

  A627(M), Chadderton

  M1 Jct 11–12 Luton

  M1 near J28

  M25 Clacket Lane, Kent

  M25 Godstone, Surrey

  M25 Oxsted, Surrey

  M3 Camberley, Berks

  M3 Winchester

  M6 South of Jct42

  M6, Jcts 8–9

  M6, Jct 34–35 Carnforth

  M61, Jct 5–6, Lostock Nr Bolton

  M62, Jct 18–19, Heywood

  M3 Basingstoke

  M3 Dummer, Hants

  M4, Jct 5–6 Datchet, Brands Hill

  M4, Jct 6–7 Chalvey, Lake End

  M4, Jct 7–8/9 Holyport/Bray, Dorney Reach

  A1 Tuxford, Lincs*

  M6, Jct 18, Holmes Chapel*

  A12, Stanway Bypass, Essex*

  A14, Huntingdon Bypass, Northants*

  A3, Malden Underpass/Malden Way*

  683

  A3, Tolworth Underpass/Tolworth Rise*

  A46, Kenilworth BP, Warwicks*

  M20, Jcts 4–5, Ditton, Kent*

  M20, Jcts 10–11, Ashford, Kent*

  M5, Upton St. Leonards, Nr Gloucester

  M53, Jct 4–5, Wirrall*

  M6 Lune Bridge Lancs*

  M6, Jct 33–34 Lancaster*.

  Water Industry
  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he is taking to ensure that all the environmental benefits he asked the water regulator to ensure were included in the forthcoming price review will happen. [96873]

  Mr. Meacher
  I will write to my hon. Friend.

  Birmingham Northern Relief Road
  Dr. Tony Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to release those parts of the Birmingham Northern Relief Road Concession Agreement with Midland Expressway Ltd. that he is obliged to release; and when he will make available those parts whose release is optional. [96882]

  Mr. Hill
  A decision will be reached very soon on what is to be released in response to applications for disclosure.

  Road Maintenance Condition Survey
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what changes he anticipates in the defects indices for each category of road when the National Road Maintenance Condition Survey is next published. [97069]

  Mr. Hill
  [holding answer 2 November 1999]: It would be unwise to make an estimate from a single year. However, in view of the increases in maintenance funding that the Government have provided, I would expect that over the next few years the deteriorating trend in the published indices will start to be reversed.

  Road Network (Maintenance)
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the Highways Agency will achieve a position of steady state maintenance on the bridges and other structures on the motorway and trunk road network in England; and what he expects will be the annual expenditure requirement to maintain that position once it is achieved. [97068]

  Mr. Hill
  [holding answer 2 November 1999]: The Highways Agency has an ongoing programme of works to ensure all structures are safe and serviceable. The underlying maintenance regime already reflects a steady state position for the Highways Agency's bridges and other structures. In addition, there are programmes of targeted works from time to time to address safety and other issues. Currently there is still a small backlog of maintenance being tackled for rehabilitation of some of the older structures that do not fully meet modern standards.

  Climate Change Levy
  Mr. Dobbin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the impact of the climate change levy on British aerospace companies. [98325]

  Mr. Meacher
  I will write to my hon. Friend.

  MOX Production
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what quantities of plutonium contaminated waste have been created to date in the production of MOX fuel for export at Sellafield; and what arrangements exist for the storage or disposal of plutonium contaminated radioactive wastes from MOX production. [97453]

  Mrs. Liddell
  I have been asked to reply.

  Details of total plutonium contaminated waste arisings at Sellafield to date are provided in the 1998 UK Radioactive Waste Inventory which was published in July 1999. I understand from BNFL that, to date, around 80 200-litre drums of plutonium contaminated material can be attributed to the operation of the MOX Demonstration Facility at Sellafield. It is not possible to identify how much of this total amount is attributable to the production of MOX for export.

  I understand that plutonium contaminated material at Sellafield will be compacted, and then encapsulated, prior to storage and ultimate disposal in an intermediate level waste facility. The latter will be subject to a consultation which my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment announced on 25 October.

  Motorways
  Mr. Crausby
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the proportion of car owners who use motorways less than once a month; and what proportion never use motorways. [97907]

  Mr. Hill
  The main source of information on travel patterns of car drivers, and others, is the National Travel Survey which does not identify use by road type. For the general population, the 1997 Road User Satisfaction Study, commissioned by the Highways Agency, showed that 22 per cent. of respondents had not used a motorway in the previous year and a further 34 per cent. had used a motorway less than once a month.

  In terms of total car traffic, measured in vehicle miles, around 17 per cent. was on motorways in 1998.

  Departmental Asset Sales
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the assets sold by his Department and their value broken down by item, in each year from 1991–92 to 1998–99 together with an estimate of the value of asset sales planned for 1999–2000 and 2000–01. [95809]

  Mr. Prescott
  [holding answer 26 October 1999]: The following table sets out the proceeds for the Department and its agencies. Assets have not been specified item by item as this information could not be provided without

  685
  incurring disproportionate cost. The list excludes non-departmental public bodies, Public Corporations and Nationalised Industries. Details of the proceeds received from privatisation and paid into the Consolidated Fund are given separately.

  £

  Property retained for construction

  Land and building

  Plant and equipment

  Totals

  Sale of assets for Financial Year 1991–92

  DoE/DoT

  —

  —

  —

  —

  DVLA

  —

  —

  95,762

  95,762

  Totals

  —

  —

  95,762

  95,762

  Sale of assets for Financial Year 1993–94

  DoE/DoT

  —

  —

  —

  —

  DVLA

  —

  —

  5,500,000

  5,500,000

  Totals

  —

  —

  5,500,000

  5,500,000

  Sale of assets for Financial Year 1994–95

  DoE/DoT

  1—

  —

  —

  —

  VCA

  —

  —

  —

  —

  MCA

  —

  —

  —

  —

  PINS

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Highways Agency

  —

  —

  —

  —

  DVLA

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Totals

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Sale of assets for Financial Year 1995–96

  DoE/DoT

  —

  —

  1,800

  1,800

  VCA

  —

  —

  —

  —

  MCA

  —

  257,000

  62,000

  319,000

  PINS

  —

  —

  365

  365

  Highways Agency

  —

  —

  —

  —

  DVLA

  —

  —

  2,731

  2,731

  Totals

  —

  257,000

  66,896

  323,896

  Sale of assets for Financial Year 1996–97

  DoE/DoT

  —

  —

  11,000

  11,000

  VCA

  —

  —

  —

  —

  MCA

  —

  199,000

  79,000

  278,000

  PINS

  —

  —

  16,643

  16,643

  Highways Agency

  —

  —

  —

  —

  DVLA

  —

  —

  159

  159

  Totals

  —

  199,000

  106,802

  305,802

  Sale of assets for Financial Year 1997–98

  DETR(C)

  —

  —

  2,950

  2,950

  VCA

  —

  —

  170

  170

  MCA

  —

  235,000

  494,000

  729,000

  PINS

  —

  —

  1,533

  1,533

  Highways Agency

  6,017,000

  53,731,000

  76,000

  59,824,000

  DVLA

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Totals

  6,017,000

  53,966,000

  574,653

  60,557,653

  Sale of assets for Financial Year 1998–99

  DETR(C)

  —

  —

  615

  615

  VCA

  —

  —

  470

  470

  MCA

  —

  67,000

  90,000

  157,000

  PINS

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Highways Agency

  4,131,000

  56,038,000

  33,000

  60,202,000

  DVLA

  —

  —

  2,385

  2,385

  Totals

  4,131,000

  56,105,000

  126,470

  60,362,470

  1 No significant sales reported

  686

  Forecast Sale of assets for Financial Year 1999–2000

  £

  Land and building

  Plant and equipment

  Investments

  Totals

  DETR(C)

  1789,000

  —

  211,500,000

  312,289,000

  VCA

  —

  1,896

  —

  1,896

  MCA

  84,000

  32,000

  —

  116,000

  PINS

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Highways Agency

  55,000,000

  —

  —

  55,000,000

  DVLA

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Totals

  55,873,000

  33,896

  11,500,000

  67,406,896

  1 Plus Seymour House: under negotiation

  2 Refers to sale of Railtrack Group Plc shares

  3 Plus amount under negotiation

  Forecast Sale of assets for Financial Year 2000–01

  £

  Land and building

  Plant and equipment

  Totals

  DETR(C)

  1—

  1—

  1—

  VCA

  —

  400

  400

  MCA

  30,000

  20,000

  50,000

  PINS

  —

  —

  —

  Highways Agency

  45,000,000

  —

  45,000,000

  DVLA

  —

  —

  —

  Totals

  45,030,000

  20,400

  45,050,400

  1 No major sales planned

  Proceeds from privatisation paid into the consolidated fund

  £

  1993–94

  British Rail net proceeds from sales of businesses

  110,000,000

  1995–96

  British Rail net proceeds from sales of businesses

  1556,000,000

  Sale of PSA Building Management business

  11,914,000

  1996–97

  British Rail net proceeds from sales of businesses

  1253,000,000

  Gross proceeds from ROSCO sales

  1,822,000,000

  Gross proceeds from Railtrack sale

  1,930,000,000

  Sale of PSA Building Management business

  27,550,000

  Privatisation of Building Research Establishment

  1,700,000

  1997–98

  British Rail net proceeds from sales of businesses

  15,000,000

  Sale of PSA Building Management business

  2,834,000

  Gross proceeds from ROSCO sales (being deferred consideration)

  225,000,000

  1998–99

  Gross proceeds from ROSCO sales (being deferred consideration)

  226,000,000

  1999–2000

  Gross proceeds from ROSCO sales (being deferred consideration)

  211,000,000

  1 The amounts in respect of British Railways Board were used to reduce the grant paid to BRB by the same amount in those years.

  2 Treated as an Appropriation-In-Aid

  GM Crops
  Joan Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what new distances he will prescribe for the buffer zones surrounding genetically modified crops; if he will give his reasons for the change; when a further review will take place; and if he will make a statement. [96776]
  687
  Mr. Meacher
  [holding answer 1 November 1999]: Recent information from studies about the dispersal of pollen has been referred to ACRE, and it will, if necessary, be taken into account in future advice.

  I am aware of the concerns expressed by some, especially organic farmers, regarding the spread of GM pollen. I have consulted other organisations including the Soil Association, and I am considering their responses.

  Joan Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his press release of 5 November concerning GM crops, what commercial benefits the consent holder for GM crops subject to the voluntary agreement will be permitted to seek; if the crops may be given to farmers to feed to animals; what steps he is taking to ensure that such crops do not enter the human food chain; and if he will make a statement. [98108]

  Mr. Meacher
  I will write to my hon. Friend.

  Joan Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his press release of 5 November, concerning GM crops, if he will list the plantings of farm-scale trials of GM crops subject to the voluntary agreement which he expects to agree between now and 2002, indicating the crops to be planted, when they are to be planted, what acreage is required for each, what separation distances will be used for each and how long after harvest he estimates the environmental effects of each crop will be completely evaluated. [98109]

  Mr. Meacher
  GM fodder maize and spring and winter oil seed rape, all modified for herbicide tolerance, are the three crops currently in the farm-scale evaluations. Subject to the advice of the independent Scientific Steering Committee, a fourth crop, herbicide tolerant beet (sugar/fodder), may be included in the farm-scale evaluations from next year. Plantings for the farm-scale evaluations are limited to 20–25 fields per crop per year, each field being 5–10 ha in size (approx. 13–25 acres), subject to the advice and requirements of the Scientific Steering Committee. Plantings covered by this agreement will take place during the three years 2000, 2001 and 2002. Separation distances are defined by the terms of the individual consents and the SCIMAC guidelines, and are currently 50 m for oil seed rape and maize, and 200 m for registered organic crops. The Government will ask the Scientific Steering Committee to review data from the farm-scale evaluations and provide recommendations/ advice by end-October 2002. For winter oil seed rape, for which the third year harvest will be summer 2003, the Government will ask the Scientific Steering Committee to complete analysis and reporting of results in time for Autumn 2003 plantings to take place should the null hypothesis be confirmed.

  London Underground (Safety)
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will place in the Library weekly reports on signals passed at danger on the London Underground. [97085]
  688
  Mr. Hill
  [holding answer 2 November 1999]: Safety is, and must remain, at the heart of London Underground Ltd.'s (LUL) operations. LUL continuously monitors safety performance, including signals passed at danger (SPADs) and reports such incidents to HMRI.

  The hon. Member will wish to be aware that all LUL trains have a form of Automatic Train Protection (ATP) which has been in operation for many years. Although SPADs do occur on the Underground, trains are brought to a safe halt because of the ATP system.

  I will arrange for LUL to place in the Commons Library a monthly report on SPADs on the Underground.

  Mobile Telephones
  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the number of(a) deaths and (b) injuries attributable to accidents involving drivers using mobile telephones. [97573]

  Mr. Hill
  There is international research which has found that the distraction may impact on safety. We therefore strongly discourage the use of mobile phones while driving. However, on the basis of current UK data it is not possible to estimate the number of deaths and injuries attributable solely to the use of mobile phones while driving.

  Buildings Regulations (Access)
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to make Part M of the Building Regulations more accessible to people with a disability. [97368]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The Approved Document for Part M of the Building Regulations is published by The Stationary Office. My Department had already drawn their attention to the need to make this publication accessible to people with disabilities. They are endeavouring to obtain the source material in alternative formats to meet the needs of disabled people.

  Driving Tests (Waiting Times)
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the average waiting time is for(a) a driving test and (b) a driving retest; what the average waiting times were five years ago; and if he will make a statement. [97700]

  Mr. Hill
  In measuring waiting times for a driving test, the Driving Standards Agency does not differentiate between those who are presenting themselves for their first test or for a further attempt. Driving tests can now be obtained nationally in around 6 weeks. This compares with an annual national average waiting time of 6.6 weeks for the year 1994–95.

  Local Transport Plans
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he plans to announce the allocation for provisional local transport plans for 2000–01; and if he will make a statement. [97710]
  689
  Mr. Hill
  [holding answer 8 November 1999]: We are currently assessing the provisional local transport plans submitted in July. The local transport capital settlement will be announced in December.

  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 2 November 1999,Official Report, column 85, concerning major road schemes, if he will estimate the capital cost of each of the schemes listed and provide a total figure. [97709]

  Mr. Hill
  [holding answer 8 November 1999]: Based on the finance forms contained within the provisional local transport plans, the total gross capital cost of the schemes is £812.4 million.

  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what were the total amounts of the bids made by local authorities in their provisional local transport plans for the years 2000–01 and 2001–02 for projected local transport capital expenditure on(a) maintenance of principal highways,(b) maintenance, assessment and strengthening of bridges,(c) individual schemes costing more than £5 million and (d) individual schemes and groups of related schemes costing less than £5 million; and if he will list the total cash bid for each authority for each year. [97703]

  Mr. Hill
  [holding answer 8 November 1999]: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 2 November 1999, Official Report, column 84. The total cash bid for each authority for each year may be derived from the information already in the House of Commons Library.

  Smoke Alarms
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what schemes his Department operates to assist pensioners to install smoke alarms in their homes; and if he will make a statement. [97963]

  Mr. Meacher
  This Department does not currently operate specific programmes for the installation of smoke alarms. However the New Home Energy Efficiency Scheme (HEES) will include the provision of a smoke alarm in the homes of low-income over-60s households where a central heating system is installed. The installations will begin in June 2000 and it is expected that about 55,000 central heating systems will be installed by 2002.

  M18 Motorway: Daily Traffic Volumes and Motorway Capacity

  Link

  J0–J1

  J1–J2

  J2–J3

  J3–J4

  J4–J5

  J5–J6

  J6–J7

  No. of lanes

  3

  3

  2

  2

  2

  3

  3

  Peak hour capacity (one way)1,2

  6,900

  6,900

  4,600

  4,600

  4,600

  6,900

  6,900

  1998 Daily traffic volume

  77,500

  66,900

  46,500

  35,500

  38,300

  41,500

  38,000

  Average peak hour flow (one way)

  6,588

  5,713

  4,766

  3,209

  3,416

  3,702

  3,382

  Demand as percentage of capacity

  95

  83

  104

  70

  74

  54

  49

  2000 Daily traffic volume3

  82,162

  70,924

  49,297

  37,635

  40,604

  43,996

  40,286

  Average peak hour flow (one way)

  6,984

  6,057

  5,053

  3,402

  3,622

  3,924

  3,585

  Demand as percentage of capacity

  101

  88

  110

  74

  79

  57

  52

  2005 Daily traffic volume3

  94,981

  81,990

  56,989

  43,508

  46,939

  50,861

  46,571

  Average peak hour flow (one way)

  8,073

  7,002

  5,841

  3,933

  4,187

  4,537

  4,145

  690
  Part I of the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996 also allows for local authorities to provide grants towards the cost of fire precaution works. Home repair assistance may be available to people who are elderly, disabled, infirm or in receipt of income related benefit for works of up to £2,000.

  Since 1992, Building Regulations have required all new dwellings in England and Wales to have a smoke alarm installed. This move, together with the Government's wider publicity and educational efforts, has helped to raise smoke alarm ownership to the current level of 82 per cent. of all households.

  First Aid Regulations
  Jackie Ballard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to review the First Aid at Work Regulations with particular regard to the use and administration of medication for sufferers of(a) anaphylaxis, (b) diabetes and (c) other medical conditions. [97805]

  Mr. Meacher
  We have no plans to review the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 specifically in respect of the use and administration of medication for sufferers of(a) anaphylaxis, (b) diabetes and (c) other medical conditions.

  However, the Health and Safety Executive will shortly be commencing a general review and evaluation of the implementation and effectiveness of the Regulations.

  M18
  Caroline Flint
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the daily volume of traffic on the M18; what is the capacity of the motorway; and what is the projected traffic volume for 2000, 2005 and 2010. [98026]

  Mr. Hill
  [holding answer 10 November 1999]: As this is an operational matter for the Highways Agency, I have asked the Chief Executive, Mr. Peter Nutt, to write to my hon. Friend.

  Letter from Peter Nutt to Caroline Flint, dated 11 November 1999:
  The Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question. You asked "What is the daily volume of traffic on the M18; what is the capacity of the motorway, and what is the projected traffic volume for 2000, 2005 and 2010".
  The attached table shows the Daily Traffic Volumes, the Motorway Capacity and the projected traffic volumes for the years 2000, 2005 and 2010.
  I trust the information meets your requirements.
  691

  M18 Motorway: Daily Traffic Volumes and Motorway Capacity

  Link

  J0–J1

  J1–J2

  J2–J3

  J3–J4

  J4–J5

  J5–J6

  J6–J7

  Demand as percentage of capacity

  117

  101

  127

  86

  91

  66

  60

  2010 Daily traffic volume3

  108,092

  93,308

  64,855

  49,513

  53,418

  57,882

  53,000

  Average peak hour flow (one way)

  9,188

  7,968

  6,648

  4,476

  4,765

  5,163

  4,717

  Demand as percentage of capacity

  133

  115

  145

  97

  104

  75

  68

  1 Peak hour capacity assumes 2,300 vehicles per lane per hour based on the design capacity

  2 The design capacity of the road is based on the bendiness, the gradient and the intended speed of cars with safe gaps between them

  3 Assumes National Road Traffic Forecast 1997 rural motorways growth factors

  Environment Agency (Staff Mileage)
  Mr. Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what car mileage was travelled on official business by staff of the Environment Agency in(a) 1996–97 and (b) 1997–98; and if he will make a statement. [98084]

  Mr. Mullin
  The information is as follows:

  (a) 54.37 million miles

  (b) 55.00 million miles.

  These figures update those in the Environment Agency's annual Environmental Report published in September 1999. The comparable figure for 1998–99 is 52.58 million.

  Driving Licences
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the number of people who regularly take a motor vehicle on the public highway without a valid driving licence. [98039]

  Mr. Hill
  [holding answer 10 November 1999]: It is not possible to give a precise estimate on the extent of unlicensed driving. In order to get more comprehensive and reliable information on this subject, the DETR has just let a 2½ year contract to study this area and to examine the implications. A recent report from the Automobile Association estimated that there may be around 800,000 people driving without a valid licence.

  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what format will be used for the new photographic driving licence; what information is stored on this licence; what plans he has to introduce further information onto the driving licence; and if he will make a statement. [98358]

  Mr. Hill
  Photocard driving licences have been issued by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency since July 1998. The format of the licence is set out in the 2nd EC Directive on driving licences and contains: the driver's photograph, signature, categories of driving entitlement; name, address and date of birth; and the EC flag containing the UK symbol. There are no plans to add any further information to the licence.

  Vehicle Documents
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many road vehicles in use in the UK(a) do not have an up-to-date road tax disc, (b) are not registered in the name of the present keeper of the vehicle and have not been so for more than one month and (c) do not have valid insurance. [98038]
  692
  Mr. Hill
  [holding answer 10 November 1999]: The DETR has recently carried out its latest large scale survey of Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) evasion across the UK for all vehicle tax classes, the results of which will be published early next year. The last major survey in 1994 estimated that around 1.5 million vehicles in Great Britain did not have an up to date tax disc.

  We are committed to tackling the problem of VED evasion and have introduced a number of measures to end this, including a national scheme to wheel-clamp and impound unlicensed vehicles seen on a public road.

  The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) holds details of the registered keeper of vehicles within its vehicle record database. At the end of June 1999, there were 327,640 cases out of some 28 million where the DVLA did not have the details of the registered keeper of a licensed vehicle. It is not possible to tell the number of cases for which this has been so for more than one month without running a prohibitively expensive scan of the database.

  The DETR does not have information on the number of vehicles which do not have valid insurance.

  Cables
  Mr. Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) how many representations his Department has received from local authorities asking for greater powers to enforce high standards of work when companies are laying cables in residential areas; [98124]

  (2) what measures are in place to prevent cable-laying companies causing disruption in residential areas. [98125]

  Mr. Hill
  The Department has received many letters, from Members of Parliament and others, about cable activities. However, since the last General Election only one representation has been received from a local authority.

  In residential areas and elsewhere, cable-laying in the street is subject to the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991. Undertakers must give advance notice of works and co-operate with the local highway authority. Failure to do so can attract penalties. There is a duty to avoid unnecessary delay or obstruction of the street, and the street authority can direct the timing of street works in, order to avoid or reduce traffic disruption, and restrict street works activity for a period of twelve months following the completion of highway works.

  On 13 October the Government went out to consultation to honour the commitment in last year's Integrated Transport White Paper to consult on options for an incentive system, with penalties, to minimise

  693
  disruption to road users, and to encourage improved co-ordination of street works. Copies of the consultation document were placed in the Library of the House.

  Polegate Bypass
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what is the total amount of compensation paid following the cancellation of the Polegate bypass project; [98068]

  (2) when work on the Polegate bypass will begin. [98064]

  Mr. Hill
  I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Mr. Peter Nutt to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Peter Nutt to Mr. Nigel Waterson, dated 11 November 1999:
  The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Keith Hill, has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions about the Polegate Bypass.
  Tenders for this scheme were invited on 10th November. This should allow us to award the contract next spring, ahead of the previously announced programme.
  The overall levels of compensation are close to being finalised with those who submitted tenders for the cancelled Weald and Downland DBFO Project, which included the Polegate Bypass scheme among others. Interim on-account payments totalling £5m (including VAT) have been made. The Polegate Bypass scheme is in the Government's Targeted Plan of Improvements.

  Driving (Drugs)
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussion he has held with the Anti-drugs Co-ordinator on the dangers of taking(a) illicit and (b) prescription drugs and driving. [98117]

  Mr. Hill
  Ministers and officials in the Department meet their opposite numbers in other Government Departments, including the UK Anti-Drugs Co-ordination Unit, to discuss a range of topics. Those include the policy and research work to deal with those who drive whilst impaired through drugs. My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary who is responsible for road safety matters will be meeting the Co-ordinator in December.

  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment she has made of the report, "Ecstasy Use in Northern Ireland: a Qualitative Study", with particular reference to its conclusions on drugs and driving. [98118]

  Mr. Hill
  The Department has noted the conclusions of the Report. We have our own research programme into the effects of drugs on driving and are considering further research. We will also consider how best to publicise the risks of driving whilst under the influence of drugs, both medicinal and illegal.

  Departmental Vehicles
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the total number of vehicles used by his Department and its agencies fuelled by(a) petrol, (b) diesel and
  694
  (c) liquid petroleum gas; and what plans he has to increase the rate of conversion of those vehicles to liquid petroleum gas. [98207]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  My Department does not keep a central record of vehicles used and their fuel type. Property managers are asked to take account of environmental performance when hiring or buying vehicles.

  The Department has prepared guidance for Government Departments on choosing greener vehicles, which is now available on the Department's website, along with other advice, including DETR's guide to New Car Fuel Consumption and Emission figures.

  Departmental Waste
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to set targets for the recycling of waste(a) paper, (b) cardboard, (c) glass, (d) metal, (e) plastic and (f) other products created by his Department and its agencies; and if he will make a statement. [98223]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  My Department's approach to waste management is based on the three "R"s: with "Recovery" (i.e. recycling, composting and energy recovery) following "Reduce" and "Re-use" as the preferred options for reducing waste sent to landfill. This should help us to achieve: the Green Ministers' target for Government Departments of recovering a minimum of 40 per cent. of total office waste, with at least 25 per cent. of that recovery coming from recycling or composting, in 2000–01; and our own corporate target which is to increase the amount recovered and recycled by 10 per cent. each year to achieve 70 per cent. recovery or recycling in 2003–04. The Department has not set individual targets for paper, cardboard, glass, metal, plastic and other materials although work is underway on setting a target for paper.

  Cytotoxic Drugs
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to the letter of 3 November from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Lord Whitty, to the hon. Member for Linlithgow, reference P/W/28454/99, concerning cytotoxic drugs, when he expects the report on NHS ward staff handling such drugs to be(a) completed and (b) published. [98146]

  Mr. Meacher
  The research referred to, entitled "Occupational Exposure of Health Workers to Cytotoxic Drugs: A Ward-Based Study", has been completed. A draft of the report is currently being considered within the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

  The final report should be submitted to Health and Safety Commission's Health Services Advisory Committee before the end of the year. I will ensure that a copy is then placed in the Library of the House. HSE is also discussing with the co-author how the report should best be published.

  Duneland Habitats
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to letter AM/15632/99 of 15 June from his Department to the hon.
  695
  Member for Linlithgow, what was the result of the September meeting of the member states of the Atlantic Biogeographical Region on sand dunes; and what action has been taken to protect duneland habitats. [98280]

  Mr. Mullin
  The UK's series of 340 candidate Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) was considered with those of seven other member states at a scientific seminar in Kilkee on 6–8 September 1999. The meeting indicated that a number of habitat features, including four sand dune types, were insufficiently represented in the UK and other member state's SAC series. Duneland habitats are already afforded protection through their status as designated nationally or internationally important sites (SSSIs, candidate SACs, Ramsar sites and Special Protection Areas etc.). Furthermore, as part of the UK Biodiversity Action Plan, a priority habitat action plan for coastal sand dunes was published on 25 October.

  Sensitive Species
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to the letter of 3 November from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State my hon. Friend the Member for Sunderland, South (Mr. Mullin) to the hon. Member for Linlithgow, reference CM/20311/99, if he will make a statement on progress at the Conference of the Parties at the Bonn Convention in respect of sensitive species, with particular reference to dolphins, turtles and albatross. [98145]

  Mr. Mullin
  The proceedings of the sixth Conference of the Parties to the Bonn Convention began on Wednesday and will continue until Tuesday of next week. It is too early at present to say how these discussions are going.

  Eurocontrol
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if it is the Government's policy to support the European Union's application to joint Eurocontrol; and if he will make a statement. [98153]

  Mr. Mullin
  The Government support Community membership of Eurocontrol because it is the most appropriate way for the Community to exercise its competence and express its views with regard to air traffic management in Europe.

  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the impact of a formal relationship between the European Union and Eurocontrol on sovereignty over UK air space. [98155]

  Mr. Mullin
  Negotiations are under way for Community membership of Eurocontrol. The terms of the Accession Protocol have not yet been agreed, but there will be no direct impact on UK's sovereignty over its airspace.

  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans the Government have to give decisions of Eurocontrol direct applicability and direct effect in the United Kingdom. [98154]
  696
  Mr. Mullin
  Eurocontrol is currently undertaking a legal assessment of the feasibility of its decisions being directly applicable within member states. The UK is participating in this work and the Government will consider carefully the results of this study.

  M4 Bus Lane
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what plans his Department has to extend the use of the M4 bus lane to include high-occupancy vehicles; and what measures he plans to implement to ensure compliance with this rule; [98184]

  (2) how many (a) buses, (b) taxis and (c) bus services use the M4 bus lane; and what were the equivalent figures for the same stretch of road prior to the bus lanes existence; [98185]

  (3) what assessment he has made of the effect of the M4 bus lane on traffic flow and journey times on the M4 (a) between the M25 intersection and the start of the bus lane and (b) before the M25 intersection at (i) rush hour and (ii) off-peak periods; and if he will publish the recent report submitted by the Road Transport Laboratory; [98182]

  (4) what plans he has to introduce variable speed limits on the M4 between the M25 intersection and the Chiswick terminus; [98183]

  (5) what estimates he has made of (a) the number of passengers carried in the M4 bus lane and (b) the number of people who have changed their journey routes to avoid the M4 since the bus lane was established. [98186]

  Mr. Hill
  As this is an operational matter for the Highways Agency, I have asked the Chief Executive, Mr. Peter Nutt, to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Peter Nutt to Mr. Bernard Jenkin, dated 11 November 1999:
  The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Keith Hill, has asked me to answer your recent Parliamentary Questions about the M4 Bus Lane and the recent report compiled by the Road Transport Laboratory. I have been asked to reply as this is an operational matter for the Highways Agency.
  Independent monitoring of the M4 Bus Lane pilot scheme by the Transport Research Laboratory is provided in regular detailed reports. I am arranging for a copy of the report on the first three months of operation to be placed in the Library of the House and I enclose a copy for your personal use. In addition, a summary of the findings during this initial period has been published in a leaflet that has been distributed widely. A copy of this leaflet has been placed in the Library of the House.
  The full report shows the effect on the journey time between junction 4 and the start of the elevated section to be:

  Minutes

  Average time saved per vehicle

  Time of day (weekday)

  Buses and taxis

  Other vehicles

  06.30–09.30

  4.5

  2.6

  09.30–17.30

  -0.8

  -0.7

  17.30–20.30

  3.2

  1.6

  20.30–06.30

  -1.5

  -1.3

  The monitoring during months four and five show similar results. Information is not available for the length of the M4 to the west of junction 4.

  697
  Use of the bus lane varies from day to day and week to week. The highest measured flows were in the week commencing 18 October when Paddington Station was closed and averaged approximately 5000 vehicles per day. Measured peak hour flows were 60 buses and coaches, 10 minibuses and 370 taxis. The previous highest flow during a week was 4,300 vehicles per day. During the week commencing 25 October (the half term week for many schools) the average daily flow was approximately 4,000 vehicles, of which 500 were buses or coaches, 90 were minibuses and 3,400 were taxis. In this week the typical peak hour flow included 35 buses or coaches, 8 minibuses and 220 taxis.
  Comprehensive traffic count data by vehicle type is not available for the period prior to the bus lane. Estimates based on sample counts before the bus lane was installed indicate hourly flows at peak times of up to 50 buses, coaches and minibuses and up to 350 taxis.
  Surveys carried out by the Transport Research Laboratory show that the average occupancy of buses and coaches to be 15, taxis to be 2.5 and other vehicles to be 1.2, all including the driver.
  The surveys have found no evidence that drivers have changed their journey routes to avoid the M4 since the bus lane was opened. The surveys have revealed that the observed maximum traffic flows on the elevated section of the M4 has increased by 10 per cent. since the opening of the Bus Lane.
  We are continuing to evaluate this pilot project but there are no plans at present to introduce variable speed limits or allow high-occupancy vehicles to use the bus lane.

  Drivers' Blood Alcohol Level
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if it is the Government's policy to lower the permitted blood alcohol level for driving; and if he will make a statement. [98149]

  Mr. Hill
  We have consulted on a package of measures to combat drinking and driving, including the possibility of lowering the permitted blood alcohol level to 50mg per 100m1. An announcement will be made as part of the forthcoming publication of our road safety strategy.

  Vehicle Inspectorate
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what provision has been made to protect against loss to public funds as a result of(a) failure and (b) overrun of (i) time and (ii) cost for the new computer system for the Vehicle Inspectorate; [98244]

  (2) if the Government will require guarantees that the new computer system for the Vehicle Inspectorate will work before awarding a contract. [98243]

  Mr. Prescott
  The Vehicle Inspectorate is confident from the negotiations which have taken place over the last 18 months that the contract for the computerised MOT service is robust and deliverable. The contract contains a number of safeguards building on the experience gained from other major projects. The project was awarded "significant" status in March 1998 by HM Treasury and there has been input throughout the procurement process from the Treasury Private Finance Initiative Taskforce. An independent review of the contract will be undertaken during the preferred bidding stage to provide a further level of assurance. The Vehicle Inspectorate will ensure that, should the service be unavailable for any reason on the expected service commencement date, MOT testing will be able to continue.

  M4 Accident
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what assessment he has made of the causes of the fatal accident and fire on the M4 in Berkshire on 1 November; [98347]

  (2) what estimate he has made of the cost to (a) public funds, (b) private individuals and (c) the private sector arising from delays resulting from the accident which closed the M4 in Berkshire on 1 November. [98348]

  Mr. Hill
  We would not like to make an assessment prejudging the Coroners verdict and this would, in any case, be a matter for the police.

  The information needed to make a reasonable estimate of the costs arising from the accident is not available.

  HGVs (Safety)
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to amend the law to improve the safety of supplementary fuel tanks on heavy goods vehicles; and if he will make a statement. [98371]

  Mr. Hill
  All fuel tanks, including supplementary ones, fitted to motor vehicles must comply with the requirements of the Road Vehicles (Construction & Use) Regulations 1986. These specify that fuel tanks must be constructed and maintained so as to be reasonably secure from damage and so that the leakage of liquid or vapour is adequately prevented. There are currently no plans to amend these regulations but any future changes would be best made through amendments to the European Directive on fuel tanks.

  Private Hire Vehicles
  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to allow the Countryside Agency to make grants from the Rural Transport Development Fund to enable private hire vehicles to comply with the legislation relating to disability discrimination; and if he will make a statement. [98363]

  Mr. Hill
  Private hire vehicles are not required to comply with any of the relevant provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. The Rural Transport Development Fund makes grants in respect of a wide range of transport projects including contributions towards the cost of adaptation of vehicles or purchase of accessible vehicles in rural areas. Applications are considered on their merits.

  Rail Subsidies
  Mr. Stevenson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will estimate the proportion which Government subsidies to(a) train operating companies and (b) Railtrack in (i) 1996, (ii) 1997, (iii) 1998 and (iv) the current year formed or will form of those companies' profits. [98331]

  Mr. Hill
  Government subsidies are paid, not to Railtrack, but to train operating companies (TOCs) in the form of Support for Passenger Rail Services (SPRS) paid
  699
  by the Franchising Director and grants paid by Passenger Transport Executives (PTEs). Those subsidies are not hypothecated to cover particular types of expenditure, so they cannot be directly identified as the source of payments made by TOCs to Railtrack.

  Passenger grants paid to TOCs, etc.

  £ million cash prices

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000(plans)

  SPRS payments

  1,809

  1,429

  1,196

  1,073

  PTE payments

  290

  375

  337

  326

  Total Government subsidies to TOCs

  2,099

  1,804

  1,533

  1,399

  Passenger access charges

  2,119

  12,131

  2,169

  —

  Railtrack operating profit before tax

  339

  2380

  471

  —

  1 Restated as 2,149 in Railtrack's Annual Report and Accounts 1998–99

  2 Restated as 398 in Railtrack's Annual Report and Accounts 1998–99

  National Air Traffic Services
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many respondents to his consultation paper, "A Public-Private Partnership for National Air Traffic Services Ltd.", requested confidentiality for their comments; and what were the names of those individuals or organisations whose response to the document was in confidence. [98170]

  Mr. Prescott
  In accordance with Exemption 14 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, I am unable to provide the names of those persons and organisations who requested confidentiality, as these details were given and received in confidence.

  Rat Infestations
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to include questions in the 2001 English House Condition Survey on rat infestations associated with dwellings; and who will be responsible for processing and analysing the data. [98380]

  Mr. Mullin
  As with the 1996 survey, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food have requested that a module of questions on rat and mice infestation is included in the 2001 EHCS. Assuming the module is included, this Department will manage the processing of the module as part of the data processing of the whole data set and MAFF will then be responsible for analysing the rodent data.

  Local Government Funding
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he or any of his Ministers last met representatives of Hammersmith and Fulham borough council to discuss central Government funding and the standard spending assessment for that council; and who was present at that meeting. [98289]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  There have been no recent meetings arranged to discuss the funding of Hammersmith and Fulham borough council involving Ministers and representatives from that authority.
  700
  The table provides details, for 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99 and 1999–2000, of SPRS and PTE payments to TOCs, of access charges paid by TOCs to Railtrack, and of Railtrack's profits. Details of TOC profits for those years are not readily available.

  Cyclists
  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he is taking to raise awareness amongst cyclists of the need to obey the Highway Code; and if he will make a statement. [98344]

  Mr. Hill
  The Department and local authorities actively work to ensure that cyclists are aware of the need to obey the Highway Code.

  The Code itself was re-issued in February. It applies equally to all road users. For the first time, it brings together the rules applying to vulnerable road users, including cyclists, in specific sections at the beginning of the Code. This made the Code easier to read and assimilate.

  The Driving Standards Agency promotes the Highway Code and seeks opportunities for specific road users to be targeted. The Agency has recently published the "Road Code", which is aimed at young road-users and builds on the Highway Code. Its message includes a section on cycling. The Department is also involved in other initiatives which support the principles of the Code. For example, on 22 October we issued a "Cycle Smart" comic and poster using Disney's "Recess" gang characters to promote the rules of cycling.

  Local Authority Road Safety Officers make use of the cycle training for both children and adults to stress the need for cyclists to obey the Highway Code. About a third of children receive this training and this ensures that they grow up to be careful and considerate road users of all modes of transport. Every child who undertakes cycle training receives a copy of the "Highway Code for Young Road Users".

  Ellington Colliery
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what measures of(a) regional and (b) regeneration assistance he proposes to deal with the anticipated job losses from the closure of Ellington Colliery, Northumberland. [98387]

  Ms Armstrong
  I will write to the right hon. Member.

  Radon
  Mr. Tony Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what guidance there is on the protection of new dwellings from radon; and if he will make a statement. [98390]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  BRE have today published a revised version of BR 211 "Radon: Guidance on Protective Measures for New Dwellings", which updates previously published guidance, details measures that must be incorporated in new buildings and defines the geographical areas where radon protection is necessary. The Approved Document to Part C of the Building Regulations 1991 refers to the BRE document as a source of advice on where radon protection may be needed and what new measures are appropriate.

  In addition to Cornwall and Devon and parts of Somerset, Northamptonshire and Derbyshire—which were covered in previous guidance—the new guidance identifies new areas where radon protection will be needed. These are parts of the Yorkshire Dales; parts of Wales and the Welsh Border; South Oxfordshire; parts of the Midlands adjacent to the currently delineated areas in Derbyshire; Northamptonshire; parts of Gloucestershire, the Lake District and Northumberland. There are also a few scattered areas in south-east England where these measures need to be applied.

  As well as the maps based on NRPB data, BR 211 contains a second set of maps based on the assessment of geological radon potential which has been prepared by the British Geological Survey. These maps show grid squares that are underlain, completely or in part, by geological units that potentially exceed the action level for either basic or full protection. The guidance explains how the two sets of maps should be used to determine the level of protection needed.

  Copies of BR 211 have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

  Taxi Fares (Millennium)
  Mr. Efford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he has reached a decision on what fares London taxi drivers can charge over the Millennium celebrations. [98402]

  Mr. Hill
  I intend to take forward a statutory instrument so that from 8.00 pm on 31 December 1999 until 6.00 am on 1 January 2000 London taxi fares, including any extra charges to the standard tariff, should be double the total amount shown on the meter, up to a total metered fare of £25. For total metered fares of over £25, there should be added a flat rate supplement of £25 to the total metered fare. The normal supplement of £3 for New Year's Eve will not apply. Details of all these arrangements must be displayed in the vehicle.

  In reaching this decision I have taken account of representations from the London taxi trade, and the interests of the travelling public, both in having taxis available to them, and in having fares which are not unreasonable on this unique occasion. I believe these rates represent a sensible balance between making it worthwhile for drivers to work that night and protecting consumers from exorbitant charges.

  Aviation Policy
  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he intends to publish(a) the consultation paper and (b) the White Paper on aviation policy. [98408]

  Mr. Hill
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  National Forest Company
  Mr. David Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will report on the National Forest Company's progress in creating the National Forest in the East Midlands. [98411]

  Mr. Mullin
  I have arranged for copies of the National Forest Company's Annual Report and its Accounts for 1998–99 to be placed in the House Libraries.

  Maritime Traffic
  Mr. Prosser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) how many incidents there were involving breaches of the Channel traffic separation scheme and collision prevention regulations in each year from 1988 to the present; and what were the names and flags of the ships involved; [98415]

  (2) how many prosecutions have been brought in respect of infringements of the Channel traffic separation scheme or collision prevention regulations in each year from 1988 to the present; and what were the names and flags of the ships involved; [98416]

  (3) how many collisions there were in the Channel in each year from 1988 to the present; and what were the names and flags of the ships involved; [98417]

  (4) what percentage of foreign-flagged ships visiting the UK were inspected in UK ports under port state control arrangements in each year from 1988 to the present; what was the ratio of inspections to detentions in each of these years; and what was the percentage of inspected ships found with deficiencies in each of these years. [98418]

  Mr. Hill
  I will write to my hon. Friend.

  Pollution Charges
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) on what dates integrated pollution prevention and control charges will come into effect in each of the other EU member states; [98431]

  (2) what assessment he has made of the level of integrated pollution prevention and control charges levied in other EU member states. [98432]

  Mr. Hill
  I will write to the hon. Member.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Millennium Compliance
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the President of the Council what means she has used to target small shopkeepers from the Asian community to ensure they are Year 2000 compliant. [97278]
  703
  Ms Hewitt
  I have been asked to reply.

  All small companies, in whatever sector or community, have been a target for Action 2000's "Act now!" Campaign, which has included a multimedia campaign offering an Action Pack of Helpsheets obtainable by contacting a free Action Line and website. Poster campaigns in July of 1998 and through 1999 were directed at all business communities. A "Last Chance Guide" was mailed to all UK businesses with 1–249 staff in September 1999 and a London regional campaign provided opportunities for Asian businesses to exchange experiences with others.

  Specific initiatives which focused more directly on the Asian community have included the London business channel review in July 1998 which established contact with Asian Business Initiative, Asian Business Network and the Brick Lane Business Association. Paid advertising has been placed in Asian media and, since 1998, an on-going dialogue has been established with an Asian publishing group offering interviews and free articles by the Action 2000 Press Office about the need to achieve Year 2000 compliancy.

  Portcullis House
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee if he will provide details of specification and cost for(a) carpets per square metre, (b) office furniture by type of item, (c) stone and brick by type used and (d) lighting for Portcullis House. [96725]

  Sir Sydney Chapman
  [holding answer 3 November 1999]: Of necessity the specifications used in the contracts for the Portcullis House project are lengthy, detailed documents. In summary, therefore, the information requested is as follows (with all the figures exclusive of VAT).

  Carpet

  Specification
  Fusion bonded cut pile carpet in 600mm x 600mm tiles with a single dot pattern on a contrasting background. Enhanced quality carpet for level 1 to achieve a weighted sound improvement index of 28dB.
  Cost per square metre for the supply and laying—£23 per square metre and £30 per square metre.

  Office furniture

  Specification
  Desks and tables—suited oak office furniture comprising 230 desks with cable management facilities, 140 meeting tables, 140 low tables, 920 under desk pedestals, 75 three draw filing cabinets and 75 four drawer filing cabinets.
  Office chairs—210 high back, upholstered, wide seated executive chairs with arms, seat and back height adjustment, lumbar support with forward and back tilt mechanism. 300 medium or low back, fabric upholstered operators' chairs on castors without arms with seat height adjustment and synchronised seat and back adjustment. 890 medium back, fabric upholstered visitors'/ meeting table chairs without arms.
  Easy chairs—250 fully upholstered, fairly firm but comfortable armchairs in fabric upholstery on glides.
  Leather seating—design, supply and installation, including all fixings, for leather squabs and backs for the window seats.
  Worktops and shelving—design, supply and installation of shelving and worktops with solid English oak edge lippings overlaid in English oak veneer. The shelving system is to be designed for ease of adjustment by the users. Support brackets are to be finished in a polyester powder coating.

  704
  Estimated contract values

  Desks and tables—£685,000

  Office chairs—£440,000

  Easy chairs—£110,000

  Leather seating—£205,000

  Worktops and shelving—£380,000

  (Each of these contracts also includes the provision of furniture in areas other than offices).

  Stone

  Specification
  Courtyard paving—carboniferous limestone in slab sizes of between 600mm x 600mm and 780mm x 780mm and various other sizes on a cementitious screed base. Stone faced planters, seats, pool and water feature.
  External paving—the detailed design, fabrication, supply and installation of a natural stone paving to terrace, arcade and general pavement/road areas, laid either in a traditional manner or with lightweight void filler over asphalt waterproofing.
  Sandstone columns—supply only sandstone blocks of various dimensions cut, dressed and worked to accommodate reinforcing mechanism. Colour range pink to red, predominantly light red. Crushing strength 40N/per square metre (tested to ASTM C170-87). Modulus of rupture 6.9N/per square metre (tested to ASTM C99/87).
  Granite plinths and walling—supply granite blocks dressed and worked to accommodate stressing mechanisms. Block sizes approximately 1300mm x 1400mm x 900mm and 290mm x 1000mm. Colour range—pink to red predominantly. Crushing strength 140N/per square metre (tested to ASTM C170-87). Modulus of rupture ION/per square metre (tested to ASTM C99/87).

  Estimated contract values

  Courtyard paving—£560,000

  External works—£1 million

  Sandstone columns—£3.6 million

  Granite plinths and walling—£580,000

  (The sandstone contract was on a supply only basis, as was most of the work in the granite contract, the scope of which was reduced for technical reasons after the contract was awarded. The contract for the external works also covers the gates and railings).
  Brick is not being used on the project.
  Lighting—there are various types of light fittings which form part of a much larger package for the provision of design and installation of electrical services within the building.

  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee what is the estimated cost per square metre of office space for Portcullis House. [96724]

  Sir Sydney Chapman
  [holding answer 3 November 1999]: As an extension to the facilities provided in the Palace of Westminster, Portcullis House provides much more than office space. Of the six main floors, four are to be used for offices with the actual office space taking up less than a third of the total floor area. Based on the current forecast, the estimated capital cost of the building, including the office space, is £6,200 per square metre (excluding VAT).

  Public Bills
  Mr. Austin
  To ask the President of the Council (1) if she will make a statement on her plans for extending to public bills the procedure whereby private or hybrid bills may be carried over to the next session of Parliament; [98434]
  705
  (2) if she will make a statement on the constitutional implications of carrying over public bills from one session of Parliament to another; [98435]

  (3) what assessment she has made of the advantages and disadvantages of carrying over public bills from one session of Parliament to another; and if she will make a statement. [98436]

  Mrs. Beckett
  I shall write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

  House of Lords Bill
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the President of the Council if she will make a statement about the implementation of paragraph (5) of the new clause in Lords Amendment No. 1 to the House of Lords Bill; and if she will specify the standing order referred to in that clause. [98423]

  Mrs. Beckett
  I shall write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

DEFENCE

  Bilderberg Conference
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if his Office has retained copies of(a) the agenda and (b) other documentation resulting from the Turnberry Bilderberg meeting; [94142]

  (2) if he will make a statement on his contribution to the Bilderberg Conference at Turnberry. [94137]

  Mr. Hoon
  I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Oral Statements
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list(a) the reports published by his Department and its associated bodies, (b) the reports received from bodies set up by his Department, (c) the decisions his Department has taken and (d) events in the UK and elsewhere, since 27 July, which satisfied the criteria he uses for deciding whether to apply to make oral statements to the House when the House is sitting. [93973]

  Mr. Spellar
  I will write to my hon. Friend and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
  Maria Eagle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the quality of the training provided to recruits from the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers at the School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Borden; and if he will make a statement. [95673]

  Mr. Spellar
  I will write to my hon. Friend and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Maria Eagle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence in respect of training of recruits at the School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Borden(a) how many recruits are waiting for their courses to start and (b) how many have had their training suspended prior to completion and at what cost to his Department. [95674]
  706
  Mr. Spellar
  I will write to my hon. Friend and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Departmental Staff
  Jackie Ballard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff employed by his Department in mobile grades who do not have limited mobility are currently on(a) gardening leave and (b) special paid leave; and for what periods of time. [96883]

  Mr. Spellar
  I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Performance Targets
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all performance targets set for his Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies since May 1997, other than those listed in Public Service Agreements 1999ߝ2002 [Cm 4181], stating in each case(a) the target to be reached and (b) the date by which it was to be reached. [94981]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 1 November 1999]: My Department has set out the key performance targets on which it will be judged in its Public Service Agreement (PSA), and the measures of success it will use in the Output and Performance Analyses (OPA) published in March this year. These high-level targets are set out in an internal classified Departmental Plan and are cascaded through the Department down a hierarchy of subordinate Plans for each Service and for each subordinate budgetary unit; these lower level plans include additional and more detailed targets to supplement and amplify PSA targets. Listing these operational targets would be inappropriate and disproportionate in terms of resources.

  A list of targets and target dates for Agencies up to March 1999 can be found in the Next Steps Report. Since March this year, key targets for individual Defence Agencies for 1999–2000 have been announced to Parliament. I shall write to the hon. Member with the details.

  Performance targets and objectives have been set, or are in the process of being set, for those executive Non-Departmental Public Bodies for which my Department is responsible. Where targets have already been agreed, they are published in the respective Body's plans.

  Army Retention Study
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the estimated cost of the Adjutant General's Army Retention Study being undertaken by the Hay Management Group. [96835]

  Mr. Spellar
  I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Multi-role Armoured Vehicle.
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the multi-role armoured vehicle to enter service; and if he will make a statement. [97107]
  707
  Mr. Kilfoyle
  I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  UK's Nuclear Forces
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received calling for the United Kingdom's nuclear forces no longer to be in a state of continuous alert; and if he will make a statement. [97129]

  Mr. Hoon
  We have received a number of representations from organisations and members of the public about our nuclear deterrent, including its alert status. The Strategic Defence Review (SDR) announced that submarines on patrol are at a reduced day-to-day alert state reflecting improved strategic conditions. We maintain only one submarine on patrol at a time, its missiles are not targeted and are at several days "notice to fire". We also considered other more radical de-alerting measures in the SDR, such as taking submarines off deterrent patrol and removing warheads from their missiles and storing them separately ashore. We concluded that neither, in current circumstances, is compatible with maintaining a credible minimum deterrent with a submarine-based nuclear system.

  Armed Forces (Pay)
  Mr. Crausby
  To ask the Secretary Defence what plans he has to introduce a scale for the armed forces.of State for common pay scale for armed forces. [97354]

  Mr. Spellar
  I will write to my hon. Friend and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Landing Platform Docks
  Mr. Davidson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the current figure is for slippage in respect of the landing platform docks; what the expected date of delivery is for each vessel, taking into account present slippage; what the expected date of delivery is, taking into account recovery of slippage; and if he will make a statement. [97753]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  I will write to my hon. Friend and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Nancekuke Defence Establishment
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the impact of work carried out at his Department's establishment at Nancekuke in Cornwall on the health of the local population. [97645]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  The establishment at Nancekuke, now RAF Portreath, was known as the Process and Research Division of the Chemical Experimental Establishment, Porton Down, from 1951 until it was closed in 1980 and the site returned to the RAF.

  The Chemical and Biological Defence Sector of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency is now aware of any assessment of the health of the local population. However, a report in 1970 by the Registrar General showed that, up to 1969, the mortality of persons who
  708
  had been employed at Nancekuke was rather less than the average for England and Wales as a whole, possibly due to regional differences in climate and social conditions.

