Written Answers of 3 December 1997

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Probation Service
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the estimated percentage change in the Probation Service budget in England and Wales for the next two financial years; and if he will make a statement. [18635]

  Ms Quin
  We are still considering probation service revenue grant for 1998–99 but expect to make an announcement very shortly. The level of funding in 1999–2000 and beyond will be considered in the comprehensive spending review.

  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average annual case load per probation officer for the last two years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [18638]

  Ms Quin
  The average annual caseload per officer for 1995 and 1996, excluding community service, was 25 and 27.7 respectively.

  These figures are given in table 8.13 of the Probation Statistics England and Wales 1996, a copy of which is in the Library.

  Community Penalties
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research his Department has undertaken on the degree of knowledge and awareness among the judiciary about community penalties and their effectiveness; and if he will make a statement. [18636]

  Ms Quin
  Home Office Research Study 144, "Measuring the Satisfaction of Courts with the Probation Service", published in 1995, reported that 70 per cent. of the judges questioned thought that the probation service kept them very well or quite well informed about its work; 37 per cent. considered the quality of supervision for probation orders to be very good or quite good; and 45 per cent. were very satisfied or quite satisfied with current arrangements for enforcing probation orders.

  Further relevant information will feature next year in the Home Office Research and Statistics Directorate's evaluation of the community sentence demonstration projects in Teesside and Shropshire.

  Sex Offenders
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people(a) have notified the police in relation to the Sex Offender Register and (b) are yet to notify the police in relation to the register for the last date for which figures are available. [18639]
  208
  Mr. Michael
  On 2 October, the latest date for which figures are available, 2,170 sex offenders had notified the police of their details in accordance with the Sex Offenders Act 1997.

  Police records indicate a further 567 sex offenders who had yet to notify the police of their details by this date. These include both those who are within the 14 day period allowed for registration and those who have gone beyond this period.

  A survey of registrations over the first three months of the operation of the sex offender register is currently being carried out. The figures will be available in mid December.

  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the measures under consideration for the forthcoming Crime and Disorder Bill for extended supervision of sex offenders will extend to all serious sex offenders. [18217]

  Ms Quin
  We envisage that the courts should have the power to require sex offenders to undergo an extended period of supervision, of up to ten years, to be added to whatever sentence the court would currently impose. The power will apply to all sex offenders who receive custodial sentences, including those imprisoned for less than 12 months, who are not liable, under the current law, to supervision following release. It will not, however, apply retrospectively to offenders already sentenced under the current or previous law.

  Radar Speed Trap Detectors
  Ms Keeble
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his Department's policy on the use of radar devices to avoid police radar speed traps. [18140]

  Mr. Michael
  The use of such detector devices without a licence is an offence under the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949 and successful prosecutions have been taken out by the police against motorists who have used them. My Department has carried out tests which showed such devices to be largely unreliable and ineffective but we have asked the Association of Chief Police Officers' Traffic Committee to keep us informed of any significant increase in the use of these devices and of any difficulties which forces experience. In addition, where an advertisement for such a device is brought to my department's attention we lodge the papers with the Advertising Standards Authority so that the Authority can ensure that the advertising copy makes the legal position clear.

  CS Gas
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police forces have suspended their use of CS gas sprays in the last six months; and if he will make a statement. [18344]

  Mr. Michael
  None in England and Wales, so far as I am aware. Trials of CS sprays by Strathclyde Police and Tayside Police were suspended between 2 and 20 October but have since resumed. Responsibility for deciding whether to issue CS spray equipment rests with individual chief police officers.

  Ministerial Announcements
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many ministerial announcements have not been made in the first instance to the House; and of those how many were(a) speeches to outside bodies, (b) press releases, (c) press briefings and (d) made by other means, since 1 May; and if he will make a statement about his Department's policy in respect of making public ministerial announcements. [18890]

  Mr. Straw
  Since 1 May, my Department has made 234 announcements by press release, including ones relating to public speeches. All major announcements are made to Parliament first when it is sitting. Such recent major announcements include a statement on Home Detention Orders, the White Paper on Youth Justice and the Bill to incorporate the European Convention on Human Rights into British Law. Press briefings are usually held to give further explanation to announcements, after they have been made public.

  Vivisection
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has to alter the law relating to vivisection; and if he will make a statement. [18681]

  Mr. George Howarth
  An Order will be made shortly to add "pigs, if genetically modified" and "sheep, if genetically modified" to Schedule 2 of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.

  Following the recommendation made by the Animal Procedures Committee in its interim report on the review of the operation of the 1986 Act, the same Order will add ferrets and gerbils to Schedule 2. This will take effect from 1 January 1999.