  BVRAAM
  Mr. Page
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has received binding assurances that all relevant technologies and source codes would be transferred to the United Kingdom if it acquired a United States BVRAAM. [97711]

  Mr. Hoon
  Assurances concerning the necessary transfer of relevant technologies and source code are the subject of discussions with Raytheon Systems Limited and the United States Department of Defense. Should the UK choose a US solution to its BVRAAM competition, the conclusion of these discussions would be incorporated in a contract with Raytheon and in a Memorandum of Understanding with the United States Department of Defense.

  Iraq
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the approximate weight of ordnance dropped on Iraq by allied planes in 1999; and if he will make a statement. [97634]

  Mr. Hoon
  I will write to the right hon. and learned Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Porton Down
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment at Porton Down has ever been a secret germ warfare base. [97610]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  An experimental establishment was first set up at Porton Down in 1916 in direct response to the use of chemical warfare in World War I against the allied forces. At that time, the remit was for both defensive and retaliatory capabilities. Since the late 1950s, the work has been entirely concerned with the defence of the UK and our Armed Forces against the threat posed by both chemical and biological warfare agents.

  Though the past 83 years have seen many organisation changes at the site, Porton Down remains home to the UK's centre of expertise in chemical and biological defence matters and is now the Chemical Biological Defence Sector (CBD) of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA).

  Whilst there have been, and still are, aspects of the work which are necessarily classified in the interests of national security, CBD and its predecessor establishments have always sought to encourage their scientists to publish the results of their work in open literature and to inform interested parties, including the media, about their work through activities such as open days, visits and conferences.

  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received opposing the work of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency's Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment at Porton
  709
  Down from (a) members of the public, (b) non-Governmental organisations, (c) charities and pressure groups and (d) hon. Members since May 1997; if he will make it his policy to close the establishment; and when he will visit CBD Porton Down to meet the scientific and industrial staff. [97642]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  Since May 1997, there have been no representations opposing overall the work of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency's (DERA) Chemical and Biological Defence Sector at Porton Down (CBD). Letters from members of the public, Members of Parliament and other organisations have focused only on specific programmes and on some areas of work at CBD's predecessor establishments.

  As made clear by the previous Secretary of State in the Ministry of Defence paper 'Defending Against the Threat from Biological and Chemical Weapons' announced on 21 July 1999, Official Report, columns 534–35, CBD Porton Down will continue to play a vital part in the Government's response to the proliferation of these weapons.

  My noble Friend the Minister of State for Defence Procurement hopes to be able to visit CBD in the near future, as part of a programme of visits to DERA sites.

  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the occasions on which(a) Ministers, (b) officials and (c) agency staff have (i) corresponded with, (ii) met and (iii) spoken to Mr. Rob Evans about the chemical and biological defence establishment at Porton Down. [97644]

  Mr. Spellar
  Since May 1997, staff at the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency have responded to some 15 written requests from Mr. Rob Evans for lists of titles, copies of technical papers and other information about work at the Chemical and Biological Defence Sector (CBD) of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) or its predecessor establishments.

  Mr. Evans has spoken to DERA Press Office staff on several occasions during 1998 and once this year to date. I am advised that he may have attended a DERA exhibition in Dorset in September 1997 and may have visited the Porton site as part of a group visit.

  Mr. Evans has also written on a number of occasions to officials in other branches of the MOD about matters that are linked to CBD Porton Down.

  I am not aware of any direct contact between Mr. Evans and MOD Ministers in the period of this Government.

  Trigat Missiles
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what safeguards he has put in place to ensure that the medium range Trigat missiles will be completed before the Milan 1 ATGW systems expire. [97876]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Bright Star 99
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many UK troops took part in the Bright Star 99 exercise; at what cost; and if he will make a statement. [97879]

  Mr. Spellar
  I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Royal Hospital Haslar
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many orthopaedic surgeons are in post at Royal Hospital Haslar; what is the waiting time for an appointment for(a) a local civilian and (b) a serving member of HM forces; and how many (i) service men and (ii) civilians are on (1) the waiting list and (2) the pending list. [97853]

  Mr. Spellar
  Royal Hospital Haslar has six orthopaedic surgeons in post, of whom four are service men and two are civilian locums.

  There is not a separate waiting list for civilian patients and for patients of HM forces. Equally, both may be seen by service or NHS consultants. Waiting times for first routine orthopaedic outpatient appointments are five weeks for the Fracture Clinic and seven to ten months for the General Clinic. The number of service personnel on the waiting list for their initial outpatient attendance is 271. The number on the pending list is 351. The number of civilians on the waiting list for their initial outpatient attendance is 143. The number on the pending list is 287. A system is in place, based on operational readiness state, that enables service personnel to receive their first outpatient appointment more quickly.

  Warminster Training Centre
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence

  (1) how many (a) servicemen and women and (b) civilians are (i) resident or (ii) visiting for work at the Warminster Training Centre; and how many physicians and other trained medical staff provide (1) 24-hour cover and (2) working day cover; [97856]

  (2) how many (a) physiotherapists and (b) osteopaths are (i) resident at or (ii) visitors to the Warminster Training Centre; and if he will make a statement about medical support at Warminster Training Centre. [97852]

  Mr. Spellar
  1,644 Servicemen and women and 944 civilians are employed at the Warminster Training Centre, none of whom is resident within the perimeter. In addition, up to 1,000 servicemen and women may be visiting, or on course at, the Training Centre at any time, some of whom may be accommodated in any of the two Officers' Messes, the Warrant Officers' Mess, the Sergeants' Mess or the Corporals' Mess.

  Medical support to Warminster Training Centre consists of a Primary Care Practice, which is a designated Army Training Practice and provides the following service:
  Working day and 24 hour medical cover by:—
  a Senior Medical Officer (Lt Col) and a Regimental Medical Officer (Captain);
  two civilian locums who between them provide nine nights per month cover and three sessions (1.5 days) in total each week.

  711
  A Community Psychiatric Nurse who visits for two sessions (one day) in total each week;
  a non-residential physiotherapist contracted for 11 hours each week who, with effect from 29 November, will be replaced by a full time military physiotherapist;
  six Regimental Medical Assistants and three Combat Medical Technicians of the 1st Battalion The Devon and Dorset Regiment; and
  a full time Health Visitor from Wiltshire Health Authority.

  There are no osteopaths employed at, or visiting, the Centre.

  In addition, a Dental Centre adjoins the Practice and consists of one civilian Practitioner, two civilian auxiliaries and one military Dental Nurse. All provide working day and 24 hour cover. Secondary medical care is provided by the Defence Secondary Care Agency and by the National Health Service Hospitals at Bath, Salisbury and Warminster.

  Departmental Research
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the titles of research studies, audits and surveys(a) being undertaken and (b) commissioned by his Department for completion within (i) 1999 and (ii) 2000, indicating in each case when the results are due to be published. [98015]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  IT Projects
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the information technology projects being undertaken by his Department and agencies responsible to his Department including the(a) start date, (b) planned completion date, (c) expected completion date, (d) planned cost and (e) estimated cost; and if he will make a statement. [98014]

  Mr. Spellar
  This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Departmental Reports
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the titles of official departmental reports being prepared for publication in(a) 1999 and (b) 2000, indicating in each case the planned date for publication. [98016]

  Mr. Spellar
  Under current plans, the following are the official departmental reports being prepared by the Ministry of Defence for publication in 1999 and 2000, and their planned dates for publication:The Defence White Paper 1999 (December 1999)
  Ministry of Defence Performance Report 1998–99 (December 1999)
  The Government's Expenditure Plans 2000–01 to 2001–02: Ministry of Defence (spring 2000)
  The Defence White Paper 2000 (during 2000)
  The Annual Report of Defence Activity 1999–2000 (July 2000)
  Ministry of Defence Performance Report 1999–2000 (autumn 2000)
  Ministry of Defence Departmental Investment Strategy 2001–02 to 2003–04 (autumn 2000).

  RAF Locking
  Mr. Cotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the efficiency savings made as a result of the closure of RAF Locking and the transfer of personnel to RAF Cosford. [98123]

  Mr. Spellar
  Efficiencies arising from the transfer of RAF training activities from RAF Locking to RAF Cosford are in the region of £6 million annually. These are derived largely from reduced manpower and operating costs.

  Mr. Cotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many(a) civilian and (b) military personnel were made redundant following the closure of RAF Locking. [98122]

  Mr. Spellar
  There have been 35 civilian redundancies as a result of the transfer of RAF training activities from RAF Locking to RAF Cosford. Alternative employment is being sought for a further four civilians. No military staff redundancies are involved.

  Cadets
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those schools in the United Kingdom which run(a) Army, (b) Royal Navy and (c) Royal Air Force cadet training centres, indicating which are comprehensive schools. [98189]

  Mr. Spellar
  I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Colchester Garrison
  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions his Department held with English Heritage in respect of proposed developments and disposals of buildings at Colchester Garrison. [98161]

  Mr. Spellar
  I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Departmental Waste
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to set targets for the recycling of waste(a) paper, (b) cardboard, (c) glass, (d) metal, (e) plastic and (f) other products created by his Department and its agencies; and if he will make a statement. [98221]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  MOD is implementing a corporate Environmental Management System (EMS) based on ISO 14001 principles which will develop policies and set objectives to reduce the environmental impact of the activities of the Department and its agencies. An integral part of the EMS will be a waste management system to measure baselines for waste streams to enable recycling targets to be set. The framework of the corporate EMS will be produced by March 2000, and the EMS will be implemented by March 2001. Current MOD guidance on recycling is detailed in JSP 418, a copy of which is available in the House of Commons Library.

  North Oxfordshire Consortium
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when Cherwell District Council will receive a reply to the letter sent to the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State earlier this year concerning the joint venture agreement between his Department and the North Oxfordshire Consortium. [98044]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  I have replied today.

  Departmental Vehicles
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the total number of vehicles used by his Department and its agencies fuelled by(a) petrol, (b) diesel and (c) liquid petroleum gas; and what plans he has to increase the rate of conversion of those vehicles to liquid petroleum gas. [98209]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  I will write to my hon. Friend and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Military Emergencies
  Mr. Coaker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what meetings he has had with health authority managers regarding the use of NHS personnel in a military emergency; and if he will make a statement. [98316]

  Mr. Spellar
  I recently met with my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health, Lord Hunt, and the Director of the NHS Executive South East Region. Our discussions covered a range of issues of common interest. Officials in my Department and at the Department of Health are working closely together on the implications for the NHS of deploying substantial numbers of medical Reservists on military operations and possible requirements for the NHS to treat significant numbers of casualties returned to the UK in the event of a major overseas conflict. Current Defence planning does not include the call up of civilians other than members of the Volunteer Reserves Forces or former Regular personnel with a Reserve liability.

  Territorial Army
  Mr. Coaker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the medical services of the Territorial Army. [98314]

  Mr. Spellar
  The Territorial Army (TA) medical services provide excellent medical care. The Strategic Defence Review (SDR) placed increased importance on the use of medical reserves and recommended an additional 2,000 personnel for the TA medical services. Currently, they have a manning shortfall of some 40 per cent. against the post-SDR requirement. Urgent measures are being taken to address this shortfall, including a major recruiting campaign which was launched on 23 September 1999.

  Mr. Coaker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to reorganise the career structure of the Territorial Army Medical Service. [98315]

  Mr. Spellar
  We have no plans to reorganize the career structure of the Army Medical Services Territorial Army (AMS TA) although its expansion, as a result of the 714
  Strategic Defence Review, will provide increased career opportunities. The Terms and Conditions of Service of the AMS TA are constantly monitored with a view to making appropriate and reasonable changes in support of recruitment and retention.

  Remembrance Day
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the involvement of the Gurkhas in the Remembrance Day commemorations. [98328]

  Mr. Spellar
  As in every year since 1920, the Armed Forces will take part in the annual cenotaph ceremony on Remembrance Day. Each Service will be represented by their Chiefs of Staff and troops currently on ceremonial duties. This year the Army presence will include one officer and two soldiers from the Gurkhas currently serving in this country.

  Kosovo
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Serbs, Roma, Bosniaks and other minorities have been abducted in Kosovo since the K-FOR occupation; and how many have been rescued. [96102]

  Mr. Vaz
  I have been asked to reply.

  I will write to my hon. Friend shortly.

  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many(a) churches and (b) other historic buildings have been destroyed since the K-FOR occupation of Kosovo. [96103]

  Mr. Vaz
  I have been asked to reply.

  We do not have confirmed figures of damage or destruction of churches and other historical buildings. Unconfirmed reports suggest that up to 40 may have been destroyed.

  K-FOR now, if possible, guard patrimonial sites around the clock. 285 soldiers are on permanent guard at 35 Serbian churches or patrimonial sites. We recognise the importance of these sites to the Serb community and hope that the steps taken by K-FOR, and the improving deployment of an international police service, will stop further damage.

  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many murders have been committed against each of the minorities in Kosovo since the K-FOR occupation; [96100]

  (2) how many Serbs, Roma, Bosniaks and other minorities have left Kosovo since the K-FOR occupation. [96099]

  Mr. Vaz
  I will write to my hon. Friend shortly.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence. pursuant to his oral answer of 8 November 1999,Official Report, column 679, concerning night patrols by the Irish Guards in Kosovo, when the hon. Member for Linlithgow will receive the letter promised. [98137]

  Mr. Hoon
  Following the announcement by my predecessor on 19 July 1999,Official Report, column 783, the Irish Guards battle group withdrew from Kosovo in

  715
  October. However, while they were in Kosovo, the Irish, Guards were not the only unit to undertake night patrols. Night patrolling is a routine operation for KFOR troops.

  Procurement
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 8 November 1999,Official Report, column 681, on heavy lift aircraft, if he has re-opened the competition for interim strategic lift capability which was terminated by the Minister for Defence Procurement on 4 August. [98330]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Bowman Project
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to complete his review of the in-service date of the Bowman project. [98046]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Strategic Airlift Programme
  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish in the Official Report the text of the letter from the Chief of Defence Procurement of 23 August to the hon. Member for Ruislip-Northwood about the short-term strategic airlift programme. [98389]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  The text of the letter follows. In addition, the hon. Member may wish to refer to the answer given on 8 November 1999,Official Report, column 404, by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence to my hon. Friend the Member for Leyton and Wanstead (Mr. Cohen) which elaborates on the answer given in the Chief of Defence Procurement's letter of 23 August.

  Letter from Sir Robert Walmsley to Mr. John Wilkinson, dated 23 August 1999:
  I am writing in response to your letter of 28 July to the Secretary of State for Defence about the Short Term Strategic Airlift programme. The matter falls to me for answer within my responsibility as the Chief of Defence Procurement and Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency.
  You will no doubt be aware of the announcement made by Minister of State for Defence Procurement, that following a review of the tenders the Department concluded that none of the bids offered an acceptable solution at an affordable price. I attach a copy of the press release.
  My team is now exploring with industry other options that may satisfy our urgent need for additional airlift in the short-term. We will be reviewing a range of possibilities, including more assured spot charter of Antonov 124.

  Gulf War Veterans
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what(a) studies and (b) tests he proposes to commission concerning the effects on Gulf War veterans of depleted uranium weapons and armour. [98354]

  Mr. Spellar
  I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Petroleum
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer of 16 February 1999,Official Report, column 664, concerning petrol prices and petrol taxation in member countries of the European Union, if he will update those figures. [98107]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The latest figures for unleaded petrol prices are for mid-September 1999. The information requested is as follows:

  Average price (pence per litre)

  Total

  Of which: taxes

  % of tax

  United Kingdom

  73.0

  58.1

  79.5

  Austria

  54.6

  35.8

  65.7

  Belgium

  60.3

  43.2

  71.7

  Denmark

  63.6

  45.5

  71.6

  Finland

  68.4

  48.5

  70.9

  France

  63.9

  49.0

  76.7

  Germany

  60.1

  42.7

  70.9

  Greece

  43.6

  26.3

  60.3

  Ireland

  50.5

  33.2

  65.8

  Italy

  64.3

  45.7

  71.1

  Luxembourg

  47.1

  29.1

  61.8

  Netherlands

  66.9

  47.9

  71.6

  Portugal

  51.9

  33.9

  65.4

  Spain

  47.6

  30.6

  64.2

  Sweden

  65.3

  46.2

  70.9

  Comparisons between these figures and those for December 1998, published in the answer of 16 February 1999, Official Report, column 664, are affected by exchange rate movements over the period.

  Mrs. Browning
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many complaints were received from petrol retailers by the Director General of Fair Trading in(a) 1998 and (b) the first six months of 1999 concerning their contracts with petroleum suppliers; and what action was taken in response to such complaints. [98178]

  Dr. Howells
  This is a matter for the Director General of Fair Trading.

  The Office of Fair Trading has advised that they received approximately 57 complaints from 40 retailers concerning their contracts with petroleum suppliers in 1998, and approximately 15 complaints from 11 retailers in the first six months of 1999. No formal action was taken as a result of the complaints, as the Office of Fair Trading did not consider that any of the complaints raised competition issues.

  Mrs. Browning
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the terms of reference are for the Director General of Fair Trading's review of petrol undertakings; when the review will be completed; and if he will make a statement. [98233]

  Dr. Howells
  The Director General of Fair Trading has a duty under section 2 of the Fair Trading Act 1973 to keep under review the carrying on of commercial activities in the United Kingdom.

  Pursuant to these duties, he is reviewing the informal undertakings given in 1966 by petrol wholesalers to establish whether there is a case for removing, altering or retaining the remaining undertakings.
  717
  The timing of this review is a matter for the Director General of Fair Trading.

  Mrs. Browning
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what guidance he has given to the oil industry concerning the disposal of any stocks of leaded petrol that may remain on 31 December. [98177]

  Mr. Hill
  I have been asked to reply.

  No specific guidance has been given, as the disposal of leaded petrol stocks by 31 December 1999 is a matter for oil companies to manage under existing controls. Stocks have, however, already been depleted substantially by the changeover to lead replacement petrol (LRP), encouraged by the lower duty rate of LRP relative to leaded petrol that came into effect from 1 October 1999. An ongoing amount of leaded petrol, up to a limit of 0.5 per cent. of total annual petrol sales, may also to be sold after 31 December 1999 under the terms of directive 98/70/EC. Regulations specifying the conditions under which this derogation will apply—and which implement the directive requirements generally—will be laid very shortly.

  Mrs. Browning
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what reports he has received in 1999 of smuggled petroleum products being offered to petrol filling stations. [98179]

  Mr. Byers
  My Officials have received representations from a number of oil companies and trade associations in 1999 concerning the smuggling of petroleum products into Northern Ireland. Information given as a result of these representations has been passed to the Northern Ireland Office and Her Majesty's Customs and Excise.

  Mrs. Browning
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many petrol filling stations in the UK closed in(a) 1998 and (b) the first six months of 1999. [98180]

  Mr. Byers
  In 1998, 1,066 petrol filling stations closed in the UK. Figures for the first six months of 1999, are not yet available.

  Internal Market Council
  Mrs. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the outcome of the Internal Market Council held in Luxembourg on 28 October. [98398]

  Mrs. Liddell
  I represented the UK at the Internal Market Council in Luxembourg on 28 October.

  The Council held an open debate on the integration of sustainable development and the single market and approved a report to be presented to the Helsinki Council in December. It adopted a resolution on standardisation, laying down a set of principles for future work on standards, and on mutual recognition, setting out the direction of future work to make mutual recognition of rules, qualifications and standards more effective. The Council reached a Common Position by qualified majority on the chocolate directive, with Belgium and the Netherlands voting against and Luxembourg abstaining. There was no decision on the proposed Directive on Artists' Resale Rights, with a blocking minority of the UK, Austria, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Denmark opposed to the proposal. The Presidency, in response to calls from other member states, will continue its efforts to find a compromise solution.
  718
  Over lunch, the Council discussed the Commission's consultative communication on a New Strategy for the Single Market which sets out four strategic objectives. There was general support for the draft strategy and agreement that it should be closely linked to the Cardiff economic reform process. There was also a brief discussion of Council rationalisation, with some member states expressing particular interest in combining the Internal Market and Industry Councils.

  The Presidency reported that with regard to the Takeovers Directive the UK and Spain were continuing their discussions of the issue of communications between Gibraltar competent authorities and counterparts in other member states, and it hoped that agreement could be reached by the December IMC.

  The Commission reported briefly on SLIM (Simpler Legislation in the Internal Market), the Business Test Panel and BEST (Business Environment Simplification Taskforce) and said that it would present its evaluation of SLIM at the 7 December IMC. The UK introduced a joint paper which we had agreed with the Netherlands, Denmark, and Austria on resolving weaknesses in the SLIM system.

  The Council took note of a Green Paper launching a review of the Product Liability Directive and a progress report on negotiations on the directives on preserved milk and sugar.

  Departmental Property Leases
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if his Department will publish statistical information indicating the percentage reduction negotiated by his departmental officials for commercial property as against the original rent demanded by landlords. [98309]

  Mr. Byers
  While my Department has had success in achieving reductions to landlords' original demands, publishing such detail would prejudice the future negotiating position both of my Department and other public bodies.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what arrangements exist to ensure that representatives of his Department, when negotiating leases on commercial property for use by his Department secure the best possible terms. [98306]

  Mr. Byers
  Since April 1996 when my Department assumed direct responsibility for the management of its estate, we have always used professional property and legal advisers to ensure we secure best value leases that meet the Department's operating needs.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will investigate occasions when his Department has failed to negotiate lower rents for commercial property where lower rents are available for similar property used by quangos and private sector operators. [98310]

  Mr. Byers
  Yes, if such occasions are drawn to my attention.
  719
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will investigate the effect of increases in commercial rents paid by his Department on similar properties the tenants of which are quangos or private sector organisations. [98308]

  Mr. Byers
  When conducting rent reviews on our properties, my Department consults the Property Advisers to the Civil Estate (PACE) with the aim of ensuring that our negotiations will not have an adverse effect on other Government Departments and public bodies.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what monitoring arrangements exist to ensure that rents paid by his Department for office accommodation in the regions are comparable to those paid by the private sector and quangos. [98307]

  Mr. Byers
  Since April 1996 when my Department assumed direct responsibility for the management of its estate throughout the United Kingdom, my Department has always taken advice from the Property Advisers to the Civil Estate (PACE) and its own commercial property advisers on rent reviews and new lets to ensure that our costs reflect local market conditions.

  Departmental Waste
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to set targets for the recycling of waste(a) paper, (b) cardboard, (c) glass,

  (d) metal, (e) plastic and (f) other products created by his Department and its agencies; and if he will make a statement. [98230]

  Mr. Byers
  My Department and its agencies already have targets in the majority of offices for recycling paper, cardboard and toner cartridges.

  We continue to explore other potential areas for recycling.

  World Trade Organisation
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many members of his Department are deployed in the United Kingdom's mission to the WTO in Geneva; and what are (i) the personnel costs and (ii) the office costs of maintaining them. [98235]

  Mr. Byers
  The information is not available in the form requested.

  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with developing countries about the forthcoming WTO Seattle Round. [98236]

  Mr. Byers
  DTI Ministers and officials frequently meet representatives of developing countries and set out the UK's support for the launch at Seattle of a comprehensive new Round of trade negotiations, including a clear development agenda responding to the needs of developing countries, particularly the least developed. This week the Minister for Trade is speaking about the new Round to a business and government audience at the Commonwealth Business Forum in Johannesburg.
  720
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many people will be in the UK's official delegation to the forthcoming Seattle Ministerial Meeting of the WTO; how many of those will be(a) Government officials, (b) Ministers and (c) others; and what the estimated cost is of the UK's participation in the meeting. [98238]

  Mr. Byers
  The exact composition of the UK Delegation has yet to be determined. I will write to my hon. Friend with the answer shortly.

  Departmental Vehicles
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the total number of vehicles used by his Department and its agencies fuelled by(a) petrol, (b) diesel and (c) liquid petroleum gas; and what plans he has to increase the rate of conversion of those vehicles to liquid petroleum gas. [98202]

  Mr. Byers
  The total number of vehicles used my Department and its Agencies fuelled by petrol, diesel and liquid petroleum gas are 86, 134 and 0 (zero) respectively. As liquid petroleum gas becomes more generally available, my Department and its Agencies will consider their positions on the utilisation of liquid petroleum gas as a fuel.

  Inward Investment
  Mr. Dobbin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much inward investment has taken place in the(a) Middleton and (b) Heywood areas since 1 May 1997. [98254]

  Mr. Byers
  According to the records of the North West Development Agency there have been 5 overseas companies that have invested in the areas since 1 May 1997 as follows:Rika International of Japan—located in Chadderton
  Voith Sulzer Paper Technology of Germany—located in Middleton
  P & M Vacuum Services Ltd of the USA—located in Heywood
  Digital Projection International of Canada—located in Rochdale.

  There is one further USA company located in Middleton which has requested anonymity.

  Caroline Flint
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what has been the volume of inward investment in the Doncaster area for each of the last five years; and how many companies have made such investments. [98028]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 10 November 1999]: The figures in the table are taken from information given by companies to the Government Office for Yorkshire and the Humber or the Regional Development Agency at the time of the announcement of a decision to invest in the UK. They are based on the best estimate of jobs created/safeguarded by an investment in its initial three years. There is no requirement on companies to notify their decision to invest and therefore these figures are not comprehensive nor do they take account of subsequent developments.
  721

  Doncaster Travel to work area

  Year

  Number of project

  Number of new jobs

  Number of safeguarded jobs

  1994–95

  6

  86

  158

  1995–96

  5

  102

  730

  1996–97

  1

  120

  -

  1997–98

  4

  50

  260

  1998–99

  3

  8

  922

  Departmental Expenditure Limits
  Mr. Fallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer of 5 November 1999,Official Report, columns 336–37, for what reasons £8 million is being transferred from the Reserve to the Post Office for Horizon re-negotiation costs; and what the reason is for the re-negotiation. [98136]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  The payment of £8 million reimbursed the Post Office for additional costs incurred in the negotiations with ICL earlier this year. This was to cover the ongoing costs of the contractor while further work on the merits of the various options was carried out.

  EU Structural Funds
  Caroline Flint
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the amounts of money received under European Union programmes(a) within the Doncaster Borough and (b) within Dearne Valley for each year since 1979 to the most recent available date. [98025]

  Mr. Byers
  It is not possible to provide information on European Regional Development Fund projects approved before 1990 as this information is not available at District level.

  The table shows the ERDF approved each year in Doncaster, Dearne Valley and the South Yorkshire sub-region.

  Year

  Doncaster

  Dearne Valley

  Sub Regional

  1990

  0

  0

  0

  1991

  10,397,521

  1,062,191

  0

  1992

  2,344,488

  2,957,824

  1,270,389

  1993

  10,433,021

  8,539,721

  493,457

  1995

  5,615,664

  3,868,484

  710,821

  1996

  5,895,210

  10,442,316

  3,628,936

  1997

  17,500

  815,614

  723,999

  1998

  1,118,982

  4,105,532

  11,987,140

  1999

  3,544,027

  5,159,080

  5,477,372

  Total

  39,366,413

  36,950,762

  24,292,114

  The Objective 2 Programme for ERDF funding was not signed until February 1994 and consequently there was no spend in that year.

  It is not possible to provide information on European Social Fund projects from 1990–97 as this information is not available at district level. Records prior to 1989 are held at the EC in Brussels.

  European Social Fund (ESF) figures are as follows for 1998–99:

  The Doncaster area received £11.42 million in ESF grants.

  Dearne Valley received £8.856 million in ESF grants.

  National Minimum Wage
  Caroline Flint
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many calls have been received by the Minimum Wage Hotline(a) nationally and (b) from the Yorkshire and the Humberside Region since it was opened. [98024]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  [holding answer 10 November 1999]: Since the introduction of the national minimum wage on 1 April 1999, the National Minimum Wage Helpline has dealt with some 90,000 calls. There are no figures for individual regions, as most enquiries are dealt with over the telephone without the need to take such details.

  Caroline Flint
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many employers have been found to be in contravention of national minimum wage legislation since its inception. [98037]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  [holding answer 10 November 1999]: Since the introduction of the national minimum wage on 1 April 1999, National Minimum Wage Compliance Officers have received some 3,200 complaints concerning workers being paid less than the minimum wage. Following investigations, officers found that, in around 50 per cent. of the cases, employers were not complying with the legislation. Action is taken in every case where underpayment is detected.

  Consultants
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much his Department spent on external consultants arid advisers in each of the last four financial years. [97420]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 10 November 1999]: The value of contracts let centrally to external consultants and advisers for 1997–98 was £0.94 million and for 1998–99 was £0.64 million.

  For information on contracts let centrally in 1995–96 and 1996–97, I refer to the answer given to the hon. Member for Gordon (Mr. Bruce) on 19 February 1998, Official Report, column 816.

  The above information does not include contracts let by the Department's Executive Agencies, and I have asked the respective Chief Executives to reply separately to this question.

  Letter from Julian Thompson to Mr. Don Foster, dated 11 November 1999:
  I am replying to your Parliamentary question tabled 3 November 1999 regarding expenditure on external consultants and advisors in each of the last four financial years.
  Patent Office expenditure is:

  Financial year

  Expenditure £

  1995–96

  138,000

  1996–97

  124,000

  1997–98

  39,000

  1998–99

  8,000

  723
  Letter from Desmond Flynn to Mr. Don Foster, dated 11 November 1999:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about external consultants by The Insolvency Service.
  The Insolvency Service Executive Agency of the Department of Trade and Industry has spent the following amounts on external consultants and advisors in the last four financial years:

  Year

  £000

  1995–96

  502

  1996–97

  12

  1997–98

  Nil

  1998–99

  5

  Letter from T. L. Lonsdale to Mr. Don Foster, dated 11 November 1999:
  I have been asked to reply to your recently tabled Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on external consultants and advisors. The information you require for Companies House is as follows:

  Expenditure on external consultants/advisors

  Year

  £000

  1995–96

  130

  1996–97

  1,000

  1997–98

  1,300

  1998–99

  2,600

  The major component in more recent years has been for IT contractors, substantially to secure Millennium readiness for IT systems.

  Letter from David Hendon to Mr. Don Foster, dated 11 November 1999:
  The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has asked me to reply on behalf of the Radiocommunications Agency to your Parliamentary Question about expenditure on external consultants and advisers.
  Agency expenditure (ex-VAT) in each of the last four Financial years is as follows

  Financial year

  £

  1995–96

  256,000

  1996–97

  761,768

  1997–98

  2,478,987

  1998–99

  2,602,017

  Letter from Dr. Seton Bennett to Mr. Don Foster, dated 11 November 1999:
  The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has asked me to reply on behalf of the National Weights and Measures Laboratory to your question about the amount spent on external consultants and advisors in each of the last four financial years.
  The spend on consultants and advisors in each of the last four financial years is as follows:

  Year

  Spend £

  1998–99

  3,800.00

  1997–98

  0.00

  1996–97

  0.00

  1995–96

  68,862.87

  724
  Letter from Ian Jones to Mr. Don Foster, dated 11 November 1999:
  You tabled a Parliamentary Question on 3 November to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry about expenditure on external consultants and advisors in each of the last four financial years. I have been asked to reply in respect of the Employment Tribunals Service (ETS) which is an executive agency of the DTI.
  The Service spent £3k on consultants in 1997–98 and £117k in 1998–99. Expenditure in years before 1997–98, when the Service was established as an agency, will be included in the figures given by the DTI. The increase in expenditure last year was largely a result of our use of IT consultants in developing a longer term IT strategy for the Service.

  Greenhouse Gas Emissions
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what penalties will be applied to the United Kingdom if it fails to meet the legally binding Kyoto greenhouse gas emission targets; and if he will make a statement. [97626]

  Mr. Meacher
  I have been asked to reply.

  My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister and I have recently returned from the Fifth Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The issue of the development of a compliance system for the Kyoto Protocol was one of the key points of discussion at that meeting.

  The UK, along with other EU member states, believes that there should be a strong, robust and comprehensive system of compliance for ensuring Parties meet their emissions reductions targets and other commitments undertaken under the Kyoto Protocol. The detailed design of the compliance system for the Protocol, including a full range of actions for failure to meet the Kyoto targets, is still being discussed.

  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the likely effect on carbon dioxide emissions of the conversion of oil to gas; and if he will make a statement. [97627]

  Mrs. Liddell
  No such assessment has been made. Compared with the combustion of oil, the combustion of natural gas to meet a particular energy demand usually produces lower emissions of carbon dioxide, due to its lower carbon content.

  Working Time Regulations
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to revise the Working Time Regulations. [97817]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  Draft regulations to amend the Working Time Regulations, in respect of the requirement to keep records for workers who have opted out of the working time limit and extending the scope of the unmeasured working time exemption, were laid before Parliament on 19 October. They have now been debated in both Houses and will be made shortly.

  There is no proposal to revise any other part of the Working Time Regulations at this time.

  Trade Barriers (Wood Products)
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the impact
  725
  on the world's forests of steps to reduce and eliminate tariff and non-tariff barriers to the trade in wood products. [98072]

  Mr. Byers
  With UK support, the European Commission is currently undertaking a Sustainability Impact Assessment of the new Round of trade negotiations within the WTO which are due to be launched at the third Ministerial meeting in Seattle (30 November to 3 December). This study will consider the range of possible sustainability impacts in trade sectors likely to be affected by the Round, including forest products, and will be used to help inform the UK and EU position on this issue.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received on the impact on the world's forests of steps to reduce and eliminate tariff and non-tariff barriers to the trade in wood products. [98073]

  Mr. Byers
  The Department has issued a consultation document on UK priorities for tariff reductions in the new Round of multilateral trade negotiations. Replies have been received from a number of interested parties including those concerned with forest preservation and those representing trade in forestry products.

  Parental Leave
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what advice he received from the European Commission when he discussed with it excluding parents of children under five years old but born before 15 December 1999 from the new rights to parental leave; and what legal advice he obtained on the subject. [98241]

  Mr. Byers
  The Government's discussions with the European Commission cover a wide range of issues. In discussing the extension of the Parental Leave Directive to the UK, we agreed to implement it by 15 December this year, which we are doing through the Maternity and Parental Leave Regulations, in line with our legal advice.

  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he has discussed excluding parents of children aged under five years but born before 15 December 1999 from the new right to parental leave with the European Commission. [98096]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  The Parental Leave Directive is based on a Social Chapter agreement which was concluded by the Social Partners. The Directive was adopted by the other member states in June 1996, before the UK opted in to the Social Chapter. The UK Government were not therefore able to influence the discussions and negotiations which led to the conclusion of this Directive. As incoming Government in 1997, we undertook to implement the Directive by 15 December 1999.

  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he took legal advice about excluding parents of children aged under five years but born before 15 December 1999 from the new right to parental leave; and what advice he was given. [98090]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  The Government are implementing the Parental Leave Directive in accordance with legal advice. The Directive is required to be implemented by 15 December this year.

  Consumer Affairs Council
  Mr. Jim Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the outcome was of the Consumer Affairs Council held in Brussels on 8 November; and if he will make a statement. [98157]

  Dr. Howells
  The Council debated the proposed Directive on the Distance Marketing of Financial Services. It was agreed that further work would be needed in order to prepare for a common position. The Council also held an open debate on Services of General Interest. The Commission agreed to look at all the options expressed during the debate. Portugal undertook to take this work forward as a priority under their forthcoming Presidency.

  Other matters covered included reports from the Commission on the implementation and enforcement of both the Timeshare and Package Travel Directives, information from the Presidency on the outcome of the Tampere Special European Council on Citizens access to justice and on the recently held European Food 2000 seminar.

  Miners
  Mr. Alasdair Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the total amount which has been paid in compensation to ex-miners in Scotland with chronic bronchitis and emphysema; and how much of this is made up of interim payments. [98341]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The Department has made payments totalling some £2.6 million to ex-miners in Scotland, of which some £2.4 million is made up of interim payments to those ex-miners and their widows who are in receipt of Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit for Chronic Bronchitis and Emphysema.

  Mr. Alasdair Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many ex-miners in Scotland have completed spirometry tests; and of those how many are currently in receipt of industrial injuries benefits. [98342]

  Mrs. Liddell
  A total of 2,240 ex-miners have completed Spirometry tests at one of the four centres established in Scotland, with a further 1,200 invited to attend. The Department does not hold any figures for the number of claimants in receipt of industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit.

  Mr. Alasdair Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many claims he has received from ex-miners in Scotland for compensation related to chronic bronchitis and emphysema. [98340]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The Department's claim handlers have received some 6,900 claims from ex-miners in Scotland.

  Anglia TV Shares
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the cost was of his Department's investigations into the alleged insider dealing by Lord Archer of Weston-super-Mare in respect of Anglia TV shares. [97209]
  727
  Dr. Howells
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to him by the then Minister for Competition and Consumer Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for Edinburgh, South (Mr. Griffiths), on 29 June 1998,Official Report, column 50.

  Multinationals
  Mr. Ian Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures the Government propose to take to enhance the competitive environment in the UK for divisions of multinational companies to stimulate them to continue to make major investments in the UK, with particular reference to those operating in the ice-cream industry. [97752]

  Dr. Howells
  This Government aim to ensure that the UK is an economy where both indigenous and overseas-owned companies can thrive and compete effectively in world markets. This can only be achieved by maintaining macro-economic stability, and fair and open markets which promote competition. In addition, as detailed in our Competitiveness White Paper launched in December last year, we are actively pursuing a wide range of measures designed to promote the UK as a leading knowledge driven economy.

  The UK's strong position as an environment for business continues to be demonstrated by our record levels of inward investment success. We are the market leader for inward investment in Europe, with over 30 per cent. of the total, and second only to the US in terms of inward investment stock.

  Telecommunications Masts
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proposals he has to fund research in respect of the possible long-term effects of prolonged exposure to extremely low-intensity radiation from telecommunication masts; and if he will make a statement. [98103]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Government will be responding to all the recommendations and conclusions of the Science and Technology Committee Report, including those on research.

  Vibration White Finger
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will establish a vibration white finger test centre in North Staffordshire; and if he will make a statement. [97800]

  Mrs. Liddell
  There are currently seven centres in operation, including a centre in Barnsley which opened this week, and we expect a total of twelve centres to be up and running during January 2000. The locations for this initial tranche of centres were determined by balancing the geographic distribution of claimants against the availability of the medical resource needed to undertake the testing. We are assessing the options for opening further centres early next year. I recognise the very strong claims for a centre to serve the North Staffordshire miners, and would certainly hope that we will be able to open a centre in the North Staffordshire area early next year.

  E-commerce
  Mr. Austin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent assessment he has made of the impact of telecommunication costs on the development of e-commerce; and if he will make a statement. [98394]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Cabinet Office's report e-commerce@its.best.co.uk (http://www.cabinet-office. gov.uk/innovations) provides a useful analysis of the issue of access costs. It confirms that the structure and level of tariffs affects on-line behaviour and that some UK tariffs are disadvantageous, but concludes that action is being taken. It recommends that telecoms operators be encouraged to offer a wider range of tariff options.

  The Government are committed to ensuring the wide availability of fast and affordable Internet access and believe that competition is the best way to deliver this. The Government want to see operators responding to competitive pressures by offering a broader range of Internet tariff options to allow heavy e-commerce users and light users to choose the optimum package for their usage profile.

  Telecommunications
  Mr. Austin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what reports he has received of variations in the costs of maintaining and operating the telecommunication infrastructure in different parts of the United Kingdom; and what assessment he has made of the economic impact of such variations. [98395]

  Ms Hewitt
  OFTEL, the UK's independent telecommunications regulator, carried out a thorough study of the cost of providing a universal telecommunications service throughout the United Kingdom in 1997. This included consideration of the costs of serving areas of the country which would be uneconomic on a normal commercial basis. OFTEL issued a further consultation on universal service in July this year which considered whether the conclusions of the 1997 study were still valid. The consultation period on this document closed on 29 October. OFFEL intend to publish their conclusions early next year.

  Mr. Austin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what(a) advice and (b) guidance he has issued to the regulator regarding telecommunication charges; and if he will make a statement. [98396]

  Ms Hewitt
  Telecommunication charges are crucial to the development of e-commerce in the UK. I discussed this issue when I met with the Director General of Telecommunications on 28 October. However, OFTEL is an independent regulator and it would not be appropriate for me to give him guidance on such issues.

  Mr. Austin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the relationship between the cost of high speed telecommunication and data links and the location of disaster recovery centres; and if he will make a statement. [98397]

  Ms Hewitt
  I will write to my hon. Friend shortly and place a copy in the Libraries of the House.

  Ellington Colliery
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what forms of assistance his Department proposes to make available to deal with the planned closure of Ellington Colliery. [98386]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The Government have asked John Bridge, Chairman of the North East Regional Development Agency, to take the lead in establishing a small Study Team to look at the wider implications of the closure announcement for South East Northumberland.

  Working against the framework of the Regional Economic Strategy, which was recently published by the development agency, this team will undertake a rapid analysis of the situation and develop a comprehensive plan for South East Northumberland.

  Together with Local Partners, Government Office North East and Central Government, the team's objective will be to provide me with an urgent report before Christmas on the future strategy for this area.

  This Government have implemented a wide ranging programme to regenerate the economies and communities affected by pit closures under the previous administration. That programme already applies to the area around Ellington, which suffered from previous job losses in the coalfields. In the light of the Study Team's report, we will consider what more needs to be done.

  Industry Council
  Mr. Jim Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the outcome of the Industry Council held in Brussels on 9 November; and if he will make a statement. [98300]

  Mrs. Liddell
  I represented the UK at the EU Industry Council held on 9 November.

  The Council agreed its report to the Helsinki European Council on the integration of industry and sustainable development policy. There was also a discussion of Kyoto targets, where there was general agreement that more effective co-ordination was needed on how to take account of industry's concerns in the implementation of Kyoto targets.

  The Council had a debate on competitiveness, which focused on the need for structural change and adaptability in European industry, the importance of SMEs and the role of information and communication technologies in growth and competitiveness.

  The Commission presented its first market monitoring report on the world shipbuilding market which highlighted both the serious situation in the market and further clear evidence of unfair pricing by Korea. The Council with strong support from the UK emphasised its serious concern at the situation and unfair pricing from Korea and in its conclusions made clear its determination to tackle such unfair trade practices and agreed further action to this end. The Council called on the Commission and the Presidency to re-engage Korea in bilateral consultations with a view to halting the unfair competition and in parallel urged Industry, member states and the Commission to seek more detailed evidence in order to take appropriate action under the WTO. The Council also emphasised the need to continue to ensure that the
  730
  conditions of the IMF rescue package were fully respected. The Council ended its conclusions by welcoming the Commission's determination to continue to pursue its obligations under the EU shipbuilding regime and to report on developments as soon as possible.

  The new Commission's enterprise policy was set out and focused on promoting entrepreneurship and innovation in Europe, stimulating the growth of SMEs, tackling red tape, addressing failures in the provision of risk capital and promoting an inclusive and cohesive Information Society. The Commission stated that it wanted to see a new innovation policy process which would involve assessing the existing situation in Europe, identifying specific priorities and actions and reporting on measures taken by member states.

  A number of delegations stressed the importance of investment in intangibles, particularly the knowledge base, training and life-long learning; the increased use of information technology; and the consolidation of Councils. On the latter, there was support from a number of member states for a more focused approach to competitiveness issues and for merger of the Industry Internal Market Councils as a first step. The Presidency was encouraged to settle issues at the Helsinki European Council.

  The Commission also presented its: Communication on the competitiveness of the forest based and related industries; Communication on the competitiveness of the steel industry; Report on the monitoring of aid for steel; Action Plan on the competitiveness of the construction industry; and gave a progress report on the public consultation on it's competition policy modernisation proposals. The Danish delegation introduced a paper on state aid policy which highlighted the damage state aid caused to the Single Market.

  The Council also adopted conclusions on the competitiveness of the forest-based and related industries.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Loyalist Hit List
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) on what date the RUC received information that led to a south Belfast woman being told on 15 May that her name had been discovered on a Loyalist hit list; how many other names were on this list; how many of these individuals have been notified; on what dates the individuals were notified; what conclusions have been reached so far as to the perpetrators of this threat; and what is the present stage of the police investigation; [94482]

  (2) on what date the RUC received information that names and personal details of a number of Catholics in the Belfast area had been discovered on a Loyalist hit list; how many other names were on this list; how many of these individuals have been notified; on what dates the individuals were notified; what conclusions have been reached so far as to the perpetrators of this threat; and what is the present stage of the police investigation; [94480]

  (3) on what date the RUC received information that led to Mr. Gerard Rice being told on 17 May that his name, address and details about his car had been

  731
  discovered on a loyalist death list; how many other names were on this list; how many of those individuals have been notified; on what dates the individuals were notified; what conclusions have been reached so far as on perpetrators of the threat; and what is the present stage of the police investigation; [94484]

  (4) what steps the RUC took following information passed on to a community worker in the Ardoyne area on 6 May that her name had been discovered on a Loyalist death list; how many other names were on this list; how many of these individuals have been notified; what conclusions have been reached so far as to the perpetrators of this threat; and what is the present stage of the police investigation. [94475]

  Mr. Ingram
  As a person has been charged with possession of documents useful to terrorists I am unable to give a detailed response. However, I can confirm that the RUC seized material in February including personal details of more than 150 persons.

  There was no indication that an attack was imminent or actively being planned; it was assessed that the details were being collated. The list was then fully researched for accuracy and currency. If at any stage there had been any reason to fear imminent attacks, immediate steps would have been taken. The research having been completed, all persons were notified between May and August.

  I understand the RUC informed a community worker in the Ardoyne area of Belfast on 14 May, not 6 May.

  Caffrey's Bar
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many (i) service and (ii) police personnel were on duty and patrolling the Falls road, Belfast in the vicinity of Caffrey's bar(a) from 10 am to 11 pm on 20 May, (b) on 20 April and (c) on 20 March; and what was the time of the last patrol before midnight on 20 May; [94629]

  (2) what steps the RUC took following a grenade attack outside of Caffrey's pub in the early morning of 21 May; what damage and injuries were caused in the course of this attack; what conclusions have been reached so far as to the perpetrator of the attack and what is the present stage of the police investigation; [94488]

  (3) how many surveillance cameras cover (a) the Falls road, Belfast in the vicinity of Caffrey's bar and (b) the Broadway road and M1 roundabout; if the cameras were functional from 10 pm on 20 May to 2 am on 21 May; if the cameras were monitored through those hours; what action was taken following the grenade-bomb attack on Caffrey's bar; at what time was radio contact made with the RUC concerning the incident; and when a request was received from the RUC to remove and examine the surveillance recording; [94628]

  (4) (a) at what time police were notified of a grenade-bomb attack on Caffrey's bar on the Falls road, Belfast in the early hours of 21 May, (b) at what time the police arrived on the scene and (c) what efforts were made to pursue, find and trace the owner of the get-away car. [94630]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 19 October 1999]: The Army were not on patrol during the periods given. It is not possible to be specific as to when a particular patrol
  732
  may have been in the vicinity of a particular building. As an arterial route, the Falls road is used by many police vehicles during the course of a normal day.

  The scene was preserved by police between 0105 and 0418 hours. A full investigation was initiated. Two persons received minor shrapnel wounds to legs and arms and further injuries of shock and hearing difficulties were reported later. Damage was caused to three windows of Caffrey's bar and one to the Red Devil bar on the opposite side of the road. It is believed that the attack was carried out by a Loyalist group although no claim of responsibility has been made. The investigation is continuing.

  I understand the RUC operate no cameras in the area. However, as part of their investigation they viewed video tapes from the military observation post at Broadway Tower. They proved not to be useful.

  The police were notified at 0035 hours on 21 May but were unable to gain access because of a large and hostile crowd. Police gained access at 0105 hours. The getaway vehicle was initially reported as a white car, later as a particular make with a registration number. Nearby loyalist areas were checked with negative results. The vehicle was recovered a number of days later in the York road area of Belfast. It had been purchased with cash from a car dealer in Bangor some two days before the incident by persons using false names.

  Car Theft
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland at what time on 17 May 1974 the police first received and logged the reported theft or hijacking in Belfast of(a) an Austin 1800, registration number HOI 2487, (b) a Hillman Avenger, registration number DIA 4063, (c) a Ford Escort, registration number 1385 WZ, and, in Portadown, (d) a Hillman Minx registration number 6583 OZ. [93527]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 19 October 1999]: Given the passage of time, many documents from this period have not been retained. The RUC have however traced a composite paper prepared for the general information of senior officers at the time. This is a summary of the day and does not contain all the information requested but records the following:
  An Austin 1800, registration number HOI 2487 was hi-jacked at Richmond Street, Belfast at 0830 hours on Friday 17 May 1974. It was reported to police at 1520 hours.
  A Hillman Avenger, registration number DOI 4063 was stolen from Torrens Road, Belfast at 1000 hours. It was reported to police at 1630 hours.

  Information on the two remaining cars cannot for the present be traced.

  Explosive Device (Garvaghy Road)
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps the RUC took following reports of an explosive device being thrown from a car travelling in the Garvaghy road area of Portadown on 16 May; what conclusions have been reached so far as to the perpetrators of the attack; and at what stage is the police investigation. [94483]
  733
  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 19 October 1999]: Police investigated this incident which was reported at 2333 hours by a person whose given name and address do not exist. The area was checked at 2339 hours with no sign of damage. At 0019 hours a mobile support unit extensively checked the area without result. At 0145 hours they again checked the area and spoke with a person who, while allegedly knowing the names of witnesses, refused to give details other than that a device had been thrown from a red Peugeot car. A further search was undertaken at first light but found nothing to support the allegation. A local resident suggested that the noise had come from the park itself and may have been a firework. In the absence of any witnesses, injury, damage, physical or forensic evidence the conclusion reached was that the explosion may have been a firework. Further investigation is therefore held pending additional information being received.

  Violent Incidents
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps the RUC took following (1) the petrol bomb attack on the home of a family in Armagh on 9 May; what damage was caused in the course of this attack; what conclusions have been reached so far as to the perpetrators of this attack; what other attacks took place in that area at the time; and what is the present stage of the police investigation; [94478]

  (2) the attack on a man and two women in the village area of Belfast on 2 May; what injuries were sustained in the course of this attack; what conclusions have been reached so far as to the perpetrators of the attack; and what is the present stage of the investigation; [94470]

  (3) the pipe bomb attack on the home of a couple living in south Belfast on 5 May; what injuries were sustained in the course of this attack; what conclusions have been reached so far as to the perpetrators of this attack; and what is the present stage of the investigation; [94474]

  (4) the attack on two people near the corner of Landsdowne and Antrim road on 4 May; what injuries were sustained in the course of this attack; what conclusions have been reached so far as to the perpetrators of this attack; and what is the present stage of the investigation; [94472]

  (5) the attack on a 29-year old man in Lurgan on 7 May; what injuries were sustained in the course of this attack; what conclusions have been reached so far as to the perpetrators of this attack; and what is the present stage of the police investigation; [94476]

  (6) a petrol bomb attack on a house in Derry on 31 May; what damage and injuries were caused in the course of this attack; what conclusions have been reached so far as to the perpetrators of the attack; and what is the present stage of the police investigation; [94492]

  (7) the attack on a man near a building site in Carrickfergus on 13 May; what injuries were caused in the course of this attack; what conclusions have been reached so far as to the perpetrators of this attack; and what is the present stage of the police investigation; [94479]

  (8) the stone-throwing attack in My Lady's road in Belfast on 19 May against a bus carrying students from St. Joseph's College; what injuries were caused in the
  734
  course of this attack; what conclusions have been reached so far as to the perpetrators of the attack; what other attacks took place in that area at that time; and what is the present stage of the police investigation; [94487]

  (9) the attack on a man near the Mourneview estate in Lurgan on 2 May; what injuries were sustained in the course of this attack; what conclusions have been reached so far as to the perpetrators of this attack; and what is the present stage of the investigation; [94471]

  (10) the pipe bomb attack on a home in Armagh on 28 May; what damage and injuries were caused in the course of this attack; what conclusions have been reached so far as to the perpetrators of the attack; what previous attacks on this family and their home have been recorded; and what is the present stage of police investigations; [94491]

  (11) the arson attack on the Orange hall in Donaghmore, County Tyrone on 15 May; what damage was caused in the course of this attack; what conclusions have been reached so far as to the perpetrators of the attack; what other attacks took place in that area at that time; and what is the present stage of the police investigation; [94481]

  (12) the shooting attack on the vehicle of a youth worker in the Shankill area of Belfast on 21 May; what damage and injuries were caused in the course of this attack; what conclusions have been reached so far as to the perpetrator of the attack; and what is the present stage of the police investigation; [94489]

  (13) the attack on two 12-year-old boys in the Ardoyne area on 5 May; what injuries were sustained in the course of the attack; what conclusions have been reached so far as to the perpetrators of the attack; and at what stage is the investigation; [94473]

  (14) the arson attack on a home on the Antiville estate, East Antrim on 18 May; what damage and injuries were caused in the course of this attack; what conclusions have been reached so far as to the perpetrators of the attack; what other attacks took place in that area at that time; and what is the present stage of the police investigation; [94485]

  (15) the petrol bomb on the home of a man in the Parkhall Estate in Antrim on the early morning of 9 May; what damage was caused in the course of this attack; what conclusions have been reached so far as to the perpetrators of this attack; what other attacks took place in that area at that time; and what is the present stage of the police investigation. [94477]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 19 October 1999]: The dates given in four of the questions appear to be inaccurate. These incidents have all been thoroughly investigated by the police. They include a range of assaults and damage to property.

  For several of these incidents the police have not established a definitive motive, but in most cases the motive is believed to have been sectarian and in some instances they were probably perpetrated by paramilitaries.

  I understand in relation to the incidents raised, 22 people were arrested and released without charge, one person was convicted of assault and sentenced to six

  735
  months' imprisonment and criminal proceedings are pending against another individual. Some investigations are still ongoing and others remain open but are subject to additional information becoming available.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list in date order for each of the past five years, arson attacks on churches of each denomination stating in each case(a) a description of the damage to church property and estimated cost of repairs, (b) his conclusions on the perceived community affiliation of the perpetrators and (c) the arrests made, charges brought, successful prosecutions and sentences awarded. [95380]

  Mr. Ingram
  There have been 172 recorded attacks on churches and church property during the years 1994 to 1998, details of which have been placed in the Library of the House. The remaining information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps the RUC took following (1) a call for assistance to be given to a 15 year-old boy being assaulted on Garvaghy road, Portadown on 28 July; where and how many police vehicles of what type were in the vicinity; where the vehicles were positioned in relation to the scene of the assault; what assistance was given; what injuries were sustained by the victim; what record exists of similar incidents in that area; what bearing controversial parades have on these actions; what conclusions he has reached so far on the number and community affiliation of the perpetrators; and what is the present stage of the investigation; [95396]

  (2) the report of a pipe bomb left outside a residential property in Ballycastle, County Antrim on 8 July; how long it took for police to arrive on the scene; what is his estimate of the damage to property; what record exists of similar incidents in that area; what bearing controversial parades have on these actions; what conclusions he has reached so far on the number and community affiliation of the perpetrators; and what is the present stage of the investigation; [95375]

  (3) the report of an arson attack on the Protestant Mission Hall in Tobermore, County Londonderry on 4 July; how long it took for police to arrive on the scene; what is his estimate of the damage to property; what record exists of similar incidents in that area; what bearing controversial parades have on these actions; what conclusions he has reached so far on the number and community affiliation of the perpetrators; and what is the present stage of the investigation. [95382]

  (4) the report of an explosive device found outside the GAA club in Dungannon, County Tyrone on 23 July; how long it took for police to arrive on the scene; what is his estimate of the damage to property; what record exists of similar incidents in that area; what bearing controversial parades have on these actions; what conclusions he has reached so far on the number and community affiliation of the perpetrators; and what is the present stage of the investigation; [95379]

  (5) the report of an assault in the Stewartstown road in front of Woodbourne RUC station on the night of 24–25 July; how long it took for police to arrive on the scene; what injuries were sustained by the victim; what
  736
  record exists of similar incidents in that area; what bearing controversial parades have on these actions; what conclusions he has reached so far on the number and community affiliation of the perpetrators; and what is the present stage of the investigation; [95394]

  (6) the report of an attack on the Tullintrain Orange Hall just outside of Derry City on 14 July; how long it took for police to arrive on the scene; what is his estimate of the damage to property; what record exists of similar incidents in that area; what bearing controversial parades have on these actions; what conclusions he has reached so far on the number and community affiliation of the perpetrators; and what is the present stage of the investigation; [95377]

  (7) the discovery on 9 June of an explosive device at the postal sorting office in Larne, County Antrim; how many persons were evacuated; how long it took for police to arrive on the scene; what record of similar incidents exists in that area; what bearing controversial parades have on these actions; what conclusions he has reached so far on the community affiliation of the perpetrators; and what is the present stage of the investigation; [95393]

  (8) reports of an assault upon a taxi driver outside the Royal Victoria Hospital in West Belfast on 31 July; what injuries were sustained by the victim; what is his estimate of damage to property; what record exists of similar incidents in that area; what bearing controversial parades have on these actions; what conclusions he has reached so far on the number and community affiliation of the perpetrators; and what is the present stage of the investigation; [95398]

  (9) the report of attacks on a residential property in the Waterside district of Derry at approximately 4.00 am on 29 July; how long it took for police to arrive on the scene; what is his estimate of the damage to property; what record exists of similar incidents in that area; what bearing controversial parades have on these actions; what conclusions he has reached so far on the number and community affiliation of the perpetrators; and what is the present stage of the investigation; [95397]

  (10) the reports of arson attacks on (a) St. Patrick's Church in Derriaghy, County Antrim, (b) St. Patrick's Church in Chapel Hill, Lisburn, County Antrim and (c) St. Coleman's Church in Hillsborough on 11 July; in each case, how long it took for police to arrive on the scene; what is his estimate of the damage to property; what record exists of similar incidents in that area; what bearing controversial parades have on these actions; what conclusions he has reached so far on the number and community affiliation of the perpetrators; and what is the present stage of the investigation; [95376]

  (11) the discovery on 7 June of a pipe bomb on the grounds of St. Mary's primary school in Ballymena, County Antrim; how many children were evacuated; how long it took for police to arrive on the scene; what record exists of similar incidents in that area; what bearing controversial parades have on these actions; what conclusions he has reached so far on the community affiliation of the perpetrators; and what is the present stage of the investigation; [95392]

  (12) the report of an arson attack on two homes in the Graymount Crescent are of north Belfast on 7 July; how long it took for police to arrive on the scene; what is his

  737
  estimate of the damage to property; what record exists of similar incidents in that area; what bearing controversial parades have on these actions; what conclusions he has reached so far on the number and community affiliation of the perpetrators; and what is the present stage of the investigation; [95383]

  (13) the report of a pipe bomb attack on a Catholic church in Moneymore, County Derry on 27 July; how long it took for police to arrive on the scene; what is his estimate of the damage to property; what record exists of similar incidents in that area; what bearing controversial parades have on these actions; what conclusions he has reached so far on the number and community affiliation of the perpetrators; and what is the present stage of the investigation; [95395]

  (14) the report of a paramilitary assault on a man in his home in Ballymoney, County Antrim on 15 July; how long it took for police to arrive on the scene; what is his estimate of the damage to property; what record exists of similar incidents in that area; what bearing controversial parades have on these actions; what conclusions he has reached so far on the number and community affiliation of the perpetrators; and what is the present stage of the investigation; [95378]

  (15) the report of an arson attack on the Orange Hall in Warrenpoint, County Down on 4 July; how long it took for police to arrive on the scene; what is his estimate of the damage to property; what record exists of similar incidents in that area; what bearing controversial parades have on these actions; what conclusions he has reached so far on the number and community affiliation of the perpetrators; and what is the present stage of the investigation; [95381]

  (16) the report of attacks on a video shop in Carrickfergus, County Antrim on 8 July; how long it took for police to arrive on the scene; what is his estimate of the damage to property; what record exists of similar incidents in that area; what bearing controversial parades have on these actions; what conclusions he has reached so far on the number and community affiliation of the perpetrators; and what is the present stage of the investigation; [95374]

  (17) the discovery on 16 June of a pipe bomb on the grounds of St. Mary's primary school in Newtownbutler, County Fermanagh; how many children were evacuated; how long it took for police to arrive on the scene; what record exists of similar incidents in that area; what bearing controversial parades have on these actions; what conclusions he has reached so far on the number and community affiliation of the perpetrators; and what is the present stage of the investigation. [95385]

  Mr. Ingram
  The dates given in several of the questions appear to be inaccurate. These incidents have all been thoroughly investigated by the police, except the suggested attack on St. Coleman's Church in Hillsborough since the RUC have no record of such an incident on or around 11 July.

  The incidents listed include a range of assaults, arson and pipe bomb attacks, robbery and assault, a paramilitary attack and in some instances no injuries or damage were sustained.
  738
  The time taken for the RUC to arrive at the scene in the incidents requested is as follows:
  Following the discovery of a pipe bomb outside a home in Ballycastle on 8 July the incident was reported at 1027 hours and the police attended the scene at 1037 hours.
  An arson attack on a Mission Hall in Tobermore, Co. Londonderry was reported to the RUC at 0735 hours, they arrived on the scene at 0740 hours on 4 July.
  The RUC received a report following the discovery of a pipe bomb outside a GAA club in Dungannon at 0725 hours on 23 July. Two possible sites were checked and police arrived at the scene of the second at 0742 hours.
  The incident on the Stewartstown road is alleged to have occurred at 0130 hours on 24 July, it was reported to police at 1410 hours.
  Police took approximately 25 minutes to arrive at the scene of the attack on Tullintrain Orange Hall on 14 July.
  The discovery of an explosive device at the Royal Mail Sorting Office in Larne, Co. Antrim was reported at 0640 hours, police attended the scene at 0648 hours.
  The incident at the Waterside area of Londonderry was reported at 0445 hours, the police arrived at the scene at 0458 hours on 29 July.
  On 11 July at 0021 hours police received a report of an arson attack on St. Patrick's Church, Derriaghy, they attended the scene at 0049 hours. On the same date at 0328 hours a report was received that St. Patrick's Church, Lisburn had been attacked. The police arrived some minutes later.
  On 7 June the RUC received a report at 0812 hours following the discovery of a pipe bomb in the grounds of St. Mary's Primary School, Ballymena. They arrived at the scene at 0815 hours.
  Police responded within minutes to a report of an arson attack in North Belfast on 7 July.
  Police received a report of an attack on a church in Moneymore, Co. Londonderry at 0235 hours on 28 July. They arrived at the scene at 0301 hours having first checked the authenticity of the telephone call.
  Police received a report of an assault in Ballymoney at 2339 hours on 15 July. They attended the scene at 2341 hours.
  At 0430 hours on 4 July police received a report of an attack on Warrenpoint Orange Hall, they attended the scene at approximately 0434 hours.
  At 0324 hours on 8 July police received a report following an attack on a shop in Carrickfergus, they arrived on the scene at 0330 hours.
  A report was received at 0750 hours on 16 June of the discovery of a pipe bomb in the grounds of St. Mary's Primary School, Newtownbutler. The RUC attended at 0813 hours. The school had not opened. The police operation terminated at 1240 hours.

  With regard to some of the incidents it is possible that parades may have contributed to heightened tensions in that area, in other incidents parades are thought not to have had any bearing.

  In some of these incidents the police have not established a motive or reached a conclusion as to the perpetrators. Other incidents are believed to have been sectarian, and some were probably carried out by paramilitaries.

  I understand that proceedings are pending against six people. In respect of one incident a file was forwarded to the DPP, however the suspect was subsequently found dead (no crime is suspected), and the police are not seeking anyone else in respect of this offence. In the other cases investigations are either ongoing or they remain open but are dependent on further information becoming available.
  739
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many(a) pipe bomb and (b) petrol attacks took place in (i) Nationalist and (ii) Loyalist areas over the weekend of Friday 3 June to Sunday 5 June; in each case, how long it took for police to arrive on the scene; what damage was caused; what injuries were sustained by the victims; what conclusions he has reached so far on the community affiliation of the perpetrators; and what is the present stage of the investigation. [95391]

  Mr. Ingram
  There were six bombing incidents during the weekend of 4–6 June as follows:4 June at Castlewellan Road, Hilltown. Reported at 2336 hours. Police attended the scene at 2355 hours. Windows damaged. No injuries. Perpetrators believed to be Loyalist. Investigation continuing.
  5 June at Clandeboye Gardens, Belfast. Reported at 0044 hours. Police attended the scene at 0053 hours. No damage. No injuries. Perpetrators believed to be Loyalist. Investigation continuing.
  5 June at Corcrain Drive, Portadown. Reported at 0053 hours. Police attended the scene at 0056 hours. Fatal injuries. Perpetrators believed to be Loyalist. Murder investigation continuing.
  5 June at Westland Road, Portadown. Following up inquiries into the attack at Corcrain Drive, police discovered the scene of another blast at 0109 hours. A lounge window was broken. No injuries. Perpetrators believed to be Loyalist. Investigation continuing.
  5 June at St Matthew's Court, Belfast. Reported at 1257 hours. Police attended the scene at 1307 hours. No damage. No injuries. Perpetrators believed to be Loyalist. Investigation continuing.
  6 June at Acacia Avenue, Belfast. Reported at 1329 hours. Police attended the scene at 1357 hours. Minor damage caused to brickwork below a living room window. No injuries. Perpetrators believed to be Loyalist. Investigation continuing.

  There were four petrol bomb attacks during the same period as follows:
  5 June at Windsor Avenue, Lurgan. Police vehicle attacked. No damage. No injuries. No offender identified.
  5 June at Windsor Avenue, Lurgan. At 1652 hours police reported petrol bombs being thrown in a car park. A car was damaged. There were no injuries. It is believed that the perpetrators were from a Nationalist background. No one was identified.
  5 June at Lisnahull Park, Dungannon. The injured party reported at 1303 hours on 11 June that a petrol bomb had been thrown at her home on 5 June. Police attended the scene at 1405 hours. A week had elapsed and damage appeared restricted to scorch marks to an area of pavement and to a wall. No injuries were reported. Perpetrators or their community affiliation are unknown. Investigation continuing.
  6 June at Campbell Walk/Levin Road, Lurgan. A police unit was attacked. No damage. No injuries. No one was identified.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps the RUC took following the report of attacks on residential properties in the Markets area of Belfast on 8 July; how long it took for police to arrive on the scene; what is his estimate of the damage to property; what record exists of similar incidents in that area; what bearing controversial parades have on these actions; what conclusions he has reached so far on the number and community affiliation of the perpetrators; and what is the present stage of the investigation. [95384]

  Mr. Ingram
  There are no records of such attacks on or around 8 July.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps the RUC took (1) following reports of intimidation of Mr. James McCarry by masked 740
  men outside his home in Ballycastle, County Antrim on 17 June; how long it took for police to arrive on the scene; what damage was done and what injuries were caused; what conclusions he has reached so far on the community affiliation of the perpetrators; and what is the present stage of the investigation; [95386]

  (2) following an early morning petrol bomb attack on 2 June at a home on Moorlough Road, Strabane, County Tyrone; how long it took for police to arrive on the scene; what damage was caused; what injuries were sustained by the victims; what conclusions he has reached so far on the community affiliation of the perpetrators; and what is the present stage of the investigation; [95389]

  (3) following a reported attack in the Brompton Park Estate in North Belfast on 26 June; how long it took for police to arrive on the scene; what damage was caused; what injuries were sustained by the victims; what conclusions he has reached so far on the o community affiliation of the perpetrators; and what is the present stage of the investigation; [95387]

  (4) on 1 June following an attack on two men when a stolen car mounted the pavement outside the Royal Bar at Sandy Row in South Belfast; how long it took for police to arrive on the scene; what injuries were sustained by the victims; what conclusions he has reached so far on 'the community affiliation of the perpetrators; and what is the present stage of the investigation; [95388]

  (5) following an early morning blast bomb attack on 5 June at the home of Elizabeth O'Neill in Portadown;, how long it took police to arrive on the scene; what damage was caused; what injuries were sustained by the victims; what conclusions he has reached so far on the community affiliation of the perpetrators; and what is the present stage of the investigation. [95390]

  Mr. Ingram
  The dates given in two of the questions appear to be inaccurate. These incidents have all been thoroughly investigated by the police. They include assault, intimidation, damage to property and, most seriously, the murder of Mrs. Elizabeth O'Neill during the course of an attack on her home in Portadown on 5 June.

  The time taken for the RUC to arrive at the scene in the incidents requested is as follows:
  The RUC received a report at 2219 hours on 16 June regarding an incident in Ballycastle, Co. Antrim, they arrived on the scene at 2226 hours.
  The RUC received a report in respect of a petrol bombing at a home in Moorlough road, Strabane at 0232 hours on 1 June, they arrived on the scene at 0240 hours.
  A number of emergency calls were made on the morning of 26 June, the first was received at 0450 hours and the police arrived at the scene at approximately 0454 hours. A number of further calls were received and units from other areas attended a series of incidents involving groups of Catholics and Protestants in the Brompton Park Estate area of Belfast.
  An alleged assault in the Sandy Row area of Belfast was reported to the RUC at 2203 hours on I June, they arrived at the scene at 2205 hours.
  The incident involving the attack on the home and murder of Elizabeth O'Neill was reported at 0053 hours on 5 June, police attended the scene at 0056 hours.

  741
  In respect of these incidents the police have either not established a definitive motive or they believe the motive to have been sectarian. Police believe the attack on the home and murder of Elizabeth O'Neill to have been carried out by a Loyalist grouping.

  I understand, in relation to the incidents raised, a file in respect of two people has been sent to the DPP, the murder investigation is still ongoing and the other investigations remain open but are subject to additional information becoming available.

  GM Crops
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many trials of genetically engineered crops are taking place in Northern Ireland; how many applications to proceed with trials of genetically modified crops have been submitted for approval in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on co-operation between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland on the issue of genetically-modified crops. [93837]

  Mr. George Howarth
  The Department of the Environment in Northern Ireland is a Competent Authority within the United Kingdom for carrying out the regulatory requirements of EU Directive 90/220/EC to control the deliberate release into the environment of genetically modified organisms.

  In 1996 the Department received the only application so far for a release consent in Northern Ireland from the Department of Agriculture (Northern Ireland) to carry out a small field trial on potatoes. This application, which was approved, was dealt with through the regulatory system and papers about it are available for viewing in a statutory public register, which is held by the Department of the Environment's Environmental Policy Division in River House, 48 High Street, Belfast BT1 2AW.

  There are currently no trials of genetically engineered crops taking place in Northern Ireland.

  In the Department's capacity as a Competent Authority, it liaises, along with other UK Competent Authorities, with all EU member states, including the Republic of Ireland, at Competent Authority meetings. Liaison with the Republic of Ireland authority has otherwise been as required.

  Pellet Guns
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is his estimate of the number of(a) legal and (b) illegal ball-bearing pellet guns in circulation; how many reports of incidents involving the use of these weapons have been received by the (i) police and (ii) other agencies in each of the last five years. [95426]

  Mr. Ingram
  I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to low powered airguns or CO2 guns rather than conventional air weapons.

  As those that fire plastic pellets are not, in most cases, considered to be lethal barrelled firearms and do not require firearms certificates, the numbers in circulation are not known.
  742
  As regards incidents of misuse of these kinds of guns, for instance with ball-bearings, the information is not held centrally by the police and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Illegal Parades
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the date, location and perceived political or community affiliation of each illegal parade that took place from March to September; on which occasions files were later sent from the police to the Director of Public Prosecutions; in each instance how many prosecutions and on what charges were initiated; what was the result of each prosecution; for each illegal parade where no prosecutions followed, what reasons were given for a failure to prosecute; what other actions were taken to ensure future compliance with the law; and if he will make a statement on the community balance of the prosecution decision-making process over this period. [95372]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 27 October 1999]: At the following illegal parades no persons were identified and consequently no prosecution files could be prepared:

  Illegal parades March-September 1999

  Date

  Location

  Perceived affiliation

  4 March 1999

  Drumcree, Portadown

  Loyalist

  15 March 1999

  Garvaghy Road, Portadown

  Nationalist

  16 March 1999

  Drumcree, Portadown

  Loyalist

  16 March 1999

  Lurgan

  Nationalist

  17 March 1999

  New Lodge Road, Belfast

  Nationalist

  17 March 1999

  Drumcree, Portadown

  Loyalist

  18 March 1999

  Drumcree, Portadown

  Loyalist

  19 March 1999

  Drumcree, Portadown

  Loyalist

  25 March 1999

  Drumcree, Portadown

  Loyalist

  20 March 1999

  Drumcree, Portadown

  Loyalist

  22 March 1999

  Drumcree, Portadown

  Loyalist

  23 March 1999

  Drumcree, Portadown

  Loyalist

  1 April 1999

  Drumcree, Portadown

  Loyalist

  4 April 1999

  Camlough

  Nationalist

  13 April 1999

  Drumcree, Portadown

  Loyalist

  6 May 1999

  Drumcree, Portadown

  Loyalist

  8 May 1999

  Drumcree, Portadown

  Loyalist

  8 May 1999

  Drumcree, Portadown

  Loyalist

  20 May 1999

  Drumcree, Portadown

  Loyalist

  25 May 1999

  Drumcree, Portadown

  Loyalist

  3 June 1999

  Drumcree, Portadown

  Loyalist

  5 June 1999

  Jonesborough

  Nationalist

  16 June 1999

  Drumcree, Portadown

  Loyalist

  17 June 1999

  Drumcree, Portadown

  Loyalist

  21 June 1999

  Drumcree, Portadown

  Loyalist

  5 July 1999

  Drumcree, Portadown

  Loyalist

  6 July 1999

  Drumcree, Portadown

  Loyalist

  7 July 1999

  Drumcree, Portadown

  Loyalist

  8 July 1999

  Drumcree, Portadown

  Loyalist

  9 July 1999

  Drumcree, Portadown

  Loyalist

  12 July 1999

  Drumcree, Portadown

  Loyalist

  12 July 1999

  Drumcree, Portadown

  Loyalist

  13 July 1999

  Drumcree, Portadown

  Loyalist

  17 July 1999

  Portavogie

  Loyalist

  As a result of the following illegal parades the RUC have reported nine Loyalists to the Director of Public Prosecutions for taking part in an illegal parade and are awaiting direction. A further thirty-two are to be reported.
  743

  Date

  Location

  Perceived affiliation

  12 March 1999

  Drumcree, Portadown

  Loyalist

  29 April 1999

  Drumcree, Portadown

  Loyalist

  19 June 1999

  Drumcree, Portadown

  Loyalist

  There have been no illegal parades since July. Police take action against any individuals who can be identified and against whom, under section 6 of the Public Processions (NI) Act 1998, a degree of guilty knowledge can be sustained.

  RUC Overtime
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what sums were budgeted for in respect of RUC overtime in each of the last five years and the current year; how much was expended on overtime in each of these years and the current year to date; what was the number of hours provided for in each of these years and the current year; and how many of these hours were actually used by the RUC. [97376]

  Mr. Ingram
  The information requested is shown in the table.

  Sub-division

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–100

  Antrim

  110,492

  87,929

  87,705

  82,709

  73,131

  25,499

  Antrim Road

  127,067

  67,562

  94,485

  89,759

  66,410

  26,512

  Armagh

  197,958

  114,862

  213,049

  144,645

  172,834

  71,968

  Ballymena

  79,889

  56,903

  76,409

  73,504

  66,759

  28,513

  Ballymoney

  56,772

  42,557

  88,208

  54,889

  53,842

  25,443

  Banbridge

  67,786

  44,148

  82,661

  72,864

  93,491

  31,896

  Bangor

  90,405

  67,380

  132,415

  97,123

  90,912

  35,977

  Carrickfergus

  61,989

  43,843

  48,727

  43,436

  41,600

  18,210

  Castlereagh

  92,790

  57,609

  95,371

  98,310

  63,229

  26,874

  Coleraine

  94,267

  71,085

  96,038

  83,190

  79,047

  36,069

  Cookstown

  127,193

  78,753

  147,882

  99,669

  90,231

  34,162

  Donegall Pass.

  144,746

  93,326

  86,622

  81,572

  66,663

  24,291

  Downpatrick

  88,747

  55,533

  92,456

  84,514

  80,009

  27,782

  Dungannon

  199,184

  135,869

  178,781

  127,463

  143,925

  58,288

  Dunmurry

  135,069

  88,957

  92,312

  78,338

  63,005

  24,719

  Enniskillen

  176,074

  112,503

  174,659

  132,214

  125,719

  49,787

  Grosvenor Road

  270,348

  142,314

  209,257

  179,117

  146,764

  68,731

  Larne

  55,431

  41,407

  50,877

  46,343

  46,679

  17,551

  Limavady

  60,104

  38,337

  58,205

  55,735

  45,298

  18,621

  Lisburn

  182,235

  110,702

  145,343

  126,615

  101,561

  44,257

  Lisnaskea

  152,386

  92,586

  143,078

  123,559

  100,764

  43,312

  Lurgan

  109,538

  69,044

  107,205

  111,453

  135,101

  46,948

  Magherafelt

  106,873

  68,209

  113,544

  97,138

  80,955

  41,948

  Mountpottinger

  104,875

  60,413

  75,296

  74,942

  68,098

  29,832

  Musgrave Street

  173,871

  113,312

  111,276

  87,506

  77,329

  26,737

  Newcastle

  68,804

  40,860

  59,212

  53,856

  69,317

  22,811

  Newry

  383,381

  182,427

  359,088

  236,005

  234,766

  108,977

  Newtownabbey

  89,304

  53,860

  72,782

  70,398

  69,655

  37,267

  Newtownards

  95,088

  73,064

  111,780

  99,089

  120,130

  48,280

  North Queen Street

  121,301

  76,358

  100,802

  107,384

  85,096

  35,016

  Omagh

  153,947

  95,845

  144,250

  113,580

  112,682

  37,700

  Portadown

  70,235

  50,947

  73,340

  69,118

  92,050

  40,425

  Stormont

  120,771

  64,850

  62,879

  80,230

  46,407

  17,302

  Strabane

  127,890

  97,865

  142,770

  102,023

  84,279

  27,836

  Strand Road

  223,987

  127,743

  171,788

  116,450

  102,718

  38,744

  Strandtown

  88,482

  59,371

  71,108

  87,134

  69,519

  32,952

  Tennent Street

  112,561

  53,703

  64,837

  52,690

  46,438

  13,599

  Waterside

  84,176

  46,228

  94,752

  71,840

  54,675

  24,710

  Woodbourne

  145,612

  99,828

  137,453

  138,444

  114,978

  47,691

  744

  Year

  Original budget provision (£ million)

  Actual expenditure (£ million)

  Number of hours provided in budget man hours (million)

  Number of hours actually worked man hours (million)

  1994–95

  81.77

  75.66

  6.18

  5.72

  1995–96

  54.65

  51.09

  3.97

  3.68

  1996–97

  37.25

  68.63

  2.57

  4.65

  1997–98

  61.90

  64.93

  4.29

  4.37

  1998–99

  51.47

  61.44

  3.41

  3.93

  1999–2000

  42.26

  30.87

  2.58

  1.93

  Note:

  7 month period from April to October 1999

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what sums were allowed in the RUC budget in each police subdivision in each of the last five years and the current year, for police overtime; how many hours these sums represented; and how many of these hours were actually used in each sub-division. [97559]

  Mr. Ingram
  The information is not available in the form requested, i.e. no budgeted hours and costs at Sub-Divisional level. However, the following table shows the number of hours of overtime paid in each Sub-division in each of the last five years and for seven months of the current financial year.

  Accelerated Prisoner Release
  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many prisoners released under the accelerated prisoner release scheme have since been arrested in connection with terrorist-related offences. [97747]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 8 November 1999]: While offences are under investigation it is not always clear whether they are terrorist related.

  In none of the cases where prisoners released under the scheme have since been arrested is there conclusive evidence to confirm the offence was terrorist related.

  Suckler Calves
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the average price paid in(a) September and (b) October, in 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996, 1995, 1990 and 1985 in (i) cash and (ii) real terms, for suckler calves in the principal markets for such stock in Northern Ireland. [97825]

  Mr. George Howarth
  [holding answer 9 November 1999]: Estimates of prices paid for suckled calves in a sample of the main markets in Norther Ireland in September and October of the years shown are given in the table, in current prices and in real terms.

  Prices of suckled calves in Northern Ireland

  £ perhead

  Current prices

  Prices in Real Terms using September 1999 as the base

  September

  October

  September

  October

  1985

  225.20

  227.81

  392.33

  396.19

  1990

  246.58

  282.77

  316.94

  360.68

  1995

  1—

  436.42

  1—

  483.84

  1996

  1—

  326.17

  1—

  352.62

  1997

  1—

  327.77

  1—

  341.43

  1998

  143.64

  210.79

  145.24

  212.92

  1999

  166.83

  232.09

  166.83

  231.86

  1 No sales recorded in these months

  Demilitarisation and Normalisation Programmes
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made concerning the demilitarisation and normalisation programme since June 1998; and if he will make a statement. [97762]

  Mr. Ingram
  The Government are committed to the objective of as early a return as possible to normal security arrangements in Northern Ireland, consistent with the level of threat.

  Major progress has already been made. Since the Good Friday Agreement, routine military patrolling has been reduced by two thirds. Three battalions have been returned to Great Britain. There are now under 15,000 service personnel on operational duties in Northern Ireland, fewer than at any time since 1970. In large parts of the Province the police patrol without any military assistance. Since April 1998 11 military bases have been demolished and a further seven installations have been closed.

  Compensation Awards
  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the average compensation award made to(a) victims and (b) relatives of victims of paramilitary violence for each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [98362]

  Mr. Ingram
  Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Compensation Agency under its Chief Executive, Mr. Denis Stanley. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from D.A. Stanley to Mr. Laurence Robertson, dated 10 November 1999:
  The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has asked me to reply to your recent Question about criminal injuries compensation in Northern Ireland.
  The Compensation Agency cannot provide information about the cost of compensation stemming specifically from paramilitary violence as there is often no way of ascertaining the motives of a victim's assailants unless a prosecution follows. In many cases where the assailant(s) are unknown, or where no prosecution has taken place, the Agency could only speculate about the perpetrator's motives and consequently figures provided on that basis would be very unreliable
  I am sorry that I cannot be more helpful.

PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

  Millennium Compliance
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the President of the Council what languages other than English have been used in advertising designed to convey the Government's message about year 2000 compliance to ethnic minority communities. [98424]

  Mrs. Beckett
  I shall write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  New Deal
  Jackie Ballard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) if he will list by unit of delivery the number of qualifications gained by those who have completed(a) the full-time education and training option and (b) other options on the New Deal for 18–24 year olds since January 1998; [95087]

  (2) if he will list by unit of delivery the number and percentage of 18–24 year olds who have left the New Deal for jobs lasting less than 13 weeks since January 1998; [95084]

  (3) if he will list by unit of delivery (a) the number of those who have completed the full-time education and training option of the New Deal for 18–24 year olds and (b) the percentage of these who have left to sustained unsubsidised jobs; [95085]

  (4) if he will list by unit of delivery the number and percentage of those who have left the New Deal for 18–24 year olds before taking up one of the options. [95089]
  747
  Ms Jowell
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what percentage of people leaving the new deal for 18 to 24 year olds had by the end of August returned to the new deal or jobseeker's allowance(a) within 13 weeks, (b) within 26 weeks and (c) within 52 weeks. [98187]

  Ms Jowell
  I will write to my right hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  University for Industry
  Mr. Hilary Benn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if the proposed Learning and Skills Council will have any responsibility for funding students learning with the University for Industry. [98143]

  Mr. Wicks
  The Learning and Skills Council will be responsible for funding all post-16 education and training apart from work-based training for adults, which will be the responsibility of the Employment Service. Funding for University for Industry students is being considered in the context of developing the proposals set out in "Learning to Succeed" and the Government's spending review next year.

  Mr. Hilary Benn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what discussions he has had with the Further Education Funding Council about the funding of persons studying with the University for Industry. [98141]

  Mr. Wicks
  The Department is in regular contact with the Further Education Funding Council about such funding. Following guidance from the Secretary of State, the Council has earmarked £20.25 million to support Ufl learners from within its total grant-in-aid for 2000–01. Discussions are underway between the Department, the Council and Ufl Ltd. on funding Ufl learners from 2001–02 onwards.

  Curriculum 2000
  Mr. Hilary Benn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when he expects the specifications for Curriculum 2000 to be published. [98142]

  Mr. Wicks
  The finalised specifications for the new GCE Advanced Subsidiary and Advanced level qualifications and the new General National Vocational Qualifications to be introduced for teaching from September 2000 will be available to schools and colleges in January 2000. Draft versions of the AS and A level specifications are already available on the awarding bodies' websites.

  Grammar Schools
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the grammar schools visited by himself or his Ministers since May 1997, identifying the Minister in each case. [98144]
  748
  Ms Estelle Morris
  In the course of their work, Ministers visit around 300 schools each year, some of which are grammar schools. Visits are based on invitations received. We do not have a breakdown of visits by type of school.

  Students
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what the average unit of resource derived from public funds and authorised tuition fees, where applicable, was for a full-time equivalent student at a higher education institution in England for the past three academic years; and what figure is projected for the current year. [98240]

  Mr. Wicks
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy in the Library.

  "Learning to Succeed"
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what measures he is taking to maintain morale and staff retention and to give advice and assistance to those employed by organisations likely to be affected by proposals in "Learning to Succeed" (Cm. 4392); with particular reference to(a) the Further Education Funding Council, (b) training and enterprise councils; and (c) the training standards council; and if he will make a statement. [98099]

  Mr. Wicks
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Trainee Teachers
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what studies he has made into differences in the course drop-out rate for trainee teachers according to(a) whether they are on Bachelor or Postgraduate Certificate of Education courses, (b) their gender, (c) their ethnic origin and (d) whether or not they are disabled; and if he will make a statement. [98100]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The proportion of those who start initial teacher training courses who do not gain qualified teacher status is estimated to be 29 per cent. for undergraduate courses and 13 per cent. for postgraduate courses, based on those gaining qualified teacher status from October 1997 to September 1998.

  Information on gender, ethnic origin and disabled status is not available.

  The Initial Teacher Training performance profiles, published by the Teacher Training Agency in September 1999, show the percentage of final year trainees in 1997–98 who had gained qualified teacher status by 31 July 1998, split by postgraduate and undergraduate trainees. For primary initial teacher training 90 per cent. of final year undergraduates and 85 per cent. of final year postgraduates gained qualified teacher training. Figures for secondary initial teacher training are given for individual subjects. These figures do not take into account drop-out during earlier years of the course, which mainly applies to undergraduate trainees, or of those who gained qualified teacher status after 31 July 1998.

  Computer Rental
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when he intends to introduce the scheme to provide for the low cost rental of computers to low income families. [97914]

  Mr. Wills
  [holding answer 10 November 1999]: The initiative to offer subsidised recycled computers at low personal cost to low-income learners and families will begin operating in Spring 2000 on a pilot basis. The prospectus inviting responses from interested organisations wishing to participate will be issued later this month.

  New Deal Trainees
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) how many New Deal trainees on the full-time education option have progressed to Level 3 courses; [97906]

  (2) what assessment he has made of the comparative administration costs associated with (a) New Deal trainees and (b) FEFC-funded students in further education colleges; [97904]

  (3) what guidance he has issued to the Employment Service in respect of the exceptional circumstances in which New Deal trainees taking the full-time education option can progress to Level 3 courses. [97905]

  Ms Jowell
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Advanced Skills Teachers
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate he has made of the number of advanced skills teachers who will be in post in each of the next five years. [97845]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  Estimates have not been made for each of the next five years, but it is planned to expand the number of advanced skills teachers to about 10,000 in the longer term.

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many advanced skills teachers are currently in post; and if he will give a breakdown of the number of advanced skills teachers in(a) each local education authority and (b) each education action zone in (i) primary and (ii) secondary schools. [97847]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The information is not yet available. Detailed information for January 2000 is being collected from local authorities and should be available by April 2000.

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the average pay of advanced skills teachers. [97848]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  This information is not held centrally at present.

  Sure Start
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) for what Sure Start areas incidences of low birthweight and teenage pregnancy have been selection criteria; [95541]
  750
  (2) what geographical size of area can apply for Sure Start funding; [95514]

  (3) how the areas applying for Sure Start funds are assessed against each of the three selection criteria; and what weight is given to each of the three criteria in the selection process. [95513]

  Yvette Cooper
  I have been asked to reply.

  The 60 areas of the country invited to develop a Sure Start programme in the first round were selected because they scored highly on an index of local deprivation, already had existing local projects which demonstrated many of the key aspects of Sure Start, and provided an opportunity for Sure Start to develop in a range of different settings. Local partners decided on the Sure Start catchment area within their district.

  Guidance on the choice of area, including its size, is in the booklet, "Sure Start: a guide for trailblazers" which is available in the Library. Becoming a Sure Start programme is not a competitive process, and no further assessment is made centrally provided the catchment area chosen is consistent with the guidance.

  Incidences of low birthweight and teenage pregnancy were factors in the criteria for selection of all 60 areas since, along with the index of local deprivation, these are factors which point to areas where children's needs are pressing.

  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list for each of the Start Trailblazers, how many new child care places for children aged 0–5 years will be created in(a) playgroups, (b) child minders and (c) nurseries as part of the Sure Start Programme. [95170]

  Yvette Cooper
  I have been asked to reply.

  The information requested is not currently available. However, we will get regular data from programmes once they are running on the total number of children and families helped against milestones set in their delivery plans. The 60 trailblazer programmes are producing delivery plans for approval for Ministers. Each programme is required to ensure access to good quality play, learning and child care for young children.

  Disability (Yorkshire and Humberside)
  Caroline Flint
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what proportion of people employed by each local authority in Yorkshire and Humberside are registered disabled. [98032]

  Ms Hodge
  The information requested is not available because there is no longer any requirement for disabled people to register as disabled. Those parts of the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act 1944 which were about registration were repealed when the employment provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 came into force on 2 December 1996.

  Teacher Pensions (Shropshire)
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what the estimated increase is in the cost of teachers' pensions in Shropshire for 2000–01 compared with 1999–2000; and how this will be funded. [98165]
  751
  Mr. Wicks
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my reply in the Library.

  Kent Education Business Partnership
  Mr. Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has for the future funding of the Kent Education Business Partnership; and if he will make a statement. [98083]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  We are working closely with the National Education Business Partnership Network and others to determine how best to ensure a smooth transition period for Education Business Partnerships prior to the introduction of the Learning and Skills Council. Many EBPs, including Kent, carry out excellent work. This work will be further enhanced by the additional funding for enterprise skills in schools announced in the Pre Budget Report on 9 November.

  New Deal (25 Plus)
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what the unit cost is of funding a student on an access course under the New Deal 25 plus programme. [97135]

  Ms Jowell
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Head Teachers
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what recent representations he has received from head teachers on(a) improving school performance and (b) performance-related pay for heads; and if he will make a statement. [98281]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State receives letters on various subjects from headteachers, and Ministers and officials have regular discussions with the associations that represent headteachers.

  Training Reforms
  Miss McIntosh
  ; To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what representations he has received from head teachers regarding the timetable for the introduction of the National Grid for Learning and the Government's post-16 education and training reforms between April and September 2000; and if he will make a statement. [98282]

  Mr. Wills
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy in the Library.

  Departmental Staff
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many staff are employed within his Department in the(a) schools, (b) finance and analytical services, (c) personnel and support services, (d) strategy and communications, (e) further and higher education and youth training, (f) employment, lifelong learning and international and (g) operational directorates; and what the current year's budget is for each directorate. [98276]

  Mr. Wills
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy in the Library.

  Standards and Effectiveness Unit
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the research projects related to raising standards in schools which have been commissioned by his Standards and Effectiveness Unit since May 1997. [98285]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The following research projects relating to raising standards have been commissioned directly by the Standards and Effectiveness Unit:1. The Impact of School Transfers and Transitions on Pupil Progress and Attainment
  2. Evaluation of the Initial Effects and Implementation of 'Success for All' in Nottingham
  3. Causing Concern but Improving: A Review of Schools' Experiences
  4. Innovative Grouping Practices in Secondary Schools
  5. Evaluation of Pilot Beacon Schools
  6. Pupil Mobility in Schools
  7. A Review and Evaluation of Approaches for Developing Pupils' Thinking
  8. Effective Action Planning after Inspection
  9. Excellence in Research on Schools
  10. The Impact of Adult/Child Ratios on Standards
  11. An Overview of Evaluation of the Literacy and Numeracy Strategies
  12. Evaluation of Pilot Education Action Zones
  13. Research Centre on Economics of Education
  14. Developing a Collaborative Research Unit in Education for Evidence Informed Policy and Practice.

  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many staff were employed in the Standards and Effectiveness Unit at the end of September 1999; and what the budget of the Unit is in the current year. [98297]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  At the end of September 1999 the number of staff in the Unit was 204. The running cost budget for the Unit in the current year is £5.9 million.

  Action Zones
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what is the total amount of matched funding which has been pledged by business in the first year of the operation of Round Two Education Action Zones; and what proportion of that funding will be in cash; [98284]

  (2) how much of the £18 million of sponsorship for the Education Action Zone initiative which was announced on 8 November has been (a) in kind and (b) in cash. [98283]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  Over £6 million for Round one and £12 million for Round two Education Action Zones has been pledged for their first year of operations. The respective shares of cash and in kind have yet to be precisely confirmed. This and other relevant financial information will be available as part of the annual audited accounts for each zone.

  National Educational Research Forum
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the members, budget and terms of reference of the National Educational Research Forum. [98286]

  Mr. Wicks
  There are nineteen members of the National Educational Research Forum. They are:Professor Sir Michael Peckham, Director, School of Public Policy (Chair)
  Professor Richard Daugherty, University of Aberystwyth, Wales
  Professor Alan Dyson, University of Newcastle
  Professor David Hargreaves, University of Cambridge
  Professor Jean Rudduck, Homerton College
  Ms Lesley Saunders, National Foundation for Educational Research
  Mr. Paul Lincoln, Director of Education Essex LEA
  Ms Parin Bahl, Assistant Director of Education Newham LEA
  Ms Pat Reynolds, Headteacher Rushden Secondary School Northants and Chair TTA teacher research panel
  Ms Penny Brown, Headteacher West Down Primary School Devon
  Ms Rhondda Garraway, Hackney Community College London
  Ms Carol Adams, Chief Executive General Teaching Council
  Professor Charles Desforges, Director ESRC Teaching and Learning Initiative
  Professor Sir Brian Fender, Chief Executive Higher Education Funding Council
  Ms Meryl Thompson, Association of Teachers and Lecturers
  Dr. Helen Quigley, Assistant Director Nuffield Foundation
  Ms Anne Diack, BBC/OU Production Centre
  Dr. Christopher Grey, Judge Institute of Management Studies
  Mr. Michael Bichard, Permanent Secretary, DfEE.

  The budget for the forum is £50,000 per year.

  The terms of reference have not yet been agreed and finalised by the group.

  LEA Support Unit
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment in which directorate of his Department the LEA Support Unit is located; how many staff were employed in that unit at the end of September; and what the budget of the unit is in the current year. [98298]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Private Office Staff
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many staff are employed in his Private Office; how many of those staff are political appointees; and what the current year's budget is for the Private Office. [98296]

  Mr. Wills
  The number of full time equivalent staff currently employed in the Private Office, working directly to the eight Ministers in the Department, is 47. This includes three full time equivalent special advisers.

  The current year's budget for the Private Office is £2.2 million (excluding Ministers salaries).

  Local Education Authorities
  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what percentage of local education authorities spend(a) below, (b) at and (c) above their standard spending assessments. [98367]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  In 1999–2000 the budgeted net recurrent expenditure of 35 per cent. of local education authorities in England was below their standard spending assessment while that for 65 per cent. was above it.

  Source:

  DETR RA return.

  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what percentage of total spending on education is retained by each local education authority for the purpose of central administration. [98361]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The following table shows, for local education authorities in England for 1999–2000, the planned central administration expenditure as a percentage of the total education spend.

  Central administration as percentage of total education budget

  Percentage

  City of London

  16.5

  Camden

  2.5

  Greenwich

  3.5

  Hackney

  1.9

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  1.9

  Islington

  2.8

  Kensington and Chelsea

  3.2

  Lambeth

  1.6

  Lewisham

  2.6

  Southwark

  2.4

  Tower Hamlets

  2.4

  Wandsworth

  1.9

  Westminster

  0.9

  Barking/Dagenham

  1.6

  Barnet

  2.4

  Bexley

  2.4

  Brent

  1.8

  Bromley

  2.3

  Croydon

  1.8

  Ealing

  1.4

  Enfield

  1.1

  Haringey

  2.8

  Harrow

  2.4

  Havering

  1.8

  Hillingdon

  1.4

  Hounslow

  2.5

  Kingston

  1.8

  Merton

  3.3

  Newham

  1.6

  Redbridge

  2.8

  Richmond

  2.2

  Sutton

  2.3

  Waltham Forest

  2.4

  Birmingham

  2.0

  Coventry

  1.8

  Dudley

  2.5

  Sandwell

  1.8

  Solihull

  1.8

  Walsall

  1.2

  Wolverhampton

  1.8

  Knowsley

  2.3

  Liverpool

  2.2

  St. Helens

  2.1

  Sefton

  1.3

  Wirral

  2.1

  Bolton

  1.3

  Bury

  2.7

  755

  Central administration as percentage of total education budget

  Percentage

  Manchester

  3.9

  Oldham

  1.2

  Rochdale

  1.7

  Salford

  2.3

  Stockport

  1.2

  Tameside

  1.9

  Trafford

  1.5

  Wigan

  1.7

  Barnsley

  0.8

  Doncaster

  1.4

  Rotherham

  1.5

  Sheffield

  1.3

  Bradford

  1.1

  Calderdale

  2.0

  Kirklees

  1.6

  Leeds

  1.6

  Wakefield

  1.4

  Gateshead

  2.0

  Newcastle

  1.9

  North Tyneside

  1.5

  South Tyneside

  2.0

  Sunderland

  1.8

  Isles of Scilly

  6.3

  Bath and North East Somerset

  1.4

  Bristol

  2.2

  North Somerset

  1.8

  South Gloucestershire

  2.3

  Hartlepool

  2.6

  Middlesbrough

  3.1

  Redcar and Cleveland

  3.7

  Stockton on Tees

  1.7

  Hull

  1.6

  East Riding

  1.8

  North East Lincolnshire

  1.9

  North Lincolnshire

  2.1

  North Yorkshire

  1.3

  York

  2.2

  Bedfordshire

  1.4

  Luton

  1.8

  Buckinghamshire

  1.6

  Milton Keynes

  1.1

  Derbyshire

  1.4

  Derby City

  1.6

  Dorset

  2.0

  Poole

  1.6

  Bournemouth

  2.5

  Durham

  1.3

  Darlington

  1.1

  East Sussex

  2.6

  Brighton and Hove

  2.5

  Hampshire

  1.5

  Portsmouth

  1.9

  Southampton

  1.9

  Leicestershire

  2.2

  Leicester City

  1.3

  Rutland

  2.0

  Staffordshire

  1.4

  Stoke-on-Trent

  2.1

  Wiltshire

  2.0

  Swindon

  2.6

  Bracknell Forest

  3.2

  Windsor and Maidenhead

  1.8

  West Berkshire

  1.8

  Reading

  2.3

  Slough

  2.1

  Wokingham

  2.5

  Cambridgeshire

  1.5

  Peterborough

  1.8

  Cheshire

  1.2

  Halton

  2.2

  Warrington

  1.2

  Devon

  2.1

  Plymouth

  1.6

  756

  Central administration as percentage of total education budget

  Percentage

  Torbay

  2.5

  Essex

  1.2

  Southend-on-Sea

  1.2

  Thurrock

  2.3

  Herefordshire

  2.7

  Worcestershire

  1.5

  Kent

  1.8

  Medway Towns

  1.8

  Lancashire

  1.1

  Blackburn with Darwen

  2.8

  Blackpool

  1.6

  Nottinghamshire

  1.5

  Nottingham City

  1.6

  Shropshire

  1.1

  Telford and Wrekin

  1.4

  Cornwall

  1.2

  Cumbria

  1.3

  Gloucestershire

  1.4

  Hertfordshire

  1.0

  Isle of Wight

  1.7

  Lincolnshire

  0.9

  Norfolk

  1.2

  Northamptonshire

  1.4

  Northumberland

  . 1.9

  Oxfordshire

  0.7

  Somerset

  0.8

  Suffolk

  1.3

  Surrey

  1.8

  Warwickshire

  1.2

  West Sussex

  1.9

  Redundancies
  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assistance is provided to former grant maintained schools which make staff redundant on changing to foundation school status. [98366]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The costs of making teachers redundant must be met by the local education authority, except in so far as an authority has good reason to deduct some or all of the cost from the school's budget share.

  Bilateral Concordat
  Ms Ryan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when he will be publishing the bilateral concordat between his Department and the Scottish Executive. [98410]

  Mr. Blunkett
  I have now concluded the concordat with my counterparts in the Scottish Executive. I am arranging for a copy to be placed in the Library.

  Service Development Fund
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what sums have been allocated to the Service Development Fund for(a) 2000–01 and (b) 2001–02 indicating those allocations and expenditures made from the Service Development Fund to date. [98250]

  Mr. Blunkett
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Expenditure Statistics
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the(a) planned and

  757
  (b) actual education expenditure by (a) central and (b) local government for 1996–97, 1997–98 and 1998–99, indicating the change for each year compared with the previous year in (i) cash and (ii) real terms. [98335]

  Mr. Blunkett
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Spending Review
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if the decision to class student loans as Government assets was taken into account when the total additional educational expenditure announced under the Comprehensive Spending Review (Cm. 4011) was calculated. [98336]

  Mr. Blunkett
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what(a) amount and (b) percentage of the extra money for education announced under the Comprehensive Spending Review (Cm. 4011) is to be expended (i) through the Standards Fund, (ii) through education standard spending assessments and (iii) otherwise. [98251]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy in the Library.

  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the announcements of additional expenditure on education made between May 1997 and the publication of the Comprehensive Spending Review (Cm. 4011), stating the date of the announcement and the amount announced in each case. [98253]

  Mr. Blunkett
  In July 1997 the Chancellor announced an additional £1.3 billion for schools in the UK (£1.1 billion for England) over the life of the Parliament, financed by the Windfall Tax, to start tackling the backlog of repairs to school buildings. At the same time, he announced that in 1998–99 an extra £1 billion would be available UK-wide for local authority current spending on schools (£835 million in England). In March 1998, he announced a further £200 million for education in England in 1998–99, of which £10 million was for Education Action Zones; £90 million for capital spending in schools to reduce infant class sizes, eliminate outside toilets and improve heating systems; £90 million to improve skills and £10 million for the University for Industry.

  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much of the extra money for education announced under the Comprehensive Spending Review (Cm. 4011) has been(a) allocated to and (b) spent on (i) employment and (ii) Welfare to Work programmes, for each relevant financial year. [98246]

  Mr. Blunkett
  None of the extra money announced for education under the Comprehensive Spending Review has been allocated to, or spent on, employment. Of the 758
  Department's total budget the following sums have been allocated to employment and Welfare to Work programmes:

  £ million

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  Employment

  1,028

  1,026

  1,022

  Welfare to Work1

  86

  86

  86

  1 The majority of the Welfare to Work programmes are funded from the Windfall Tax levy. The Comprehensive Spending Review settlement did not include Windfall Tax levy allocations.

  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the announcements of extra expenditure on education since July 1998 not included in the additional money announced under the Comprehensive Spending Review (Cm. 4011), giving the dates of those announcements and amounts announced in each case. [98252]

  Mr. Blunkett
  The March 1999 Budget provided £400 million for England from the Capital Modernisation Fund for a network of learning centres aimed at improving standards and access to IT; £230 million across the UK from the National Lottery's New Opportunities Fund to help teachers purchase IT equipment for use at home (England's share of this was £180 million, 80 per cent.) and £49 million for schools in England to spend on books.

  The November 1999 Pre-Budget Report provided £100 million PFI credits for schools; and £50 million from the windfall levy for the New Deal for Schools to repair and replace school buildings (of which England's share was £43 million).

  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much of the extra money for education announced under the Comprehensive Spending Review (Cm. 4011) included(a) matched funding for standards fund and other centrally-managed projects contributed by local authorities and (b) permission to local authorities and others to increase their borrowings. [98245]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  Plans for the standards fund and capital allocations for 2000–01 and 2001–02 have not been finalised, so it is not possible to give a full answer to the question. In 1999–2000, English local authorities matched funding contributions to the Standards Fund were £120m higher than in 1998–99; Education Standard Spending Assessments in 1999–2000 rose by £1,100m. Credit approvals for education capital expenditure in England increased by £77m in the same period. The costs of this additional borrowing are supported through the capital financing standard spending assessment (CFSSA); the increases in CFSSA do not form part of the £19 billion.