  An Order will also be made under the European Communities Act 1972 to make minor amendments to introduce into the face of the 1986 Act some controls which are currently exercised through administrative measures (such as standard licence conditions).

  Perjury
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will bring forward proposals for a new offence of aggravated perjury to apply where persons have brought an action in the courts and have lied on oath. [18532]

  Mr. Michael
  We see no need to bring forward proposals for a new offence of aggravated perjury. The law enables those who have brought a civil action and are then found to have lied to be liable to prosecution and conviction for perjury, which could result in a prison sentence for up to seven years. In addition, a person who intentionally swears a false affidavit could be charged with perverting the course of justice. As I indicated in my reply to my hon. Friend on 16 July 1997,official report, column 181, the serious common law offence of perverting, or attempting to pervert, the course of justice is committed where a person acts or embarks upon a course of conduct which has a tendency to, and is intended to, pervert the course of justice. It is a matter for the prosecuting authorities to decide in any such case whether there is sufficient evidence to mount a
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  prosecution and whether it would be in the public interest. As a common law offence, the maximum penalty for perverting the course of justice is at large, which means that the court would be free to impose any penalty that they considered appropriate.

  Hand Guns
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what(a) timetable and (b) guidelines exist for compensating the owners of unusual hand guns; and what arrangements exist for paying interest on delayed compensation. [18619]

  Mr. Michael
  Those handguns not listed under options A and B of the Firearms Compensation Scheme will have been claimed for under option C, which required owners to attach evidence of value. These particular claims, because they require individual assessment of the evidence provided, are being deferred to allow faster processing of claims submitted under the first two options. Many option C claimants have also claimed under other options and so will receive a part payment of their claim first. It is expected that most, if not all, option C claims will have been dealt with by the end of 1998. This position is in accordance with our earlier expectations and was made clear in the information sent out to potential claimants in June. There are no arrangements in the Scheme for the payment of interest on claims.

  Safer Cities Projects
  Mr. Allan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what funds(a) were allocated to safer cities projects in each year since their commencement and (b) will be allocated to safer cities projects in the year 1998–99. [18600]

  Mr. Michael
  (a) the Grants paid to safer cities projects in each year from 1988–89 to 1997–98 are listed1. These figures include the payments made by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions to the Phase 2 English projects between 1994–95 to 1997–98.

  £ million

  1989–90

  2.403

  1990–91

  4.569

  1991–92

  5.178

  1992–93

  5.271

  1993–94

  3.738

  1994–95

  2.168

  1995–96

  3.848

  1996–97

  3.124

  1997–98

  2.170

  At the beginning of this financial year, the Home Office also paid an exit grant of £40,000 to the one Welsh project which closed on 31 March 1997.

  (b) All the remaining safer cities projects are due to close by 31 March 1998 and there is no provision for further projects in 1998–99. However, £60,000 has been set aside by the Home Office for exit grant payments to the two remaining Welsh safer cities projects on condition that they have good exit strategies.
  1 These figures do not include the management fees for the projects as this information is commercial-in-confidence and cannot be disclosed.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Museums and Galleries (Wheelchair Access)
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the adequacy of access for disabled people in wheelchairs to the museums and galleries for which he has responsibility. [17169]

  Mr. Fisher
  Access to the museums and galleries for which this Department is responsible is generally good, though some constraints are imposed by the historic buildings in which the collections are located. Many already allow full access to wheelchair users, and in most other cases nearly all of the collections are accessible. Among the facilities provided are: designated parking, ramps, lifts, specially designed lavatories, low-height telephones and low-height labelling of exhibits. Many institutions also have wheelchairs available for use and provide special training for staff.

  However, there is no room for complacency. Recent advances in information technology have been used to provide visual displays where access to the actual display itself is not available. Where new building is underway, special attention is being paid to the needs of wheelchair users with the aid of expert advice.

  My Department is carrying out a review of access to the national museums and galleries and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will be reporting shortly on the progress of that review.

PRIME MINISTER

  UN Security Council
  Mr. Godman
  To ask the Prime Minister when he last met the leaders of other member states of the European Union to discuss matters relating to the membership, structure and functions of the Security Council of the United Nations. [17516]

  The Prime Minister
  I have not discussed this issue with my European Union counterparts. However, there are regular discussions between officials at the United Nations in New York and in Capitals.

SCOTLAND

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many public appointments he has made since 1 May; and how many and what percentage of these(a) receive remuneration and (b) are of (i) Afro-Caribbean and (ii) Asian origin. [16777]

  Mr. Dewar
  Since 1 May I have made 105 Public Appointments. Of these, 77 or 73 per cent. receive remuneration.

  The information about ethnic origin cannot be provided since to do so would risk identifying individuals without their consent. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster has provided information for all departments in an aggregated form.