  Education Initiatives (Funding)
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to his answer of 28 June 1999,Official Report, columns 56–58, concerning education initiatives launched since May 1997, how much of each initiative's budget was (a) spent centrally and (b) distributed in grants in financial years (i) 1997–98 and (ii) 1998–99. [98327]
  759
  Mr. Blunkett
  The programmes listed in my right hon. Friend's response of 28 June are all specific grants distributed by my Department. None of these funds were spent centrally.

  Socially Excluded Young People
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what arrangements he will make to ensure that personal advisers to socially excluded young people are(a) suitably qualified, (b) monitored in their activities and (c) offered a career structure. [94749]

  Ms Jowell
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Departmental Vehicles
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the total number of vehicles used by his Department and its agencies fuelled by(a) petrol, (b) diesel and (c) liquid petroleum gas; and what plans he has to increase the rate of conversion of those vehicles to liquid petroleum gas. [98208]

  Mr. Wills
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Departmental Waste
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to set targets for the recycling of waste(a) paper, (b) cardboard, (c) glass, (d) metal, (e) plastic and (f) other products created by his Department and its agencies; and if he will make a statement. [98222]

  Mr. Wills
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Class Sizes
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to his answers of 27 July 1999,Official Report, column 185, and 29 October 1999, Official Report, column 1009, concerning class sizes, when he now plans to write to the hon. Member for Hertsmere. [98237]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  I replied to the hon. Member, as promised, on 4 November. Copies of my letter have also been placed in the Library.

  Mr. Tony Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what measures he is taking to reduce class sizes in Northampton South. [98321]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  Our pledge is to reduce all infant class sizes to 30 or below by September 2001 at the latest. The number of children in large infant classes in Northamptonshire Local Education Authority has already been reduced from 5,773 in January 1998 to 2,749 in September 1999, reflecting a national fall from 485,000 to 181,000 over the same period. Northamptonshire LEA's approved Infant Class Size Plan will reduce infant class 760
  sizes to 30 or less in virtually all schools by September 2000. We have already provided revenue funding amounting to £363,000 for 24 teachers and capital funding of £1.25 million for 15 new classrooms to enable Northamptonshire to carry out its plan. We will shortly agree further funding so that the Authority can implement in full next year.

  New Deal (North-west)
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many people have benefited from the New Deals in(a) the north-west and (b) Lancashire. [97612]

  Ms Jowell
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  New Deal Gateway
  Ms Shipley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many young people who have been in local authority care have completed the New Deal Gateway and left for(a) unsubsidised employment, (b) subsidised employment, (c) education or training, (d) an environmental task force, (e) the voluntary sector, (f) other benefits, (g) other known destinations and (h) unknown destinations. [97303]

  Ms Jowell
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Ms Shipley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many young people who have been in local authority care have entered the New Deal; and what proportion this represents of care leavers aged 18 to 24 years who are unemployed. [97305]

  Ms Jowell
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  IT Projects
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the information technology projects undertaken by his Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies, including the(a) start date, (b) planned completion date, (c) expected completion date, (d) planned cost and (e) estimated cost; and if he will make a statement. [98021]

  Mr. Wills
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy in the Library.

  EU Directive (Armed Forces)
  Mr. Stinchcombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps the Government have taken to implement EU Directive 94/33/EC on the protection of young people at work in relation to the safety of the working conditions of personnel under the age of 18 years in the armed services. [96589]

  Mr. Spellar
  I have been asked to reply.

  I will write to my hon. Friend and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

WALES

  Financial Allocations
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales for what reasons an extra £35 million was allocated to his Department in addition to the block grant during the financial year 1998–99. [98020]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  The £35 million was allocated to the Welsh Office as a call on the Reserve in 1998–99, to meet inescapable expenditure in that year.

  Public Sector Employment
  Mr. Denzil Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of the work force in Wales was employed in the public sector at the latest available date. [98041]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  According to the Summer 1999 Labour Force Survey, between June and August 1999 an estimated 27 per cent. of people in employment in Wales were working in the public sector.

  EU Structural Funds
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Secretary of the National Assembly for Wales concerning how funding approved under Objective 1 criteria is to be spent. [98193]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  The content of the plan setting out the strategic priorities for use of Objective 1 funding in West Wales and the Valleys is a matter for the National Assembly for Wales and the Welsh Structural Funds partnership. The exact nature of schemes to be approved for funding will depend on projects which come forward from sponsors within the priorities set out in the plan once approved by the European Commission. However, I take a keen interest in seeking to ensure that a wide range of good quality projects come forward from a range of partners and have discussed this with the First Secretary of the National Assembly for Wales and other interested parties.

  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Secretary of the National Assembly for Wales regarding obtaining matched funding for Objective 1 funding; and what assessment he has made of the sources this funding will come from. [98194]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  The First Secretary and I meet frequently and discuss a range of issues, including Objective 1. There are many potential sources of match funding, both private and public sector, but it is a matter for regional partners and project sponsors to identify match funding for projects.

  Departmental Waste
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to set targets for the recycling of waste(a) paper, (b) cardboard, (c) glass, (d) metal, (e) plastic
  762
  and (f) other products created by his Department and its agencies; and if he will make a statement. [98232]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  My Department's approach to waste management is based on the three "R"s, with "Recovery" (i.e. recycling, composting and energy recovery) following "Reduce" and "Re-use" as the preferred options for reducing waste sent to landfill. This should help us to achieve the Green Ministers' target for Government Departments of recovering a minimum of 40 per cent. of total office waste, with at least 25 per cent. of that recovery coming from recycling or composting, in 2000–01, as published in "Greening Government: First Annual Report of the Green Ministers Committee 1998–99".

  My Department has a staff of 34 and a correspondingly small production of waste. We have, therefore, set no individual targets for paper, cardboard, glass, metal, plastic and other materials, and we do not keep formal records of waste recycled. We recycle paper as a matter of routine.

  Departmental Vehicles
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the total number of vehicles used by his Department and its agencies fuelled by(a) petrol, (b) diesel and (c) liquid petroleum gas; and what plans he has to increase the rate of conversion of those vehicles to liquid petroleum gas. [98198]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  This Department uses two cars from the Government Car Service which are both fuelled by petrol.

  It is the policy of the Government Car Service to offer models fuelled by liquid petroleum gas when cars are due for renewal, and this matter will be considered then.

SCOTLAND

  Health Service Expenditure
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the expenditure per head on health services in Scotland for the current financial year and each of the two previous financial years. [97966]

  Dr. Reid
  Planned net expenditure on the National Health Service in Scotland in 1999–2000 was £964 per head. Actual expenditure per head in 1997–98 and 1998–99 was £850 and £901 respectively. Responsibility for the National Health Service in Scotland is now a matter for the Scottish Executive.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the expenditure per head for each Scottish health board area estimated for the current financial year and for each of the previous two financial years. [97965]

  Dr. Reid
  The identifiable net cash expenditure per head of population for each Health Board in 1997–98 and
  763
  1998–99 and the planned expenditure for 1999–2000 is set out in the table.

  11997–98

  11998–99

  21999–2000

  Argyll and Clyde

  818

  861

  872

  Ayrshire and Arran

  817

  858

  880

  Borders

  824

  876

  892

  Dumfries and Galloway

  833

  877

  911

  Fife

  810

  866

  869

  Forth Valley

  843

  889

  899

  Grampian

  859

  914

  922

  Greater Glasgow

  859

  885

  910

  Highland

  855

  893

  896

  Lankarkshire

  818

  865

  887

  Lothian

  889

  911

  922

  Orkney

  975

  1,082

  961

  Shetland

  979

  1,013

  1,022

  Tayside

  886

  939

  945

  Western Isles

  970

  1,024

  986

  1 Outturn

  2 Plan

  The figures do not take account of the cost of services provided on a national basis nor is it possible to differentiate between expenditure on a Health Board's own resident population and expenditure on some services provided to other Health Boards' residents. Health Board areas' weighted population figures have been used in the above calculations. The figures for 1999–2000 are not directly comparable with the earlier years because some services, such as ambulances, which were included in Health Boards' allocations in 1997–98 and 1998–99 are being met centrally in 1999–2000. Similarly the 1999–2000 figures do not take account of allocations, such as end year flexibility, which have still to be notified to Health Boards. The above figures are on a cash basis and therefore the year on year comparisons may also be distorted by capital expenditure. Responsibility for the National Health Service in Scotland is now a matter for the Scottish Executive.

  Departmental Vehicles
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total number of vehicles used by his Department and its agencies fuelled by(a) petrol, (b) diesel and (c) liquid petroleum gas; and what plans he has to increase the rate of conversion of those vehicles to liquid petroleum gas. [98200]

  Dr. Reid
  My Department leases 2 vehicles from the Government Car Service.

  Departmental Waste
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to set targets for the recycling of waste(a) paper, (b) cardboard, (c) glass,
  (d) metal, (e) plastic and (f) other products created by his Department and its agencies; and if he will make a statement. [98228]

  Dr. Reid
  My Department's approach to waste management is based on the three "R"s: with "Recovery" (ie. recycling, composting and energy recovery) following "Reduce" and "Re-use" as the preferred options for reducing waste sent to landfill. This should help us to achieve the Green Ministers' target for Government Departments of recovering a minimum of 40 per cent. of 764
  total office waste, with at least 25 per cent. of that recovery coming from recycling or composting, in 2000–01, as published in "Greening Government; First Annual Report of the Green Ministers Committee 1998–99".

TREASURY

  PSBR
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the Treasury's estimate of the public sector borrowing requirement or surplus for(a) April 2000, (b) September 2000, (c) April 2001, (d) September 2001 and (e) April 2002. [97004]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  The Pre-Budget Report includes annual forecasts of the surplus on current budget and public sector net borrowing. The Government do not publish monthly forecasts of these.

  ISAs and PEPs
  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many new savers have been created by the creation of ISAs. [97005]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Inland Revenue does not yet have detailed information about individuals tax free savings patterns. As my predecessor told the hon. Gentleman on 8 July, this information will be available once the Inland Revenue have analysed provider's annual returns after ISAs have been running for a full year.

  Mr. Fallon
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the total value of(a) ISAs sold in the period April to September and (b) PEPs sold in the same months in 1998. [97862]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  [holding answer 9 November 1999]: Aggregate figures for the total amount subscribed to ISAs up to 5 October 1999 are not yet available.

  Scotland
  Ms Osborne
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his assessment of the impact of his economic policies in Scotland. [97006]

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  In Scotland, as in the rest of the United Kingdom, we have created a sound and credible platform for stability that will help us attain our objective of high and stable levels of growth and employment.

  Miss Begg
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the impact of his Department' s policies on the levels of employment and unemployment in Scotland. [97018]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Present policies are designed to achieve high and stable levels of growth and employment through promoting employment opportunities for all—in Scotland as well as the UK. Since the election, Scottish unemployment has fallen by 36,000 and Scottish employment has risen by 20,000, both in line with UK trends.

  Exports
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the change in price competitiveness of British exports since May 1997. [97007]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  There is strong evidence that exporters are coping well with the continued high level of sterling. Export volumes rose strongly over the summer to their highest ever level, and latest surveys show manufacturing output in October growing for the seventh consecutive month.

  Tax Burden
  Mr. Ruffley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received regarding the national tax burden. [97008]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The Government have had a number of representations on this issue.

  Mr. Fallon
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will indicate the difference between the tax burden in 1996–97 and his projection for the tax burden in 2001–02 on the basis that income tax credits are accounted for as expenditure rather than as negative taxation. [97011]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Total income tax credits in 1996–97 were 3 per cent. of GDP as compared to the Pre-Budget Report projection of 0.7 per cent. of GDP in 2001–02. New tax credits will be paid by the Inland Revenue through pay packets as income tax credits and will be regarded as such by families that receive them.

  Working Families Tax Credit
  Mrs. Ellman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the contribution Working Families Tax Credit is making to the alleviation of poverty in Liverpool, Riverside. [97009]

  Mr. Timms
  The Working Families Tax Credit tackles poverty by boosting the incomes of 1.5 million working families including the constituents of my hon. Friend, who will receive on average £24 a week more than they would have with Family Credit. The Working Families Tax Credit makes work pay and will increase employment opportunities.

  Mr. Gareth Thomas
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many inquiries have been received by the Working Families Tax Credit response line from Wales. [97020]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Up to midnight on 2 November, there were just under 24,000 calls to the Working Families Tax Credit response line from callers with a Welsh post code.

  Caroline Flint
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact the working families tax credit will have in increasing the financial incentives for women to work. [97021]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Working Families Tax Credit makes work pay and will improve incentives for all working families. The childcare tax credit which provides up to £105 per week towards childcare costs, will be of particular help to women who want to work.
  766
  Mr. Goggins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of children in Wythenshawe and Sale, East who will be removed from poverty as result of the Working Families Tax Credit. [97025]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The measures announced by the Chancellor in his last budget, including WFTC, will together lift one and a quarter million people out of poverty—800,000 of them children. There is, however, no estimate available for Wythenshawe and Sale, East.

  Caroline Flint
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he will take to ensure that recipients of working families tax credit are able to make provision for a retirement pension. [98030]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 10 November 1999]: Most recipients of working families tax credit pay national insurance contributions towards entitlement for retirement pension. For those who do not, pension entitlement is safeguarded by the automatic award of national insurance credits for each week of receipt of working families tax credit.

  Caroline Flint
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many calls have been received by the Working Families Tax Credit Hotline since its inception(a) nationally and (b) in the Yorkshire and the Humberside Region. [98031]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 10 November 1999]: Up to midnight last night, the telephone response line had handled just over 700,000 calls nationally. In the Tyne & Yorkshire TV region the response line had handled just over 80,000 calls.

  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many new claims for Working Families Tax Credit were granted during October; how many new claims there were for family credit in each of the previous 12 months; and how many six-monthly renewals of entitlement have occurred in each of the previous 13 months; [98292]

  (2) how many calls about Working Families Tax Credit have been received at the Inquiry Line; and how many have led to a claim being granted. [98295]

  Dawn Primarolo
  I shall write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

  Ms Julie Morgan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many phone calls have been made to the freephone number for information about the Working Families Tax Credit(a) in total and (b) from Wales. [98405]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Up to midnight last night, the telephone response line had handled just over 700,000 calls nationally. We estimate that there were around 27,000 calls from callers with a Welsh post code.

  Bank of England Independence
  Mr. Heppell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received on his policy of independence of the Bank of England. [97010]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  A wide range of people and international organisations, such as the IMF and OECD, have welcomed the Chancellor's decision to grant the
  767
  Bank of England operational independence to set interest rates to meet the Government's inflation target. In a recent report the Treasury Committee said:
  "The Chancellor's decision to transfer day to day control of monetary policy to a politically independent Bank of England has been vindicated so far in the transparency and technical quality of the process of decision making."

  The public can be confident that low inflation will be delivered in practice. This is the most important contribution monetary policy can make to achieving the Government's objective of high and stable levels of growth and employment.

  Mr. Plaskitt
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of his policy of granting operational independence over monetary policy to the Bank of England. [97017]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  A Treasury paper "the New Monetary Policy Framework", published on 19 October, concluded that the Monetary Policy Committee's record so far in meeting the Government's inflation target was a good one. Inflation has stayed close to the Government's target and is expected to remain so; interest rates peaked at half the level recorded in the previous cycle; and despite global instability last year, the UK avoided a repeat of the boom and bust seen so often in the past. The success of the new framework has also been recognised by international bodies such as the IMF and OECD.

  Motoring Taxes
  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on(a) vehicle excise duty and (b) fuel duties. [97012]

  Mr. Timms
  The Pre-Budget Report document published on 9 November provides the latest explanation of policy on vehicle excise fuel duties.

  East Midlands
  Mr. Reed
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has for encouraging greater economic growth in the East Midlands. [97013]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Since the election we have been putting in place a new framework of stability, employability, productivity and responsibility to deliver the Government's objectives of high and stable levels of growth and employment. This framework offers the best prospect of increased prosperity for all—both in the East Midlands and the rest of the UK.

  The East Midlands Development Agency, which became operational from 1 April this year, will help to further economic development and regeneration in the East Midlands. In promoting employment, business efficiency, investment and competitiveness, the agency will work with business and the wider community towards the Government's aim of sustained economic prosperity.

  HIP Countries
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of whether the International Monetary Fund has adequate resources for the enhanced heavily indebted poor countries initiative. [97014]
  768
  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The IMF/World Bank Annual Meetings in Washington in September reached agreement on all the elements of a financing package that will enable the Fund to make its full contribution to the HIPC Initiative.

  Climate Change Levy
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received on the proposed climate change levy. [97015]

  Mr. Timms
  My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has received a number of representations on the climate change levy. The views expressed fed in to the further details on the design of the levy announced by the Chancellor in his Pre-Budget Report statement.

  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Chancellor of the exchequer if he will make a statement on exemption from his proposed climate change levy. [97026]

  Mr. Timms
  The Government believe that all sectors of the economy must play their part in helping tackle the problem of climate change. So there will not be complete exemptions from the climate change levy for particular firms or sectors. In line with Lord Marshall's recommendation, the Government propose to retain an incentive for all firms to save energy at the margin. But the Government do recognise the special position of energy intensive industries and intends to offer an 80 per cent. discount to those energy intensive sectors that sign energy efficiency agreements which meet the Government's criteria.

  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what calculation he has made of the effects of different levels of climate change levy on enabling the UK to meet the targets for reduction in greenhouse gas emissions under the Kyoto protocol and the Government's domestic goal for reducing carbon dioxide emissions; [97722]

  (2) what assessment he has made of the impact of the climate change levy assuming that all its costs are passed on to consumers; and if he will make a statement; [97623]

  (3) what assessment he has made of the report by Business Strategies entitled "The Climate Change Levy—Impact on the UK Economy"; and if he will make a statement; [97625]

  (4) what calculation he has made of the cost of collection and administration of the climate change levy for (a) the Government, (b) large companies and (c) small and medium sized enterprises; and if he will make a statement; [97855]

  (5) what representations he has received from scientists and engineers about the effect of the climate change levy on (a) large companies and (b) small and medium sized enterprises; and if he will make a statement; [97840]

  (6) if he will assess the effect the climate change levy will have on GDP, based on the assumption that industry will not be able to pass on the climate change levy to customers; and if he will make a statement; [97858]

  (7) what assessment he has made of the effect the climate change levy will have on the balance of payments between the UK and the Republic of Ireland; and if he will make a statement; [97859]
  769
  (8) if he will exempt companies which make reductions in their carbon dioxide emissions commensurate with the UK's national reduction targets agreed at Kyoto from the climate change levy; and if he will make a statement; [97861]

  (9) what assessment he has made of the impact the climate change levy would have on future investment in the UK; and if he will make a statement. [97854]

  Mr. Timms
  My hon. Friend's questions touch upon a number of issues surrounding the introduction of the climate change levy and I will write to him shortly to respond in full to the points raised. I will arrange for a copy of that letter to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the application of the Climate Change Levy to the horticultural industry. [98406]

  Mr. Timms
  The Government believe that all sectors of the economy must play their part in tackling climate change. The climate change levy is designed to be revenue neutral for the private sector as a whole, with all the revenues raised being fully recycled back to business through a cut in employers' National Insurance Contributions (NICs) and additional support for energy efficiency measures.

  It is not possible to say what the exact impact of the levy on the horticultural sector will be. That will depend on a number of factors including, for example, their future energy consumption, what use they make of electricity generated from "new" renewable sources of energy and in "good quality" combined heat and power plants, and whether they take advantage of the proposed introduction of a system of enhanced capital allowances for energy saving investments. The horticulture sector will also benefit from the lower overall rates of the climate change levy announced by the Chancellor in his Pre-Budget Report statement.

  Credit Unions
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assistance he offers to credit unions and similar organisations which provide help to those who cannot or choose not to borrow through more traditional means. [97016]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Government support the credit union ethos of encouraging people to start to save. plan to make an announcement shortly on a number of measures designed to help credit unions.

  Personal Service Companies
  Mrs. Lait
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his policy on the taxation of personal service companies. [97019]

  Dawn Primarolo
  We believe that people will be able to use service companies if they wish, as long as they pay their fair share of tax and National Insurance Contributions.

  Saving
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures he has taken to encourage saving. [97022]
  770
  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Government's strategy is two-fold. Firstly, it is to ensure economic stability, including low and stable inflation. High and variable inflation, such as the UK experienced in the past, discourages saving. The Government has reformed the macroeconomic framework to build a sound and credible platform of stability: inflation is close to target and expected to remain so. This will encourage savings and investment.

  Supporting this is the introduction of a variety of measures. These include tax free individual savings accounts (ISAs) for short term at-need savings; pensions, especially stakeholder pensions, for planning for retirement; improved transparency and value of savings products, such as CAT standards for ISAs and pooled pensions investments (ppis); better regulation of the financial services industry through the Financial Services and Markets Bill; and raising consumer awareness, such as the Financial Services Authority's plans for comparative information on savings and investment products.

  Taxation
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the extra tax payable since May 1997 as a result of his Budget measures. [97023]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Costings of the measures in the July 1997, March 1998 and March 1999 Budgets are given in tables 2.2, 1.3 and 1.3 of the respective Financial Statement and Budget Reports.

  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the net change to the amount of tax payable in the period 1999–2000 to 2001–02 as a result of the three Budgets since July 1997. [97028]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Costings of the measures in the July 1997, March 1998 and March 1999 Budgets are given in tables 2.2, 1.3 and 1.3 of the respective Financial Statement and Budget Reports.

  Pesticides Tax
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received regarding the proposed pesticides tax. [97024]

  Mr. Timms
  Ninety nine responses were received in the course of the consultation exercise on the design of a tax or charge scheme for pesticides. A summary of these was published on 9 November.

  Fuel Duty Escalator
  Mr. Blizzard
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the future of the fuel duty escalator. [97027]

  Mr. Timms
  The Government's policy on the fuel duty escalator is set out on page 121 of the 1999 Financial Statement & Budget Report.

  European Central Bank
  Mr. John Cryer
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the mechanisms of public accountability of the European Central Bank. [97029]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The EC Treaty contains several provisions designed to ensure the accountability of the European Central Bank. In accordance with Article 113(3) of the Treaty, the ECB is required to submit an annual report on the activities of the European System of Central Banks, and on the monetary policy of both the previous and current year to the European Parliament, the Council, the Commission and the European Council. The President of the ECB is required to present the report to the Council and to the European Parliament which may hold a general debate on that basis. In addition, the President of the ECB and the other members of the ECB's Executive Board may, at the request of the European Parliament or on their own initiative, be heard by the committees of the European Parliament.

  "Building Trust in Statistics"
  Mr. Denzil Davies
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total cost to public funds of printing and publishing Building Trust in Statistics (Cm 4412). [98040]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Director of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to reply.

  Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Denzil Davies, dated 11 November 1999:
  As the Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary question on the total cost to public funds of printing and publishing Building Trust in Statistics (CM. 4412).
  The cost to the ONS for printing and publishing Building Trust in Statistics was £2,059. All other printing costs fall entirely to The Stationery Office, the private sector publishers.

  Import Duties
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many category-lines of duty there are on imported goods and services under the Integrated Tariff of the United Kingdom. [98162]

  Dawn Primarolo
  There are 15,600 commodity lines within the Integrated Tariff. Identifying how many carry positive rates of duty would be disproportionately costly. Services are not covered by the Integrated Tariff.

  Land Settlement Association
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received as to the fairness and legality of the tax treatment of former tenants of the Land Settlement Association in respect of the settlement of their litigation against the Ministry of Agriculture in 1991; and if he will make a statement. [98082]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Representations have been made querying the raising of tax charges by the Inland Revenue in respect of out of court compensation paid by MAFF to a number of former tenants of the Land Settlement Association. It has been explained that a compensation payment received for personal hardship is not liable to 772
  income tax, but a compensation payment received for the loss of trading profits is taxable as trading income, and that the nature of a compensation payment in an out of court settlement depends on the terms of the settlement read in the light of the pleadings.

  It has also been made clear that Ministers do not intervene in individual cases. The Inland Revenue's independence from Treasury Ministers in the handling of individuals' tax affairs must be scrupulously observed. Where disputes continue between taxpayers and the Revenue it is for the Appeal Commissioners and the Courts to determine how the law is to be applied.

  National Insurance Fund
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the deficit and surplus of the National Insurance Fund in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available. [98059]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The available figures for Great Britain are provided in the table.

  £million

  Year

  1Surplus/deficit

  1989–90

  -62

  1990–91

  1,485

  1991–92

  -3,459

  1992–93

  -4,897

  1993–94

  1,112

  1994–95

  2,279

  1995–96

  1,008

  1996–97

  -98

  1997–98

  1,871

  1998–99

  2,565

  1 Excess of receipts over repayments

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the loss to the National Insurance Fund in 2001–02 and 2002–03 from the reduction of employers' contributions resulting from the introduction of a levy on business use of energy in April 2001; and what proposals he has to compensate the Fund for that loss. [97618]

  Mr. Timms
  The Chancellor announced in the Pre-Budget Report that the employers' rate of National Insurance would be cut from 12.2 per cent. to 11.9 per cent. This change will reduce the level of the National Insurance Fund by around £1 billion in 2001–02 and in 2002–03. A Treasury Grant is used to ensure that the balances on the fund are maintained.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer to my right hon. Friend the Member for Birkenhead (Mr. Field) of 29 October 1999,Official Report, column 1031, by how much the National Insurance Fund balance at the end of each year from 1997–98 to 2001–02 inclusive exceeds the minimum level recommended by the Government Actuary. [97617]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Estimates for Great Britain are shown in the table.

  £ million

  Fund balance1

  Minimum level

  Excess

  1997–98

  9,608

  7,099

  2,509

  1998–99

  12,173

  7,429

  4,744

  1999–20002

  13,702

  7,758

  5,943

  773

  £ million

  Fund balance1

  Minimum level

  Excess

  2000–012

  15,330

  7,965

  7,365

  2001–022

  16,730

  8,299

  8,430

  1 At the end of the year

  2 The estimates for these years are based on the difference between forecasts of receipts and expenditure. Changes in these forecasts could have a substantial impact on the balance.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the balance of the National Insurance Fund at(a)31 March, (b)30 September and (c) the latest date for which information is available. [97359]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The balance of the National Insurance Fund (NIF) in Great Britain is estimated to be £12,173 million at 31 March 1999, rising to £13,702 million at 31 March 2000. An estimate for the balance of the NIF at September 1999 would be available only at disproportionate cost.

  Independent Financial Advisers
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many independent financial advisers have applied to the pass scheme for professional indemnity insurance and have not obtained such insurance. [98078]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Pension Advisers Support System (PASS) was set up by those life offices which use independent financial advisers (IFAs) to provide help to small IFAs in the conduct of the pensions review. It is a voluntary scheme designed to improve speed of delivery of the regulatory requirements to review cases of potential pensions mis-selling.

  PASS now has 2,910 members who benefit from a range of services. PASS itself does not provide professional indemnity (PI) insurance but offers members access to a panel of brokers able to assist in securing cover, and a panel of solicitors able to provide confidential advice on legal PI issues.

  The PIA requires its member firms to maintain PI cover of a specified standard. While the price of that insurance has risen for some firms in the recent past, it continues to be widely available. While PIA are aware that some IFAs have had problems in finding compliant PI cover, IFAs who follow PIA's standards and guidance should be able to obtain it.

  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many independent financial advisers have been prevented by the regulators from offering financial advice to the public, and for what reasons, since the start of phase 1 of the Pensions Mis-selling Review. [98077]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Since 1 April 1995, when the Personal Investment Authority (PIA) issued guidelines to the industry on Phase 1 of the review, 261 Independent Financial Adviser (IFA) firms regulated by the PIA have had their authorisation revoked, and were therefore prevented from offering investment advice to the public. The PIA can revoke firms' authorisation for a wide variety of reasons. No detailed analysis is readily available of the grounds for revocation in the case of these firms.

  Financial Services Authority
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has held with the Financial Services Authority on the subject of financial exclusion; and if he will make a statement. [98057]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Financial Services Authority was represented on the Policy Action Team which examined access to financial services, whose report will be published shortly.

  ECOFIN Council
  Mr. Jim Marshall
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the outcome was of the ECOFIN Council held in Brussels on 8 November; and if he will make a statement. [98156]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Paymaster General attended the Economic and Finance Council of Ministers in Brussels on 8 November.

  There was a discussion of the proposed "tax package" (code of conduct on business taxation, taxation of savings and elimination of withholding taxes on cross order interest and royalty payments between companies). The United Kingdom position, set out in its paper on international bonds presented by the Chancellor of the Exchequer to the informal meeting of the Council in September, remains unchanged.

  The Council agreed the detail of the funding package for HIPC (highly indebted poor countries) announced in Washington in September. A draft report on economic policy co-ordination was introduced by the chairman of the Economic and Finance Committee. This will be discussed again at the meeting on 29 November. A common statement on the introduction of euro notes and coins was agreed. The renewal of the European Investment Bank's mandate for lending to third countries was agreed, subject to a reservation by one member state. The Council took note of a Commission communication on risk capital and invited the Commission to prepare, for the Special European Council in Lisbon next March, a monitoring and benchmarking mechanism which would enable the Council to develop and implement the Risk capital Action Plan by identifying clear priorities and setting measurable objectives where appropriate. The chairman of the Economic Policy Committee (EPC) presented the joint opinions of the EPC and the Employment and Labour Market committee on the draft Guidelines for member states' employment policies for the year 2000 and on the draft Recommendations on the implementation of member states' employment policies. These will be discussed further at the joint ECOFIN/Social Affairs Council on 29 November.

  Excise Duty
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated annual amount of tax forgone as a consequence of the cross channel trade in(a) alcoholic drinks and (b) tobacco products. [97544]

  Dawn Primarolo
  HM Customs and Excise's latest estimates of the amount of revenue lost (excise duty and VAT) through legitimate cross-border shopping in 1998
  775
  and cross-Channel smuggling in 1999 were published in the table 5.1 of the Pre-Budget Report, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Middle-income Earners
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to relieve the tax burden on middle-income earners, defined as those earning between £15,000 and £29,000 per year. [97926]

  Dawn Primarolo
  As the Chancellor announced in his last Budget, and reaffirmed in the Pre-Budget Report, the basic rate of income tax will be cut from 23p to 22p from April 2000.

  Savings Tax
  Mr. Alan Campbell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment has been made of the cost of extending the 10 pence starting rate of tax to savings. [96863]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Chancellor announced in the Pre-Budget report that the starting rate of tax would apply to savings from April 1999 with a cost of £110 million. This estimate is based on the 1997–98 Survey of Personal Incomes.

  Environmental Trusts
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list(a) the rules governing the local environmental trusts created under the provisions of landfill tax legislation, (b) the method or format by which nominated trustees are to be selected and (c) the common core provisions that have to exist in any trust's constitution, in particular in relation to safeguarding the trust's work from the interests of the industries contributing to the trusts. [97401]

  Mr. Timms
  [holding answer 8 November 1999]: The Landfill Tax Regulations 1996 contain the legislative framework within which the Landfill Tax Environmental Bodies Scheme operates. Regulation 33 lays down the conditions that an environmental body has to meet in order for contributions to it to qualify for tax credits under the scheme. Regulation 33(1) precludes an environmental body from applying any of its funds for the benefit of any contributing landfill operator, and specifies that, to be eligible for approval, a body must not be controlled by one or more local authorities.

  ENTRUST, the regulator for the scheme, also publishes literature detailing its requirements of prospective environmental bodies. I have asked ENTRUST to send a copy to my hon. Friend.

  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the membership of the regulatory body overseeing the work of environmental trusts set up under the landfill tax legislation, indicating from where the members are drawn, the duration of their office and their terms of reference. [97402]

  Mr. Timms
  [holding answer 8 November 1999]: I am arranging for the information asked for by my hon. Friend about ENTRUST, the regulator of the landfill tax environmental bodies credit scheme, to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Labour-intensive Services (VAT)
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals he has submitted to the European Commission for the lowering of zero rating of VAT on labour-intensive services delivered directly to the final consumer. [97391]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 5 November 1999]: Zero rating would not be permitted under the experimental scheme as the new Directive provides only for reduced rates of not less than 5 per cent. Any change to VAT coverage would be for the Chancellor to decide in the next Budget.

  Mrs. Browning
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations Her Majesty's Government have made to the European Commission about Council Directive 1999/85/EC concerning reduced VAT rates on labour-intensive services. [98176]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The UK has made it clear to the Commission that any change to VAT rates and coverage would be for the Chancellor to decide in the next Budget.

  Gold
  Sir Peter Tapsell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in what form authority was given to the Governor of the Bank of England to sign the statement issued on 26 September by 15 European central banks entitled, Statement on Gold. [97392]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  [holding answer 8 November 1999]: By long-standing arrangement, the Bank acts as the Treasury's agent in managing the reserves. As is normal on such occasions the Treasury gave the Bank authority to act.

  GDP (Health Spending)
  Mr. Hilary Benn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the proportion of GDP spent on the NHS in each year since 1970. [96185]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  I will write to my hon. Friend.

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Tyrie
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 27 July 1999,Official Report, columns 403–04, on special advisers, if he will give the cost incurred by Treasury special advisers, including travel and accommodation, for each individual occasion of official travel listed in the paper, Official Travel Overseas by Treasury Special Advisers 1997–99. [96968]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer the former Economic Secretary gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Hove (Mr. Caplin) on 27 July. Details of official travel overseas by Treasury special advisers were placed in the Library of the House on that day. The cost of overseas travel by special advisers accompanying Treasury Ministers was included in the figures in the Prime Minister's answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Stalybridge and Hyde (Mr. Pendry) on 17 June 1999,Official Report, columns 196–97.

  VAT (France)
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what rate of VAT applies to(a) building repairs and (b) energy-saving materials in France. [98138]

  Dawn Primarolo
  France applies a standard VAT rate of 20.6 per cent. to general building repairs and the purchase of energy saving materials. There is also a reduced VAT rate of 5.5 per cent. for the repair and renovation of housing, which would include the installation of energy saving materials where they are supplied as part of such a service.

  Bookmakers
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of loss of revenue consequent upon bookmakers moving their business offshore. [98011]

  Mr. Timms
  [holding answer 10 November 1999]: No such estimate is available.

  Departmental Vehicles
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total number of vehicles used by his Department and its agencies fuelled by(a) petrol, (b) diesel and (c) liquid petroleum gas; and what plans he has to increase the rate of conversion of those vehicles to liquid petroleum gas. [98201]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The Treasury's cars are supplied by the Government Car and Despatch Agency (GCDA). Three of the six cars run on LPG. All new cars supplied under the GCDA contract will run on alternative fuels or will be fitted with the new technology "clean" engine which uses unleaded petrol. The contract to run the minibus, which connects our two London offices, will be renewed on 1 December and the minibus will run exclusively on low-sulphur diesel.

  Office for National Statistics

  The ONS uses a total of 11 cars within its Registration Inspectorate division. Of these, two are petrol and nine are diesel. There is no definite plan to convert the vehicles to liquid petroleum gas, but they are replaced every three years.

  The ONS facilities management division has three diesel vans, of which one is now redundant. There are no plans for conversion as the FM services are in the process of being outsourced—this is scheduled for completion by July 2000.

  HM Customs and Excise

  The HMC&E have a Departmental fleet which comprises 1,894 vehicles. Obviously the number of vehicles on the fleet is subject to (minimal) daily change in that each Collection regularly dispose of, and subsequently replace, vehicles on a rolling basis. Please note that the Department has no solely liquid petroleum gas vehicles on its fleet.

  The current breakdown of the fleet is given in the table.
  778
  Future Plans

  A further three vehicles already on fleet are being converted for bi-fuel usage within the next two months. We have no definitive plans to convert existing petrol/diesel vehicles to bi-fuel function on a major scale. The Department is "trialling" the above number of vehicles to determine their viability in meeting both the business need and compliance in meeting "green" obligations. Furthermore, such factors as the infrastructure to ensure that such vehicles represent a realistic, user friendly alternative to petrol/diesel powered vehicles and also the question of residual values are being monitored before a large scale commitment can be given to utilising bi-fuel vehicles on a large scale

  We will also be setting a target to reduce the Departmental vehicle fuel consumption by 10 per cent. in the coming year as part of the green initiative and to reduce costs.

  We have recently completed a trial with an electric vehicle at Heathrow airport and will analyse the findings before deciding if this type of fuel propulsion is a viable option.

  Inland Revenue

  The Inland Revenue have submitted a response which includes the Valuation Office Agency, Contributions Agency, National Criminal Intelligence Agency (NCIS) and the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency (CCTA). Their statement on future plans for PLG conversions also covers the above agencies.

  Future Plans

  "Both the IR pool and Private User Scheme (PUS) fleet have purchased and are currently running one LPG vehicle, plus we have been trialling them as a long term demos at various locations. We are also assessing the viability of electric vehicles. We have no definite plans for the wholesale conversion of the fleet at present. We are also monitoring the residual values of alternative fuelled vehicles as an on-going exercise before any final decisions are concluded.

  We are however down sizing the fleet in terms of the vehicle engine capacities quite substantially, ensuring that the vehicles being used by our offices and individuals meet the business requirement fully. Therefore offering better value for money and a cleaner environment."

  The UK Debt Management Office, Government Actuary's Department, National Savings and Royal Mint have no vehicles of their own.

  Departments and Agencies

  Petrol

  Diesel

  Petrol/LPG

  Total

  HM Customs & Excise

  1,117

  777

  117

  1,894

  Inland Revenue

  607

  800

  12

  1,407

  Valuation Office

  134

  169

  0

  303

  Contributions Agency

  118

  127

  0

  245

  National Criminal Intelligence Service

  135

  14

  0

  149

  Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency

  5

  1

  0

  6

  Royal Mint

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  779

  Departments and Agencies

  Petrol

  Diesel

  Petrol/LPG

  Total

  UK Debt Management Office

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Office for National Statistics

  2

  9

  2—

  11

  HMT

  2—

  3

  3

  6

  National Savings

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Government Actuary's Department

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Total

  2,118

  1,900

  20

  4,038

  1 This figure is included in the petrol figures (do not count twice)

  2 None

  Departmental Waste
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to set targets for the recycling of waste(a) paper, (b) cardboard, (c) glass, (d) metal, (e) plastic and (f) other products created by his Department and its agencies; and if he will make a statement. [98231]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Our Department's approach to waste management is to 'Reduce', 'Reuse' and 'Recover' (which includes recycling, composting and energy recovery) as the preferred options for reducing waste sent to landfill. This will help us to achieve the Green Ministers' target for Government Departments of recovering a minimum of 40 per cent. of total office waste and to reduce the proportion of controlled waste going to landfill to 60 per cent. by 2005.

  IR35
  Mr. Cotter
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what meetings he has had with representatives of the Professional Contractors Group to discuss IR35. [98128]

  Dawn Primarolo
  I have spoken with a number of people during the course of the consultation period and have received many written representations.

  Give as You Earn
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the cost to the Treasury of the Give as You Earn scheme since its inception; and if he will make a statement. [98000]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The cost of the tax relief under the Payroll Giving scheme since it was introduced in 1986 is £44 million, of which £7 million is the provisional cost in 1998–99. Annual costs are published in Inland Revenue Statistics.

  Take-up of Payroll Giving has improved in recent years, with the annual level of donations increasing threefold in the 1990s (1990–91 to 1998–99). Donations in 1998–99 were up 11 per cent. on the previous year. Research undertaken by the Inland Revenue for the Government's review of charity taxation suggests that there is considerable potential to increase take-up further.

  As a result of "Getting Britain Giving" measures announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his Pre Budget Report, the Government is abolishing the £1,200 maximum limit for donations under Payroll Giving. In future, employees will be able to give as much as they like through their pay packet. In addition, charities and
  780
  employers will be joining with the Inland Revenue in a campaign next summer to promote the scheme. The campaign will be backed by a time-limited supplement on Payroll Giving donations payable to charities for three years from April 2000, out of public expenditure.

  Endowments
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of tax payers in(a) the current tax year and (b) the 1998–99 tax year who have paid extra tax as a result of increasing their endowment payments in the last 10 years of their policy; and how much revenue is involved. [98334]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  I regret that no estimates are available for 1998–99 or the current tax year.

  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what revenue projections he has made for the tax yield from taxable additional payments in the last 10 years of endowment policies. [98332]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  None.

  Departmental Accommodation
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it departmental practice where Government Departments are seeking to rent or lease property from companies registered overseas in(a) tax havens or (b) otherwise to require the landlords to provide lessees with information as to corporate structure, directors' names and United Kingdom shareholdings prior to entering into such rent or leasing arrangements. [98269]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Departmental accommodation policy is a matter for individual Departments.

  Inland Revenue Staff
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 1 November 1999,Official Report, column 47, if he will add an additional column to the Table indicating the numbers of staff at each grade transferred from the Department of Social Security to the Inland Revenue. [98349]

  Dawn Primarolo
  All the staff of the Contributions Agency transferred to the Inland Revenue on 1 April 1999, the numbers being as follows:

  CA grade

  Number

  IR grade

  Civil service grade

  A1

  2,484

  E2

  AA

  A2

  67

  E1

  AO

  B1

  2,867

  E1

  AO

  B2

  1,963

  D

  EO

  B3

  319

  D

  EO

  C1

  196

  C2

  HEO

  C2

  263

  C2

  HEO

  C3

  115

  C1

  SEO

  D1

  41

  B

  UG7

  D2

  2

  B

  UG7

  D3

  10

  B

  UG6

  SCS

  6

  SCS

  SCS

  Total

  8,333

  —

  —

  Departmental Targets
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many targets have been agreed between his Department and (i) local authorities and (ii) other bodies apart from his own agencies and non-departmental public bodies. [98318]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  Departments have set out their key performance targets in Public Service Agreements (Cm 4181), and the measures of success they will use in the Output and Performance Analysis published by the Treasury on 31 March 1999.

  The Treasury has agreed shared Public Service Agreement targets with the Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Social Security and Department for Education and Employment. They are listed in the Output and Performance Analysis.

  Cash Planning Total
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the present public expenditure cash planning total for the year 2001–02 will remain unchanged when the Comprehensive Spending Review is rolled forward in 2000; and if he will make a statement. [98357]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  The Spending Review in 2000 will roll forward the spending plans agreed in the Comprehensive Spending Review for a further two years. The third year of the current plans (2001–02) will become the first year of the new planning period.

  Public spending classified within the control regime as Annually Managed Expenditure continues to be planned and managed on an annual basis; the level of Annually Managed Expenditure for 2001–02, and hence of Total Managed Expenditure, will be reviewed again in 2000.

  Windfall Tax
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 27 October 1999,Official Report, column 910, (1) what the total value is of the Windfall Tax reserve in the current financial year; and what it was in financial years 1997–98 and 1998–99; [98324]

  (2) if he will list the amounts of, and purposes for which, expenditure from the Windfall Tax reserve has been authorised to date; and whether such expenditure (i) may be authorised by the Department for Education and Employment alone or (ii) requires the prior agreement of the Chancellor of the Exchequer. [98326]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  The Windfall Tax reserve and the allocation of the Windfall Tax receipts as currently estimated are outlined in Table 4.1 of the 1999 Pre Budget Report.

  Expenditure from the Windfall Tax reserve is a matter for the Chancellor of the Exchequer, as chair of the Cabinet committee EA(WW).

  Primary Teachers
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many trained primary teachers are registered as unemployed. [97917]
  782
  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Director of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to reply.

  Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Colin Pickthall, dated 11 November 1999:
  As Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary question on trained primary teachers registered as unemployed.
  In September 1999, there were 3,584 people claiming unemployment-related benefits in the United Kingdom whose usual occupation was in the primary and nursery education teaching profession. 4,058 claimants said they were seeking a job in that profession. Separate figures for primary and nursery education are not available. Nor is information available on the number of claimants who have actually trained as primary school teachers.

  Mortality Rates
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the number of deaths linked with hypothermia in(a) the United Kingdom, (b) England, (c) Scotland, (d) Wales, (e) Greater London and (f) Sutton and Cheam for each of the last five years for those aged (i) 60 to 64 years, (ii) 65 to 79 years, (iii) over 80 years and (iv) all ages. [98351]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Director of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to reply.

  Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Paul Burstow, dated 11 November 1999:
  As Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary question asking for the number of deaths linked with hypothermia.
  Because of time constraints, figures are provided only for England and Wales.
  These are given in the table.

  Deaths where hypothermia was mentioned on the death certificate as the main or contributory cause of death, England & Wales, years of occurrence, 1994–1998

  Year of death

  All ages

  0–59

  60–64

  65–79

  80+

  1994

  345

  49

  10

  100

  186

  1995

  338

  46

  9

  91

  192

  1996

  414

  51

  7

  112

  244

  1997

  357

  52

  14

  98

  193

  1998

  352

  54

  14

  102

  182

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list excess winter mortality rates in(a) the United Kingdom, (b) England, (c) Scotland, (d) Wales, (e) Greater London and (f) Sutton and Cheam for each of the last five years in terms of (i) numbers and (ii) percentages for those aged (1) 60 to 64 years, (2) 65 to 79 years, (3) over 80 years and (4) all ages. [98352]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Director of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to reply.

  Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Paul Burstow, dated 11 November 1999:
  As Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary question asking for excess winter mortality rates.
  783
  Because of time constraints, figures are only provided for England and Wales and are also only available for age-groups which are slightly different from those requested.

  These are given in the table below.

  Excess Winter Mortality by age, England and Wales, 1993–94 to 1997–98

  Year

  0–64

  65–74

  75–84

  85+

  Total

  1993–4

  2,116

  4,164

  9,291

  10,330

  25,900

  1994–5

  2,200

  5,487

  9,703

  9,905

  27,295

  1995–06

  2,900

  7,073

  14.367

  15,855

  40,194

  1996–07

  3,040

  6,969

  17,537

  20,140

  47,685

  1997–08

  1,698

  4,203

  7,869

  9,130

  22,899

  Excess winter deaths are defined as the difference between the number of deaths during the four winter months (December to March) and the average number of deaths during the preceding autumn (August to November) and the following summer (April to July).

  Customs and Excise (Millennium Hours)
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what hours Her Majesty's Customs and Excise will be working over the Christmas and New Year period 1999–2000; and if those hours differ from arrangements in previous years. [98045]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The Department expects to have staff on duty round the clock throughout the Christmas and Millennium holidays. The levels of staffing will be determined locally by managers who will judge the relative level of risk from smuggling or other forms of evasion. There is no reason to expect the levels of attendance at Christmas to be different from previous years except where changes to traffic or other local factors have led to changes of risk.

  Special arrangements have been made for the Millennium holidays. Some 350–400 staff attendances will take place during the holidays to ensure IT and building systems are working correctly. For operational staff the numbers of staff on duty will be determined throughout the period by local managers again according to perceptions of risk and other needs. Managers will make these judgments taking into account the plans of shipping/airline companies to ensure that staffing levels are kept to the minimum necessary to meet the risk.

PRIME MINISTER

  Departmental Heads of Information
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the changes of personnel holding posts within the Civil Service as departmental heads of information since 1 May 1997. [96338]

  The Prime Minister
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Research and Information Office
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) what the anticipated annual running costs, including staff costs, are of the Research and Information Office within 10 Downing street; [96411]
  784
  (2) what is the job description of the head of the Research and Information Office within 10 Downing street. [96332]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 2 November 1999]: Bill Bush is employed as a Special Adviser to the Prime Minister under terms and conditions set out in the Model Contract for Special Advisers. Schedule 1 (part 1) of the Contract sets out the role and duties of Special Advisers. Bill Bush advises the Prime Minister on the operation and management of a single information resource at No. 10, the Research and Information Office (RIO), which provides briefing for the Prime Minister and No. 10 staff. A key part of the job is to advise on the use of the latest technology to enhance No. 10's Information Management Systems. The RIO is staffed by a mix of permanent civil servants and Special Advisers. The Private Secretary with responsibility for Parliamentary Affairs is the line manager for the permanent civil servants in the RIO. The anticipated annual running costs for the RIO, including staff costs, for 1999–2000 are £301,183.

  Downing Street (Maintenance)
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Prime Minister how much has been spent on(a) maintaining, (b) decorating and (c) otherwise improving 10 Downing street since 1 May 1997; how much has been spent on wallpaper; and what plans exist for future spending. [97594]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 8 November 1999]: Maintaining, decorating and otherwise improving 10 Downing street is part of a continuing programme of work. No. 10, now as in the past, is maintained to standards appropriate to its status as a Grade 1 listed building, as laid down by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, in consultation with Westminster City Council and English Heritage as appropriate. The building also fulfils an important representational role.

  Expenditure is recorded by financial years. No distinction is made between maintaining, decorating and otherwise improving the property as projects frequently cover two or more of these categories of work. Since 2 May 1997, the recorded expenditure by the Cabinet Office for No. 10 Downing street is:

  1997–98: £188,000

  1998–99: £348,000

  April-October 1999: £435,000.

  The expenditure is mainly attributable to the refurbishment of the state rooms and converting the top floor of the building into office accommodation. Approximately £1,200 has been spent on supplies of wallpaper.

  Expenditure prior to 1997–98 is recorded in respect of the Nos. 10–12 Downing street complex as a whole and it is not possible to separately identify expenditure in respect of No. 10. On this basis recorded expenditure is as follows:

  1995–96: £504,700

  1996–97: £1,486,775.

  Plans for future years' expenditure have yet to be agreed.

  Rural Development (Ministry)
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will create a ministry for rural development; and if he will make a statement. [97839]

  The Prime Minister
  I keep the machinery of Government regularly under review but have no plans to create a new ministry for rural development.

  Balkans
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his letter of 8 November to the hon. Member for Linlithgow(a) what he has made of the number of refugees made homeless in (i) Kosovo before the ceasefire and (ii) Krajina, (b) what is his latest estimate of the number of mass murders in Kosovo, (c) what he has made of the effectiveness of sanctions in achieving democratic reform in the former Republic of Yugoslavia, (d) what support he has had from the International Committee of the Red Cross for sanctions against Serbia, (e) what requests he has received through international humanitarian organisations for exemptions from sanctions against Serbia and (f) if he will identify the western structures to which he is referring. [98273]

  The Prime Minister
  Although reliable figures are hard to establish, reports received from agencies on the ground, such as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), indicate that approximately 860,000 Kosovar Albanians were made homeless before the ceasefire. Reports also indicate that 330,000 Serb refugees left Krajina, 300,000 of whom are in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, and 30,000 are in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

  Our estimate for the number of murders in Kosovo before KFOR entering remains at 10,000.

  Sanctions are a recognised international tool for applying pressure to governments who are operating outside internationally accepted norms. This is one element of the economic and diplomatic pressure against the Milosevic regime which we hope will lead to democratic reform in Serbia. We and the European Union are working to ensure that the sanctions are properly aimed at the Milosevic regime, and not the ordinary people of Serbia. The EU visa ban and assets freeze against key members and supporters of the Milosevic regime are examples of this approach. At the same time we are working with the Serbian democratic opposition, for example on the "Energy for Democracy" Initiative.

  The recent 27th International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent called on the Security Council to take into account the needs of the civilian population and apply humanitarian exemptions as appropriate when applying sanctions. We and our EU partners are acting in full accordance with this approach, allowing exceptions to sanctions on humanitarian grounds.

  Requests for humanitarian exemptions to the EU oil embargo have been made by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and were approved. Exceptions have also been made for various Non-Governmental Organisations involved in de-mining,
  786
  to allow their military equipment needed for de-mining to enter Kosovo, which remains part of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, and so is subject to the arms embargo.

  "Integration into western structures" refers in particular to the promotion of increasingly closer relations with the EU and NATO.

  Ministerial Visits
  Mr. Tyrie
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the total cost including travel, accommodation and subsistence allowances, and the place visited on each occasion that Lance Price, Hilary Coffman, Kate Garvey, Fiona Millar, Sally Morgan and Anji Hunter travelled abroad in an official capacity since 2 May 1997, whether accompanied by him or not. [94529]

  The Prime Minister
  Officials in my Office regularly accompany me on official overseas visits and I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend, the Member for Stalybridge and Hyde (Mr. Pendry) on 17 June 1999,Official Report, columns 196–97, which accounted fully for the costs of my official visits overseas during the period 2 May 1997 to 31 March 1999, including the costs of those accompanying me. In addition, during the conflict in Kosovo Anji Hunter visited Macedonia and Albania and Hilary Coffman visited NATO Headquarters in Brussels and Romania at a total cost of £4,166. Anji Hunter also visited Chicago in April this year on official business; her travel costs were £3,936. Normal subsistence rates for civil servants have applied and all visits have been in accordance with the rules set out in the Ministerial Code.

  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the visits made since May 1997 by Government Ministers to the Ukraine indicating the duration of each visit and its purpose. [98004]

  The Prime Minister
  There have been the following visits to the Ukraine by Ministers since May 1997:

  Visitor

  Dates

  Purpose

  Secretary of State for Defence

  16–17 September 1997

  Attend the UK-Polish-Ukranian exercise ("Cossack Steppe")

  Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for International Development

  23–26 November 1997

  Consultations on the UK's technical assistance strategy for Ukraine

  Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for International Development

  11–12 May 1998

  Attend European Bank for Reconstruction and Development's Annual Meeting

  Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Minister for Europe)

  23–25 June 1998

  Consultations on bilateral and multilateral issues

  Secretary of State for Defence

  17–18 June 1999

  Consultations on bilateral defence co-operation, NATO and Kosovo

  Select Committee Reports (Leaks)
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) what amendments have been made to the Ministerial Code in the past year in relation(a) to soliciting leaked drafts of

  787
  select committee reports and (b) to their use and retention if their receipt was unsolicited; and if he will make a statement; [98135]

  (2) what instructions have been given to (a) Ministers and (b) civil servants in relation to the handling of unsolicited leaked drafts of select committee reports. [98134]

  The Prime Minister
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Normanton (Mr. O'Brien) on 28 October 1999,Official Report, column 953.

  National Farmers Union
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) how many meetings he has had since August with the President of the National Farmers Union; who else was present; and what was discussed; [98391]

  (2) how many meetings have been held since August between Mr. Alistair Campbell and the President of the National Farmers Union; who else was present; and what was discussed. [98393]

  The Prime Minister
  I met the President of the National Farmers Union on 8 September 1999, when we discussed a number of issues concerning the farming industry. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Director General of the National Farmers Union also attended the meeting.

  My Chief Press Secretary has not held a meeting with the President of the National Farmers Union.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Hunting with Dogs
  Mr. Michael J. Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his plans in respect of hunting with dogs. [R] [98388]

  Mr. Straw
  I am announcing today how the Government wish to proceed on this issue.

  The Government's manifesto commitment was for a free vote on whether hunting with hounds should be banned. Such a free vote took place during proceedings in the 1997–98 Session on the Bill to outlaw hunting with dogs sponsored by my hon. Friend the Member for Worcester. His Bill received a Second Reading by 411 votes to 151. I well understand the frustration of many hon. Members that no legislative conclusion followed.

  I am, therefore, pleased to announce that the Government will offer reasonable time, if necessary, and drafting assistance for this issue to be considered by the House of Commons through a Private Member's Bill on a free vote. We shall consult the House authorities, as appropriate, on how this can best be taken forward.

  The Government have decided that there should first be an inquiry. This will be a committee of inquiry not into whether hunting is right or wrong, which is a matter for Parliament to decide. Instead, the inquiry will be put in place better to inform the debate.
  788
  The inquiry will look at the practical issues involved in hunting with dogs, how a ban could be implemented and what the consequences of a ban would be. It will provide an opportunity for the facts about hunting properly to be considered.

  Also, it will enable an examination of the effect on the rural economy, agriculture and pest control, the social and cultural life of particular areas of countryside, the management and conservation of wildlife and animal welfare of hunting and if hunting were to be banned. The inquiry will take evidence from all interested parties.

  The inquiry will be chaired by the noble Lords, Lord Burns. It will be asked to report by late spring next year. The names of the other members of the inquiry will be announced as soon as possible. The report will be put before Parliament.

  Once the inquiry has reported, the Government's offer of time and drafting assistance will take effect.

  Copies of this reply have been placed in the Library and Vote Office.

  Radio Communications
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total estimated cost of the Public Safety Radio Communications Project; and how much of this the Government are going to fund. [96404]

  Mr. Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with police authorities and chief constables regarding the allocation of funding for the Public Safety Radio Communications Project; and what estimate he has made of the project's cost in each of the police force areas in England and Wales. [97233]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  My right hon. Friend, the Home Secretary, and I have frequent discussions with police authority representatives and chief constables about police resources, including funding for the Public Safety Radio Communications Project (PSRCP). In addition my officials and I have had discussions with the Association of Chief Police Officers and the Association of Police Authorities about the funding of PSRCP.

  The Public Safety Radio Communications Project (PSRCP) is still in detailed negotiations on price and contract provision. Therefore, figures could change as contract negotiations are finalised, and so there are commercial sensitivities that limit the amount of detailed information I can provide.

  Since 1995 the Police Information Technology Organisation (PITO) has used an indicative figure of £1.5 billion in estimated costs of this project. This figure was intended to be a guide to be revised after the intense two years' study, which has now concluded, to provide firm estimates of price and service quality.

  The total cost for the service charge for the Public Safety Radio Communications Service (PSRCS) over the life of the service (15 years for each force) is likely, in today's money value, to be between £1.25 and £1.45 billion, excluding inflation and using standard Treasury accounting techniques. This is equivalent to £2.3 billion in cash terms if the Treasury 6 per cent. discount rate is not applied to the annual cash flows.
  789
  Approximately 80 per cent. of this cost goes to the core service which is to be funded centrally by means of a deduction from total police grant provision. The cost of services additional to the core, which all forces will purchase according to their own requirements, accounts for the remaining 20 per cent. These are net present costs (NPC) calculated employing a standard discounted cash flow technique for a base year of 1999 and using the Treasury's 6 per cent. discount rate.

  Separately from the PSRCS charge, forces will need to purchase control room and radio terminal equipment. Based upon our understanding of the police service's overall requirement, we estimate the initial purchase and subsequent replacement costs for terminals to be around £300 million in NPC terms over the PSRCS service contract life. The need to replace terminals is ongoing and expenditure is currently being incurred as forces maintain their existing self-owned systems.

  I announced recently that we are providing an extra £50 million of new money for the PSRCP. PITO the non departmental public body managing the PSRCP, has yet to decide, in consultation with the potential PSRCS service provider, BT, how best to use this money to reduce the cost of the service. The Government's intention is for it to be used in a way which reduces the charge in the third and subsequent years thus providing long-term benefit to all forces. PITO estimate that this money could reduce the service charge NPC given above by around £50 to £70 million over the life of the project.

  These figures compare with the Government plans for police spending to increase by £186 million in 1999–2000 and further increases for 2000–01 and 2001–02 of £199 million and £290 million respectively. It is a matter for each police authority to set its budget and for each chief constable to decide how to deploy the available resources. The Government have also relaxed the rules on capital receipts from the sales of assets giving Police Authorities the freedom to use proceeds from sales for capital investment.

  Since the costs remain to be finalised, for the reasons set out, there are no final figures for the cost of the non-core services to individual police forces. PITO does have estimates but these are subject to negotiation, and are therefore liable to very significant change. Information will shortly be circulated to forces to enable them to calculate their likely potential costs for these non-core services.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to reply to the letter sent to him on 16 June regarding Mr. Khalid Shalabi Suliman of Birkenhead. [97943]

  Mrs. Roche
  I replied to my right hon. Friend on 10 November 1999.

  Millennium (Policing)
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with chief constables in England on their planning arrangements for 31 December and 1 January 2000; and if he will make a statement. [97962]
  790
  Mr. Charles Clarke
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 25 October 1999,Official Report, column 682, in response to a question from the hon. Member for East Surrey (Mr. Ainsworth). My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary and Ministerial colleagues met the President of the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), John Evans, on 18 October to discuss the millennium readiness of the emergency services. Mr. Evans chairs the ACPO millennium co-ordinating committee which advises police forces on these issues.

  Police Constables
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the constabularies of England showing(a) their establishments and (b) the numbers of constables they are short of. [98121]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The powers of my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary to set police force establishment levels were removed under the Police and Magistrates' Courts Act 1994. It is for individual chief officers to determine the staffing requirements for each force within the overall resources available. Information on police officer strength is collected at the end of March and September. The figures for 31 March 1999 will be placed in the Library.

  Future staffing levels are for chief officers to determine within the overall resources available. However, the Government are making available additional resources, in a new ring-fenced Crime Fighting Fund, to enable the police to recruit 5,000 officers, over and above those that they had otherwise planned to recruit over the next three years.

  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average earnings are of police constables in England, excluding the Metropolitan police. [98120]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The data to calculate the average earnings of a police constable in England are not held centrally and could not be obtained without disproportionate cost. A police constable on appointment will, however, receive £16,635 in salary, rising to £18,612 after initial training and £19,713 on successful completion of two years probationary service. The maximum salary is £26,325, exclusive of allowances and overtime payments where appropriate.

  Women's Prison (Ashford)
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his plans and timetable for building a new women's prison at Ashford, Middlesex. [98384]

  Mr. Boateng
  I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible. Copies of the letter will be placed in the Library.

  Casinos
  Mr. David Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to extend the opening hours of casinos in England and Wales. [98399]
  791
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  We have issued a consultation letter to interested parties regarding casino opening hours. Copies have been placed in the Library. At present, casinos must close at 4 am. We propose an extension from 4 am to 6 am (except Sundays) for casinos in England and Wales. Comments are requested by 31 January 2000.

  The Gaming Act 1968 imposes restrictions on the hours that gaming establishments may open. Under section 18 of the 1968 Act, casinos must close between 4 am and 2 pm on Sundays. The hours on other days are prescribed by regulations made by the Secretary of State in respect of casinos in England and Wales. Under the Gaming Clubs (Hours and Charges) Regulations 1984, the opening hours of casinos are currently from 2 pm to 4 am.

  The British Casino Association, which represents all casinos in Great Britain, has asked for a change in the law to allow casinos to open until 6 am on Monday to Saturday mornings.

  Following consultation with the Gaming Board for Great Britain, we have agreed in principle to the proposed change. Casinos are places for late night entertainment and we see no objection to a later closing time. This change would not affect the current permitted hours during which casinos may serve alcohol—3 am in London and 2 am elsewhere.

  Gaming is a reserved subject but some powers to make secondary legislation have been devolved to the Scottish Parliament, including gaming hours. The Scottish Executive is embarking on a similar exercise in respect of casinos in Scotland. We would aim to make regulations simultaneously.

  Immigration and Asylum Bill
  Dr. Palmer
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consultation is taking place with carriers prior to the implementation of the passenger information provisions of the Immigration and Asylum Bill. [98400]

  Mrs. Roche
  We anticipate that discussions with carriers or their representatives will commence in December. The purpose of these talks will be to establish

  Police Authority

  31 March 1995

  31 March 1996

  31 March 1997

  31 March 1998

  31 March 1999

  Derbyshire Police

  625

  656

  723

  787

  818

  Leicestershire Constabulary

  680

  667

  755

  774

  802

  Cheshire Constabulary

  616

  690

  735

  781

  785

  North Yorkshire Constabulary

  508

  520

  520

  543

  541

  South Yorkshire Police

  1,149

  1,418

  1,291

  1,243

  1,273

  West Yorkshire Police

  1,965

  2,037

  2,234

  2,304

  2,216

  Surrey Police

  732

  754

  727

  743

  733

  Charlotte Atkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what Government funding was received in real terms in(a) 1994–95, (b) 1995–96, (c) 1996–97, (d) 1997–98 and (e) 1998–99, and will be received in 1999–2000 by (i) the police forces in England and Wales in total, (ii) Derbyshire Police Authority, (iii) Leicester Police Authority, (iv) Cheshire Police Authority, (v) Yorkshire Police Authority and (vi) Surrey Police Authority. [98290]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The information requested is not readily available. I will write to my hon. Friend.
  792
  the means whereby information on passengers may be provided. We understand that some carriers may have concerns about the implications for them of the new passenger information provisions and we will endeavour to minimise as far as is possible the resource and administrative burden on them.

  I would like to take this opportunity to clarify the scope of the power to require carriers to provide additional information. This will be capable of requiring carriers to provide information over and above what they currently collect. However, it will not be used to require carriers to provide information to which they do not have ready access. We recognise the constraints under which industry must operate and we will work closely with them to ensure that these are properly considered against operational need.

  The passenger information provisions are an important element of the intelligence led approach to the operation of the immigration control. Not only will they enable the Immigration Service to make more efficient use of its resources but they will also benefit carriers, operators and the travelling public.

  Police Authorities
  Charlotte Atkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the total staffing levels were for(a) 1994–95, (b) 1995–96, (c) 1996–97, (d) 1997–98 and (e) 1998–99, and what the projected level is for 1999–2000 for (i) the Derbyshire Police Authority, (ii) the Leicester Police Authority, (iii) the Cheshire Police Authority, (iv) the Yorkshire Police Authority, and (v) the Surrey Police Authority, broken down into total officer strength and total civilian strength. [98291]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to a question from the hon. Member for Ryedale (Mr. Greenway) on 10 November 1999,Official Report, column 590, for the information requested on police officer numbers. The information requested on civilian strength is set out in the table.

  Projected staffing figures for 1999–2000 are not held centrally. It is for individual police authorities with their chief constables to determine staffing requirements within the resources available to them.

  Departmental Waste
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to set targets for the recycling of waste(a) paper, (b) cardboard, (c) glass, (d) metal, (e) plastic and (f) other products created by his Department and its agencies; and if he will make a statement. [98225]

  Mr. Straw
  My Department is working towards implementing the new Government-wide target to recover a minimum of 40 per cent. of total office waste, with at
  793
  least 25 per cent. of that recovery coming from recycling or composting. My Department's approach to waste management is based on the three "R"'s with "Recovery" (i.e. recycling, composting and energy recovery) following "Reduce" and "Re-use" as the preferred options for reducing waste sent to landfill. We have set no individual targets for paper, cardboard, glass, metal, plastic and other materials, although paper is recycled in most offices and a number of Home Office sites also recycle cardboard and glass.

  My Department is about to undertake pilot waste minimisation schemes in three different types of buildings on the estate with the aim of reducing the amount of waste sent to landfill.

  The Prison Service has a vital role to play in reducing waste. They have recently set up a service wide waste management project. The project will identify areas where wastage can be reduced and will address the efficient and effective disposal of prison waste and the recycling of usable waste. The primary aims are to reduce the amount of prison generated waste that is sent to landfill sites and to reduce the demand and consumption of items of clothing and equipment. Recyclable materials, such as paper, cardboard, metal and plastics will be reprocessed and re-usable clothing and equipment items channelled back into the prison estate.

  Departmental Vehicles
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total number of vehicles used by his Department and its agencies fuelled by(a) petrol, (b) diesel and (c) liquid petroleum gas; and what plans he has to increase the rate of conversion of those vehicles to liquid petroleum gas. [98205]

  Mr. Straw
  The Home Department currently operates a total of 1,171 vehicles. The majority of these, 759, belong to the Prison Service Agency. There are 272 petrol engine vehicles and 899 diesel engine vehicles. There are no liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) powered vehicles in the fleet as yet as there is a logistical difficulty in opting for LPG powered vehicles in view of the limited number of supply points available for a fleet of vehicles spread throughout England and Wales.

  However, the Prison Service has adopted a policy that up to 70 per cent. of vehicles replaced in the financial year 2000 will be powered by either dual fuel petrol/LPG engines, or the latest high pressure direct injection diesel engines with particulate filters where available. The Home Office is planning to go out to consultation to adopt a similar policy by the end of the current year.

  Deaths in Custody
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has responded to the petition about deaths in custody from families of the deceased; and if he will make a statement. [98150]

  Mr. Straw
  I met representatives of the United Families and Friends Campaign, the authors of the petition, on 26 April this year and my officials have subsequently been in correspondence with them. I am considering the petition and will respond shortly.

  Dangerous Offenders
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what discussions he and his staff have had with Northumbria Police about present procedures for supervising discharged offenders, following the conviction of Dominic McKilligan; [98132]

  (2) if he intends to give trial judges the power to extend the registration systems of the Sexual Offences Acts to convicted offenders whose offences contain a strong sexual motivation; [98131]

  (3) what plans he has to impose a statutory obligation on social services departments and hospital authorities to consult statutory care agencies and the police authorities before discharging anyone from their care who may pose a known risk to the general public; [98129]

  (4) if he intends to require an inter-agency risk assessment prior to release of anyone convicted of indecency with children under Schedule 1 to the Sexual Offences Act. [98130]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Protection of the public is a primary duty of the criminal justice agencies. The Government have put in place arrangements to enable risk assessment to be carried out on an inter-agency basis prior to the release of dangerous offenders, including those convicted of indecency with children. There are strong inter-agency liaison arrangements in Northumbria and throughout the country, in which the police play a major part. This work is overseen by a Steering Group on Dangerous Offenders, which includes representatives from all criminal justice agencies at very senior level. There is a support group within the Home Office, including seconded police and probation staff, which supports the Steering Group and helps local agencies with individual cases.

  These Questions all arise out of the case of Dominic McKilligan, currently in custody for the rape and murder of an 11-year-old boy in 1998. A review of the work of all the agencies involved with the care and supervision of Dominic McKilligan is currently being undertaken in line with the Department of Health guidance contained in "Working Together Under the Children Act 1989—A Guide to Arrangements for Inter-Agency Co-operation for the Protection of Children from Abuse". Once it is completed the agencies concerned will consider what lessons can be drawn from this tragedy and what action is required.

  The issue of judicial discretion in relation to the registration requirement in the Sex Offenders Act 1997 is one of a number of areas currently being reviewed by the Home Office. Once the review is completed, we shall then need to consider whether, and if so what, changes are necessary to improve the effectiveness of the Act.

  Dangerous Cycling
  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many police authority areas have police used spot fines powers to deter dangerous cycling; and if he will make a statement. [98345]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The police do not have the powers to issue fixed penalty notices for the offence of dangerous cycling. In order to assist the police to deal with inconsiderate cycling on the pavement, we
  795
  introduced from 1 August 1999 a fixed penalty for the offence of cycling on the pavement. The fixed penalty is not an on the spot fine: payment is not required on the spot and the person receiving it can challenge its issue in court.

  Information about how many police forces have issued fixed penalty notices for cycling on the pavement is not yet available. Each police force has been asked to monitor the fixed penalty provisions which came into force on 1 August 1999, but the details are not likely to be available until early in the new year.

  Domestic Violence
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research his Department has undertaken into the Canadian police campaign of zero tolerance of domestic violence and its suitability for the United Kingdom. [98288]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Earlier this year, the Home Office published "Domestic Violence Matters: an evaluation of a development project". This reported on a pilot domestic violence project in Islington, adapted from a scheme in London, Ontario. The project sought to establish a civilian crisis intervention service working with the police, promote a law enforcement response, and develop inter-agency links to encourage consistent and co-ordinated action. The report discusses current Canadian law enforcement policy in respect of domestic violence.

  The Home Office has also published this year "Arresting Evidence: domestic violence and repeat victimisation" and "Policing Domestic Violence: effective organisational structures". The publications named are all available on the Home Office website www.homeoffice.gov.uk.

  As part of the Crime Reduction Programme's component dealing with domestic violence, rape and sexual assault, reviews have been carried out of what is known from relevant research of different aspects of domestic violence and of the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of different interventions. Policing was amongst the areas covered.

  Electoral Register
  Mr. Hawkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from the Consumers Association concerning the effect on social exclusion of commercial use of the electoral register. [98171]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The Consumers Association wrote to my right hon. Friend, the Home Secretary, on 21 October about the recommendation of the Working Party on Electoral Procedures that electors should be given a choice over whether their personal details should be included in the version of the electoral register which is available for sale.

  Police (London Weighting)
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the value is of London weighting for(a) police officers and (b) civilian staff in
  796
  the Metropolitan Police; what the rates were in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [98173]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Receiver for the Metropolitan Police District tells me that London weighting for police and civil staff in the Metropolitan Police over the last five years is as follows:

  £ per annum

  Civil staff

  Year

  Police officers

  Inner

  Intermediate

  Outer

  1994

  1,398

  1,776

  1,015

  736

  1995

  1,440

  1,776

  1,015

  736

  1996

  1,491

  1,776

  1,015

  736

  1997

  1,542

  1,776

  1,015

  736

  1998

  1,605

  1,776

  1,015

  736

  1999

  1,662

  1,850

  1,056

  766

  11,622

  1828

  1538

  1 With effect from 1 August 1999, as part of the 1999 pay settlement, £228 of London Weighting for Civil Staff has been consolidated into basic pay.

  Police Recruitment
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the total numbers of(a) applications and (b) recruits were in each police force in each of the last three years; what the ratio was of applications to recruits per force in each year; and if he will make a statement. [98174]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The following tables show the number of applications to join the police service received by each force in each of the last three years, the numbers of appointments on probation (the most accurate assessment we have of the numbers of new recruits to the police service) for each force in the same periods and the ratio of applications to new appointments on probation.

  The figures have been supplied by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary. The numbers of appointments on probation differ from the number of total recruits to police forces in England and Wales which my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary gave the hon. Member on 21 October 1999, Official Report, column 624. This is because the latter include transfers between forces.

  1996–97

  Forces

  Police formal applications

  Police appointments on probation

  Ratio applications/ appointment

  Avon and Somerset

  0

  141

  0

  Bedfordshire

  21

  12

  2

  Cambridgeshire

  1,099

  96

  11

  Cheshire

  829

  103

  8

  City of London

  446

  42

  11

  Cleveland

  1,393

  80

  17

  Cumbria

  1,053

  74

  14

  Derbyshire

  807

  77

  10

  Devon and Cornwall

  1,064

  94

  11

  Dorset

  377

  60

  6

  Durham

  1,343

  106

  13

  Dyfed-Powys

  573

  45

  13

  Essex

  1,241

  185

  7

  Gloucestershire

  322

  60

  5

  Greater Manchester

  2,366

  345

  7

  Gwent

  932

  68

  14

  797

  1996–97

  Forces

  Police formal applications

  Police appointments on probation

  Ratio applications/ appointment

  Hampshire

  1,797

  235

  8

  Hertfordshire

  659

  126

  5

  Humberside

  194

  72

  3

  Kent

  1,016

  268

  4

  Lancashire

  1,765

  182

  10

  Leicestershire

  962

  135

  7

  Lincolnshire

  1,236

  109

  11

  Merseyside

  41

  57

  1

  Metropolitan Police

  3,941

  670

  6

  Norfolk

  603

  95

  6

  North Wales

  316

  0

  0

  North Yorkshire

  434

  63

  7

  Northamptonshire

  469

  65

  7

  Northumbria

  1,486

  177

  8

  Nottinghamshire

  927

  89

  10

  South Wales

  2,208

  152

  15

  South Yorkshire

  1,180

  200

  6

  Staffordshire

  620

  99

  6

  Suffolk

  1,576

  100

  16

  Surrey

  543

  55

  10

  Sussex

  442

  158

  3

  Thames Valley

  1,556

  183

  9

  Warwickshire

  201

  0

  0

  West Mercia

  600

  110

  5

  West Midlands

  2,212

  388

  6

  West Yorkshire

  1,660

  267

  6

  Wiltshire

  264

  20

  13

  England and Wales

  Total

  42,774

  5,663

  8

  1997–98

  Forces

  Police formal applications

  Police appointments on probation

  Ratio applications/ appointment

  Avon and Somerset

  621

  105

  6

  Bedfordshire

  284

  46

  6

  Cambridgeshire

  473

  58

  8

  Cheshire

  829

  87

  10

  City of London

  638

  29

  22

  Cleveland

  0

  56

  0

  Cumbria

  389

  46

  8

  Derbyshire

  612

  61

  10

  Devon and Cornwall

  1,000

  172

  6

  Dorset

  665

  75

  9

  Durham

  848

  105

  8

  Dyfed-Powys

  861

  33

  26

  Essex

  304

  108

  3

  Gloucestershire

  1,013

  27

  38

  Greater Manchester

  2,614

  436

  6

  Gwent

  308

  31

  10

  Hampshire

  929

  182

  5

  Hertfordshire

  314

  63

  5

  Humberside

  219

  70

  3

  Kent

  261

  118

  2

  Lancashire

  1,307

  111

  12

  Leicestershire

  711

  115

  6

  Lincolnshire

  1,077

  36

  30

  Merseyside

  3,064

  160

  19

  Metropolitan Police

  4,633

  1,164

  4

  Norfolk

  408

  55

  7

  North Wales

  638

  63

  10

  North Yorkshire

  607

  65

  9

  Northamptonshire

  432

  52

  8

  Northumbria

  2,044

  227

  9

  Nottinghamshire

  867

  0

  0

  South Wales

  1,654

  170

  10

  798

  1997–98

  Forces

  Police formal applications

  Police appointments on probation

  Ratio applications/ appointment

  South Yorkshire

  786

  135

  6

  Staffordshire

  1,260

  220

  6

  Suffolk

  834

  69

  12

  Surrey

  731

  112

  7

  Sussex

  2,108

  136

  16

  Thames Valley

  1,889

  258

  7

  Warwickshire

  695

  54

  13

  West Mercia

  867

  62

  14

  West Midlands

  3,272

  445

  7

  West Yorkshire

  975

  182

  5

  Wiltshire

  293

  60

  5

  England and Wales

  total

  44,334

  5,859

  8

  1998–99

  Forces

  Police formal applications

  Police appointments on probation

  Ratio applications/ appointment

  Avon and Somerset

  1,367

  90

  15

  Bedfordshire

  503

  34

  15

  Cambridgeshire

  421

  35

  12

  Cheshire

  1,075

  89

  12

  City of London

  135

  15

  9

  Cleveland

  0

  0

  0

  Cumbria

  280

  23

  12

  Derbyshire

  591

  43

  14

  Devon and Cornwall

  590

  54

  11

  Dorset

  300

  35

  9

  Durham

  775

  87

  9

  Dyfed-Powys

  1,085

  32

  34

  Essex

  687

  88

  8

  Gloucestershire

  377

  61

  6

  Greater Manchester

  2,178

  217

  10

  Gwent

  601

  53

  11

  Hampshire

  744

  116

  6

  Hertfordshire

  653

  67

  10

  Humberside

  795

  36

  22

  Kent

  829

  236

  4

  Lancashire

  97

  64

  2

  Leicestershire

  582

  85

  7

  Lincolnshire

  0

  6

  0

  Merseyside

  1,406

  133

  11

  Metropolitan Police

  6,222

  1,586

  4

  Norfolk

  312

  19

  16

  North Wales

  543

  62

  9

  North Yorkshire

  15

  17

  1

  Northamptonshire

  259

  25

  10

  Northumbria

  1,781

  234

  8

  Nottinghamshire

  0

  0

  0

  South Wales

  1,902

  165

  12

  South Yorkshire

  745

  84

  9

  Staffordshire

  124

  17

  7

  Suffolk

  0

  60

  0

  Surrey

  594

  124

  5

  Sussex

  1,087

  92

  12

  Thames Valley

  579

  144

  4

  Warwickshire

  917

  33

  28

  West Mercia

  695

  83

  8

  West Midlands

  4,023

  467

  9

  West Yorkshire

  96

  14

  7

  Wiltshire

  130

  36

  4

  England and Wales

  total

  36,095

  4,961

  7

  Police (Length of Service)
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average length of service is per police officer(a) per force and (b) for England as a whole; and if he will make a statement. [98175]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  This information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Police (Staff Costs)
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the total(a) budget and (b) expenditure were for police staff costs for the Metropolitan police in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [98172]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Receiver for the Metropolitan police district tells me that the budget and expenditure figures for police staff costs within the Metropolitan police over the last five years are as follows:

  £ million

  Year

  Budget police staffing

  Outturn police staffing

  1994–95

  949.105

  947.697

  1995–96

  953.906

  953.116

  1996–97

  960.911

  953.352

  1997–98

  950.294

  954.126

  1998–99

  968.503

  969.985

  Commission for Racial Equality
  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 1 November 1999,Official Report, column 64, if he will detail the settlements made with the five employees of the Commission for Racial Equality with regard to their claims of racial discrimination against the Commission. [98369]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Details of individual settlements are confidential between the parties involved.

  Farouk Sarraj
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when his office received passports from Mr. Farouk Sarraj and his wife Haj Fade! of 5a Camper Road, Southend-on-Sea SS1 2YR with the request that they have printed on them the permanent right of residence granted by his Department in its letter dated 10 September 1973 (reference F95293), and when he intends to respond to the request. [98127]

  Mrs. Roche
  Mrs. Haj Fadel's passport was received in the Integrated Casework Directorate on 24 July 1999. We have asked for the recorded delivery details of a second package containing Mr. Farouk Sarraj's passport and we are trying to trace the record of receipt.

  Once both passports and supporting documents have been traced they will be passed to a caseworker for urgent consideration and a decision will then be made as quickly as possible.

  Siemens Contract
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the Government received all payments and compensation owing from Siemens for computer work at the Immigration Department before Siemens was allowed to bid for the Vehicle Inspectorate system. [98242]

  Mrs. Roche
  Yes. Under the terms of the contract between the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) and Siemens Business Services (SBS), the financial risk for the late delivery of elements of the IND Casework Programme is borne by SBS. In September 1998 a package of changes to the contractual payment terms—in part to compensate for expenditure wasted as a result of the delays in delivering the Information Technology application—was negotiated with SBS and all agreed compensation payments have been received when due. Details of this package are commercially confidential and disclosure would place us in breach of contract.

  Special Constabulary
  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people served in the special constabulary of each police force in each of the past five years for which figures are available. [89552]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  [pursuant to the reply, 5 July 1999, c.330-31]: The table setting out the number of special constables in post in each police force in England and Wales for the past five years has been revised to take account of some typographical errors in the figures given in the columns for 1996 and 1997. The figures have been further revised to take account of corrections which forces have made in their returns for 1996.

  The revised table is as follows:

  Force

  1995

  1996

  1997

  1998

  1999

  Avon and Somerset

  651

  688

  759

  621

  547

  Bedfordshire

  189

  189

  182

  186

  154

  Cambridgeshire

  279

  275

  303

  320

  310

  Cheshire

  321

  274

  475

  459

  407

  City of London

  83

  77

  86

  76

  64

  Cleveland

  212

  195

  160

  164

  126

  Cumbria

  241

  201

  189

  198

  204

  Derbyshire

  434

  413

  428

  380

  317

  Devon and Cornwall

  1,142

  1,102

  1,148

  1,024

  918

  Dorset

  221

  254

  289

  315

  305

  Durham

  200

  187

  184

  144

  159

  Dyfed-Powys

  302

  314

  283

  254

  237

  Essex

  674

  608

  634

  638

  544

  Gloucestershire

  320

  330

  297

  276

  233

  Greater Manchester

  768

  746

  685

  598

  523

  Gwent

  126

  136

  157

  119

  113

  Hampshire

  598

  564

  611

  698

  760

  Hertfordshire

  320

  315

  297

  306

  238

  Humberside

  427

  391

  340

  324

  269

  Kent

  569

  555

  589

  592

  526

  Lancashire

  608

  531

  483

  489

  449

  Leicestershire

  356

  360

  415

  406

  316

  Lincolnshire

  322

  299

  271

  260

  216

  Merseyside

  384

  333

  401

  419

  458

  Metropolitan Police

  1,550

  1,850

  1,714

  1,282

  1,138

  Norfolk

  345

  319

  402

  337

  336

  Northamptonshire

  303

  289

  316

  288

  230

  Northumbria

  506

  471

  533

  400

  342

  North Wales

  288

  332

  341

  358

  400

  North Yorkshire

  381

  360

  362

  358

  276

  Nottinghamshire

  552

  537

  620

  558

  461

  801

  Force

  1995

  1996

  1997

  1998

  1999

  South Wales

  477

  461

  361

  366

  338

  South Yorkshire

  452

  381

  308

  281

  246

  Staffordshire

  725

  702

  685

  595

  468

  Suffolk

  409

  407

  379

  397

  420

  Surrey

  238

  260

  297

  235

  224

  Sussex

  527

  511

  472

  442

  393

  Thames Valley

  679

  744

  656

  609

  569

  Warwickshire

  352

  340

  381

  345

  261

  West Mercia

  582

  613

  582

  512

  515

  West Midlands

  818

  897

  945

  889

  731

  West Yorkshire

  777

  709

  690

  589

  559

  Wiltshire

  318

  233

  154

  149

  184

  Total

  20,026

  19,753

  19,864

  18,256

  16,484

  The figures for 1995 have been supplied by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary. Those for 1996–99 have been supplied by the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate.

  Qualified Majority Voting
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those areas of extension of qualified majority voting agreed at Tampere; and if he will list those areas where he has declared he will veto any extension. [96573]

  Mr. Vaz
  I have been asked to reply.

  No extension of qualified majority voting was agreed at Tampere. For a statement of the Government's position on qualified majority voting I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister gave him on 9 November 1999. Official Report, column 486.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Pensioners (Income Support)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the estimated cost of income support for pensioners in(a) 1999–2000, (b) 2000–01 and (c) 2001–02; and what levels of take-up are assumed, as a percentage of beneficiaries and potential expenditure. [97554]

  Mr. Rooker
  The current forecasts of expenditure on income support for pensioners is given in the table. I shall make an announcement on our plans for a national programme to encourage take-up of the minimum income guarantee in due course.

  £ million

  1999–2000

  4,033

  2000–01

  4,196

  2001–02

  4,407

  Note:

  These figures are consistent with the pre Budget Report 1999

  Social Fund
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many benefit claimants received a social fund(a) grant or (b) loan in each of the last five years in (i) Greater London, (ii) Leaside district and
  802
  (iii) Edmonton constituency; what was the total amount of (A) grant and (B) loan in (i), (ii), and (iii); and if he will make a statement. [98056]

  Angela Eagle
  The administration of the Social Fund is a matter for Peter Mathison, the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to my hon. Friend.

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Andrew Love, dated 10 November 1999:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked Peter Mathison to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many benefit claimants received a social fund (a) grant or (b) loan in each of the last five years in (i) Greater London, (ii) Leaside district and (iii) Edmonton constituency; and what was the total amount of (A) grant and (B) loan in (i), (ii), (iii). As Mr. Mathison is currently on leave I am replying.
  Although the Benefits Agency (BA) does not collate information in exactly the format you have requested, the figures available are included in the attached appendix.
  The number of loans and grants awarded does not correspond to individual benefit customers, as some will have received an award more than once. We do not have information on the latter.
  Data is held at district office level. BA districts do not correspond to the boroughs within Greater London. In order to answer your question, the following BA districts have been used:
  Barking and Havering, Ealing, Bankside, Euston, Neasden, Newham, Thames Valley, South Circular, City East, Barnet, Leaside, Thameside, Palace, Hackney, Harrow & Hillingdon, SW Thames
  Leaside district consists of Edmonton, Tottenham and Wood Green offices. Information at a sub-district or constituency level is not available and therefore, I am unable to provide information on the Edmonton area in isolation.
  I hope this is helpful.
  Appendix

  Table 1: Number of loans and grants in Greater London

  Financial year

  Loans

  Grants

  1995–96

  195,252

  30,410

  1996–97

  187,042

  27,865

  1997–98

  192,742

  26,907

  1998–99

  195,376

  27,576

  1999–20001

  119,700

  15,916

  Table 2: Total amount spent on loans and grants in Greater London

  £

  Financial year

  Loans

  Grants

  1995–96

  41,637,468.90

  12,015,099.65

  1996–97

  47,755,587.86

  12,116,068.11

  1997–98

  54,245,234.66

  12,565,912.12

  1998–99

  57,774,958.38

  12,825,380.17

  1999–20001

  36,496,136.56

  7,516,206.48

  Table 3: Number of loans and grants awards in Leaside BA district

  Financial year

  loans

  grants

  1995–96

  10,800

  1,572

  1996–97

  11,448

  1,584

  1997–98

  13,322

  1,495

  1998–99

  13,595

  1,683

  1999–20001

  7,722

  850

  803

  Table 4: Total amount spent on loans and grants in Leaside BA district

  £

  Financial year

  Loans

  Grants

  1995–96

  3,173,645.26

  629,846.43

  1996–97

  3,629,703.96

  628,870.05

  1997–98

  4,050,184.48

  633,391.42

  1998–99

  4,035,156.27

  661,875.32

  1999–20001

  2,841,128.38

  358,111.86

  1 Figures for 1999–2000 cover the period from April to October 1999

  Pensions
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security which software providers have responded to Stakeholder Pension Consultation Brief 6. [98119]

  Mr. Rooker
  One software provider, Quality Management Software Ltd. responded to Stakeholder Pension Consultation Brief 6.

  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people are currently waiting for their pension application to be processed by Newcastle Benefit Office; and when the Office expects to process applications from people who reached the age of 60 in September. [98190]

  Mr. Rooker
  The number of people who reached pension age (60 for a woman and 65 for a man) in September 1999 and are currently waiting for their

  Percentage of pensioners in receipt of occupational pensions

  Amount of occupational pension received (£ per week, July 1996 prices)

  Under £10

  £10–20

  £20–50

  £50–100

  £100–200

  More than £200

  Total number in receipt (millions)

  1987

  29

  19

  27

  14

  9

  2

  3.8

  1988

  23

  21

  26

  17

  10

  3

  3.8

  1989

  23

  21

  25

  18

  11

  2

  4.0

  1990–91

  20

  19

  29

  16

  11

  4

  4.2

  1992

  17

  16

  26

  18

  16

  6

  4.3

  1993

  17

  16

  29

  17

  17

  5

  4.5

  1994–95

  14

  17

  28

  19

  15

  8

  4.6

  1995–96

  15

  15

  27

  22

  15

  7

  4.7

  1996–97

  12

  13

  27

  22

  18

  9

  4.5

  Notes:

  1. Pensioners are defined as individuals over State Pension age (65 for men, 60 for women).

  2. All money amounts are expressed in £ per week at July 1996 prices.

  3. All years are calendar years except 1990–91, which refers to the combined calendar years 1990 and 1991, and 1994–95 onwards, which refer to financial years.

  4. Receipt of occupational pension is based on survey respondents' own assessment and may be subject to under-reporting.

  Source:
  Family Expenditure Survey

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate(a) the net cost and (b) the gross cost of paying SERPS to widows and widowers at (i) 100 per cent. of spouse's contributions made to 5 April 2000 and (ii) 50 per cent. of spouse's contributions made after 6 April 2000, broken down by each year from 2000 to 2020. [98091]

  Mr. Rooker
  The information is not available in the form requested. Such information as is available is in the table.
  804
  pension application to be processed by the Benefit Agency's clerical section in Newcastle is 888. It is expected that most of this number will have been completed by 30 November.

  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioners are not claiming the minimum income guarantee; what is the average resulting loss of income to those pensioners; and if he will make a statement. [98062]

  Mr. Rooker
  We estimate that the number of pensioners not claiming their Income Support entitlement is between 530,000 and 870,000. The average weekly amount unclaimed is estimated to be £18.80. We will announce our plans for a national programme to encourage take-up of the minimum income guarantee in due course.

  Note:

  Source Income Related benefits Estimates of Take-Up in 1997–98.

  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate how many pensioners in each of the last 10 years were in receipt of occupational and other pensions additional to the state retirement pensions and the percentage of those pensioners who were receiving(a) up to £10, (b) £10 to £20, (c) £20 to £50, (d) £50 to £100, (e) £100 to £200 and (f) over £200 per week from such sources. [98055]

  Mr. Rooker
  The information requested is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the table.

  Gross costs of SERPS pensions for surviving spouses on the basis of 100 per cent. of pension accruals to 5 April 2000 and 50 per cent. after that date

  £ million

  2000–01

  60

  2001–02

  160

  2002–03

  280

  2003–04

  390

  2004–05

  500

  2005–06

  620

  2006–07

  730

  2007–08

  850

  805

  Gross costs of SERPS pensions for surviving spouses on the basis of 100 per cent. of pension accruals to 5 April 2000 and 50 per cent. after that date

  £ million

  2008–09

  970

  2009–10

  1,080

  2010–11

  1,200

  2011–12

  1,310

  2012–13

  1,420

  2013–14

  1,520

  2014–15

  1,620

  2015–16

  1,720

  2016–17

  1,810

  2017–18

  1,900

  2018–19

  1,980

  2019–20

  2,060

  2020–21

  2,130

  Notes:

  1. Gross costs have been provided from the Government Actuary's Department.

  2. Costs are rounded to the nearest £10 million, and are in 1999–2000 prices.

  3. Exact figures for net costs are not available. It is estimated that gross costs are likely to incur an offset of around 0–5 per cent. in the years up to and including 2010 and around 5–10 per cent. thereafter.

  4. Estimates assume average earnings growth from 1999 onwards of 1.5 per cent. per year above prices. The State Second Pension and Welfare Reform Bill changes are not taken into account in these figures.

  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many meetings of the working group on Best Practice Guidelines for occupational pensions have taken place so far. [98294]

  Mr. Rooker
  The Best Practice Working Group met for the first time in October. Their second meeting will be in January 2000.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many inquiries(a) by letter, (b) by telephone and (c) in total have been received by the Benefits Agency since October 1998 on SERPS for widows and widowers after April 2000; [98093]

  (2) which Benefits Agency Pensions Bulletins issued since October 1998 mention SERPS for widows and widowers after April 2000; and if he will publish them. [98095]

  Mr. Rooker
  The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the tables.

  The Benefits Agency has collected data on the number of inquiries received within Local Offices and the Pensions and Overseas Directorate on the changes to SERPS for widows and widowers from April 2000, since April 1999.

  Number of inquiries received by letter and telephone

  Month

  Inquiries received by letter

  Inquiries received by telephone

  1999

  April

  1,495

  508

  May

  467

  137

  June

  345

  114

  July

  289

  52

  806

  Number of inquiries received by letter and telephone

  Month

  Inquiries received by letter

  Inquiries received by telephone

  August

  151

  53

  September

  143

  63

  Total

  2,890

  927

  Note:

  Prior to April 1999 the data has not been collected

  In addition to the data provided above the Benefits Agency Chief Executive has responded directly to 56 SERPS related inquiries since October 1998.

  Since October 1998 the Benefits Agency has issued six procedural bulletins in the Pensions Bulletin series on the subject of the changes to inherited SERPS from April 2000. These are 2/99; 13/99; 16/99; 18/99; 20/99; 28/99.Benefits Agency Pensions Bulletins are not priced publications available from HMSO. However, in line with the Benefits Agency's commitment to the Open Government Code of Practice, the bulletins are in the public domain and can be viewed at Benefit Agency Local Offices.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many(a) hon. Members, (b) members of the public and (c) organisations have written to him since October 1998 about SERPS for widows and widowers after April 2000. [98092]

  Mr. Rooker
  The information is not available in the form requested. Such information as is available shows that since October 1998 we have received 1,381 letters from hon. Members on this subject. Since November 1998, 834 letters have been received from organisations and members of the public.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to consult outside organisations before he publishes regulations under Clause 1 of the Welfare Reform and Pensions Bill relating to additional pension for widows and widowers. [98094]

  Mr. Rooker
  We plan to write shortly to interested organisations to invite them to be involved in a consultation group.

  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many meetings of the Pension Forecasting Advisory Group have taken place so far. [982931

  Mr. Rooker
  The Pensions Forecasting Advisory Group met for the first time in October. Their second meeting will be in January 2000.

  Mortgage Interest
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 4 November 1999,Official Report, column 310, if in response to his Department continuing to make payments direct to lenders, lenders have undertaken under the 1991 agreement to continue not to take possession; and if the agreement relates only to cases where income support covers 100 per cent. of the mortgage interest. [98191]

  Mr. Bayley
  The payment of mortgage interest direct to lenders clearly reduces significantly the number of people who will fall into arrears or increase arrears that they might have had before they claimed Income Support
  807
  Mortgage Interest. The Code of Mortgage Lending practice produced by the lending industry clearly states that people with arrears will be considered sympathetically and positively.

  Departmental Vehicles
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the total number of vehicles used by his Department and its agencies fuelled by(a) petrol, (b) diesel and (c) liquid petroleum gas; and what plans he has to increase the rate of conversion of those vehicles to liquid petroleum gas. [98203]

  Mr. Bayley
  The Department has a fleet of 2,849 vehicles of which 506 are fuelled with petrol, 2,287 with diesel and 56 with liquid petroleum gas (LPG). There are currently 15 LPG cars on order and it is departmental policy to replace all 'pool cars' primarily operating in urban areas or other Air Quality Management Areas with diesel-fuelled LPG cars when they become due for replacement.

  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to set targets for the recycling of waste(a) paper, (b) cardboard, (c) glass, (d) metal, (e) plastic and (f) other products created by his Department and its agencies; and if he will make a statement. [98229]

  Mr. Bayley
  The Department's approach to waste management should help us to achieve the Green Ministers' target for Government Departments of recovering a minimum of 40 per cent. of total office waste, with at least 25 per cent. of that recovery coming from recycling or composting, in 2000–01.

  To date the following targets have been established:
  Recycling of "Confidential Waste" paper—target 100 per cent.—at present 75 per cent. is being achieved.
  Recycling of glass from spent fluorescent tubes—target 100 per cent.—which is being achieved.
  Plans are being developed to site bottle banks for both departmental and domestic glass recycling on DSS sites. Target—to site banks on 10 per cent. of sites within 12 months.
  Recycling facilities for metal waste from drink cans already exists at a number of sites. Target—to cover 10 per cent. of sites within 12 months.
  Targets for the recycling of carpets and of toner cartridges are being investigated.

  In addition, an Environmental Management System (EMS) is being introduced at the large DSS site at Peel Park, Preston, and a further six sites have been identified for development of EMSs from next year.

  Incapacity Benefit
  Mr. Browne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what was the percentage withdrawal of benefit following all work test referrals and examinations at each Benefits Agency office in Scotland for each month in(a) 1998 and (b) 1999 up to the latest available month; and how many appeals against withdrawal of benefit and what percentage of such appeals were successful; [98413]
  808
  (2) what the percentage success rate was for applications for incapacity benefit at each Benefits Agency office in Scotland in each month in (a) 1998 and (b) 1999 up to the latest available month; how many appeals there were against refusals: and what percentage of such appeals was successful. [98412]

  Mr. Bayley
  I will write to my hon. Friend.

  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will define the category of individuals classified as credits only in his quarterly incapacity benefit statistics; and if he will make a statement on the reasons for the increased size of this group since 1995. [98278]

  Mr. Bayley
  Incapacity Benefit is payable to people who satisfy both the test of incapacity for the purposes of benefit entitlement and the relevant National Insurance contribution conditions. Where a person satisfies the test of incapacity but does not meet the contribution conditions, they are not entitled to Incapacity Benefit but can be awarded National Insurance credits (and may also be eligible for Income Support paid on the grounds of incapacity). Such cases are known as "Credits Only" cases.

  The number of Credits Only cases has been increasing steadily since the contribution conditions were changed in 1988. The continued increase is likely to be the result of a number of social and economic factors, including changes in patterns of working.

  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many letters his Department has received about his proposals on incapacity benefit; and how many of these were(a) in favour of and (b) against the proposals. [98148]

  Mr. Bayley
  The information is not available in the format requested.

  We have received around 800 letters about the Incapacity Benefit changes. Around 600 of these were from Members of Parliament and around 200 were from members of the public. There is no comprehensive record of the total number received by the Department as a whole on the subject, or of the breakdown between those in favour or those against the changes.

  In addition, the Department received a total of 342 responses as part of the consultation exercise on the proposals for disability reform held earlier this year. A list of those organisations and academics who responded to the Welfare Reform Green Paper, excluding those who requested confidentiality, has been placed in the House Library. The Department has also placed a summary of responses in the Library.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Curry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the communications addressed to local authorities by his Department on the administration of housing benefit since 1 January. [98299]
  809
  Angela Eagle
  Details of the circulars issued by the Department to local authorities on the adjudication and operation of Housing Benefit are as follows.

  HB/CTB (A) circulars (1999)

  Number

  Title

  Date issued

  A1/99

  Persons who are to be treated as notliable for their housing costs

  January 1999

  A2/99

  Change to Qualifying Conditions For Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit

  January 1999

  A3/99

  Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Subsidy Arrangements—Specific Grant for Local Authorities' Administration Costsin 1999–2000 (this circular was replaced by S2/99)

  February 1999

  A4/99

  National Insurance Contribution Rates 1999–2000

  February 1999

  A5/99

  Closer Working with BA—Progress Report

  March 1999

  A6/99

  1999–2000 Income Tax Rates and Allowances

  March 1999

  A7/99

  I. Childcare charges II. Disregards for claimants working at least 30 hours a week

  March 1999

  A8/99

  National Minimum Wage

  April 1999

  A9/99

  Kosovar evacuees

  April 1999

  A10/99

  New Deal schemes and Employment Zones

  May 1999

  A11/99

  Nursing Diploma Students—Formerly known as 'Project 2000' Nurses

  May 1999

  A12/99

  Application of Habitual Residence Test to returning former UK residents

  May 1999

  A13/99

  Judicial Review: Regina v Macclesfield Borough Council Housing Benefit Review Board Ex Parte Temsamani (regulation 10(6B))

  May 1999

  A14/99

  Welfare Reform

  May 1999

  A15/99

  Supported Accommodation: The Government announcement on 31 March1999 to proceed with the proposals for long-term funding arrangements for supported accommodation as laid out in the consultation paper 'Supporting People: A new policy and funding framework for support services'

  June 1999

  A16/99

  Section 19—Progress Report 1

  June 1999

  A17/99

  Treating Non-Cash Vouchers as earnings

  June 1999

  A18/99

  1. General information about Working Families' Tax Credit (WFTC) and Disabled Person's Tax Credit (DPTC)

  June 1999

  2. WFTC/DPTC the 'Better off issue

  A19/99

  Educational Maintenance Allowances

  July 1999

  A20/99

  National Savings Certificates—July 1999 rates

  July 1999

  A21/99

  Valuation of property

  July 1999

  A22/99

  Closer Working with BA—ProgressReport

  July 1999

  A23/99

  1. Department for Education and Employment arrangements for Student support in respect of 'new' and 'existing' students.

  July 1999

  2. Details of changes to the disregard provisions to take account of student loans.

  3. Details of the new rates of disregards and rent deductions.

  A24/99

  Verification Framework—Revised Guidance On Establishing Identity

  July 1999

  810

  HB/CTB (A) circulars (1999)

  Number

  Title

  Date issued

  A25/99

  More information about Working Families' Tax Credit (WFTC) and Disabled Person's Tax Credit (DPTC)

  July 1999

  A26/99

  Notional HB assessments for Crown Tenants

  August 1999

  A27/99

  Increase in personal allowance of children under 11

  August 1999

  A28/99

  Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Policy and Housing Benefit Management contact points

  August 1999

  A29/99

  Sports awards

  August 1999

  A30/99

  Electronic Transfer of Data (ETD)

  August 1999

  A31/99

  HB/CTB Guidance Manual

  August 1999

  A32/99

  Verification Framework; Management Information (MIS)

  August 1999

  A33/99

  Changes from 4 October to HB/CTB Extended Payments, consequential to the introduction of the Lone Parent's Benefit Run-On and the extension of the Extended Payments scheme to disabled people

  August 1999

  A34/99

  Disapplication of section 19 (requirement to provide a national insurance number) to hostel dwellers

  September 1999

  A35/99

  Enhanced guidance on operating the Exceptional Hardship Scheme

  September 1999

  A36/99

  Definition of a hostel—Disapplication of section 19 (requirement to provide a national insurance number) to hostel dwellers

  September 1999

  A37/99

  Changes to the implementation of the Verification Framework and section 19 requirement and funding

  September 1999

  A38/99

  Confirmation of the laying of Regulations in respect of: Changes to Personal Allowances for Children and Young Persons from 4 October; Changes to Extended Payments Regulations from 4 October

  September 1999

  A39/99

  HB/CTB Circular A23/99 notified authorities about the changes to regulations introduced by the Social Security Amendment (Students) Regulations 1999 (S.I. 1999/1935). This circular clarifies the period over which student loans should be taken into account

  September 1999

  A40/99

  Closer Working with BA—Progress Report

  September 1999

  A41/99

  1. Working Families Tax Credit (WFTC) and Disabled Person's Tax Credit (DPTC)

  September 1999

  2. Changes to regulations consequential to introduction of WFTC and DPTC

  3. WFTC and DPTC Publicity Material

  A42/99

  General information about New Deal 50 Plus and how it effects HB/CTB

  September 1999

  A43/99

  Effect on fast tracking of changes from 4 October tomb/CTB Extended Payments, consequential to the Lone Parent's Benefit Run-On

  September 1999

  A44/99

  DfEE support for Further Education students, and topost-16 year old pupils in schools

  October 1999

  A45/99

  Occupational or Personal Pensions paid to third parties

  October 1999

  811

  HB/CTB (A) circulars (1999)

  Number

  Title

  Date issued

  A46/99

  1. Occupiers of the home

  October 1999

  2. Further guidance on ex-owners and definition of a company

  3. Volunteers

  4. Absent partner

  A47/99

  Service Charges In Supported Accommodation

  October 1999

  A48/99

  Verification Framework: further administrative simplifications, additional information and clarification

  October 1999

  A49/99

  WFTC and DPTC: Exchange of information between Inland Revenue and local authorities

  November 1999

  A50/99

  i) Grant and loan rates for HealthCare students

  November 1999

  ii) Clarification of the changes in the way loan and dependants grants are taken into account

  National Insurance
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many staff who worked for the Contributions Agency before it was transferred to the Inland Revenue continue to work on national insurance in his Department. [98343]

  Mr. Rooker
  On 1 April 1999 responsibility for National Insurance (NI) contributions operations and policy passed from DSS to the Inland Revenue. As my hon. Friend, the then Minister of State, explained in his written answer on 31 March 1999,Official Report, column 429, the staff working in those areas were transferred to the Inland Revenue. No Contributions Agency staff were retained in the Department to work on NI contributions matters because the Department has no residual responsibility for the collection or recording of contributions.