  Ministerial Meetings
  Mr. Ancram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many individuals or organisations, corporate or otherwise, he and his ministers have met in their official capacity since 21 May 1997 who have or had donated £5,000 or more to the Labour Party in the last two years; and if he will list them. [17729]

  Mr. Dewar
  [holding answer 25 November 1997]: The Labour Party's policy on disclosure is to declare the identity of any individual or organisation which, in the course of one calendar year, makes donations in the aggregate in excess of £5,000. Donations made during 1997 will be declared in 1998. Therefore, the following information refers to qualifying donors in 1995 and 1996.

  Scottish Office Ministers have met representatives of Unison, the Mirror Group, the Daily Record, the AEEU, the FBU, the GMB and the T&GWU. Ministers have also had meetings with the Paymaster General.

  Maternity Services
  Dr. Fox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimates he has made of the impact on obstetric services in South Lanarkshire and surrounding areas of the closure of Bellshill and Rutherglen maternity hospitals. [18151]

  Mr. Galbraith
  In considering the closure of Bellshill and Rutherglen maternity hospitals, Ministers have taken fully into account the impact on obstetric services in South Lanarkshire. I am confident that both Greater Glasgow and Lanarkshire Health Board's Maternity Strategies will greatly improve the maternity services available to the mothers and babies in these areas.

  Transport Policy
  Mr. Gorrie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if paragraph 9 of his Department's consultation document, "Developing an Integrated Transport Policy", represents Government policy. [18195]

  Mr. Chisholm
  The definitive statements of Government transport policy for Scotland will be contained in the Government's White Papers on Integrated Transport for Scotland, and for the UK generally, that we intend to publish in Spring 1998. In developing that policy we are currently considering the many responses to the key broad issues set out in the consultation document.

  Asbestosis
  Mr. Eric Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people were diagnosed to be suffering from asbestosis in(a) 1995 and (b) 1996 broken down by (i) parliamentary constituency and (ii) local authority unit. [18156]
  213
  Mr. Galbraith
  The information is not available in the form requested by the hon. Member. However, it is possible to provide figures for the numbers of patients discharged from hospital, whose diagnosis includes asbestosis, for the year 1995, broken down by Health Board of residence, as follows:

  Health Board of residence

  Patients discharged in 1995

  Argyll and Clyde

  6

  Artier and Arran

  3

  Borders

  1

  Dumfries and Galloway

  0

  Fife

  9

  Forth Valley

  4

  Grampian

  3

  Greater Glasgow

  43

  Highland

  4

  Lanarkshire

  3

  Lothian

  12

  Orkney

  1

  Tayside

  1

  Western Isles

  0

  Scotland

  90

  These figures include both newly diagnosed and longer term cases of asbestosis. The equivalent information for 1996 is not yet available.

  Student Tuition Fees
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland at what(a) net and (b) gross parental or household income level Scottish students will be required to pay the full £1,000 per annum tuition fee. [17850]

  Mr. Wilson
  [holding answer 27 November 1997]: The rates for student awards and loans, and the associated contribution scales, for academic year 1998–99 have not yet been determined.

  Had tuition fee contributions been in effect in academic year 1997–98, eligible Scottish domiciled students with a net parental income after allowable deductions of about £26,500 would have been assessed as due to pay the full £1,000; the comparable figure for a spouse contribution would have been in the region of £22,250.

  It is not practicable to give individual figures for the equivalent gross income since this would depend on the circumstances of the family concerned though, typically, the figure would be about £35,000 per annum.

  Means-testing will be carried out in exactly the same way north and south of the border, using the same sealer, as now.

  Smoking
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the amount spent on smoking cessation initiatives for(a) 1995–96 and (b) 1996–97 devoted to (i) visits by primary health care professionals and (ii) prescriptions; and what are the estimated figures for 1997–98. [17854]

  Mr. Galbraith
  [holding answer 1 December 1997]: Information on the amount of expenditure specifically on smoking cessation initiatives devoted to visits by primary health care professionals is not held centrally. Similarly,
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  there is no information available on the amount spent on prescriptions in respect of smoking cessation. In terms of Schedule 10 of the NHS (General Medical Services) (Scotland) Regulations 1995, substances such as nicotine replacements cannot be supplied by general medical practitioners or prescribed for supply under pharmaceutical services. All such products have to be purchased over the counter.