  This Department and Inland Revenue continue to work together closely on National Insurance matters including, for example, the integrity of the National Insurance number.

  Benefits Agency
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 5 November 1999,Official Report, column 339, concerning Benefits Agency information, if he will set out the findings and actions arising from the review. [98274]

  Mr. Rooker
  We are satisfied that action has been taken to ensure that the accuracy of information available to the public has been reviewed and will continue to be reviewed in the future.

  Personal Service Companies
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 8 November 1999,Official Report, column 385, if he will publish a list of the seven companies currently contracted to his Department to provide information technology contractor staff. [98151]
  812
  Angela Eagle
  The seven companies are Ajilon, Computer People, FI Recruitment, QA Myriad, Parity Resources, Nesco and Rullion.

  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 8 November 1999,Official Report, column 385, how many individuals trading as personal service companies are currently working for his Department and its agencies. [98152]

  Angela Eagle
  The Department's contractual arrangements are with the Framework companies and not the individual contractors. The Department has no information on the trading arrangements of individual contractors

  Benefits (New Year)
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what action he is taking to ensure that vulnerable people will receive their benefits over the New Year, with particular reference to people with disabilities and those receiving direct and manual payments; and if he will make a statement. [93483]

  Angela Eagle
  [pursuant to her reply, 27 July 1999, c. 297-98]: The administration of benefits is a matter for Peter Mathison, the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Alexis Cleveland to Mr. Tim Boswell, dated 10 November 1999:
  I am writing pursuant to Peter Mathison's letter of 27 July, Official Report, columns 297–298, in response to your Parliamentary Question asking what action would be taken to ensure that vulnerable people will receive their benefits over the New Year, with particular reference to people with disabilities and those receiving direct and manual payments. As Mr. Mathison is currently on leave, I am replying. Mr. Mathison's original letter contained an error, therefore, I enclose the revised text in full.
  Each year the Benefit Agency (BA) brings forward the production of order books, Girocheques and Automated Credit Transfers (payment directly to bank accounts) so that people receiving direct and manual payments of benefits can have their money in advance for holiday periods when Banks and Post Offices are closed. These arrangements will again be made for people in receipt of all BA benefits, including disability benefits, for the forthcoming Christmas and New Year period.
  Throughout the year, the BA has continuity planning arrangements in place which could involve manual payments being implemented where problems such as postal disruption are anticipated. In the most vulnerable cases, such payments could be issued to the customer in the office the same day. The BA will also consider sending a visiting officer to those who are unable to attend the office.
  Over the Christmas and New Year period, BA local offices will not be open on Friday 24 December in England and Wales. Scottish BA offices, however, will be open on 24 December. All BA local offices will be open on 29 and 30 December, and 4 January (except in Scotland, where offices return to normal working hours on 5 January). Working hours will be advertised in the local office.
  The BA also provides an out of hours service (OOHS) to help customers who find themselves in particular need outside normal office hours. On weekdays this service operates until at least 20.00 hours. At weekends and on statutory holidays, it will operate for at least six hours daily, normally between 9.00 and 20.00 hours. Contact with the OOHS is normally made through the social services or police who liaise with a central emergency officer through a telephone message service. The officer then considers the individual person's needs in consultation with outside agencies.
  In addition, the BA has been aware for some time of the issues which may arise as a result of the Year 2000 date change. A full programme of work was established in 1996. Most of the major

  813
  mainframe systems (the benefit payment computer systems) hold their dates in a way which is largely unaffected by the Year 2000 problem. Nevertheless, a full regime of checking has taken place and all benefit payment systems are now fully year 2000 compliant.
  Interfaces with external computer systems, including the systems which pay benefits directly to bank accounts, have been rigorously tested, or plans are in place to do so. An intensive testing process is also under way on our major benefit paying systems to provide additional assurances. For example, BA has recently concluded a business confidence review of Jobseekers Allowance and Income Support that did not identify any risks of material disruption to payments of benefits.
  I apologise for any inconvenience caused by the original error and I hope this is helpful.

  Child Support Agency
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations he has received on(a) his proposals for reform of the Child Support Agency and (b) the length of time of the implementation of his proposals. [97925]

  Angela Eagle
  Our proposals which will benefit over a million more children have received widespread support. Many people have said that they want to see the reforms implemented quickly. However, we need to make substantial changes to the legislation and to the way the CSA operates. We will not repeat the mistakes of the current scheme by rushing these changes into effect before we are ready.

  Pension Rates
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what the basic retirement pension rates for(a) a single person and (b) a married couple would have been in 1998–99 and 1999–2000, and would be in 2000–01, if they had been increased in April 1998, 1999 and 2000 in line with the increase in average earnings for the year to the previous September. [98414]

  Mr. Rooker
  The information is in the table.

  £

  1998–99 rate

  1999–00 rate

  2000–01 rate

  Single person

  65.00

  68.20

  71.35

  Married couple

  103.90

  109.00

  114.05

  Notes:

  1. The rate has been calculated assuming 100 per cent. entitlement to Retirement Pension.

  2. Average Earnings Index Whole Economy (non-seasonally adjusted), September on September, as published by the Office for National Statistics, have been used for the 1998–99 and 1999–2000 upratings.

  3. Whole Economy Earnings—(headline rate 3 month average) at July 1999 as published by the Office for National Statistics, have been used to uprate 2000–01. The headline rate is the annual change in the average of the seasonally adjusted series over 3 months. The September 1999 index is not yet available.

  4. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 5 pence at each uprating.

  Departmental Targets
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many targets have been agreed between his Department and (i) local authorities and (ii) other bodies apart from his own agencies and non-departmental public bodies. [98317]
  814
  Mr. Rooker
  Currently, the Department has no published targets with either local authorities or other bodies apart from DSS agencies and non-departmental public bodies.

  Benefits (Annual Uprating)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 5 November 1999,Official Report, column 341, what assessment he has made of the practicability of the Benefits Agency's uprating plan being implemented if the annual uprating of benefits were based on the retail price index for the year to October, November or December preceding the uprating. [98425]

  Mr. Rooker
  I have made no such assessment.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how council tax is taken into account in the uprating of retirement pension and income support. [98426]

  Mr. Rooker
  Changes in Council Tax are included in RPI (all items) the index normally used to uprate Retirement pension. Changes in Council Tax are not taken into account in the Rossi index, the index normally used to uprate Income Support.

HEALTH

  Road Accidents (Recovered Costs)
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been recovered from insurers of those responsible for road accidents under the Road Traffic (NHS Charges) Act 1999; in how many cases recovery has been achieved; and if he will make a statement. [97802]

  Mr. Hutton
  The Road Traffic (NHS Charges) Act 1999 came into effect on 5 April this year. From that date responsibility for the collection of charges passed from individual hospitals to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health, with the Compensation Recovery Unit, a part of the Benefits Agency, acting on his behalf.

  In the first six months of operation the Compensation Recovery Unit has received notification of 271,251 new claims for compensation following a road traffic accident. One third of these cases have been confirmed as involving treatment at an NHS hospital, one third have no NHS element and one third are currently being checked. This has resulted in the identification of an estimated £40m potential income for NHS trusts in England, Scotland and Wales, to be released as and when the underlying compensation claims are settled.

  The Compensation Recovery Unit took delivery of a new computer system on 5 April 1999, not only to deal with NHS charge recovery but also to replace the elderly system in place for the recovery of state benefits since 1990. Technical problems with the new computer system have delayed the transfer of around two million records of claims for all types of personal injury compensation from the old system to the new. This, in turn, has delayed the collection of NHS charges in many cases where compensation has been paid since the scheme started in April.
  815
  The technical difficulties are now being overcome and the scheme is beginning to deliver significant sums of money to trusts. An initial payment was made at the end of July when 185 trusts shared £230,305. August saw an improvement to 225 trusts sharing £713,162 and, at the end of September, 230 trusts shared £1,727,942. I can now confirm that the Compensation Recovery Unit recovered, and paid to 255 trusts, a further £3.7 million at the end of October, the largest ever monthly payment to the NHS in respect of recovery following road traffic accidents. This payment significantly exceeds the amounts previously collected by trusts in an average month in 1998–99 and shows a clear trend towards the step change in income we believe the new system will deliver.

  I will be making a further report on progress at the end of December and again at the end of the full financial year.

  NHS Direct
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS Direct schemes are(a) in operation and (b) planned; and if he will make a statement. [97964]

  Ms Stuart
  There are currently thirteen NHS Direct sites in operation and the service is available to over 40 per cent. of the population of England. From early December 1999, four new sites will become operational and five of the existing sites will expand their coverage, making the service available to over 60 per cent. of the population of England. NHS Direct will be available to the whole population of England by the end of the year 2000.

  Arthritis
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many suffer from arthritis in(a) the UK and (b) Shropshire; and if he will make a statement. [96662]

  Mr. Hutton
  It is estimated that between 8 and 10 million people suffer from one of the different types of arthritis in the United Kingdom. The disease strikes people of all ages but is more common in older people.

  Figures are not available on the prevalence of arthritis on a county by county basis.

  Dental Services
  Miss Kirkbride
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the number of dentists taking only private work by region in each year since 1995. [96200]

  Mr. Hutton
  The information requested is not available centrally.

  NHS (Funding)
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the adequacy of the resources for the NHS in the current financial year. [97224]
  816
  Mr. Denham
  For the current year, the National Health Service in England received an extra £2.8 billion providing real terms growth of 5.1 per cent. bringing the total net expenditure to £39.7 billion. These extra funds are allowing the NHS to deliver more responsive high quality services.

  Macular Eye Disease
  Mr. Crausby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans has he to introduce fast-track treatment for macular eye disease; [97356]

  (2) how many people in the United Kingdom suffer from macular eye disease. [97357]

  Mr. Hutton
  Information on the number of people suffering from age-related macular degeneration is not collected centrally but I am aware of estimates made by the recently established AMD Alliance International that over half a million people in the United Kingdom have this condition. Only 10 per cent. to 15 per cent. of cases—"wet AMD"—are treatable by laser co-agulation and I am not aware that, where it is appropriate, patients are experiencing undue delay in obtaining treatment.

  The extension of eligibility for free National Health Service sight tests to people aged 60 or over, introduced from April, is ensuring that more people at risk of AMD are receiving eye examinations from which patients with signs of eye disease are referred for specialist assessment.

  Nursing Provision
  Mr. Dobbin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the increase in nursing provision for regional health authorities in England since 1 May 1997. [97358]

  Mr. Hutton
  The data are shown in the table.

  NHS Hospital and Community Health Services (HCHS): Total nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff, by region in England as at 30 September each year

  Wte

  Area

  1997

  1996

  England total

  330,620

  332,200

  Anglia & Oxford

  32,040

  32,310

  North Thames

  46,920

  46,710

  North West

  49,300

  49,740

  Northern & Yorkshire

  45,030

  44,870

  South & West

  41,850

  42,100

  South Thames

  42,680

  42,250

  Trent

  34,760

  34,930

  West Midlands

  34,200

  35,400

  SHAs and others

  3,840

  3,880

  Notes:

  Figures are rounded to the nearest ten. Due to rounding totals may not equal the sum of component parts. Figures exclude learners and agency staff. 'hc' indicates number. 19,300 nursing and midwifery training commissions are planned for 1999–2000, an increase of 4,000 over three years. Because of the time lag in completing training, this increase is not reflected in the workforce data

  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the number of nurses(a) in the NHS and (b) at York District Hospital. [97795]
  817
  Mr. Hutton
  Data on the number of nurses are shown in the table.

  NHS Hospital and Community Health Services (HCHS): Nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff, in England as at 30 September 1998

  hc1

  wte2

  England Total

  421,750

  332,200

  York Health Services NHS Trust

  2,080

  1,600

  1 'hc' indicates number

  2 'Wte' indicates whole time equivalent

  Notes:

  1. Figures are rounded to the nearest ten

  2. Due to rounding totals may not equal the sum of component parts

  3. Figures exclude learners and agency staff

  Source:

  Department of Health Non-Medical Workforce Census.

  Epilepsy
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the incidence of epilepsy(a) amongst those aged (i) under 16 years, (ii) 16 to 60 years, and (iii) over 60 years, and (b) in total in the most recent year for which figures are available. [97470]

  Mr. Hutton
  The information requested is not available in the format requested.

  Age

  Approximate incidence per 100,000

  Under 19

  60

  Between 25 and 29

  90

  Between 35 and 39

  80

  Between 45 and 49

  60

  Between 65 and 69

  87

  Over 80

  159

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the level of funding targeted by his Department on(a) the treatment of epilepsy and (b) research into epilepsy during 1999. [97469]

  Mr. Hutton
  The information is not available in the format requested.

  It is for health authorities and Primary Care Groups to plan and arrange the services available to people in their care. However, complex epilepsy is included in the comprehensive list of specialised services in the Health Service Commissioning in the New National Health Service. This means that regional offices will need to give special consideration to commissioning services for people with complex epilepsy.

  The Medical Research Council (MRC) which receives most of its income via grant-in-aid from the office of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry funds medical research as part of the Government's funding of the science and engineering base. In 1998–99 the MRC spent £3.6 million researching epilepsy. The MRC also fund a considerable amount of basic research in the area, (e.g. on nerve function and damage) which is not included in this figure.

  Head Lice
  Dr. Brand
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will provide a list of those health authorities that provide bug-busting kits for head lice free of charge. [97648]

  Mr. Hutton
  This information requested is not collected centrally.

  Long-Term Care
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 25 October 1999,Official Report, column 752, on residential accommodation for elderly people, what representations his Department has received on the implementation of the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Long-Term Care for the Elderly; and if he will make public a summary of representations received. [97563]

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many representations from(a) organisations and (b) individuals he has received on the subject of long-term care since the publication of the Royal Commission's report. [97382]

  Mr. Hutton
  A large number of representations to Ministers on a variety of issues make reference to long-term care. Some representations specifically focus on the Royal Commission's report: around 250 letters have been received from hon. Members and around 70 letters have been received from organisations since the report was published earlier this year. Around a further 430 letters have been received direct from members of the public. Many of the representations have been broadly in support of the main recommendations in the Royal Commission's majority report; others have criticised the recommendations and some have put forward alternative proposals.

  Diabetic Screening
  Mr. David Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to receive the advice of the UK Screening Committee on the feasibility of introducing high risk type 2 diabetic screening. [97649]

  Mr. Hutton
  The United Kingdom National Screening Committee is considering the case for introducing a screening programme targeted at people at high risk of type 2 diabetes. We expect to receive the Committee's advice later next year. In England, this work will be linked in to the National Service Framework for diabetes.

  Acne
  Mr. Hilary Benn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if laser treatment to deal with acne scarring is currently available on the NHS. [97952]

  Mr. Hutton
  Laser treatment to deal with acne scarring is a new procedure which is currently being clinically evaluated. It is not yet therefore generally available in the United Kingdom.

  NHS Laboratory Technicians
  Mr. Gareth R. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the career structure for laboratory technicians in the NHS. [97818]
  819
  Mr. Denham
  On 15 February 1999, the Health Departments published proposals for modernising the National Health Service pay system in "Agenda for Change". Initial discussions with NHS trade unions on pay modernisation resulted in a Joint Framework of Principles and Agreed Statement on the Way Forward which was published on 8 October. Negotiations continue, aiming for a pay system which pays fairly for work done, with career progression based on responsibility, competence and satisfactory performance.

  Motor Neurone Disease
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the level of funding targeted by his Department on(a) the treatment of motor neurone disease and (b) research into motor neurone disease during 1999. [97790]

  Mr. Hutton
  The information is not available in the format requested. It is for health authorities and Primary Care Groups to plan and arrange the services available to people in their care.

  The Medical Research Council (MRC) which receives most of its income via grant-in-aid from the office of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry funds medical research as part of the Government's funding of the science and engineering base.

  The MRC funding for grants relating to motor neurone disease or to the function of motor neurones in general was almost £640,000 in 1998–99. The MRC also fund a considerable amount of basic underpinning research in the area such as nerve function and damage which is not included in this figure.

  Multiple Sclerosis
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton,
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the level of funding targeted by his Department on(a) the treatment of multiple sclerosis and (b) research into multiple sclerosis during 1999. [97788]

  Mr. Hutton
  The information is not available in the format requested. It is for health authorities and Primary Care Groups to plan and arrange the services available to people in their care. However, complex multiple sclerosis is included in the comprehensive list of specialised services in the Health Service Commissioning in the new National Health Service. This means that regional offices will need to give special consideration to commissioning services for people with complex multiple sclerosis.

  The Medical Research Council (MRC)—which receives most of its income via grant-in-aid from the office of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry—funds medical research as part of the Government's funding of the science and engineering base. The MRC spent approximately £640,000 in 1998–99. The MRC also fund a considerable amount of basic underpinning research in the area such as nerve function and damage which is not included in this figure.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the incidence of multiple sclerosis(a) among those aged (i) under 16 years, (ii) 16 to 60 years and (iii) over 60 years, and (b) in total, in the most recent years for which figures are available. [97789]
  820
  Mr. Hutton
  The information is not available in the form requested. However, the Multiple Sclerosis Society states that multiple sclerosis is estimated to affect between 80–90,000 people in the United Kingdom.

  Population

  New cases per year (incidence)

  Total number of cases (prevalence)

  England (approx. 50m)

  4 per 100,000 (2,000)

  100 per 100,000 (50,000)

  Under 16

  2.5 per cent. of all new cases (50)

  50

  Over 60

  2.5 per cent. of all new cases (50)

  12,500

  Over 70

  Very few

  3,750

  These figures are derived from epidemiological research studies. These studies all give slightly different figures. The table provides current best estimates for England. NHS figures do not provide accurate estimates of the epidemiology of MS. This is because many patients are not admitted to hospital and outpatient diagnostic data is not comprehensive.

  Appointments
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the NHS Trust and Health Authority appointments which were not made by the due date and which remained outstanding on 1 November. [98110]

  Ms Stuart
  The appointment terms of 265 National Health Service trust non-executives and Chairs came to an end on 31 October 1999. Appointments were made to 257 or 97 per cent. of these vacancies at least four weeks before the due date. Fourteen of these appointments were short-term reappointments until January 2000. Eight vacancies were outstanding on 1 November 1999. They were:

  Body

  Number of Chairs

  Number of non-executives

  Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust

  0

  1

  Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust

  0

  2

  Oxfordshire Mental Healthcare

  0

  1

  Queen Victoria Hospital

  0

  1

  Two Shires Ambulance

  0

  1

  Medway

  0

  1

  Stoke Mandeville Hospital NHS Trust

  0

  1

  Total

  0

  8

  Departmental Waste
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to set targets for the recycling of waste(a) paper, (b) cardboard, (c) glass, (d) metal, (e) plastic and (f) other products created by his Department and its agencies; and if he will make a statement. [98217]

  Yvette Cooper
  I shall let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.

  Dominic McKilligan
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects the health authority inquiry into the discharge, supervision and later conviction for murder of Dominic McKilligan to be complete; what were the terms of reference of that inquiry; and whether those conducting that inquiry can insist on the cooperation of local authority social services departments. [98133]

  Mr. Hutton
  The Health authority has commissioned under Health Service Guidance 94/27, an inquiry into the services which Dominic McKilligan received from the National Health Service. That inquiry has an independent panel and work is underway. Although the inquiry cannot insist on the co-operation of the social services departments, information has been sought from involved local authorities. The inquiry aims to complete its work early in the new year.

  The report of the inquiry will be made available to the independently chaired case review which is also being undertaken on behalf of Newcastle Area Child Protection Committee under Part 8 of "Working Together under the Children Act 1989" which has a wider remit in that it will be considering all the services involved.

  Beta Interferon
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his oral answer of 30 March 1999,Official Report, column 845, concerning beta interferon, if he will convey to the hon. Member for Sutton and Cheam the results of his inquiries into the case of Mrs. Josephine Timms. [98275]

  Mr. Denham
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to publish the final version of the Health Service circular on beta interferon. [98381]

  Mr. Hutton
  The Department is currently considering all comments received during the consultation on a draft circular on beta interferon.

  Eastbourne Hospital
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the level of nursing staff at Eastbourne District General Hospital; and if he will make a statement. [97326]

  Mr. Denham
  The East Sussex, Brighton and Hove Health Authority and Eastbourne Hospitals National Health Service Trust have reviewed nursing levels and it has been agreed that funding will be allocated for an additional 10 nurses at Eastbourne District General Hospital.

  Following the recommendation in the South East NHS Executive's recent Review of Nursing at Eastbourne Hospitals NHS Trust, the East Sussex, Brighton and Hove Health Authority, Eastbourne Hospitals NHS Trust and Eastbourne Downs Primary Care Group are also looking
  822
  to agree a workload measurement tool that will help determine the skill mix and staffing required to deliver appropriate care at Eastbourne District General Hospital.

  Electric Wheelchairs (East Sussex)
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many electric wheelchairs were issued or paid for by Eastbourne and County Healthcare Trust in each of the last three years. [98195]

  Mr. Hutton
  The information requested is given in the table.

  Financial year

  Number issued

  April 1996-March 1997

  0

  April 1997-March 1998

  22

  April 1998-March 1999

  13

  Figures given in the table are the number of electric wheelchairs issued by Eastbourne and County Healthcare National Health Service Trust.

  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to increase funding for electric wheelchairs in East Sussex; and if he will make a statement. [98196]

  Mr. Hutton
  Wheelchair services for residents of East Sussex are provided by Eastbourne and County Healthcare National Health Service Trust and Hastings and Rother NHS Trust.

  Eastbourne and County Healthcare NHS Trust are presently discussing with Eastbourne Downs Primary Care Group the possibility of increasing funding for Electrically Powered Indoor Chairs. Hastings and Rother NHS Trust will shortly be considering increasing funding for Electrically Powered Indoor Chairs. Any increases in funding will be dependent on local priorities.

  Benzodiazepine
  Mr. Woolas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many new born babies in each of the last five years have been damaged by the prescribing of benzodiazepine drugs to their mothers. [93726]

  Yvette Cooper
  Information on the number of babies born to mothers taking benzodiazepines during pregnancy who have congenital abnormalities or experience complications is not available. The number of congenital abnormalities and neonatal complications reported to the Committee on Safety of Medicines through the United Kingdom's spontaneous Adverse Drug Reaction Scheme from 1 January 1992 to 31 December 1997 suspected as associated with benzodiazepines is shown in the table.

  Number of suspected adverse reaction reports of congenital anomalies and neonatal complications associated with benzodiazepines

  Year

  Number

  1994

  0

  1995

  0

  1996

  1

  1997

  5

  1998

  2

  823
  A report of a suspected adverse drug reaction does not necessarily mean that it was caused by the drug as factors such as underlying disease and concomitant medication may be contributory. The level of reporting of adverse drug reactions with particular drugs is influenced by the scale of drug usage, the period of time the drug has been on the market and the publicity about the drug.

  Mr. Woolas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to request the Medicines Control Agency to review the use and prescription of benzodiazepine drugs. [93722]

  Yvette Cooper
  It is not the role of the Medicines Control Agency to advise on the prescription of medicines. Advice has already been issued in 1998 by the Royal College of Psychiatrists and the Department of Health.

  Mr. Woolas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to implement the advice of the Committee on Review of Medicines that benzodiazepines should not be prescribed to pregnant women. [93724]

  Yvette Cooper
  The product information for prescribers states that benzodiazepines should not be given during pregnancy unless there are compelling medical reasons. There are however some medical conditions in pregnancy where the use of these drugs can be life-saving to mother and child, for example when used to control fits in eclampsia. Patient Information Leaflets produced by the manufacturer and authorised by the licensing authority for benzodiazepines carry warnings that patients should not take the medicine if they are pregnant, might become pregnant or are breast feeding.

  Mr. Woolas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to implement the advice of the Committee on Review of Medicines on the prescription of benzodiazepine drugs. [93725]

  Yvette Cooper
  In 1980, the Committee on Review of Medicines recommended the short-term use only of benzodiazepines, and the addition of warnings about withdrawal reactions and advice on gradual reduction in dosage on cessation of therapy. The licences for benzodiazepines were amended to add these recommendations for use at this time and this was reflected in the product information for health professionals.

  Subsequently the Committee on Safety of Medicines has given advice on the use of benzodiazepines. Doctors were informed in the bulletin, "Current Problems in Pharmacovigilance" in 1988. This advice is found in the British National Formulary, which the Department provides to all doctors and pharmacists twice a year.

  Mr. Woolas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to carry out research into the effects of long-term use of benzodiazepine drugs. [93723]

  Yvette Cooper
  There are no plans to carry out research into the long term use of benzodiazepine drugs. The Medicines Control Agency continually monitors the safety of all medicines in routine clinical practice. Benzodiazepines are currently licensed for short-term use only.

CABINET OFFICE

  Concordat (Wales)
  Ms Julie Morgan
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when she expects to publish the bilateral Concordat between the Cabinet Office and the Cabinet of the National Assembly for Wales. [98356]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  I am pleased to announce that the First Secretary and I have agreed the text of the Concordat between the Cabinet Office and the Cabinet of the National Assembly for Wales. Copies of the Concordat have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses, and the text will be available on the Cabinet Office website.

  Concordat (Scotland)
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when she expects to publish the bilateral Concordat between the Cabinet Office and the Scottish Administration. [98353]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  I am pleased to announce that the First Minister and I have agreed the text of the Concordat between the Cabinet Office and the Scottish Administration. Copies of the Concordat have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses, and the text will be available on the Cabinet Office website.

  Consultants
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much her Department spent on external consultants and advisers in each of the last four financial years. [97423]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  My Department's expenditure on external consultants and advisers in each of the last four financial years is given as follows:

  £

  Year

  Expenditure on external consultants and advisers

  1995–96

  5,015,495

  1996–97

  4,708,290

  1997–98

  2,820,726

  1998–99

  5,534,507

  Note:

  The increase from 1997–98 to 1998–99 is largely because of new expenditure in the following areas: GCHQ consultancy services (CESG) by Central IT Unit (£1,483,858); combating the Millennium Bug expenditure by Y2K team (£502,956); and the Peoples Panel by Modernising Public Services Group (£451,812).

  Departmental Waste
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what plans she has to set targets for the recycling of waste(a) paper, (b) cardboard, (c) glass, (d) metal, (e) plastic and (f) other products created by her Department and its agencies; and if she will make a statement. [98216]

  Mr. Stringer
  My Department's approach to waste management is based on the three Rs: with Recovery (ie. recycling, composting and energy recovery) following Reduce and Re-use as the preferred options for reducing waste sent to landfill. This should help us to achieve: the Green Ministers' target for Government
  825
  Departments of recovering a minimum of 40 per cent. of total office waste, with at least 25 per cent. of that recovery coming from recycling or composting in 2000–01, as published in "Greening Government: First Annual Report of the Green Ministers Committee 1998–99". We are developing individual targets for paper, cardboard, glass, metal, plastic and other materials. Our associate bodies are similarly working towards the Green Ministers target.

  Regulatory Impact Assessment
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many proposals to impose new regulations on business have been dropped as a result of the application of Regulatory Impact Assessment. [98049]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  Regulatory Impact Assessment is an iterative process that begins when policy options are first explored. During the development of a proposal, options may be dropped for various reasons, including the potential burden on business. But information is not collected on proposals that are dropped and could be collected only at disproportionate cost.

  Proposals that come before Parliament, and which are accompanied by a final, published Regulatory Impact Assessment have been judged to be necessary and to strike the right balance between cost and benefit.

  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what estimate she has made of the costs(a) reduced and (b) avoided as a result of the use of Regulatory Impact Assessments for the last year for which figures are available. [98043]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  I have made no such estimates. Regulatory Impact Assessments show the expected costs and benefits of proposals that are brought forward. These individual assessments are placed in the Libraries of the House.

  Where a new proposal has the benefit of replacing an earlier more costly arrangement, that would be shown in the relevant Regulatory Impact Assessment.

  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will make it her policy to encourage(a) utility and (b) other sector regulators to adopt the principles contained in her Department's Regulatory Impact Assessment guidelines in respect of their regulatory decisions. [98051]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  The requirements of the Better Regulation Guide and Regulatory Impact Assessment apply primarily to Government Departments and agencies who bring regulations before Parliament. It is also appropriate for other agencies such as utility and other sector regulators where they do not already have such guidance built into their statutory requirements.

  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will set(a) departmental and (b) overall targets for reducing the burden of regulation, measured by (i) volume of regulatory requirements and (ii) costs imposed by those requirements. [98550]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  The volume and cost of regulation is less important than its quality and effectiveness. To focus on the number of regulations or their cost is 826
  meaningless because it ignores the benefits to business, society and the environment that can result from targeted and proportionate regulation.

  The process of Regulatory Impact Assessment aims to ensure that the costs of regulation are justified by the benefits.

  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what procedures are in place to ensure that departments comply with the Cabinet Office Regulatory Impact Assessment guidelines. [98089]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  The Procedure for compliance is in the form of ministerial agreement that regulatory proposals with an impact on businesses, charities or voluntary bodies should have a Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) prior to collective agreement being sought. Departments consult the Cabinet Office Regulatory Impact Unit as part of this process.

  Ministers and their Departmental Regulatory Impact Units have responsibility for ensuring that RIAs are published and placed in the Libraries of the House. Copies of all final RIAs must also be sent to Cabinet Office Regulatory Impact Unit.

  Financial Services and Markets Bill
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will take steps to require that the requirement set out in Clause 125 of the Financial Services and Markets Bill should apply to all sector regulators in respect of their regulatory decision-making role; and if she will make a statement. [98088]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  There is no need to extend the specific requirements on consultation and cost benefit analysis, in Clause 125 of the Financial Services and Markets Bill, to all sector regulators. Best practice guidance on consultation and on Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) is already available to sector regulators in the Better Regulation Guide.

  Drug Misuse
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will instruct the Anti-drugs Co-ordinator to include within the remit of the drugs action teams the problem of drugs and driving. [98116]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  The issue of drugs and driving is predominantly a matter for the police, who have powers to deal with drivers who are impaired through the effects of drugs under existing road traffic legislation. Drug Action Team (DAT) membership includes chief officers of agencies—including the police—which have responsibility for tackling all aspects of the drug problem, and as such this issue is already covered by DATs.

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many special advisers are employed by each Government Department, including the Prime Minister's Office; and how many there were in 1995–96, 1996–97, 1997–98 and 1998–99. [97766]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  For the numbers of Special Advisers currently in post, I refer the hon. Member to my answer to his question 98192.
  827
  The information requested for earlier years is as follows:

  Year

  Number of Advisers

  1995–96

  38

  1996–97

  38

  1997–98

  70

  1998–99

  72

  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will list the special advisers currently employed by each Government Department, including the Prime Minister's Office, and their previous employment. [98192]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  For details of the Special Advisers employed in the Prime Minister's Office, I refer the hon. Member to the answer provided to the hon. Member for Truro and St. Austell (Mr. Taylor) on 25 June 1999,Official Report, columns 478–80. Since then, he has appointed Bob Bartram, Ed Richards and Catherine Rimmer. Special Advisers appointed by me and other Cabinet colleagues are as follows:

  Department

  Special Advisers

  Chief Whip

  Ian McKenzie

  Sue Jackson

  Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

  Kieran Simpson

  Jack Thurston

  Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport

  Andy Burnham

  Secretary of State for Defence

  Alasdair McGowan

  Secretary of State for Education and Employment1

  Conor Ryan

  Sophie Linden4

  Tom Engel4

  Nick Pearce

  Deputy Prime Minister

  Joe Irvin

  Paul Hackett4

  Joan Hammell

  Adrian Long

  Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs

  David Clark

  Andrew Hood

  Secretary of State for Health

  Simon Stevens

  Darren Murphy

  Secretary of State for the Home Department

  Ed Owen

  Justin Russell

  Lord Chancellor

  Garry Hart

  Secretary of State for International Development

  David Mepham

  Dee Sullivan

  Leader of the House of Lords and Minister for Women

  Clare Cozens

  Jo Gibbons

  Minister for the Cabinet Office2

  Nigel Warner

  Andrew Lappin

  828

  Department

  Special Advisers

  President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons

  Sheila Watson

  Nicci Russell

  Secretary of State for Scotland

  Richard Olszewski

  Michael Elrick

  Prof. Mike Donnelly5

  Secretary of State for Social Security

  Andrew Maugham

  Elsbeth Johnson

  President of the Board of Trade

  Dan Corry

  Jo Moore4

  Chancellor of the Exchequer3

  Ed Balls6

  Ian Austin

  Chief Secretary

  Spencer Livermore

  Ed Miliband

  Secretary of State for Wales

  Professor Hywel Francis

  1 In addition, Professor Michael Barber has been appointed as the Standards and Effectiveness Adviser to the Secretary of State for Education and Employment.

  2 In addition, the Minister for the Cabinet Office has appointed Keith Hellawell as the UK Anti-Drugs Co-ordinator and Michael Trace as the Deputy UK Anti-Drugs Co-ordinator on special adviser terms.

  3 In addition, the Chancellor of the Exchequer has appointed Chris Wales, Paul Gregg and Shriti Vadera as Members of the Council of Economic Advisers.

  4 Part-time.

  5 Part-time and unpaid.

  6 Chief Economic Adviser.

  Details about an individual's previous employment are confidential in order to protect the privacy of the individuals concerned.

  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what is the total cost of special advisers currently employed by each Government department and by the Prime Minister's Office; and what was the total cost for each year from 1995–96 to 1998–99. [97606]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  The costs of Special Advisers within each department are confidential in order to protect the privacy of the individuals concerned.

  The estimated cost in 1999–2000 of Special Advisers in No.10 is £1.5m. The estimated cost of departmental Advisers is £2.4m.

  The total costs of Special Advisers in the years requested are as follows:

  1995–96 £1.5m

  1996–97 £1.8m

  1997–98 £2.6m

  1998–99 £3.5m

  Departmental Vehicles
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what is the total number of vehicles used by her Department and its agencies fuelled by(a) petrol, (b) diesel and (c) liquid petroleum gas; and what plans she has to increase the rate of conversion of those vehicles to liquid petroleum gas. [98197]
  829
  Mr. Stringer
  The information requested is as set out and covers the vehicles owned by the Cabinet Office, its five agencies and the Central Office of Information (CoI).

  Number

  Vehicles fuelled by petrol

  159

  Vehicles fuelled by diesel1

  76

  Vehicles fuelled by1PG2

  35

  Vehicles fuelled by other energy sources

  1

  Total

  271

  1 Includes vehicles fuelled by low-sulphur diesel

  2 Includes bi-fuelled vehicles

  Some 242 of these vehicles are operated by the Government Car and Despatch Agency, which runs two fleets, the Government Car Service and the InterDespatch Service.

  The Cabinet Office, its Agencies and the CoI are, individually, either implementing a replacement programme or investigating the scope for making greater use of alternative technologies and fuels, including liquid petroleum gas, for the vehicles they operate.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

  Financial Crime
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Solicitor-General what arrangements the Serious Fraud Office will make with the Financial Services Authority to ensure the effective enforcement of the criminal law in cases of financial crime. [97842]

  The Solicitor-General
  The Serious Fraud Office and the Financial Services Authority, together with the Crown Prosecution Service, the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland, the Crown Office in Scotland, the Department of Trade and Industry, Her Majesty's Treasury and the Police are working to develop guidelines for deciding who should take the lead in investigating particular instances of suspected financial misconduct and for liaison both on a regular basis and during investigations and subsequent regulatory, civil or criminal action. It is proposed to publish these guidelines when they have been finalised.

  Departmental Waste
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Solicitor-General what plans he has to set targets for the recycling of waste(a) paper, (b) cardboard, (c) glass, (d) metal, (e) plastic and (f) other products created by his Department and its agencies; and if he will make a statement. [98226]

  The Solicitor-General
  The Law Officers' Departments are working towards the Green Ministers' target for Government Departments of recovering a minimum of 40 per cent. of total office waste, with at least 25 per cent. of that recovery coming from recycling or composting, in 2000–01.

  Towards this target, the Crown Prosecution Service has in place contracts for the collection, shredding and recycling of over 80 per cent. of classified waste paper, and is presently tendering a contract for the recycling of non-classified waste paper, cardboard, metal, glass and
  830
  plastic. The Disposal Sales Agency is used by the CPS to dispose of information technology and other obsolete equipment either by sale or recycling.

  The Crown Prosecution Service, Serious Fraud Office, Treasury Solicitor's Department and Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers seek to reduce the amount of waste produced and to deal with waste by re-use, recycling, composting or incineration to produce heat and power in preference to landfill.

  Departmental Vehicles
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Solicitor-General what is the total number of vehicles used by his Department and its agencies fuelled by(a) petrol, (b) diesel and (c) liquid petroleum gas; and what plans he has to increase the rate of conversion of those vehicles to liquid petroleum gas. [98199]

  The Solicitor-General
  The Attorney-General and Treasury Solicitor use cars allocated by the Government Car Service. Details of their fuel types are provided in an answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office, on 11 November 1999,Official Report, column 828.

  The Serious Fraud Office does not operate motor vehicles of any kind.

  The Crown Prosecution Service operates a total of 21 vans and estate cars which are based at various locations throughout England and Wales. Of these one is fuelled by petrol and the remaining 20 run on diesel. The CPS periodically review the local availability of liquid petroleum gas with the aim of moving to this form of fuel as soon as practicable.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Digital Licence Fee
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations he has received about the proposal for a digital licence fee from commercial broadcasters who were responding to the Davies Committee recommendations on the future funding of the BBC. [95113]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  [holding answer 25 October 1999]: I regret that it has not been possible to provide an answer before Prorogation. I shall therefore write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my reply in the Libraries of the House.

  Millennium Dome
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what percentage of Dome ticket sales to date have been(a) via the internet, (b) via lottery terminals, (c) to tour operators and (d) to overseas purchasers. [95134]

  Janet Anderson
  [holding answer 25 October 1999]: I regret that it has not been possible to provide an answer before Prorogation. I shall therefore write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my reply in the Libraries of the House.
  831
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on emergency services at the Millennium Dome. [95123]

  Janet Anderson
  [holding answer 25 October 1999]: I regret that it has not been possible to provide an answer before Prorogation. I shall therefore write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my reply in the Libraries of the House.

  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on the use to which the Millennium Dome will be put after the millennium celebrations are completed. [97190]

  Janet Anderson
  [holding answer 10 November 1999]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for East Surrey (Mr. Ainsworth) on 10 November 1999, Official Report, columns 622–23.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what proposals for the content of the Millennium Dome were received by the NMEC from the National Book Committee; and what response they received from(a) the NMEC and (b) Ministers; [94689]

  (2) if he will list (a) the cost, (b) the questions and (c) the conclusions of opinion research commissioned by the NMEC, distinguishing between (i) focus group research and (ii) other research. [94690]

  Janet Anderson
  I regret that it has not been possible to provide an answer before Prorogation. I shall therefore write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my reply in the Libraries of the House.

  Drug Testing (Sport)
  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what measures he is planning to ensure an effective drug-testing regime for UK sportsmen and sportswomen. [95900]

  Kate Hoey
  [holding answer 2 November 1999]: I regret that it has not been possible to provide an answer before Prorogation. I shall therefore write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my reply in the Libraries of the House.

  BBC (Funding)
  Mr. Crausby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations he has received regarding the future funding of the BBC; and if he will publish the results of the consultation. [97557]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  I regret that it has not been possible to provide an answer before Prorogation. I shall therefore write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my reply in the Libraries of the House.

  Departmental Assets
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will publish a list of assets sold by his Department and the value realised in each case, in each year from 1991–92 to 1998–99, together with an estimate of the value of asset sales planned in the(a) current and (b) next financial year. [97585]
  832
  Mr. Chris Smith
  I regret that it has not been possible to provide an answer before Prorogation. I shall therefore write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my reply in the Libraries of the House.

  National Stadium
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) who was responsible for authorising the original design brief for the new National Stadium; [97981]

  (2) what recent representations he has received from (a) the British Olympic Association and (b) other sporting bodies regarding the proposed capacity of the new National Stadium; and what response he has made; [97980]

  (3) if the Sport England Lottery grant for the development of the new National Stadium was conditional on the inclusion of an athletics facility; [97983]

  (4) what assessment he has made of the implications of seating capacity options at the new National Stadium for the likely success of a future bid to host the Olympic Games in the United Kingdom; [97984]

  (5) what requirements regarding seating capacity for track and field events were contained in the original design brief for the new National Stadium; [97982]

  (6) if he will make a statement on what seating capacity options for the new National Stadium have been considered by his Department. [97986]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  I regret that it has not been possible to provide an answer before Prorogation. I shall therefore write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my reply in the Libraries of the House.

  TV Transmission
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimates he has made for the time when analogue television transmission will be discontinued, of the percentage of(a) the viewers of BBC1 who will have access to analogue but not digital equipment in their homes and (b) the viewers of S4C who will have access to analogue but not digital equipment in their homes. [97953]

  Janet Anderson
  The Government have set two tests to be met before switch over from analogue to digital television transmissions: first, at least everyone who currently receives analogue television signals should be able to receive digital signals; and second, digital receiving equipment should be affordable, so that at least 95 per cent. of UK consumers have access to digital equipment in the home. We believe that switch over could start to happen as early as 2006 and be completed by 2010.

  The broadcasters estimate that 98.3 per cent. of the Welsh population have access to analogue terrestrial television services, with BBC Wales and S4C available to 97.6 per cent., and we will seek to ensure that at least the same proportion can receive television services in digital form in advance of switch over. At present, BBC Wales' and S4C's digital terrestrial services can be received by

  833
  70 per cent. of Welsh consumers and the ITC, BBC and digital broadcasters will be planning the development of terrestrial coverage over the next few years.

  The BBC and S4C already transmit their services, throughout Wales, on digital satellite and they plan to broadcast on digital cable, when it becomes available.

  SkyTV
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement in respect of his policy towards the percentage of home-produced material broadcast on SkyTV. [97590]

  Janet Anderson
  [holding answer 8 November 1999]: In line with all EU broadcasters, BSkyB has an obligation to comply with the requirements of articles 4 and 5 of the Broadcasting Directive so far as European and independently produced content is concerned. Sky has committed itself to steadily increasing the amount of UK produced material both in its general channels and in new ones. Sky One is this year aiming to have 50 per cent. UK content during prime time and 40 per cent. European content overall, and will spend £20 million in original home-produced production. Sky Pictures annually produces 10 films to be shown on Sky Premier, plus 40 hours of original drama and up to 40 hours of comedy. In addition, Sky sport channels, with 20,000 hours of programming each year, have a majority of home produced material. Sky News and Sky Sports News contain nearly 100 per cent. home produced material.

  Sports Scholarships
  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many sports are currently supporting scholarships in higher and further education; and if he will list them. [97993]

  Kate Hoey
  [holding answer 10 November 1999]: I regret that it has not been possible to provide an answer before Prorogation. I shall therefore write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my reply in the Libraries of the House.

  Stonehenge
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if people using the proposed new visitors' centre at Stonehenge who are(a) members of English Heritage, (b) members of the National Trust, (c) members of the National Trust for Scotland and (d) local people exercising their right of free access to the stones will be charged for (i) car parking (ii) access to the visitors' centre and (iii) access to the stones. [98047]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The Stonehenge Master Plan sets out clearly that access to the Stones and the wider World Heritage Site will be free for all and that free transport will be provided from the visitor centre to the drop off point. The information pack circulated to bidders stipulates that they should provide free parking for: local residents with existing arrangements and for members of English Heritage and the National Trust. This includes members of other heritage organisations, such as the National Trust for Scotland, which have reciprocal arrangements. Proposed arrangements for admission to the Visitor Centre will be assessed in considering the final submissions received from bidders.

  Departmental Vehicles
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what is the total number of vehicles used by his Department and its agencies fuelled by(a) petrol, (b) diesel and (c) liquid petroleum gas; and what plans he has to increase the rate of conversion of those vehicles to liquid petroleum gas. [98210]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  I regret that it has not been possible to provide an answer before Prorogation. I shall therefore write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my reply in the Libraries of the House.

  Departmental Waste
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to set targets for the recycling of waste(a) paper, (b) cardboard, (c) glass, (d) metal, (e) plastic and (f) other products created by his Department and its agencies; and if he will make a statement. [98220]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  I regret that it has not been possible to provide an answer before Prorogation. I shall therefore write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my reply in the Libraries of the House.

  Departmental Targets
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many targets have been agreed since May 1997 between his Department and (i) local authorities and (ii) other bodies apart from his own agencies and non-departmental public bodies. [98319]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  I regret that it has not been possible to provide an answer before Prorogation. I shall therefore write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my reply in the Libraries of the House.

  Press Releases
  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will break down the press releases issued by his Department in the past 12 months by broad departmental responsibility. [98147]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  I regret that it has not been possible to provide an answer before Prorogation. I shall therefore write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my reply in the Libraries of the House.

  Museums Challenge Fund
  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to his answer of 5 November 1999,Official Report, column 362, what sums will be provided in 1999–2000, 2000–01 and 2001–02 to pre-eminent regional collections through the Designated Museums Challenge Fund. [98239]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  I regret that it has not been possible to provide an answer before Prorogation. I shall therefore write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my reply in the Libraries of the House.

  Millennium Experience (Tickets)
  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many Millennium Experience tickets have been sold to date in(a) Wales, (b) Scotland, (c) Northern Ireland and (d) each of the English regions. [98126]

  Janet Anderson
  I regret that it has not been possible to provide an answer before Prorogation. I shall therefore write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my reply in the Libraries of the House.

  Television Licence Fees
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what representations he has received from the BBC about the system of funding television licence fees by direct payment from the Department of Social Security; and if he will make a statement; [98377]

  (2) what safeguards exist to prevent transfer of ownership of televisions to people aged 75 years or over in households where there are people younger than 75 years in order to avoid payment of the television licence fee; [98372]

  (3) what estimate he has made of net revenue in each of the next five years which may be lost to the BBC as a result of proposals to introduce a free television licence fee to people aged 75 years and over; [98374]

  (4) what discussions he had with the BBC about proposals to introduce a free television licence fee for people aged 75 years and over; [98375]

  (5) what estimate he has made of the percentage of BBC television licence fee revenues which will be funded by the Department of Social Security following the introduction of free television licences for people aged 75 years and over; [98376]

  (6) what discussions he had with (a) HM Treasury and (b) the Department of Social Security prior to the announcement of proposals to introduce a free television licence fee for people aged 75 years and over. [98373]

  Janet Anderson
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State discussed the proposal for free television licences for people aged 75 or over with my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer prior to the announcement. The Government have received no representations from the BBC on this proposal. Officials from my Department, the Treasury and the Department of Social Security are discussing with BBC officials the detailed implementation of the concession, including funding issues.

  The estimated cost of the concession in the first full year is around £290 million, or approximately 12.5 per cent. of current television licence fee revenue. Costs in subsequent years will depend on the level of the licence fee and on increases in the number of households including a person aged 75 or over. Since the concession will be available to people over the age of 75, regardless of the age of other members of their household, ownership of television sets will not be at issue.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Animal Feed
  Mrs. Shephard
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on what date UKREP officials from his Department were informed that human and animal waste, and meat and bonemeal were being used in French animal feed; and if he will make a statement. [96015]

  Mr. Vaz
  As Minister responsible for Europe, I have been asked to reply.

  UKREP Brussels officials first became aware of these allegations when they surfaced in the media in June.

  Subsequent contact between the UK and the Commission was pursued by officials in the Joint Food Safety and Standards Group of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Department of Health. I refer the right hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on 5 November 1999, Official Report, column 374.

  Officials in UKREP Brussels received a copy of the Commission's report of its inspection mission to France on 22 October.

  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when his Department first learned of the inclusion of sewage sludge in animal feedstuffs. [97571]

  Ms Quin
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the right hon. Member for South-West Norfolk (Mrs. Shephard) on 8 November 1999,Official Report, column 461.

  Quarantine
  Mr. Prosser
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what support measures he plans to introduce for quarantine kennel owners during the transition period before the introduction of the pet travel scheme. [97377]

  Ms Quin
  We have no plans for any such support measures for quarantine kennel owners.

  Brownfield Land
  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if land, which has been used within the horticultural industry with buildings thereon but where agricultural rates have been paid, falls within his definition of brownfield land. [98333]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  I have been asked to reply. It does not.

  Bovine Tuberculosis
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many badger road casualties have been tested for bovine TB in each month since testing re-started. [96068]
  837
  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 1 November 1999]: The number of casualty badgers tested in 1999 is given in the following table:

  1999

  Number

  January

  72

  February

  184

  March

  196

  April

  139

  May

  128

  June

  107

  July

  101

  August

  41

  Testing is currently suspended while facilities are upgraded in line with Health and Safety Executive recommendations. We expect to resume testing next year.

  Beef on the Bone
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of(a) the legality of maintaining the ban on beef on the bone in England and (b) the scientific advice he has received on the subject. [95772]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 26 October 1999]: The Beef Bones Regulations 1997 were properly made under the powers of the Food Safety Act 1990 and remain in force throughout Great Britain until revoked.

  My right hon. Friend the Minister considered carefully the advice given to him by the Chief Medical Officer, Professor Donaldson, in his report of 30 July 1999, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House. The Government have made clear they wish to lift the beef on the bone ban but consider that it would be preferable to do so at the same time in all parts of the United Kingdom. Further scientific evidence on this issue is scheduled for later this month. Provided that evidence is favourable, it is the Government's clear and firm intention, and that of the First Minister in Scotland and the First Secretary in Wales, to lift the ban throughout the United Kingdom.

  Common Agricultural Policy Administration
  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he has taken to address the lack of a business or communication strategy identified in the Coopers and Lybrand review of Common Agricultural Policy administration. [97674]

  Ms Quin
  In its Business Plan for 1999–2000, published in May 1999, my Department set out its aims, objectives and targets, including objective 6 on CAP administration. The Plan sets out the context of this work, the key challenges, the MAFF programmes which contribute to it and the targets and output and performance measures which apply. These targets and other issues are also communicated through the Public Service Agreement, the Output and Performance Analyses and the Departmental Report.

  Plans and targets are being communicated internally to help ensure that staff at all levels know what their work
  838
  unit is about and are clear on their role and responsibilities within it. This forms part of the Department's Internal Communications Strategy, established in July 1998 following consultation with staff. The Strategy is currently being reviewed to ensure that it continues to meet the Department's business needs.

  Correspondence
  Mrs. Browning
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to reply to the letter of 1 September from Mr. Robert Persey, a constituent of the hon. Member for Tiverton and Honiton, concerning human sewage sludge in French pig and poultry feed. [98181]

  Ms Quin
  My noble Friend the Minister of State replied on 8 November 1999 to the hon. Member's letter of 1 September on behalf of Mr. Robert Persey.

  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to reply to the hon. Member for Tewkesbury's letter dated 10 August on the subject of the pesticides tax. [95721]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 26 October 1999]: My noble Friend the Minister of State replied to the hon. Member on 25 October 1999.

  BSE Inquiry
  Mr. Livsey
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects the conclusions of the BSE Inquiry conducted by Lord Justice Phillips to be published. [97698]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 9 November 1999]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Tewkesbury (Mr. Robertson) on 8 November 1999, Official Report, column 459.

  GM Oilseed Rape
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if(a) honey and (b) other food, food ingredients or additives containing GM oilseed rape are permitted lawfully to be sold in the United Kingdom. [96713]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 2 November 1999]: The European Commission, in response to questions from the European Parliament, has advised that honey that contains trace amounts (0.005 per cent.) of pollen from genetically modified crops is not classified as a novel food, and may therefore be lawfully sold throughout the Community.

  As far as GM foods, food ingredients or additives derived from oilseed rape are concerned, only one GM variety currently has clearance to be marketed for this purpose. This variety does not however have the necessary authorisation to enable it to be grown commercially in the Community at the present time. It can therefore only be imported for processing.

  Specified Risk Material
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to adopt the specified risk material disposal system as utilised by the French Government. [97813]
  839
  Ms Quin
  I assume that the question relates to the methods permitted for removing the spinal cord from the carcases of sheep which at the time of slaughter had at least one permanent incisor tooth or were aged over twelve months. In France, the spinal cord of such sheep may be removed either by longitudinally splitting the whole vertebral column, as required in the UK, or by a method which involves suction from the unsplit carcase.

  Methods involving suction have been evaluated in the UK but did not prove to be reliable in removing the entire spinal cord in all cases. It is also not possible to verify that no spinal cord remains in an unsplit carcase. We therefore have no current plans to adopt this method.

  Beef Ban
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to ensure the German ban on British beef is lifted quickly; and if he will make a statement. [97792]

  Ms Quin
  My right hon. Friend the Minister has been assured by the German Health Minister that the German Government are taking the necessary legal steps to lift the ban via the appropriate constitutional procedures which involve discussions with the Länder whose agreement is needed to lift the ban. The recent Scientific Steering Committee Opinion should make it clear to the Länder that British beef exports are safe.

  Dates

  Location

  Minister

  US counterpart

  18–19 May

  Washington

  Foreign Secretary

  William Cohen, Secretary of Defense

  Madeleine Albright, Secretary of State

  Strobe Talbott, Deputy Secretary of State

  Sandy Berger, Deputy National Security Adviser

  21–22 July

  Washington

  Mr. Lloyd

  John Shattuck, Assistant Secretary for Human Rights, State Department

  Ted McNamara, Assistant Secretary for Pol-Mil Affairs, State Department

  Tom Pickering, Under Secretary for Political Affairs, State Department

  John Kornblum, Assistant Secretary for European Affairs, State Department

  Mac McLarty, Special Envoy to the President for the Americas

  Tim Wirth, Under Secretary for Global Affairs, State Department

  John Holum, Director for Arms Control and Disarmament Agency

  25–16 November

  Washington

  Mr. Fatchett

  Martin Indyk, Assistant Secretary for Near East Affairs, State Department

  Dennis Ross, Special Mid East Envoy, State Department

  I also met Mrs. Albright on a number of other 10/5/2549occasions in the UK and in the margins of international meetings, and received her as my guest at Chevening on 27 December. I also had bilateral meetings with Mrs. Albright during the G8 Summit in Denver in June 1997 and at the UN General Assembly in New York in September 1997.Unfortunately, the information the hon. Member requires on meetings which have taken place in the UK and third countries is not held centrally, and to obtain it would incur disproportionate costs.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many times.

  Less-favoured Areas
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he will consult with the agricultural industry on the options available to the Government in relation to the future of less-favoured areas under Agenda 2000. [97811]

  Ms Quin
  We issued a consultation paper, setting out proposals for England, on 5 November. Copies have been placed in the Library of the House and the document may be found on the internet at http://www.maff.gov.uk/farm/agendatwo/agendatwo.htm.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Ministerial Meetings
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many times Ministers in his Department met members and officials of the United States Government between 1 May 1997 and 31 December 1997; and if he will list the(a) dates, (b) locations, (c) Ministers involved and (d) names of the US members and officials at each meeting. [93947]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  Foreign Office Ministers have frequent contact with members of the US Administration in the United States, in the UK and elsewhere overseas. Between 1 May 1997 and 31 December 1997, the FCO Ministers listed have visited the United States and have had bilateral meetings with their approximate US counterparts as follows:

  Ministers in his Department have met members and officials of the US Government since 2 March; and if he will list the (a) dates, (b) locations, (c) Ministers involved and (d) names of the US members and officials at each meeting. [93946]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  Foreign Office Ministers have frequent contact with members of the US Administration in the United States, in the UK and elsewhere overseas. Since 2 March, the FCO Ministers listed have visited the United States and have had bilateral meetings with their approximate US counterparts as follows:
  841

  Dates

  Location

  Minister

  US counterpart

  24–25 March

  Washington

  Baroness Symons

  Paul Virtue, General Counsel, Immigration and Naturalization Service

  Strobe Talbott, Deputy Secretary of State

  Stuart Eizenstat, Under Secretary for Economics, Agriculture and Business Affairs, State Department

  Marc Grossman, Assistant Secretary for European Affairs, State Department

  Peter Romero, Acting Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs, State Department

  Harold Koh, Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights and Labour, State Department

  22–26 April

  Washington

  Foreign Secretary

  Madeleine Albright, Secretary of State

  20–21 May

  Washington

  Foreign Secretary

  Madeleine Albright, Secretary of State

  Sandy Berger, National Security Adviser

  James Rubin, Spokesman, State Department

  Tony Wayne, Assistant Secretary for European Affairs

  7–8 July

  Washington

  Mr. Hoon

  Susan Rice, Assistant Secretary for African Affairs, State Department

  Ken Lieberthal, Senior Director for Asian Affairs, NSC

  Stanley Roth, Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, State Department

  Dennis Ross, Special Middle East Co-ordinator, State Department

  Bruce Riedel, Senior Director for Near East and South Asia Affairs, State Department

  Karl Inderfurth, Assistant Secretary for South Asia Affairs, State Department

  Martin Indyk, Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs, State Department

  4–6 October

  Washington

  Baroness Scotland

  Mark Schneider, Assistant Administrator, US Administration for International Development

  Jim Gadsden, Deputy Assistant Secretary for European and Canadian Affairs, State Department

  Bryan Samuel, Acting Assistant Secretary for Economics, Business and Agricultural Affairs, State Department

  Peter Romero, Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs, State Department

  Gary Vest, Acting Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Environmental Security

  Arturo Valenzuela, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Inter American Affairs, NSC

  Governor Buddy Mackay, President's Special Envoy for the Americas, NSC

  I also met Mrs. Albright on a number of other occasions in the UK and in the margins of other international meetings, including the UN General Assembly in New York in September and receiving her as my guest at Chevening on 6 March.

  Unfortunately, the information the hon. Member requires on meetings which have taken place in the UK and third countries is not held centrally, and to obtain it would incur disproportionate costs.

  Departmental Publications
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the titles of the in-house publications and newsletters which were produced for the staff of his Department, excluding non-departmental public bodies and agencies, in the last five years, specifying the dates on which each title was first produced, the frequency with which each title is produced and the current secrecy classification of each title. [93842]

  Mr. Hain
  I will write to the hon. Member shortly.

  Land Mines
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action his Department is taking to advance a more comprehensive ban on mines in international law. [94643]

  Mr. Vaz
  I will write to the hon. Member shortly.

  Treaty of Rome
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list EC legislation in progress since 1 May 1997 based on Article 235 of the Treaty of Rome as amended; and what is his policy towards use of this article as a basis for legislation. [95542]

  Mr. Vaz
  I will write to the hon. Member shortly.

  Foreign Policy Centre
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the purpose of the establishment of the Foreign Policy Centre; and what criteria will be applied to judge its success annually. [97146]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  The Foreign Policy Centre is independent of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and has received no money from the Department. The purpose of its establishment and the criteria for judging its success are matters for the Foreign Policy Centre.

  College of Diplomacy
  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his policy on the establishment of a college of diplomacy of the European Union. [97524]

  Mr. Hain
  There is no proposal from the UK or other EU member states to create a European Union College of Diplomacy. We continue to co-operate with our EU
  843
  partners in the provision of joint training programmes where such training will give our officials the skills and knowledge to promote British national interests in the European Union. These programmes are in addition to our own national programmes.

  ASSIST Programme
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what has been the cost of training, provided under the ASSIST programme,(a) in total and (b) to China, Malaysia, Pakistan, Nigeria, Croatia, Russia and Turkey; [97511]

  (2) how many personnel have benefited from training, provided under the ASSIST programme, (a) in total and (b) from China, Malaysia, Pakistan, Nigeria, Croatia, Russia and Turkey; [97512]

  (3) what has been the content of ASSIST training courses provided to personnel from (a) China, (b) Malaysia,(c) Pakistan, (d) Nigeria, (e) Croatia, (f) Russia and (g) Turkey; [97514]

  (4) which NGOs have been involved in compiling ASSIST training courses for (a) China, (b) Malaysia, (c) Pakistan, (d) Nigeria, (e) Croatia, (f) Russia and (g) Turkey. [97513]

  Mr. Vaz
  The content of ASSIST training programmes provided to personnel from(a) China, (b) Malaysia, (c) Pakistan, (d) Nigeria, (e) Croatia, (f) Russia and (g) Turkey has been:
  Training for senior police offices both in the United Kingdom and in-country to increase understanding of the political, social and economic context of policing;
  In-country training for policemen on the rights of women and children and prevention of child trafficking;
  Courses for military officers in early, middle and late career aimed at improving awareness of the operation of the armed forces in a democracy; the teaching of defence and international affairs set firmly within the context of democratic and constitutional principles, including the rule of law;
  Technical courses designed to enhance the capacity of armed forces to participate in peacekeeping operations;
  Training for military academy lecturers in the management of armed forces in a democracy;
  Workshops on Conscientious Objection, and providing guest speakers for conferences on the military and democracy.
  NGOs which have been involved in compiling ASSIST training courses for these countries (at a-g) are: Save the Children Fund, UNAIDS, Barry and Martin Trust, The Centre for Peacekeeping and Community Development, The Movement Against Violence.

  The total cost of training provided under the ASSIST programme is £12,866,807. And to China £76,064; Malaysia £278,750; Pakistan £389,945; Nigeria £4,000; Croatia £38,696; Russia £95,386; Turkey £53,917.

  In total, 664 personnel have benefited from training provided in the United Kingdom under the ASSIST programme. And from China—26; Malaysia—12; Pakistan—15; Nigeria—0; Croatia—27; Russia—16; Turkey—0.

  Immigration (DNA Tests)
  Mr. Sarwar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what percentage of immigration cases required DNA tests to prove family relationships in each of the last three years. [97577]
  844
  Mr. Vaz
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer my right hon. Friend the then Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr. Hoon) gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Watford (Ms Ward) on 29 June 1999,Official Report, column 118.

  "The Raspberry Ice Cream War"
  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many copies of the European Commission booklet, "The Raspberry Ice Cream War", were printed in(a) English and (b) other Community languages; what determined these numbers; and if he will make a statement. [97764]

  Mr. Vaz
  This is a matter for the Commission. No copies of the booklet were distributed in the UK.

  EMU and EU (Public Opinion)
  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what opinion research his Department has commissioned on attitudes to economic and monetary union and the European Union; which polling organisations have been awarded contracts for such research; when such contracts were awarded; and what the costs of such contracts have been. [97768]

  Mr. Vaz
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer the Prime Minister gave to him on 1 November 1999,Official Report, column 5.

  Mr. Mark Davey
  Mr. Blizzard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 2 November 1999,Official Report, column 125, what progress has been made in obtaining the report of the Nigerian police on the death of Mr. Mark Davey in April 1998. [97956]

  Mr. Hain
  The British High Commission in Lagos and Abuja continue to press the Nigerian authorities both in writing and verbally for a copy of the complete police report.

  Minority and Regional Languages
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he plans to sign the Council of Europe Charter on Minority and Regional Languages. [97883]

  Mr. Vaz
  It is our firm intention to sign the charter. We will move to signing and ratification as soon as the full implications for the UK are clear.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to reply to the letter sent to him on 12 July regarding Dr. Amin of Birkenhead. [97944]

  Mr. Vaz
  A member of the Migration and Visa correspondence Unit sent my right hon. Friend a reply to his letter on 27 October. A reply was sent on 10 August but, regrettably, incorrectly addressed. I apologise to my right hon. Friend for the administrative error. He is of course at liberty to discuss this matter with me if he wishes to do so.

  Chinese Embassy, Belgrade
  Mr. Forth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the total amounts paid in compensation for the bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade to(a) the Government of the People's Republic of China and (b) individuals in the People's Republic of China. [96144]

  Mr. Vaz
  I will write to the right hon. Member shortly.

  Intergovernmental Conference
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he plans to report on preparations for enlargement of the EU at the next Intergovernmental Conference. [97924]

  Mr. Vaz
  I will write to the hon. Member shortly.

  Minke Whale
  Mr. Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Norwegian Government on the resumption of Minke whale hunting by Norwegian whalers. [98085]

  Mr. Hain
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has not made any recent personal representations to the Norwegian Government about Minke whale hunting. However, we take every suitable opportunity to make clear to Norway the UK's views on whaling.

  Sri Lanka
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Government's current assessment of the political situation in Sri Lanka. [98060]

  Mr. Hain
  We believe a lasting solution to the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka can only be reached through a political settlement. We have made clear that we stand ready to help in the resolution of the conflict if both sides ask us to play a role.

  Greek Cypriots
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the authorities in the north of Cyprus regarding the situation of the Greek Cypriot community; and if he will make a statement. [98058]

  Mr. Vaz
  We have regular contacts with the Turkish Cypriot authorities and continue to urge them to implement measures to improve living conditions for the Greek Cypriot community in northern Cyprus. Measures were taken in October last year to relax some of the restrictions on the Greek Cypriot community, and we consider these a step in the right direction. But we have made clear that more should be done.

  Arms Exports
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the value of armaments exports to(a) Greece, (b) Turkey and (c) Cyprus in each of
  846
  the last 10 years; on what occasions a licence for the export of arms to each country was refused during that time; and if he will make a statement. [98061]

  Mr. Vaz
  HM Customs and Excise collect and compile information on the trading of goods between UK and other countries. However, extracting and quality assuring some of the information requested could be done only at disproportionate cost. This relates to exports before 1997.

  Information on the value of military equipment exported during 1997 and 1998 and countries of destination can be found in the Government Annual Report on Strategic Export Controls for 1997 and 1998 respectively.

  Export licence refusals for the last 10 years are recorded by the DTI. This information is not immediately available but the DTI have undertaken to write to me with full details as soon as possible.

  All defence exports for all destinations are considered on a case by case basis against national criteria announced by the Secretary of State in July 1997 and, since June 1998, the EU Code of Conduct on Arms Exports. Exports to Cyprus are additionally assessed against guidelines announced by the previous administration on 14 February 1997, Official Report, column 282.

  Chechnya
  Ms Abbott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures the Government have taken to assist in the relief of the refugee crisis in Chechnya. [98311]

  Mr. Vaz
  We have provided £0.5 million in response to the Red Cross' emergency appeal. The EU has also 1.2 million euro available for humanitarian assistance. We and our partners have pressed the Russians to allow free movement across the Chechen/Ingush border of those fleeing the fighting, to allow access by international humanitarian missions, and to support the rapid, secure and reliable distribution of international aid.

  Ms Abbott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures the Government have taken to persuade the Russian Government to seek a diplomatic solution to the conflict in Chechnya. [98312]

  Mr. Vaz
  My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister urged Russian Prime Minister Putin to seek a political solution when he wrote to him on 4 November. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary reinforced this message when he spoke to the Russian Foreign Minister on 6 November. The EU General Affairs Council on 15–16 November, and the OSCE Summit on 17–18 November, will be further opportunities to press the Russians on this.

  World Trade Organisation
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many members of his Department are deployed in the United Kingdom's mission to the WTO in Geneva; and what are (i) the personnel costs and (ii) the office costs of maintaining them. [98234]
  847
  Mr. Hain
  Five members of the United Kingdom's mission to the UN and other International Organisations in Geneva are employed fully or partly on WTO. The personnel cost for these staff (including accommodation and support staff costs) is approximately £550,000 per annum. The Office costs are difficult to calculate as they are bound up with the overall costs of UKMis Geneva and the UK's other two diplomatic missions in Geneva which are all co-located.

  Departmental Vehicles
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the total number of vehicles used by his Department and its agencies fuelled by(a) petrol, (b) diesel and (c) liquid petroleum gas; and what plans he has to increase the rate of conversion of those vehicles to liquid petroleum gas. [98206]

  Mr. Battle
  The information is as follows:

  Overseas

  There are currently 1,235 vehicles in use at our overseas Posts. A breakdown of the fuel types used is shown below:

  Fuel type

  Number of vehicles fuelled

  Petrol

  514

  Diesel

  347

  Unknown

  374

  Total

  1,235

  Detailed information about the fuel types to be chosen for replacement vehicles to be purchased at FCO Posts overseas is not known. In each case this will depend on the type of vehicle required, and the availability of fuel types at the time of purchase.

  The choice of the best fuel type for each new vehicle is decided by each Post, based on any local legislation, the type of vehicle required and what fuel types are available locally. (Not all countries are able to offer unleaded petrol and supplies of either petrol or diesel can in some places be contaminated, of poor quality, or subject to irregular supply).

  Posts are aware of the need to use the most environmentally friendly fuels available, where this is practical.

  UK

  There are currently 47 vehicles in the UK fleet.

  Fuel type

  Petrol

  Diesel

  Cars

  10

  5

  Vans

  2

  24

  Lorries

  —

  6

  LPG vehicles are currently being evaluated. One vehicle will be introduced to the London Mail Van fleet in the year 2000.

  Departmental Waste
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to set 848
  targets for the recycling of waste (a) paper, (b) cardboard, (c) glass, (d) metal, (e) plastic and (f) other products created by his Department and its agencies; and if he will make a statement. [98224]

  Mr. Battle
  My Department's approach to waste management is based on the three "R"s, with "Recovery" (i.e. recycling, composting and energy recovery) following "Reduce" and "Re-use" as the preferred options for reducing waste sent to landfill. This should help us achieve the Green Ministers' target for Government Departments of recovering a minimum of 40 per cent. of total office waste, with at least 25 per cent. of that recovery coming from recycling or composting, in 2000–01, as published in "Greening Government: First Annual Report of the Green Ministers Committee 1998–99". We are currently undergoing an environmental audit which will set baselines against which individual recycling targets may be set. Our associate bodies will be setting their own targets to help us achieve the corporate target.

  Kosovo
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the timing of the release of funds allocated by international institutions for stability and reconstruction work in Kosovo in respect of their effectiveness; and if he will make a statement. [98097]

  Mr. Vaz
  We have been working in the EU and with other international organisations to ensure assistance is delivered to those in need in Kosovo. A programme for Reconstruction and Recovery in Kosovo will be discussed at the second international donors meeting on Kosovo, on 17 November. We shall continue to work to ensure that funds are released in an appropriate and timely way.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the prospects for continued operation of power stations in Kosovo; and if he will make a statement. [98098]

  Mr. Vaz
  British Trade International assess the overall power situation in Kosovo at present as poor, with frequent power outages. The main reason for this is because the two power stations are old and have been inadequately maintained for many years. There has been no war damage to either power station. A British management team, jointly funded by the EU Task Force and British Trade International, is currently working with the EU Task Force, UNMIK and the Kosovo Electric Company to manage the situation.

  The period between now and the end of November, when we expect one of the power stations to become operational again following essential maintenance, may well prove difficult. There have also been difficulties maintaining a regular supply of consumables, funded by the EU Task Force, required to keep the power stations operating. However, DfID and British Trade International are now both providing funds for the hire of bulldozers until new machines funded by the Dutch Ministry of Development arrive. This will ensure that the coal supply to the power stations can be maintained.

  Danish and Norwegian programmes are repairing the high voltage transmissions systems and the ability to import what power is available from neighbouring grid systems should be improved by the end of December.
  849
  DfID is working on the low voltage distribution system to ensure that essential services are maintained through the winter period. Our infrastructure engineering unit staff are heavily involved in co-ordination of the power sector to ensure that donor work is complementary.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will estimate the number of revenge attacks on(a) gypsies and (b) Jews in Kosovo since September. [98268]

  Mr. Vaz
  I will write to my hon. Friend shortly.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received from the FBI about the number of bodies found in mass graves in Kosovo. [98263]

  Mr. Vaz
  The FCO has not received any reports on this subject from the FBI. National forensic teams who have been working in Kosovo are submitting their reports to the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY).

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask he Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will make a statement on attacks by ethnic Albanians on Serbs who have stayed in Kosovo; [98265]

  (2) if he will make a statement on UN reaction to the grenade attack on Sunday 7 November on the Serb village of Pasjane; [98266]

  (3) how many villagers from Ulastica are under arrest; and for what alleged crimes. [98267]

  Mr. Vaz
  I will write to my hon. Friend shortly.

  Iraq
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what reason the UK rejected the Iraqi appeal to halt patrols over the no-fly zone on the day of the solar eclipse on 11 August. [98277]

  Mr. Hain
  We remain fully committed to patrolling the no-fly zones set up to limit Baghdad's repression of the Iraqi population. We are not prepared to leave innocent civilians exposed to attacks by the Iraqi air force. Our patrolling poses no threat to those on the ground. Only when Iraqi forces try to shoot down our aircraft are we forced to respond in self-defence. Civilian facilities would, of course, never be targeted.

  Stability Pact (Yugoslavia)
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the terms of reference of the Stability Pact in relation to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia; what objectives it is designed to achieve; how it is organised; where is the Secretariat; and who are its signatories. [98264]

  Mr. Vaz
  The Stability Pact for South-East Europe aims to promote peace, stability and democracy in the region. The Pact brings together the countries of the region, the EU, the USA, Russia, a range of other countries, many international organisations and 850
  International Financial Institutions. The participating countries to the Pact adopted the founding document in Cologne on 10 June 1999. It has been stressed at all Stability Pact meetings that there is a role for the FRY when conditions permit. Meanwhile, Montenegro is fully involved in the Pact's work.

  The Office of the Special Co-ordinator for the Pact is in Brussels. The Special Co-ordinator Chairs the Regional Table of the Pact. This acts as a steering board and facilitates co-ordination and information exchange between the Pact's three Working Tables. The three Working Tables deal with Democracy/Human Rights, Economic Reconstruction/Development/Co-operation, and Security Issues and meet every 3–4 months. Between these meetings work is taken forward through subject-specific Task Forces.

  Ukraine
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the barriers to(a) UK and (b) EU investment and trade with the Ukraine; what (i) formal meetings and (ii) programmes and initiatives have been introduced to overcome such barriers; and if he will make a statement. [98005]

  Mr. Vaz
  I will write to my hon. Friend shortly.

  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what occasions since May 1997 the British Ambassador to Ukraine held formal meetings with(a) the President, (b) the Prime Minister and (c) other ministers in Ukraine's Government; and on what occasions Ukraine's Ambassador to the UK has had meetings with Government ministers. [98006]

  Mr. Vaz
  The British Ambassador in Kiev has had two formal meetings with the Ukrainian President and 20 formal meetings with Ukrainian Ministers since taking up his post in May 1999. He has not had a formal meeting with the Prime Minister. There is no comprehensive record of the meetings which the previous Ambassador had with the President, Prime Minister and Minsters.

  The Ukrainian Ambassador to the United Kingdom has had a number of formal meetings with United Kingdom Government Ministers since May 1997, including five meetings with Foreign and Commonwealth Office Ministers this year:
  Baroness Symons (10 February), Ms Quin (14 June), Mr. Lloyd (29 June), Mr. Hain (16 September) and Mr. Hoon (21 September).

  The Ambassador was also present when the Ukrainian Foreign Minister called on the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on 1 February 1999 and on 20 March. The Ambassador has had two meetings with Ministry of Defence Ministers this year:
  Lord Gilbert (23 March) and Mr. Spellar (6 September).
  Comprehensive information on the Ukrainian Ambassador's meetings is not held centrally. To provide a full answer to this question would incur disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the(a) staffing levels and (b) budget spent by the British Council in Ukraine in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement. [98002]
  851
  Mr. Hain
  The staffing levels in Ukraine in each of the past five years was as follows:

  Year

  Number of staff

  1995–96

  44.5

  1996–97

  45

  1997–98

  51

  1998–99

  51

  1999–2000

  60

  The amount of the grant-in-aid spent by the Council in Ukraine during this period was:

  Year

  £ million

  1995–96

  1.0

  1996–97

  1.0

  1997–98

  1.0

  1998–99

  1.1

  1999–2000

  1.0

  Additional amounts earned from running programmes and contract work, and spent for the benefit of Ukraine over this period were:

  Year

  £ million

  1995–96

  0.1

  1996–97

  0.1

  1997–98

  0.8

  1998–99

  0.5

  1999–2000

  0.7

  The British Council makes a substantial contribution to meeting FCO objectives in Ukraine, particularly in the field of governance and human rights, in support of reform and development and in contributing to the reform of the Ukrainian education system, including the updating of English language teaching. To accommodate its expanding activities it will shortly move into larger premises, which it will share with the Goethe Institute.

  Departmental Language Skills
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information his Department collates on the foreign language skills of staff in diplomatic service grades. [98003]
  852
  Mr. Hain
  I will write to my hon. Friend shortly.

  Horses (Transportation)
  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Governments of Eastern European countries regarding the transportation of horses to the European Union. [98364]

  Mr. Vaz
  I will write to the hon. Member shortly.

  EU Pavilions
  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the cost to date of running EU pavilions at international exhibitions; what was the function of these pavilions; how many staff were involved; what was the pertinent budget line; and if he will list (i) display titles, (ii) videos and (iii) publications present. [97526]

  Mr. Vaz
  I will write to the hon. Member shortly.

  International Criminal Court (Scotland)
  Mr. Browne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Scottish Executive about the amendments to Scots law needed to enable the ratification of the Treaty on the International Criminal Court. [98427]

  Mr. Hain
  I will write to my hon. Friend shortly.

  Mr. Browne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the amendments to Scots law needed to enable the ratification of the Treaty on the International Criminal Court. [98428]

  Mr. Hain
  I will write to my hon. Friend shortly.

  Biological Weapons
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on(a) his assessment of the threat from biological weapons to international security and (b) the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards early completion of the negotiations for an effective protocol to strengthen the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention to enable the protocol to be signed at a conference in London during 2000. [98329]

  Mr. Hain
  I will write to my hon. Friend shortly.

Preamble
The House met at three of the clock: The LORD CHANCELLOR on the Woolsack.
Prayers—Read by the Lord Bishop of Lincoln.

River Danube: Clearance
Lord Grenfell Lord Grenfell asked Her Majesty's Government:
What are the probable consequences of NATO's decision not to provide assistance for clearing the Danube of debris as long as President Milosevic remains in power.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Scotland of Asthal): My Lords, there has been no decision by the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation not to provide assistance for clearing the Danube while President Milosevic remains in power. Nor is there any decision in similar terms by any other organisation of which the United Kingdom is a member. The main obstacle to clearing the Danube remains President Milosevic's own policy of refusing to permit the wreckage to be removed unless the international community agrees to lift sanctions against Yugoslavia. Such demands are not acceptable to the international community.
Lord Grenfell: My Lords, I thank my noble friend the Minister for that quite helpful Answer. Are the Government fully aware of the horrendous consequences that may flow if the debris is not removed? The ice that will form around it this winter will create natural dams which will cause extensive flooding in the region with possibly severe humanitarian disasters as a result.
Can the Minister assure us that if the European Union and others involved in NATO are not able or willing to mobilise the necessary technical and financial means to be able to solve the problem before winter arrives, they will consider the precedent set in 1956 when the United Nations, by resolution, mobilised an international salvage team to clear the Suez Canal effectively and efficiently?
Finally, does she agree that however much we may want to see the end of Mr Milosevic and his regime, maintaining the navigability of an international waterway of such importance must take precedence?
Baroness Scotland of Asthal: My Lords, perhaps I may say straightaway that we all totally agree that preserving the Danube is a matter of real importance. There is, of course, a major distinction between the action taken in Suez in 1956 and the position with which we are now faced as regards the Danube. In 1956 the Egyptians wanted such action; President Milosevic does not. That is a significant difference. We are aware, therefore, that that operation and the circumstances relating to it were very different.
1440
We are also aware of Hungary's fear, which is widespread, about flooding due to winter ice collecting on the wreckage. For the Danube Commission to assess the risks, Yugoslavia needs to honour its obligations. The primary responsibility for clearing the wreckage lies with Mr Milosevic. By taking no steps to do so, he is in breach of his obligations under the Danube conventions. He is refusing to allow the wreckage to be cleared until sanctions are lifted. As I told your Lordships' House, that is not acceptable to the international community.
Your Lordships' House should be aware that while Milosevic remains in power, Her Majesty's Government do not consider that assistance for reconstruction in Serbia is possible. However, clearing the wreckage is not reconstruction work. The EU could consider on their merits any detailed proposals that may come forward for clearing the Danube.
The Earl of Lauderdale: My Lords, does the Minister agree that apart from possible flooding, the damage caused by the wanton blocking of the Danube has affected Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Poland and even Belarus. The damage, therefore, has affected a far wider area than Serbia, which it was intended to intimidate in the first place.
Baroness Scotland of Asthal: My Lords, we accept that the potential for damage is wider. Your Lordships will be aware of the Stability Pact for South-East Europe. That pact indicates hope of support for all the regions mentioned by the noble Earl. The aid package currently in place, which will be funnelled through the stability pact, is considerable. I am sure your Lordships will be aware of the bilateral programmes we have through DFID. Six million pounds has been given to Romania, £4 million to Bulgaria and £2.5 million to Hungary. The EU support package is also considerable: 155 million euros for Romania, 105 million for Hungary and 50 million for Bulgaria. Her Majesty's Government, together with the EU, are conscious of the situation in which that region finds itself. They are looking at the total package and trying to have an holistic approach to the management of the problem.
Lord Wallace of Saltaire: My Lords, we appreciate that the United Kingdom is not a member of the Danube commission. My information is that the commission is meeting to discuss this matter today. Can the Minister also confirm that because of the timescale it is no longer possible to clear the wreckage before this winter is over? Can she reassure us that Her Majesty's Government will co-operate in whatever efforts there may be to mount a collective effort as soon as spring arrives? That will involve three or four months' planning ahead of time to mount a multilateral effort to clear this important waterway.
Baroness Scotland of Asthal: My Lords, I can assure the House that this matter is being addressed with a great deal of energy. Our information to date is that it should take around four months and will cost

1441
approximately £14 million. The issues are being canvassed. The noble Lord is correct in relation to the timescale. We shall know shortly whether or not Yugoslavia intends to ameliorate her attitude and allow work to commence. There are hopeful signs. But we know from Mr Milosevic that those signs cannot be relied upon until they are consolidated in very firm terms.
Lord Kennet: My Lords, can my noble friend tell the House roughly what proportion of the damage to Danube bridges was done by bombers under the operational command of the NATO council, and, on the other hand, by B2 American bombers flying from the United States which were under American national command only?
Baroness Scotland of Asthal: My Lords, I cannot. Indeed, with respect, it would be inappropriate for there to be such a distinction. We were allies. We took up arms together in order to defeat a regime which was systematically killing large numbers of people. We were right to do that. We were right to do it together and division at this stage is intolerable and unacceptable.
The Earl of Drogheda: My Lords, will the noble Baroness tell us whether, in view of the present situation in the Balkans, she considers that the war conducted there earlier this year was a success?
Baroness Scotland of Asthal: My Lords, yes. Before I sit down perhaps I may take this opportunity to congratulate my noble friend Lord Grenfell on raising this question. He will be greatly missed for his sage counsel and his erudition.

Coalfield Areas: Regeneration
3.14 p.m.
Lord Dormand of Easingtonasked Her Majesty's Government:
What support they have given to the Coalfields Regeneration Trust in its efforts to form partnerships with companies receiving investments from the miners' pension fund to assist in the regeneration of the former coalfield areas.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (Lord Whitty): My Lords, the Coalfields Regeneration Trust is an independent grant-giving body which provides help, support and funding for all the coalfields communities. It is a matter for the trust to form any partnerships with companies to assist in the regeneration of the former coalfield areas, including those receiving investments from the miners' pension fund. However, the Government encourage the trust to build partnerships where appropriate and we shall welcome positive responses from the private
1442
sector, including in particular those linked to the miners' pension fund, to back their coalfields to the benefit of both themselves and local people.
Lord Dormand of Easington: My Lords, I thank my noble friend for that helpful reply. Does he agree that the nation owes the miners a great debt not only for the contribution that they made to the economy of the country in the most dangerous and difficult of jobs, but also because of the butchery of their industry by the former government? Is he aware also that in spite of the great help being given by the Government to the former coalfield areas, they are still experiencing high unemployment and physical devastation? Can my noble friend say how many companies have been approached, and what has been the response?
Lord Whitty: My Lords, I agree with my noble friend. The position for the mining communities over the last period has been devastating and it will take some time for them to recover physically, socially and psychologically to good health. However, that era has passed and we must move into a new era based on new industries for the mining communities. There is a responsibility on the Government. We have used a number of different instruments. We have help from the European Community. The trust, which will deal with small-scale projects, approached a range of companies, including 16 in which the miners' pension fund has significant investments. A number responded positively. Of course, the trust was finally set up only in September and we hope therefore to have more news to give my noble friend shortly.
Lord Renton: My Lords, I endorse the tribute paid to the miners by the noble Lord, Lord Dormand of Easington. But is the Minister aware that many of the coalfields were in such remote places that there was no alternative employment? The miners' pension fund will go only a small way towards creating the alternative employment which is needed in those communities.
Lord Whitty: My Lords, we are not reliant on the miners' pension fund to provide alternative prosperity for those areas which have been devastated by the closure of coalmines. I am saying that we are moving into a new era and that we must attract industry of all kinds into those areas. As noble Lords will know, the vast majority of mining areas are rural areas and on top of the more general problems experienced by rural areas, they suffer also from the closure of the mining industry. It is important, therefore, to have a concerted effort from all the agencies of government to help those areas and to attract private sector investment and jobs to them.
Lord Hardy of Wath: My Lords, my noble friend accepts that marked improvement in many areas is under way, but will he accept also that the brutal and rather abrupt devastation to which my noble friend Lord Dormand referred exercised an effective social corrosion which remains extremely serious? In order

1443
to encourage further support for the trust, will he publish the names of the 16 companies to which he referred and ensure that at all times the Government remain keen to promote involvement in the trust so that it can fulfil the valuable role it is designed to serve?
Lord Whitty: My Lords, again, I entirely agree with what has been said about the corrosive effects on the mining communities of developments during the 1980s and early 1990s. It is for the trust to decide what is put in the public arena in terms of the companies it has approached. However, I hope that we can indicate some strong support for initiatives taken by the trust. Indeed, the Government have put £50 million of pump-priming into the trust. It is now up to the trust to develop such partnerships. I believe that it is well on the way to doing so successfully.
Lord Ezra: My Lords, following on from the Question so ably put by the noble Lord, Lord Dormand of Easington, and the emphasis placed on the provision of alternative job opportunities in former coalfield areas, can the Minister in any way indicate the number of jobs which have so far been created in relation to the number of redundant mineworkers, and what progression in that respect can be expected in the years ahead?
Lord Whitty: My Lords, I cannot specifically identify jobs which have been created as a result of government action. However, coalfield area by coalfield area, it is clear that there is a long way to go before the number of jobs is restored to the level that existed when the coalfields were operating, when the mining industry was employing large numbers of men and there were many dependent industries. We are talking about a very substantial programme of regeneration. The specific sum of money which has gone to the coalfields through coalfields activity by the Government was £350 million last year. The European Union designation of assisted area status for the coalfields, and, in some cases, of Objective 1 and Objective 2 status, together go towards providing a basis for new employment. However, there is a long way to go.
Lord Elton: My Lords, can the Minister say whether the Government recognise that the accelerating pace of technological and, consequently, economic and sociological change means that industry after industry will capitulate to that change? Further, in pursuing the policies that the noble Lord has just described, will the Government seek to develop economic skills and administrative methods which will enable them to nurse successive communities through change from one means of livelihood to another—probably starting with the agricultural industry in the near future?
Lord Whitty: My Lords, we have had considerable discussion on the current problems of the agricultural industry in this House. However, in many ways the mining industry is a special case. I agree that we need these measures to ease people over change more
1444
generally. But the way in which the mining industry was closed down so brutally, with a contempt for the mining communities demonstrated by the previous administration, means that we have been left with a terrible problem in those areas. We want to put that behind us. I have no nostalgia for the mining industry; indeed, I have seen too many miners grow old before their time. We do not want to go backwards: we want to go forwards in those communities, but we must recognise that the previous administration's activities in the 1980s greatly aggravated the problem.

North Korea and Nuclear Weapons
3.22 p.m.
Baroness Williams of Crosbyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they are satisfied with the United Nations' and United States Government's efforts to bring North Korea within the system of international treaties so as to control weapons of mass destruction.
Baroness Scotland of Asthal: My Lords, North Korea acceded to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons in 1985 and the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention in 1987. It has not signed the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty or the Chemical Weapons Convention. We and our allies use every opportunity to urge it to do so. The United Kingdom also supports the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organisation (KEDO), and the efforts of the United States to persuade North Korea to end its destabilising missile proliferation activities.
Baroness Williams of Crosby: My Lords, I thank the Minister very much for that reply. She will be very well aware of the profound concern in Japan, South Korea and elsewhere about the possible destabilising effects of the long-range missile production programme of North Korea. Therefore, before the bilateral American-North Korean meetings in Berlin on 15th November, can the noble Baroness confirm that the EU will continue to finance the KEDO operation in view of the extreme importance of ensuring that plutonium production is not resumed in North Korea? Further, can the Minister say whether she and the Government fully support the new engagement policy of South Korea, which seems to indicate some hope of reducing the very dangerous tensions in the region?
Baroness Scotland of Asthal: My Lords, I am happy to be able to say yes to both those questions from he noble Baroness, Lady Williams. We and our allies are doing all we can to persuade North Korea to renounce weapons of mass destruction and become law-abiding members of the international community. As the noble Baroness will know, the development and testing by North Korea of long-range missiles, which could be used to deliver weapons of mass destruction, is also a matter of international concern. There are no international treaties to prevent such activities, but we

1445
applaud efforts by the US to persuade North Korea to exercise restraint and, in particular, welcome the agreement reached in September for North Korea to freeze its missile tests while talks with the US continue. We most warmly welcome the fact that South Korea is coming to the table at this crucial time.
Lord Chalfont: My Lords, in the light of what the Minister has said about the fact that North Korea already possesses weapons of mass destruction and the means to deliver them over long distances, can she tell us what is the attitude of Her Majesty's Government towards the provision of defence against these missiles to protect both ourselves and our allies in the event that all these arms control and non-proliferation agreements come to nothing?
Baroness Scotland of Asthal: My Lords, Her Majesty's Government have not taken the view that that would be an appropriate way forward. Nuclear disarmament is very much key to this Government's policy. We are pursuing with vigour general disarmament and trying to encourage all our allies to engage with us in that regard.
Lord Monkswell: My Lords, bearing in mind the fact that at the beginning of the Korean War this country introduced prescription charges in the free National Health Service of its day—which currently raise some £400 million for the service—and the fact that this country now spends £1,000 million a year on nuclear weapons, can my noble friend the Minister suggest to her colleagues that, when North Korea signs up to these treaties, the UK Government might take the opportunity to cut our nuclear arsenals in half and eliminate prescription charges in the National Health Service?
Baroness Scotland of Asthal: My Lords, as I believe I told the House on a previous occasion, Her Majesty's Government have already reduced this country's nuclear capacity. We have also become a leader in terms of transparency. I am afraid that little reliance can be placed upon the Koreans signing any treaty; indeed, we know that they have reneged on virtually all of them in the past. So we have no comfort in that quarter.
Viscount Cranborne: My Lords, can the noble Baroness tell the House to which countries North Korea has exported long-range missile technology in the past few years? Can she also tell us to which countries North Korea has exported nuclear weapons technology?
Baroness Scotland of Asthal: My Lords, the information in that regard is something upon which I think it would be more appropriate for me to write to the noble Viscount.

Taxation
3.27 p.m.
Earl Cathcart Earl Cathcart asked Her Majesty's Government:
By how much the burden of taxation has increased in the United Kingdom since May 1997.
Lord McIntosh of Haringey: My Lords, as a result of the last Budget, the tax to GDP ratio is lower this year than last year. The tax ratio in the two following years will also be lower than last year. Under the previous government's plan these rates would have been higher than the latest projections in this year and both of the next two years.
Earl Cathcart: My Lords, I thank the Minister for that Answer. Given the fact that before the last election the Prime Minister vowed that he had,
"no plans to increase tax at all",
and went on to say:
"This is my covenant to the British people. Judge me upon it. The buck stops with me",
can the Minister reconcile these pledges with the figures from the House of Commons Library, which show that over the life of this Parliament taxes have increased by over £40 billion, or £1,500 per taxpayer?
Lord McIntosh of Haringey: My Lords, the Prime Minister said that he would not increase taxes. He did not say that there would be no increases or decreases. He did not say that there would be no changes in taxes. There have been substantial reductions in taxes which have benefited the ordinary people of this country. We have never accepted the figures produced by the House of Commons Library, as the Chancellor made clear at the earliest opportunity.
Lord Taverne: My Lords, is it not a slightly sterile debate to concentrate on which proportion of the increased tax burden has been caused by the policies of the previous government and which proportion has been caused by those of the present Government, especially as so much depends on the growth rate of the economy? Is not the real question, given the strong state of the Government's finances, and even with the greatest respect to the demands of the Lady Prudence, whether we should give priority to tax cuts, as the Conservatives want, or to more spending on schools and health, as the Liberal Democrats want? Does the Minister agree that the priority this time should be given to the better provision of public services?
Lord McIntosh of Haringey: My Lords, the grain of truth behind what the noble Lord says is that the tax to GDP ratio is a percentage which is the difference between two very large figures. The tax figure is, of course, under the control of government; the GDP ratio is less directly under the control of government, although this Government have been outstandingly successful in achieving growth at a time when the Opposition said only a year ago that we were on the brink of an economic abyss. Under those

1447
circumstances I think that the achievement of sustainable growth is the correct objective and decisions on both tax and expenditure follow from that.
Lord Clark of Kempston: My Lords, does not the Minister agree that a categoric assurance was given at the previous general election that taxes would not be increased? While the Minister will not accept the House of Commons Library figures, has he looked at the international figures which confirm the House of Commons Library research? Is it not high time, in view of the promise given, which has been sadly broken, that the Government should admit that they misled the general public and should apologise?
Lord McIntosh of Haringey: My Lords, I assume from what the noble Lord says that he refers to the OECD report which was published last month. I have to tell him that that report was based on tax levels in 1997, for four months of which his own party was in power, and on preliminary estimates only for 1998. This is certainly not up-to-date information.
Earl Ferrers: My Lords, with regard to the Deputy Chief Whip's earlier answer, is he suggesting that the House of Commons Library gave incorrect information?
Lord McIntosh of Haringey: My Lords, I could give a long lecture on the different ways of interpreting—
Noble Lords: Oh!
Lord McIntosh of Haringey: My Lords, I know that noble Lords would not want me to do that. There are two basic ways in which it is possible to define the tax burden: one is the cash basis, which the Treasury uses; the other is the national accounts on an accruals basis. There are variations within that. What we do—which is the honourable thing—is to make it possible for both of these methods of estimation to be calculated from the pre-Budget report and from our other financial documents.
Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe: My Lords, can my noble friend the Minister say how many, if any, tax increases that have occurred have been attributable to the previous government's tax plans? Further, can he say what was the burden of debt that we inherited? What steps have been taken to reduce that and what has been the cost of doing so?
Lord McIntosh of Haringey: My Lords, on the question of the previous government's tax plans, I think that we ought to look at the forecast in the FSBR of 1996, which was the previous Conservative government's final Budget. The figures for tax as a percentage of GDP are as follows: for 1998–99 the figures are 36.6 compared with our figure of 37.4; for 1999–2000 the figure is 37.1 under the Conservatives and 37.0 for us. For 2000–20001, the figures are 37.6 for the Conservatives as opposed to 36.8 for us.
1448
I believe that that is a more useful measure than some of the more detailed figures which my noble friend would like me to give.
Viscount Trenchard: My Lords, is the Minister able to tell the House whether the Government propose to compensate pension funds for the reduction of income amounting to more than £5 billion a year that they are suffering as a result of the abolition of advanced corporation tax credits? Is he also able to tell the House whether he proposes to compensate charities which, starting this year, will progressively be similarly penalised?
Lord McIntosh of Haringey: My Lords, the announcement in July 1997 of the change to the taxation of pension funds was based on the abolition of a tax credit for tax benefits which pension funds did not receive. It was therefore a correction of an anomaly and no compensation is therefore required. The noble Viscount will know that in the pre-Budget report statement on Tuesday considerable help is to be given to charities by the Chancellor.
Lord Avebury: My Lords, does the noble Lord agree that the figures published in the Guardian yesterday show that there is an enormous disparity between the wealth and incomes of the top 10 per cent. and the poorest in our community? Does he therefore also agree that it was a pity that the Prime Minister constrained this Government not to increase tax rates on the highest incomes in the country?
Lord McIntosh of Haringey: My Lords, if we have disparities in income between the richest and the poorest in this country—I certainly agree that these disparities exist—surely the right approach to the problem is the approach of this Government; namely, to seek to improve the conditions of those most in need in this country. That has been the object of our tax policy and of our social policy for the past two and a half years and we shall stick to it.

Message from the Commons
A Message was brought from the Commons, That they agree to certain of the amendments made by your Lordships to the House of Lords Bill without amendment and they disagree to the remaining amendments, for which they assign reasons.

House of Lords Bill
3.37 p.m.
The Lord Privy Seal (Baroness Jay of Paddington): My Lords, I beg to move that the Commons reasons be considered forthwith.
Moved, That the Commons reasons be considered forthwith.—(The Lord Privy Seal.)
On Question, Motion agreed to.

House of Lords Bill
  MOTION MOVED ON CONSIDERATION OF COMMONS REASONS
  [The page and line refer to HL Bill 38 as first printed for the Lords.]

  LORDS AMENDMENT APPOINTMENTS COMMISSION
  2 After Clause 1, insert the following new clause—
  (".—(1) There shall be an Appointments Commission ("the Commission") which shall make proposals to the Prime Minister for recommendations to Her Majesty for the conferment of life peerages in accordance with the Life Peerages Act 1958.
  (2) The Commission shall be an advisory non-departmental public body and shall-

  (a) be appointed in accordance with the rules of the Commissioner for Public Appointments and may seek his advice about best practice in attracting and assessing potential nominees;

  (b) operate an open and transparent nominations system for peers not belonging to, or recommended by, any political party ("the Cross Bench peers");

  (c) actively invite nominations by the general public and encourage nominations from professional associations, charities and other public bodies that it judges appropriate;

  (d) publish criteria under which it will determine a candidate's suitability for nomination;

  (e) reinforce the present function of the Political Honours Scrutiny Committee in vetting the suitability of all nominations to life peerages by the political parties; and

  (f) scrutinise all candidates for life peerages on the grounds of propriety in relation to political donations, as proposed in the 5th Report of the Committee on Standards in Public Life.

  (3) The Commission shall appoint its own Chairman.
  (4) It shall, at most every 6 months, and at least every year, make proposals to the Prime Minister for nomination as Cross Bench peers, sufficient at least to fill any vacancies among Cross Bench peers that may occur through death, disqualification or a decision to join a political party represented in the House of Lords.
  (5) The Prime Minister may not refuse to submit to Her Majesty the names of those recommended as Cross Bench peers by the Commission, and shall not seek to influence such nominations, save in exceptional circumstances, such as those endangering the security of the realm.
  (6) The Commission, in considering nominations as Cross Bench peers, shall not give any additional weight to recommendations from the Prime Minister or the Leaders of other political parties.
  (7) Following the passing of this Act the Commission shall make a report annually to Parliament on the recommendations made to Her Majesty by the Prime Minister for the conferment of life peerages, which it will declare if the following criteria are being observed, namely that-

  (a) no one political party commands a majority in the House of Lords;

  (b) the Government has broad parity of numbers with the main opposition party;

  (c) the proportion of the Cross Bench peers to the total number of peers in the House remains the same as the proportion of the Cross Bench life peers to the total number of life peers in the House on the day before the passing of this Act; and

  (d) more than half of the total membership of the House of Lords is composed of peers who in the opinion of the Commission have experience of, and expertise in, fields other than (or in addition to) politics.

  1450
  (8) The Commission shall consist of eight members of the Privy Council, of whom four shall be appointed by a special Commission of the Prime Minister, the Speaker of the House of Commons, and the Lord Chairman of Committees of the House of Lords.
  (9) One Commissioner shall be appointed from each of the three largest parties in the House of Commons on the nomination of the Leader of each such party, and one shall be appointed from the Cross Bench peers on the nomination of the Convenor of the Cross Bench Peers.").

  COMMONS REASON
  The Commons disagreed to this amendment for the following reason—
  2A Because it is not appropriate to make statutory provision for an Appointments Commission.
  Lord Stanley of Alderley 3B Lord Stanley of Alderley rose to move, That the House do not insist on their Amendment No. 2 to which the Commons have disagreed, but do propose the following amendment in lieu thereof—
  2C Insert the following new clause-

  APPOINTMENTS TO THE HOUSE OF LORDS
  (". In making, or making provision in connection with, recommendations to Her Majesty for the conferment of life peerages in accordance with the Life Peerages Act 1958 the Prime Minister shall ensure that more than half of the total membership of the House of Lords is composed of peers who have experience of, and expertise in, fields other than (or in addition to) politics.")
  The noble Lord said: My Lords, I have tabled this amendment with the support of my noble friend Lord Caithness because we feel strongly that the Commons have not addressed the main purpose of the appointments commission as stated in our amendment which was accepted by your Lordships at Third Reading.
  This amendment goes to the heart of the controversy over the reform of your Lordships' House. While I have no objection to the Government removing the rights of the hereditary Peers—indeed they received that mandate at the general election—the Government did not receive a mandate to get rid of us without stating clearly who is to follow us. Despite repeated requests, we have been unable to get much, if any, guide from the Government, in particular as regards the Commons consideration of the amendment which is now before us.
  Our amendment guides the appointments commission as to who is to follow us in the interim Chamber which inevitably will affect the final reformed Chamber. The amendment states that over 50 per cent of Members should be persons whose main occupation and experience is non-political, commonly called in your Lordships' House specialist Peers. This criteria would apply to those sitting on Labour, Conservative and Liberal Benches, not just the Cross Benches.
  This view is widely supported throughout the country, by letters in The Times yesterday, in particular, and on page 34 of the Economist last week—a paper which, perhaps, noble Lords opposite read more widely than I because it spends most of its time criticising the farming industry. It is also a view which was widely supported by the Australian

  1451
  electorate, who voted for Her Majesty as a non-political head of state, rather than for one appointed by politicians. A t Report stage, even the noble Baroness, Lady Jay, did not object to the principle of our amendment.
  To sum up, I hope that our amendment will concentrate your Lordships' minds on the original theme of no stage one without stage two. I commend our amendment to your Lordships on those grounds. I beg to move.
  Moved, That the House do not insist on their Amendment No. 2 to which the Commons have disagreed, but do propose Amendment No. 2C in lieu thereof. —(Lord Stanley of Alderley.)
  The Earl of Caithness: My Lords, your Lordships will not be surprised that I rise to support my noble friend's amendment. Right from the beginning we have been consistent in our approach: we want to know who will succeed us.
  Since Second Reading, the Government have made a complete U-turn on their manifesto commitment by allowing 92 hereditary Peers to stay. As a point of interest, there is almost a secondary hereditary system within that system. I am honoured and. privileged to be joining the noble Lady, Lady Saltoun, and the noble Earl, Lord Erroll, as the fifth members of our families to be elected by our fellow Peers. That is not quite as good as my noble friend Lord Northesk, who represents his family for the sixth time.
  The amendment before the House does not refer back to the appointments commission; we accept that the Government have rejected that sensible amendment. This amendment now places the onus on the Prime Minister. It is worth bearing in mind that a quarter of those who will comprise the future House will have been appointed by this Prime Minister. This will be a "Tony Crony" House. Sadly, it will become almost the rubber stamp of another place. Some hereditary Peers do not attend the House on a regular basis, but the proceedings of this House will suffer from the loss of the expertise of those who, unfortunately, will not be with us from today. In order to preserve our role as scrutineers of legislation from another place, it is vitally important that we preserve the widest diversity of interests within your Lordships' House.
  With regard to the usual channels, clearly the Government prefer the votes of people who will acquiesce. It is clear from last night's proceedings and debacle that the House will not be able to continue by way of agreements between the usual channels. We shall have to scrutinise much more carefully what the usual channels agree if we are to fulfil our role in the future.
  For that reason and the many other reasons that my noble friend Lord Stanley has elucidated, I support the amendment. It will enable this House to continue to do its proper job until we get on to stage two.
  3.45 p.m.
  Lord Elton: My Lords, it seems to me that in this substitute amendment my noble friends drift further from the principle to which the original amendment was addressed.
  Perhaps I may remind your Lordships that the function of Parliament is the control of the executive. All our debates are about that. It is perfectly understandable that a party in government would expect to have parity within the revising Chamber of a Parliament. However, it is not only that matter but the control of the balance in that House of Parliament that is now at issue.
  Your Lordships have been told—as often as I was told by my son that he was giving up smoking—that the Prime Minister will give up the power of patronage of appointments to this House. My son has honoured his undertaking. I hope that the Prime Minister will do so as swiftly. I am not talking only about this Prime Minister; this legislation is not only about "a" prime minister. This House has historically restrained some of the greater enthusiasms of prime ministers of all colours, as my noble friend Lady Thatcher would readily, if sorrowfully, confirm. There may be other prime ministers of that or a different colour who may go further from the central line of political consensus in this country, whether towards fascism or towards communism.
  I speak merely to remind your Lordships that the Bill gives the privilege and power to the executive to determine the balance of political power in the second House of Parliament—the House of Parliament which has a veto on the extension of the life of the other place. I shall give your Lordships a moment to think of the implications of that, were we ever to have a prime minister too far towards the fascist or the communist end of the political spectrum. Were that power to be used to extend the life of the other place beyond its elected period, we would be within a whisker of joining all those countries in Europe which, having lost the power of changing governments by election, were eventually released from their control after very many years, either by revolution or by war. That is a Cassandra's remark, I fear.
  My noble friend has driven further from the principle of the control of the executive resting in Parliament. The control of the executive party in Parliament is increasingly being concentrated in the hands of the Prime Minister. The amendment does not go nearly far enough to be acceptable. I merely mark for your Lordships the great danger in which we stand.
  Lord Clifford of Chudleigh: My Lords, although one is exceptionally pleased that the noble Lord, Lord Stanley of Alderley, thought it better to compromise than to capitulate, I, like the noble Lord who has just spoken, question the removal of the originally proposed appointments commission, the composition of which was to be eight members of the Privy Council, no matter that their title might be necessarily by succession.

  1453
  The reason given by the House of Commons for disagreeing with the original amendment is that,
  "it is not appropriate to make statutory provision for an Appointments Commission".
  Very well. But what is to prevent the proposal contained in the original amendment being pursued through secondary legislation? Surely the collective opinions of eight wise men would be better than the opinion of only one man; and it would be very much fairer to that single person.
  Lord Strathclyde: My Lords, I am surprised that the Government rejected the amendment in another place. After all, the Leader of the House told us that this would be done when it was proposed a few months ago in the summer. But that is not the beginning of the story of the appointments commission; it is quite a long way into the book. The Government promised an independent appointments commission as long ago as May 1997 and then did nothing about it. They repeated that promise in their quite dreadful White Paper on this House. Even then not a shred of action was taken. The Government made the same promise in the Labour Party's evidence to the Wakeham commission. They said, in what I believe are rather ludicrous terms which were repeated yesterday in another place by the Minister, Mr Tipping, that, "Tony Blair is the first Prime Minister to relinquish his powers of patronage". I am bound to say, when looking around this Chamber, that I do not see much evidence of that. Promises, promises: how many times must a dead horse be flogged before it rings hollow? "Trust Tony" may be an article of faith for many on the Benches opposite but it cannot be elevated into a constitutional doctrine.
  In the amendment before noble Lords, we took the Labour Party's own proposals from its own documents and have tabled a measure to put them on to the face of the Bill. The ideas in the amendment are not our ideas. They are not even the ideas of the Liberal Democrats. They are the Labour Party's ideas. But it appears that they were unacceptable to the party opposite and I believe that we are entitled to ask why.
  As we move closer and closer to the creation of a patronage-dominated House without any statutory defence against the abuse of patronage, it is high time that the country also began to ask why. Exactly what is the Prime Minister's game in respect of this House? The case put forward by the Minister in another place was greeted on all sides—quite rightly—by an enormous belly-laugh. The Minister said that your Lordships' amendments had stopped the Government setting up an appointments commission because a proposal was before Parliament.
  The fact that the Scotland Bill was before Parliament did not prevent a fortune being spent on preparing for the Scottish Parliament, nor did the Government of Wales Bill in relation to the creation of the Welsh Assembly. Even in the Bill before us, the Government have been quite happy to have elections of Weatherill Peers. Only in the case of an
  1454
  appointments commission does it seem that nothing can be done. As my noble friends have said, in particular my noble friend Lord Stanley of Alderley, the whole argument is as spurious as it is shallow and as self-seeking as it is spurious.
  The Minister in another place also said that it would be wrong to have a statutory appointments commission because the new House might only be temporary and it might be necessary to change a statutory system if a reformed House were ever introduced. Did the Minister in another place not realise that a new reform of this House would require a new statute in any case? It would be just as easy to amend an appointments commission as it would be to amend the powers or composition of this House—and perhaps even a good deal easier. The argument sounds rather like, "Even though it is raining heavily I won't put on a raincoat because I might need a T-shirt next summer". The argument is an insult to the intelligence of Parliament and, I believe, to the people of this country.
  I do not pretend that there would be any point in pressing this issue today. The Government have spent two-and-a-half years promising an appointments commission and then doing nothing. They will not change their mind today of all days. For that reason, I hope that my noble friend will not press his amendment, excellent though it is in spirit and much though I agree with the intention behind it. I do not believe that the amendment is practical and I do not think that it would be right to enshrine this particular proposal in legislation.
  I prefer the last vote in the old House to have been the smashing victory over the Government on the matter of the penalising of disabled people who have saved. The House was right on that matter. The Government refused to listen then and they will not listen to my noble friend's arguments this afternoon. I think that we should let the Government rest in embarrassment and shame on this matter.
  However, when the noble Baroness comes to reply, I hope that she will be able to answer one or two questions. First, when will the appointments commission be created? Will there be a Statement in this House next week? Will the Millennium Honours—about which we have heard so much in recent months—be covered and, if not, why not? If the answers to those questions are not forthcoming when this House meets again, we should seek other ways to make the Government stand by their promise.
  Baroness Jay of Paddington: My Lords, I shall be delighted to respond to the noble Lord, Lord Strathclyde, and indeed to the new amendment tabled by the noble Lord, Lord Stanley of Alderley. I thought that the noble Lord, Lord Strathclyde, sought to range much more broadly than the amendment before us and to revive the discussions held at every stage of the Bill about the position of the appointments commission. In regard to the points raised by the noble Lord, Lord Strathclyde, I would say simply that I would be very happy to debate those with him in the new House when it becomes relevant—as it will—to the transition.

  1455
  However, on the particular point that he made today—it is one that he has made many times before—with regard to the fact that what he has proposed and that what was in the amendment when it went to another place is exactly the same proposal as that in the Government's White Paper, I could identify five substantive ways in which the amendment is completely different from the Government's White Paper proposals. If I were not aware that the House would like to press on, I would stretch the patience of noble Lords by repeating them. However, they are substantial differences and they are the reason why, although there was a proposal that that amendment be included in the legislation as it stood, it would be impossible to set up an appointments commission. However, to suggest that no preparation has been carried out would be equally false.
  The noble Lord, Lord Stanley of Alderley, was kind enough to say in his opening remarks that of course he did not dispute the intentions of the Government (as they depended on the Labour Party's manifesto in the 1997 election; the Government's ability to carry them out being enshrined therein) to take these steps on the automatic right of hereditary Peers to sit in this House. However, the second sentence of that particular commitment stated that this would be a stand-alone reform, not dependent on future reform. I think he would therefore agree—I know that the noble Lord has studied the matter very carefully—that that is consistent with the position we have taken.
  This is the third time that the noble Lord, Lord Stanley, has invited the Government to address the specific point in his amendment. On Report, he introduced an amendment which he said at the time formed part of a wider proposal on the appointments commission. He raised it for the second time at Third Reading when he tabled a less prescriptive form of requirement that the appointments commission should report on whether the criteria he was suggesting had been met. In this variation the noble Lord has suggested that the Prime Minister should ensure that at least half the Members of this House have experience outside Parliament. The noble Lord will know, because he has been a most attentive participant in our debates on this subject, that throughout the proceedings the Government have said that they intend, for example, that the Cross-Bench element in your Lordships' House, which to a great extent represents a different point of view and a different form of experience, should continue to be substantially represented. He will know that that is our general intention. However, on the specific way of achieving that, the amendment before us suggests that more rather than less authority and power to intervene in the nominations of other parties should be given to the Prime Minister. I am sure that that is not the intention of the noble Lord.
  Viscount Cranborne: My Lords, I am most grateful to the noble Baroness for giving way and I apologise for interrupting her. If I correctly understood her remarks, there was no indication given in the way the noble Baroness addressed the question of the
  1456
  appointments commission about when we can expect the Government to bring forward proposals. Before the noble Baroness sits down, can she favour the House with some indication of whether she would be prepared to give an undertaking to bring forward proposals for an appointments commission in the next Session of Parliament?
  Baroness Jay of Paddington: My Lords, that is a commitment I am certainly prepared to give. I had feared that the noble Viscount was going to suggest that it should be done in the next week, which might have been a little premature. That would suggest that we were able to take on board the detailed work that has genuinely been suspended because of the inaccurate amendment included in the Bill when it went to another place.
  Noble Lords: Oh!
  Baroness Jay of Paddington: My Lords, that is so and that is the advice that we have been given by the constitutional authorities whom I, am least, am not about to challenge.
  I shall return to the points made in the amendment of the noble Lord, Lord Stanley of Alderley, insisting that the Prime Minister should ensure that the criteria the noble Lord wishes to see should be introduced on a statutory basis so as to obtain such a cross-section of interests in this House. In those circumstances, the Prime Minister's hand might be more constrained than it is at the moment. He would not necessarily be able, for example, to forward recommendations from other party leaders to the Queen because his suggested criteria might already have been fulfilled and the balance of interests sought by the noble Lord, Lord Stanley of Alderley, might already have been achieved. Indeed, the easiest way for the Prime Minister to ensure that the criteria were met would be to take the whole responsibility for nominations into his own hands.
  We also return to the slightly subjective point which we discussed on the noble Lord's previous amendments about how these people would be determined in terms of their external interests. The noble Lord earlier dismissed our concern about that point by saying that he could tell within a few minutes of meeting someone whether or not he or she knew anything about agriculture. With all due respect to the noble Lord's expertise in that industry, I think that those subjective criteria, on the basis perhaps of "I know one when I see one", would not be sufficient to enshrine this proposal in legislation.
  We have discussed very widely and deeply on many previous occasions the extent of the appointments commission. The amendment requires the Prime Minister to exercise a subjective judgment about the overall balance and composition of the House of Lords which I would suggest is inappropriate for an amendment. We have given the commitments, which the noble Earl, Lord Caithness, seeks to challenge yet again, about the Government's overall ambitions as regards maintaining the wide interests which the

  1457
  House presently represents. I suggest to the noble Lord, Lord Stanley, that this is not the moment to pursue the matter on a statutory basis and urge him to withdraw the Motion.
  Earl Ferrers: My Lords, perhaps I may ask the noble Baroness a question. I noticed that the one time she had a smile on her face was when my noble friend Lord Strathclyde suggested that we did not support the amendment. If there were to be, as I understand that there may be, some additional life Peers created in the New Year's Honours List in January—it is now November—would those be as a result of appointment by the Prime Minister or the appointments commission?
  Baroness Jay of Paddington: My Lords, that would be venturing into the realms of the Prime Minister's arrangements, which it is not for me to do.
  The Earl of Onslow: My Lords, is the noble Baroness aware that my peerage dates from Walpole, Pitt and now Mr Blair, for which I thank him very much indeed? We elected Peers, an experience which the noble Baroness has not undergone—
  Lord Carter: My Lords, we should remind ourselves that the rules on the consideration of Commons amendments are the same as for Report and Third Reading. The only noble Lord who should speak after the Minister is the mover of the amendment unless there are short questions of fact.
  Lord Stanley of Alderley: My Lords, I do not intend to delay the House and I do not intend to press this Motion. I do not intend either to answer many of the noble Baroness's questions, particularly those about the appointments commission, because we have done it all before.
  I wish to make two points. One is in reply to my noble friend Lord Elton and indeed to the noble Baroness. I would like to have gone much, much further. I liked the "sunrise" or "sunset" amendment of my noble friend Lord Tebbit, but I do think that this is the wrong time to do that. All that I felt was proper at this time was a fairly minor amendment, which I hope your Lordships will accept it is.
  As far as concerns the remarks of my noble friend Lord Elton and the noble Baroness, I am sure that it would be very hard indeed to make into Lobby fodder the type of Peers that I am suggesting should be appointed. They will have better things to do than that and they will have strong views on their subject.
  Some noble Lords will have said that we are wasting your Lordships' time. I totally disagree. I was anxious that the final words on the demise of your Lordships' House should not be a history lesson of what good or indeed evil your Lordships have done since Magna Carta but on the future of your Lordships' House. This Motion draws your Lordships and, it is to be
  1458
  hoped, those outside your Lordships' House into the matter of who should succeed us. I hope that is kept firmly in the minds of the Government and everyone else. Therefore, with some regret, I must ask your Lordships' permission to withdraw the Motion.
  Motion, by leave, withdrawn.
  Baroness Jay of Paddington: My Lords, I beg to move that the House do not insist on their Amendment No. 2 to which the Commons have disagreed for their reason numbered 2A.
  Moved, That the House do not insist on their Amendment No. 2 to which the Commons have disagreed for their reason numbered 2A.—(Baroness Jay of Paddington.)
  Lord Strathclyde: My Lords, I shall be brief. I have studied the debates on this matter in another place. It is a simple amendment and it would have been so easy for the Government to accept it. I am amazed that they did not. Yet the Government made another meal of it. I just wonder whether the noble Baroness will consider further in due course the arguments which the Government put forward yesterday. Is there any chance that in the same offer as she made to my noble friend Lord Ferrers she will consider whether this would be an appropriate subject to return to in the new Session?
  Lord Clifford of Chudleigh: My Lords, before the noble Baroness speaks, perhaps I may make one specific point—
  Noble Lords: Order!
  The Chairman of Committees (Lord Boston of Faversham): My Lords, there is some discussion going on to which I am not privy. When one of your Lordships is on his feet, it is not for the occupant of the Woolsack to intervene.
  Baroness Jay of Paddington: My Lords, I believe the position is that the noble Lord on the Woolsack should put the Question.
  The Chairman of Committees: My Lords, I am grateful for that very proper intervention from Her Majesty's Government's Front Bench. The Question is that this House do not insist on their—
  Earl Ferrers: My Lords, I think that a noble Lord was trying to make an observation and it would be appropriate if he were to be allowed to make the observation as opposed to being shut up by the Front Bench opposite.
  The Chairman of Committees: My Lords, I do not see any other noble Lord on his feet
  Lord Clifford of Chudleigh: My Lords, I am most grateful to the two noble Lords who have spoken. I am wholeheartedly in favour of this new amendment as a postscript to Clause 2, especially having read the

  1459
  reason given by Her Majesty's Government for disagreeing to our Amendment No. 4; that was:
  "Because it is unnecessary to protect further the position of the Septennial Act 1715".
  I shall not need the microphones because—
  Baroness Jay of Paddington: My Lords, I hesitate to intervene again but I do think there is some confusion. I agree that the procedure is a little complex. One has to have a GCSE in double negatives to understand the procedure. But believe—and I would seek the support of the noble Lord the Leader of the Opposition on this point—that we are on the Question that the House do not insist on their Amendment No. 2 to which the Commons have disagreed for their reason numbered 2A, and not the later amendments or any new amendments.
  The Chairman of Committees: My Lords, the Question is that the House do not insist—
  Lord Clifford of Chudleigh: My Lords, perhaps I may—
  Noble Lords: Order!
  The Chairman of Committees: My Lords, for the sake of guidance to the House, I should perhaps indicate, because I believe that there is a slight misunderstanding, that I put the Question for the first time before the noble Lord, Lord Strathclyde, rose. Indeed, I paused before he did so in order to see whether it was appropriate for me to collect the voices. I think that that guidance might be appropriate.
  The Question is, That the House do not insist on their Amendment No. 2 to which the Commons have disagreed. As many as are of that opinion shall say "Content"; to the contrary "Not-Content". I think the "Contents" have it. Clear the Bar.
  Lord Carter: My Lords, there seems to be an almost total misunderstanding of what is going on. We have debated the first group, on the Motion of the noble Lord, Lord Stanley of Alderley, relating to his proposed amendment, which he withdrew. The House can now only formally accept the Motion on Lords Amendment No. 2. There is no procedure on which the House can divide against it. I see Members all round the House nodding. We must now formally accept the Motion, which relates to Lords Amendment No. 2. We then move on to that which relates to Lords Amendment No. 4.
  Earl Ferrers: My Lords—
  Noble Lords: Order!
  Earl Ferrers: My Lords, perhaps I may remind the Government Chief Whip that the occupant of the Woolsack has put the Question, and I think that the Question should indeed be put.
  The Chairman of Committees: My Lords, it is for the occupant of the Woolsack to collect the voices after
  1460
  putting the Question. However, in view of what has happened, for the convenience of your Lordships, I shall put the Question again.
  The Question is, That the House do not insist on its Amendment No. 2 to which the Commons have disagreed. As many as are of that opinion shall say "Content"; to the contrary, "Not-Content". I think the Contents have it. The Contents have it.
  On Question, Motion agreed to.

  LORDS AMENDMENT
  4After Clause 2, insert the following new clause—
  VOTING RIGHTS OF LIFE PEERS; EXTENSION OF DURATION OF PARLIAMENT.
  (". In respect of any proceedings in the House of Lords on a Bill providing for the maximum duration of Parliament to be extended beyond five years, no peer appointed to the House of Lords under the Life Peerages Act 1958 during the course of that Parliament shall be entitled to vote on such proceedings.").

  COMMONS REASON
  The Commons disagreed to this amendment for the following reason—
  4A Because it is unnecessary to protect further the position of the Septennial Act 1715.
  The Attorney-General (Lord Williams of Mostyn): My Lords, I beg to move that the House do not insist on their Amendment No. 4 to which the Commons have disagreed for their reason numbered 4A.
  Moved, That the House do not insist on their Amendment No. 4 to which the Commons have disagreed for their reason numbered 4A.—(Lord Williams of Mostyn.)
  On Question, Motion agreed to.

  LORDS AMENDMENT
  13 In the Title, line 4, after ("Commons;") insert ("to establish an Appointments Commission with functions in relation to the conferment of life peerages under the Life Peerages Act 1958;").

  COMMONS REASON
  The Commons disagreed to this amendment for the following reason—
  13A Because it is not appropriate to make statutory provision for an Appointments Commission.
  Baroness Jay of Paddington: My Lords, I beg to move that the House do not insist on their Amendment No. 13 to which the Commons have disagreed for their reason numbered 13A.
  The Chairman of Committees: My Lords, the Question is that—
  The Earl of Erroll: My Lords
  The Chairman of Committees: My Lords, the Motion having been moved, I must put the Question. The noble Earl will forgive me, I am sure.

  1461
  The Question is, that the House do not insist on their Amendment No. 13 to which the Commons have disagreed for their reason numbered 13A.
  Moved, That the House do not insist on their Amendment No. 13 to which the Commons have disagreed for their reason numbered 13A.—(Baroness Jay of Paddington.)
  The Earl of Erroll: My Lords, I rise to speak because of the confusion that has just arisen. As a Cross-Bencher, I am fed up with Front Bench on either side steam-rollering matters. My noble friend on the Cross Benches attempted to speak to Lords Amendment No. 4. Mistakenly, he spoke to Lords Amendment No. 2. The real challenge then came, and when the Motion on Lords Amendment No. 4 was moved, we were steam-rollered. Was there a chance to leap up and speak? No. I am afraid the problem is that the Government are trying to railroad matters through and are not observing the proper procedures.
  Fortunately, the noble Earl, Lord Ferrers, spoke up on our behalf; whether noble Lords agree with his remarks is another matter. If we are to move into a new era, with a new Chamber and new House, we might at least have some independence of thought and mind and the Government should not railroad matters through—
  Baroness Jay of Paddington: My Lords—
  The Earl of Erroll: You guillotined me last time so I do not dare let you get up.
  Noble Lords: Order! Order!
  The Earl of Erroll: My Lords, the noble Baroness the Leader of the House guillotined me on Third Reading. It has normally been a courtesy in this House, if a Peer had managed to get a sentence out, to stand up and say, "Perhaps we should allow the noble Lord to finish". Instead, the Question was called. So I have now learnt the danger—since the noble Lord, Lord Marsh, advised me that I should not give way in future. We seem to have new customs coming into the House. I shall now shut up and sit down. I shall merely say: for goodness' sake, let us not forget that we were a courteous House. We used to listen to people. Five minutes now is not going to change history.
  On the previous Motion, I should have said that the only reason the Commons had to fear that amendment was the possible intention at the back of someone's mind that they might want to prolong the life of Parliament. Otherwise, why did they fear the proposal? There are many other things like that which should be said in our last moments before the only independent voice disappears. With that, I shall sit down.
  Lord Clifford of Chudleigh: My Lords, I apologise to the whole House for a slight misunderstanding—
  Noble Lords: Order.
  Lord Clifford of Chudleigh: My Lords, I want to speak as well. This is not the first that this has happened.
  Lord Williams of Mostyn: My Lords, I think I am entitled to reply. The two are not alternatives.
  Lord Clifford of Chudleigh: They are.
  4.15 p.m.
  Lord Williams of Mostyn: My Lords, I am entitled to observe that when I moved the previous Motion, I sat down to await any contributions which might or might not have come. I did nothing discourteous to any Member of this House. There was quite a substantial pause. The Question was then put and assented to. There was no question of anyone being shut out at that stage.
  The Earl of Dartmouth: My Lords—
  Noble Lords: Order!
  Lord Williams of Mostyn: My Lords, the Question was put and, I repeat, assented to. I think I am entitled, as always, to look for the courteous support of the noble Lord, Lord Strathclyde. He saw me waiting; no one intervened; and the Question was put and determined.
  Lord Strathclyde: My Lords, I must bear some of the responsibility for the confusion that has arisen. By making the few brief remarks that I had intended to make to the Motion on Lords Amendment No 4, to the Motion on Lords Amendment No. 2, I think that I inadvertently misled the House.
  However, having heard the noble Earl, Lord Erroll, I wonder whether it is now in order, in regard to this amendment, to hear the noble Lord, Lord Clifford of Chudleigh, or whether that is out of order. The noble Lord, Lord Clifford of Chudleigh, has been trying to enter the debate for a large part of the afternoon. This is the last time that he will be present in this House as he is one of the excluded Peers. I look to the Government Front Bench to make a decision which I believe will be a fair one and will receive the support of the House.
  Lord Williams of Mostyn: My Lords, that is a very reasonable approach. I think the sense is that your Lordships want to hear the noble Lord, Lord Clifford of Chudleigh.
  Noble Lords: Hear, hear.
  Lord Clifford of Chudleigh: My Lords, I should like to thank those on the Government Front Bench and the noble Lord, Lord Strathclyde.

  1463
  I am wholeheartedly in favour of the amendment as a postscript to Clause 2, especially having read the reason given by Her Majesty's Government for disagreeing to our Amendment No. 4; namely,
  "Because it is unnecessary to protect further the position of the Septennial Act 1715".
  The period specified in that Act was shortened to five years in Section '7 of the 1911 Parliament Act. But just as the Triennial Parliament Act 1693 was altered and changed in 1715, and that 18th century Act altered in 1911, what is to prevent this Government, or any ensuing elected government, altering Section 7 of the Parliament Act 1911? Control of the appointments of Peers to this Chamber, and a government with a majority of 50 or 100 will have the power to change the life of a Parliament from five to seven years, from five to 10 years, or to whenever.
  It is our right and our responsibility to protect the electorate. We should insist on the original Amendment No. 4 which another place considered negatively last night, as well as the new amendment proposed to follow Clause 2. I support the amendment.
  Earl Ferrers: My Lords, before the noble and learned Lord rises, we have bowled along rather briskly and he will gratifyingly find that we shot over Amendment No. 4 fairly quickly. We now come to Amendment No. 13 which is in the Long Title.
  I wish to ask the noble and learned Lord why the Government have not chosen to insert the matter of the appointments commission on which they have given an undertaking. Why do they not wish to find it in the Bill? Why is it so bad, if the proposed amendment, which has gone, was put down in order to prevent some government of a future date—not the present one—importing a lot of life Peers in order to prolong the life of Parliament? As I understand it, the idea was that that should not happen. I cannot understand why the Government have refused it.
  Lord Williams of Mostyn: My Lords, there is a little confusion in the noble Earl's mind. At the moment, so far as I am aware, we are dealing with Amendment No. 4.
  Several noble Lords: No!
  Earl Ferrers: My Lords, I say this with trepidation, but I think there is confusion in the noble and learned Lord's mind. I believe we are dealing with Amendment No. 13.
  Lord Williams of Mostyn: My Lords, if the noble Earl is right—-and he invariably is, mast of the time—I always agree with him. He is living testimony to that; in fact, we are having lunch together next week.
  Earl Ferrers: My Lords, the week after. The noble and learned Lord has misdirected his mind again. He will have to look not only at his brief but also at his diary.
  Lord Williams of Mostyn: My Lords, I believe that I need leave to make a personal statement of apology for
  1464
  misleading the House. As to the questions which the noble Earl put on the appointments commission, I believe that the Leader of the House dealt with the matter as fully as the House could reasonably expect and certainly to an extent where there is nothing that I could usefully add.
  A noble Lord: My Lords, I thought we were discussing Amendment No. 4.
  The Chairman of Committees: My Lords, I know that your Lordships will not take this as an observation from the Woolsack, but perhaps it is rather appropriate that this happens to be Amendment No. 13.
  On Question, Motion agreed to.

  Adjournment
  4.23 p.m.
  Baroness Jay of Paddington: My Lords, hoping not to extend the confusion, I beg to move that the House do now adjourn. In moving the adjournment I want to pay tribute to all those who have worked so hard to ensure the efficient running of the House and, very importantly—and I say this with great emphasis in view of the past half-hour's proceedings—the orderly completion of business; not a small feat in these last crowded days and hours.
  Every year at this time we say that this has been a very busy Session. I do not believe that any noble Lord on any side of the House will challenge me when I underline that and say that this year has been no exception. A total of 35 Bills supported by the Government have reached Royal Assent and although we have avoided all-night sittings, we have often sat very late. I believe I can say that we have all spent many pleasant evenings becoming better acquainted with one another, which has been to our mutual satisfaction and certainly to the satisfaction of the noble Lord, Lord Colwyn, and his Refreshment Committee. I do not see him in his place, but I know that he would agree.
  Throughout, we have been exceptionally well served by the loyal and dedicated staff of the House. They help us to make our time in the building both comfortable and worth while. I am sure all noble Lords here today will wish to join me in congratulating them on both their professional dedication and diligence and their friendly support during this long Session.
  This is the last time the House of Lords will sit in its present form. In a few minutes Royal Assent will be given to the House of Lords Bill to turn it into the House of Lords Act. A reform that has been discussed for more than 100 years will finally take effect. In the last year of the 20th century, this can only be right. The step-by-step approach towards this achievement was the proper one. By undertaking reform in that way, we succeeded where others before us have failed. Full consideration of the next steps of reform will now be possible once the Royal Commission, chaired by the

  1465
  noble Lord, Lord Wakeham, has reported at the end of this year. I am sure that we all look forward to examining his proposals with the dispassionate, detailed appraisal that characterises the best work of your Lordships' House.
  Although many hereditary Peers will have left us, we should today look back as well as forwards and respectfully acknowledge that in this House hereditary Peers have served honourably and have held the highest offices of state. When he spoke on Second Reading, my noble and learned friend the Lord Chancellor rightly paid detailed tribute to the history of those hereditary Peers who throughout the centuries have served the nation with distinction. Some hereditary Peers who have held high office most recently will continue to be Members of your Lordships' House, either as life Peers or as elected Weatherill Peers. Their role for the next transition period continues.
  In future, of course, those hereditary Peers who are no longer Members of your Lordships' House and who want to continue a political life will have the chance to be elected to another place or be made Members of this House because of their own achievements. These are opportunities which I am sure will be widely enjoyed.
  Away from politics, as your Lordships know, individual hereditary Peers have achieved much in their chosen professions. Again, I am sure that they and their heirs will continue to do so.
  In speaking so optimistically about the future, I must repeat that the Government do not denigrate the past. We understand and appreciate the contribution of individual hereditary Peers to the Chamber and to the country over many centuries. We are simply saying that what may have been appropriate 800, or even 200, years ago is not appropriate now.
  Of course, change is always a difficult process and particularly for those most closely involved. That has been true for many hereditary Members of the House. I sincerely believe that most have the grace and the realism to accept that this change is necessary. We have seen, for the most part, moderation, dignity and authority throughout this parliamentary Session. We have been given a timely reminder of the part played by the hereditary peerage in the counsels of this nation.
  My earlier words at Third Reading, which some said were a little brusque, were to say: "Thank you and goodbye." Let me say this afternoon that that gratitude was sincere, genuinely meant and properly merited. The friendly goodbyes we offer are also simply meant. We wish you all very well.
  Moved, That the House do now adjourn.—(Baroness Jay of Paddington.)
  4.28 p.m.
  Lord Strathclyde: My Lords, it is a rare occasion on which I rise and wholeheartedly concur with a Motion moved by the noble Baroness the Leader of the House. I join her in wishing that this debate will be relatively short before the ceremony of the Prorogation.
  1466
  Noble Lords will be unsurprised to hear that I have never run a marathon. I think I never will, but this Session has been its political equivalent. It has been an enormous struggle which is now at an end. This has been one of the busiest Sessions in living memory, and yet it was this House which again sat for longer, and for more days, than our colleagues in another place.
  I too join the noble Baroness in thanking the staff of the House. They have all played their part in the way that this House expects. They have showed continuous and unfailing decency and courtesy throughout the process, which sometimes has been as uncomfortable for them as for us. In particular, I pay tribute to the Doorkeepers who have served us well. Today there was an impromptu gathering of some Members of this House in the Chamber at 11 o'clock and the Doorkeepers organised it extremely effectively. I also pay tribute to those who work in the Refreshment Department who have been gathering signatures and saying final words to Peers who have become friends over the past few years. I pay tribute to the staff of the Parliament Office and the Clerks who put up with endless inquiries about the Bill and the amendments. I also refer to the Judicial Clerk who, unusually, was dragged into the debate by virtue of the legal challenge and the proceedings before the Committee for Privileges. Those who witnessed it know that it was handled superbly.
  I said that this had been a difficult Session. It is certainly the most difficult Session that I have seen, and it is probably one of the most difficult of the century. But it is worth reflecting for a moment on the past. This House has inflicted no evil in its history and much good has been done by it. Many people, including the weak, the unheard and the politically unfashionable, have come to this House when the doors of another place have been shut to them by the prevailing majority—of all governments. One matter that has characterised this House in the time that I have served it has been its courtesy, humility and instinctive sense of what is just and what is false and what counts in the long term rather than the passing fashion of the hour. The reason for that lies not in the fabric of the building but the fibre of the people who have worked so hard and long in this place and given of themselves fully and freely in service to the nation. I salute those of all parties who are being excluded from our ranks today.
  This is not a time for recrimination but a time for resolution that we who stay will be worthy in every way of those who go, that we shall not rest in the battle to achieve genuine and lasting reform and we shall practise the virtues of modesty, courtesy and a willingness to listen as much as we talk. Then, those of us who return next Wednesday may begin to be half-worthy of the great and ancient House that is being dismembered today.
  Lord Rodgers of Quarry Bank: My Lords, I associate these Benches with everything that has been said by the Leader of the House and by the noble Lord, Lord Strathclyde, about how well we have been looked after by all the staff during a tiring, difficult and sometimes

  1467
  very fraught year. As to the business, we have had a lot of it, and probably too much. Alas, some of the legislation has left us inadequately scrutinised. But these are matters to which we should return on another occasion. Today is very special as is recognised by both those who will be here next week and those who leave us today.
  It has been said by all of us in one way or another that this marks the end of an era. That may well be history's verdict. But the much more human consideration is that it will be the end of a way of life for many men and women—mainly men—who spend a good deal of their time in this place and serve it with a great sense of duty, as others have done before. Those of us who remain and come after must remember that. The strong feeling on these Benches—it is shared on all sides of the House—has been one of anticipated bereavement in these restless and uncomfortable days and for that reason we have found it a very difficult place in which to be.
  We are saying goodbye to friends and colleagues. We are also saying goodbye to people we know less well. I shall be saying goodbye to faces that are familiar but to which, even now, I cannot easily give a name. Nevertheless, I say goodbye. I want them to know the sense of privilege that I have had in sharing this place with them.
  The Lord Bishop of Lincoln: My Lords, I associate the Archbishops and. Bishops on this Bench with the sentiments expressed by the Leader of the House this afternoon. It is perhaps appropriate that a successor of someone who signed Magna Carta and, to his cost, knows a little about it, should be the spokesman for this particular Bench this afternoon. On behalf of this Bench, I add my thanks to all those in this House, particularly the hereditary Peers, who always treat the Bishops with courtesy and understanding. Having been here this week, I am conscious of the sense of bereavement to which the noble Lord, Lord Rodgers, referred. Bishops are not unfamiliar with it, but it does not make it any easier to deal with.
  This afternoon, quite deliberately, I spoke the psalm to pray that,
  "The Lord shall preserve thy going out, and thy coming in: from this time forth for evermore".
  That was not chosen lightly. I add my own thanks to the House and say farewell to those who will not sit here in future. I thank the Officers of the House who, as always, treat us so well and support us so generously.
  Lord Weatherill: My Lords, this is a historic day but also a very sad one. Naturally, I am pleased that the amendment which bears my name has been agreed by both Houses of Parliament by such substantive majorities. Nevertheless, it is a sadness to say farewell to so many friends who have graced this place and who in many instances have contributed greatly to its work over the centuries. Though largely unsung, their labours over the years—indeed, the centuries—have
  1468
  upheld our democratic freedoms and contributed to the health and welfare of our country. It is right that tribute should be paid to them and to their forebears for their dedicated services. I echo the remarks of the Leader of the House, the Leader of the Opposition and the right reverend Prelate the Bishop of Lincoln in gratitude to the staff of this House, those who are often seen and those seldom seen, who serve us so well.
  I am a relative newcomer to your Lordships' House. I came here only in 1992 after 28 years in the other place, which is dominated by the clash of adverse opinions. In the words of John Stuart Mill,
  "Truth emerges from the clash of adverse opinions".
  The adverse opinions in your Lordships' House are less raucous but no less effective. The hallmark of your Lordships' House has been, and is, courtesy. I hope that we shall not lose it in the new House of Lords which inevitably will be much more political than the present one.
  The role of the Cross Benches will inevitably change in that those of us who remain, in particular the 28 hereditary Peers who will remain on our Benches, are more likely to become working Peers. We have not been so called in the past although I must pay tribute to the work that all of them have done.
  This is the last time that I shall speak in my role as Convenor of the Cross-Bench Peers, a post that I have held now for five years. So I should like to pay tribute to and express thanks for the support and friendship of those on all our Benches, but particularly on the Cross-Benches; and especially to the hereditary Peers. They and their forebears have made a massive contribution over the years, indeed over the centuries, in defending our country's democratic freedoms, from the Magna Carta to the Bill of Rights to the present day. The hereditary peerage has served our country faithfully and well; and it is right that we should thank them and salute them for their services.
  I understand that there is a book in the Commons which seeks to discover which of the hereditary Peers will be the first Prime Minister in the new millennium. I suspect that this is not the last post, but reveille. I suspect that the hereditary peerage will continue to serve our country well in the future as they have in the past.
  Lord Carter: My Lords, I commend the Motion that the House do now adjourn during pleasure until 5 p.m. to receive the Royal Commission.
  Moved accordingly, and, on Question, Motion agreed to.
  [The Sitting was suspended from 4.32 to 5 p.m.]

  Royal Commission
  The Lord Chancellor (Lord Irvine of Lairg): My Lords, it not being convenient for Her Majesty personally to be present here this day, she has been pleased to cause a Commission under the Great Seal to be prepared for proroguing this present Parliament.

  1469
  Then, the Lords Commissioners (being the Lord Chancellor, the Lord Strathclyde, the Lord Rodgers of Quarry Bank, the Baroness Jay of Paddington, and the Lord Weatherill) being present and the Commons being at the Bar, the Lord Chancellor said: My Lords and Members of the House of Commons, Her Majesty, not thinking fit personally to be present here at this time, has been pleased to cause a Commission to be issued under the Great Seal, and thereby given Her Royal Assent to divers Acts which have been agreed upon by both Houses of Parliament, the Titles whereof are particularly mentioned, and by the said Commission has commanded us to declare and notify Her Royal Assent to the said several Acts, in the presence of you the Lords and Commons assembled for that purpose; and has also assigned to us and other Lords directed full power and authority in Her Majesty's name to prorogue this present Parliament. Which Commission you will now hear read.
  A Commission for Royal Assent and Prorogation was read.
  The Lord Chancellor: My Lords, in obedience to Her Majesty's Commands, and by virtue of the Commission which has been now read, We do declare and notify to you, the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons in Parliament assembled, that Her Majesty has given Her Royal Assent to the several Acts in the Commission mentioned; and the Clerks are required to pass the same in the usual Form and Words.

  Royal Assent
  The following Acts received the Royal Assent:

  Food Standards Act,

  Greater London Authority Act,

  Welfare Reform and Pensions Act,

  Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act,

  Mental Health (Amendment) (Scotland) Act,

  Immigration and Asylum Act,

  House of Lords Act.

  Prorogation: Her Majesty's Speech
  Her Majesty's most gracious Speech was then delivered to both Houses of Parliament by the Lord Chancellor (in pursuance of Her Majesty's Command) as follows:
  "My Lords and Members of the House of Commons,
  "The Duke of Edinburgh and I were pleased to receive the State Visits of His Excellency the President of Germany last December, of His Excellency the President of Hungary last June and of His Excellency the President of the People's Republic of China in October. We recall with
  1470
  pleasure our State Visit to Korea in April. We were delighted to pay State Visits to Ghana and South Africa over the last four days.
  "My Government have taken action to build a platform of economic stability and steady growth, based on clear long-term objectives for monetary and fiscal policy, with openness and transparency in policy making.
  "My Government's goal is high and stable levels of growth and employment. The new system of monetary policy-making ensures that interest rate decisions are taken in the best long-term interests of the economy. As a result, the UK now has a sound and credible platform of stability. Inflation is historically low and expected to remain close to target. And long-term interest rates are also at historically low levels. Employment is up by over half a million since the election, with more people in work in Britain today than ever before.
  "To ensure high levels of employment, my Government are extending the New Deal, to help more young people and the long-term unemployed. And my Government are tackling the poverty and unemployment traps. To make work pay and encourage job creation, they have introduced the national minimum wage and the new 10p starting rate of tax, cut the basic rate of income tax from next April, and reformed national insurance. And the Working Families' Tax Credit, introduced in October, is helping to make work pay for low-paid working families.
  "My Government are continually looking at ways to improve productivity, including in the public sector. They have set tough targets for outputs from every department in public service agreements.
  "My Government's legislation to raise standards for all children is now coming into effect. There has been a widespread reduction in the number of hildren in infant classes of over 30 and there is extensive support for the literacy and numeracy strategies. My Government published the Teachers Green Paper—the most radical reform of the teaching profession in a generation—and have since announced progress towards a new pay structure for teachers.
  "Parliament has passed for the first time legislation for the creation of a Disability Rights Commission, which will help create a positive climate for people with disabilities in their lives and work.
  "My Government have put in place the framework for a modern National Health Service. An Act has been passed to replace the NHS internal market with decentralised arrangements based on partnership, quality and efficiency. Waiting lists have been reduced by 200,000 since their high point in April 1998, and by 69,000 since March 1997.
  "An Act has been passed to establish a Food Standards Agency to protect public health and the interests of consumers in relation to food.
  "Legislation has been enacted to support minimum standards at work, to promote partnership and to make it easier for people to combine family responsibilities and employment.
  "An Act has been passed which takes forward my Government's programme of welfare reform, promoting work for those who are able to work and security for those who cannot.
  "My Government have begun the modernisation of local government. Legislation has been enacted to secure the delivery of high quality local services on a sound financial basis.
  "My Government have begun the process of restoring democratic, city-wide government in London. Legislation was enacted to establish the Greater London Authority, providing London with a new form of strategic governance.
  "An Act has been passed which will enable the implementation of the EU Directive on Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control, which will maintain a coherent pollution control regime for the United Kingdom.
  "Legislation has been enacted to provide a fair basis for water charging in England and Wales.
  "An Act has been passed to modernise and strengthen immigration control. It will speed up the system of immigration and asylum appeals. This Act is essential to the delivery of a fairer, faster and firmer immigration and asylum system to which my Government are committed.
  "An Act has been passed which creates a new sentencing disposal for first time defendants pleading guilty in the youth court and introduces new measures to help vulnerable witnesses to give their best evidence in criminal trials.
  "Legislation has been enacted to establish a Community Legal Service and a Criminal Defence Service. They will replace existing legal aid arrangements and enable resources to be better targeted. The Act also extends the use of conditional fees, removes unnecessary restrictions on the provision of legal services and makes reforms to magistrates' courts and the appeals system. This will increase access to justice. Other law reform measures have been enacted.
  "As a first step in a process of reform, legislation has been enacted to remove the automatic right of hereditary peers to membership of the House of Lords.
  "The people of Scotland and Wales voted to have their own Parliament and National Assembly and it was my pleasure, with the Duke of Edinburgh and the Prince of Wales to open the National Assembly for Wales on 26th May and to open the Scottish Parliament on 1st July.
  "In Northern. Ireland, my Government have continued to work to secure the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. They have, in co-operation with the Irish Government, established a
  1472
  review to overcome difficulties in its implementation. They have welcomed the Report of the Independent Commission on Policing.
  "Members of the House of Commons,
  "I thank you for the provision you have made for the work and dignity of the Crown and for the public service.
  "My Lords and Members of the House of Commons,
  "Over the last year, my Government have played a leading role in the European Union. They have continued to strengthen bilateral relations with our partners. My Government have welcomed the entry into force of new treaty provisions which strengthen the European Union's Common Foreign and Security Policy and have welcomed the appointment of the first High Representative. In co-operation with other member states, they ensured a successful outcome to the Agenda 2000 negotiations that maintained the United Kingdom's budget abatement.
  "My Government have played a key role in preparing the European Union for the historic challenge of enlargement. They have also helped the applicant countries prepare for membership.
  "My Government welcomed the launch of the euro on 1st January. They have published an outline national changeover plan, which could be implemented should Britain decide to join. They have welcomed the appointment of a new European Commission, committed to reform.
  "My Government have maintained strong and modern defence for Britain based on the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. They played a leading role in the decisions taken at NATO's 50th Anniversary summit in Washington to modernise further and prepare the alliance for the challenges and opportunities it will face in the new century.
  "My Government launched an historic initiative at the Franco-British St. Malo Summit. This will make the European Union's Common Foreign and Security Policy more effective and will revitalise the Atlantic Alliance.
  "My Government launched an initiative at the British-Italian London Summit to improve the effectiveness of European defence forces. My Government have continued successfully to restructure the Armed Forces to meet the demands of the modern world.
  "My Government reaffirmed their commitment to support the United Nations by signing a Memorandum of Understanding declaring United Kingdom forces potentially available for United Nations' peacekeeping operations and by announcing their intention to make an increased contribution to United Nations police operations.
  "My Government made a substantial and vital contribution to the success of the international community's diplomatic, political and military efforts to halt and reverse ethnic cleansing in Kosovo. Following the end of the conflict, my

  1473
  Government have played an important role in reconstructing Kosovo and preparing it for free and fair elections.
  "My Government's political, military and financial commitment to Bosnia and Herzegovina has continued to help build peace there.—
  "My Government have supported the democratic transition in Indonesia and have played a leading role, including a military contribution, in the UN process to help bring self-determination to the people of East Timor.
  "Following the abolition of the death penalty under United Kingdom law, my Government signed and ratified the 6th Protocol to the European Convention on Human Rights.
  "My Government have published a White Paper proposing a new partnership with our Overseas Territories and offering British citizenship to their people.
  "My Government have negotiated new arrangements which re-establish links between the Falkland Islands and Argentina.
  "After extensive diplomatic effort by my Government, the Government of Libya finally agreed to hand over the two suspects in the Lockerbie bombing case. We are pleased that my Government subsequently reached an agreement on the re-establishment of diplomatic relations with Libya.
  "My Government supported and welcomed the transition to democratic civilian government in Nigeria.
  "My Government have played a leading role in securing international agreement to reduce further the debt burden of very poor countries. My Government have put into place a strategy to increase the proportion of the United Kingdom's bilateral development assistance going to low income countries and to increase the focus of the multilateral agencies on the reduction of poverty. An Act has been passed to convert the Commonwealth Development Corporation to a public-private partnership enabling it to make a larger contribution to development by channelling increased private sector investment into the poorest countries.
  "My Lords and Members of the House of Commons,
  "I pray that the blessing of Almighty God may attend you".
  After which the Lord Chancellor said:
  My Lords and Members of the House of Commons, by virtue of Her Majesty's Commission which has been now read We do, in Her Majesty's name, and in obedience to Her Majesty's Commands, prorogue this Parliament to the 17th day of this instant November, to be then here holden, and this Parliament is accordingly prorogued to Wednesday, the 17th day of this instant November.
  Parliament was prorogued at twenty five minutes before six o'clock.

  General Pinochet
  General Pinochet
  Computer Hacking: Demonstration on 18 June
  Computer Hacking: Demonstration on 18 June
  "Cyberwar" Equipment
  "Cyberwar" Equipment
  Armed Forces: Personnel below Age 18
  Armed Forces: Personnel below Age 18
  Armed Forces: Minimum Age of Engagement
  Armed Forces: Minimum Age of Engagement
  Armed Forces: Minimum Period of Service
  Armed Forces: Minimum Period of Service
  Defence Export Sales Organisation: Indonesia
  Defence Export Sales Organisation: Indonesia
  Armed Forces: Deaths Attributable to Service
  Armed Forces: Deaths Attributable to Service
  Baltic States: Military Assistance
  Baltic States: Military Assistance
  Iraq: Cost of Air Operations
  Iraq: Cost of Air Operations
  Gulf States: Regional Deterrent
  Gulf States: Regional Deterrent
  Outer Space: Use of Satellites
  Outer Space: Use of Satellites
  United States National Security Agency: Activities on British Territory
  United States National Security Agency: Activities on British Territory
  Space-Based Infrared System
  Space-Based Infrared System
  Kosovo Liberation Army: Relationship with Western Forces
  Kosovo Liberation Army: Relationship with Western Forces
  United States Defence Computer Infrastructure: Protection
  United States Defence Computer Infrastructure: Protection
  Information Warfare
  Information Warfare
  RAF Menwith Hill
  RAF Menwith Hill
  Defence Co-operation with United States
  Defence Co-operation with United States
  Anti-Personnel Mines: UK Stocks
  Anti-Personnel Mines: UK Stocks
  Patten Report on RUC: Cost
  Patten Report on RUC: Cost
  Northern Ireland Security Operations: Cost
  Northern Ireland Security Operations: Cost
  Human Genome Patent
  Human Genome Patent
  ECDG Support for Exports of Military Equipment
  ECDG Support for Exports of Military Equipment
  Trade in Wood Products
  Trade in Wood Products
  Computers in Schools
  Computers in Schools
  Ellington Coal Mine
  Ellington Coal Mine
  Education Action Zones
  Education Action Zones
  Casinos: Opening Hours
  Casinos: Opening Hours
  Justice and Home Affairs Council, 4th October
  Justice and Home Affairs Council, 4th October
  Immigrants and Asylum Seekers: Passenger Information Provisions
  Immigrants and Asylum Seekers: Passenger Information Provisions
  Hunting with Dogs
  Hunting with Dogs
  Museums and Galleries: Free Admission for Children
  Museums and Galleries: Free Admission for Children
  Stonehenge
  Stonehenge
  Policy Implementation: Cost Analysis
  Policy Implementation: Cost Analysis
  UK Economic and Social Activity: Measurement
  UK Economic and Social Activity: Measurement
  Tourism Website
  Tourism Website
  Accessibility Standards: EU Draft Directive
  Accessibility Standards: EU Draft Directive
  National Savings: Limits
  National Savings: Limits
  Excise Duty: Minimum Rates
  Excise Duty: Minimum Rates
  Harmful Tax Competition Negotiations
  Harmful Tax Competition Negotiations
  Tax Harmonisation
  Tax Harmonisation
  Farmers: Taxation
  Farmers: Taxation
  Single Market: Impact on Employment
  Single Market: Impact on Employment
  Orders in Council: Publication
  Orders in Council: Publication
  Women's National Commission
  Women's National Commission
  Rural Area Policies: Co-ordination
  Rural Area Policies: Co-ordination
  House of Lords: Appointees
  House of Lords: Appointees
  Hereditary Peers' Voting Rights
  Hereditary Peers' Voting Rights
  Secretary of State for Scotland
  Secretary of State for Scotland
  Performance and Innovation Unit
  Performance and Innovation Unit
  Vehicle Keepers' Personal Particulars
  Vehicle Keepers' Personal Particulars
  M.40 Service Station Proposal
  M.40 Service Station Proposal
  South-West Multi-Modal Transport Study and Stonehenge
  South-West Multi-Modal Transport Study and Stonehenge
  DETR/Scottish Executive Concordat
  DETR/Scottish Executive Concordat
  Stabled Horses: Overnight Supervision
  Stabled Horses: Overnight Supervision
  GM Crop Evaluation Agreement
  GM Crop Evaluation Agreement
  Trunk Road and Motorway Building Projects
  Trunk Road and Motorway Building Projects
  Blackfriars Underpass
  Blackfriars Underpass
  Liverpool Democracy Commission Report
  Liverpool Democracy Commission Report
  Pakistan: Assistance to New Government
  Pakistan: Assistance to New Government
  Kosovo: Humanitarian Assistance
  Kosovo: Humanitarian Assistance
  The Danube: Pollution
  The Danube: Pollution
  Pensions: Additional Payments
  Pensions: Additional Payments
  Incapacity Benefit
  Incapacity Benefit
  Housing Benefit: Tenant Farmers
  Housing Benefit: Tenant Farmers
  Questions for Written Answer
  Questions for Written Answer
  Civil Service: Performance Related Pay
  Civil Service: Performance Related Pay
  Government Departments: Web Pages
  Government Departments: Web Pages
  Non-departmental Public Bodies and the Parliamentary Ombudsman
  Non-departmental Public Bodies and the Parliamentary Ombudsman
  Task Forces
  Task Forces
  Norplant Litigation
  Norplant Litigation
  General Pinochet
  General Pinochet
  Immigration Appeal Tribunal: Lay Members
  Immigration Appeal Tribunal: Lay Members
  BSE in Sheep
  BSE in Sheep
  Official Veterinary Surgeons and Meat Hygiene Inspectors
  Official Veterinary Surgeons and Meat Hygiene Inspectors
  Meat Hygiene Service
  Meat Hygiene Service
  Crops: Integrated Administration and Control System
  Crops: Integrated Administration and Control System
  Milk Consumption in Schools
  Milk Consumption in Schools
  Intervention Board: Performance
  Intervention Board: Performance
  Floods Action Plan
  Floods Action Plan
  Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food/Scottish Executive Concordat
  Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food/Scottish Executive Concordat