  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent research his Department has evaluated on(a) the total cost to the National Health Service in Scotland of treating people with smoking-related diseases and (b) the prevalence of smoking-related diseases among the Scottish population broken down by (i) sex, (ii) age, (iii) socio-economic class and (iv) health board area. [17856]

  Mr. Galbraith
  [holding answer 1 December 1997]: The most recent national research study on smoking related diseases was the 1991 Report, "The Smoking Epidemic—Counting the Cost in Scotland", a publication produced jointly by HEBS and ASH (Scotland). It estimated that the costs to the NHS in Scotland were approximately £69 million per year. There was no breakdown of this figure by sex, age, socio-economic class or health board area. The prevalence of all diseases in Scotland is monitored by routine ongoing surveillance rather than by specific research projects.

  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total amount spent on smoking cessation initiatives for(a) 1995–96 and (b) 1996–97; and what are the projected figures for 1997–98, broken down by health board. [17853]

  Mr. Galbraith
  [holding answer 1 December 1997]: The information requested is detailed in the tables below. This includes expenditure by the Health Education Board for Scotland (HEBS) and the annual grant provided by The Scottish Office to ASH (Scotland) for the same period.

  Expenditure on smoking cessation initiatives

  £000s

  Organisation

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  HEBS

  748

  672

  1 585

  ASH (Scotland)

  73

  88.9

  88.9

  Total

  821

  760.9

  673.9

  1 Projected.

  Estimated spend by health board health promotion departments on smoking initiatives1

  Health board

  1995–96 £

  1996–97 £

  Projected 1997–98 £

  Argyll and Clyde

  45,000

  45,000

  45,000

  Ayrshier and Arran

  88,500

  96,500

  96,500

  Borders

  47,895

  49,330

  50,809

  Dumfries and Galloway

  66,030

  95,994

  82,808

  Fife

  18,600

  12,000

  8,200

  Forth Valley

  90,989

  95,673

  101,698

  Grampian

  143,000

  181,000

  209,000

  Greater Glasgow

  70,000

  70,000

  130,000

  Highland

  25,000

  30,000

  37,000

  Lanarkshire

  44,000

  35,000

  58,250

  Lothian

  84,000

  106,000

  103,000

  Orkney

  3,415

  2,775

  3,115

  215

  Estimated spend by health board health promotion departments on smoking initiatives1

  Health board

  1995–96 £

  1996–97 £

  Projected 1997–98 £

  Shetland

  4,490

  2,540

  2,610

  Tayside

  102,000

  105.000

  114,000

  Western Isles

  33,000

  35,000

  37,000

  Total

  865,919

  961,812

  1,078,990

  1 This does not include work on smoking being carried out in health boards by other professionals including GPs, health visitors, psychologists etc.

  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the current estimated cost to the NHS in Scotland of treating people with smoking-related diseases(a) in total and (b) by health board. [17855]

  Mr. Galbraith
  [holding answer 1 December 1997]: There is no simple classification of diseases into those which are smoking related and those which are not. Smoking is only one of several causative factors in many diseases. In 1991, the ASH (Scotland)/HEBS publication "The Smoking Epidemic—Counting the Cost in Scotland" estimated that the NHS costs of treating smoking related diseases were of the order of £69 million per year. A more recent study, commissioned by ASH (Scotland) in 1994, estimated an annual cost to the NHS in Scotland of £83 million. No information is held centrally on the breakdown of these figures by health board area.

  Low Pay
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the lowest hourly rate paid by his Department to(a) full-time employees, (b) part-time employees, (c) persons employed under personal contract and (d) persons employed by firms undertaking contracted-out services for central government offices, defining the job title in each case. [18107]

  Mr. Dewar
  [holding answer 2 December 1997]: Based on a net working week of 37 hours the information is (a) £3.69 in respect of Administrative Assistants and equivalent grades (although there are two individuals—a Receptionist and a Messenger who are paid £3.37 and £3.63 respectively), (b) £3.69 in respect of Administrative Assistants and equivalent grades, (c) £3.69 in respect of Administrative Assistants and equivalent grades employed on a short-term casual basis and (d) this information is not available.

  Expenditure Plans
  Mr. Ernie Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will announce his plans for allocating total expenditure within his responsibility for 1998–99 including details of the 1998–99 Local Government Finance Settlement. [19298]

  Mr. Dewar
  The attached table outlines my plans for allocating the total expenditure for Scotland within my responsibility.

  I have been able to improve significantly on the plans for the local government settlement. Following extensive consultation with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, I propose to increase the level of Government Supported Expenditure by 2.2 per cent.—over £133
  216
  million—and the level of Aggregate External Finance by 0.6 per cent., or £33.1 million, in both cases after adjustments for the transfer of responsibility for funding nursery education and the additional resources provided in the current year for policing the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting.

  Next year, Scottish local authorities will receive Government support through AEF of nearly £5.3 billion, £91 million greater than the published plans, which represents over 37 per cent. of the total Scottish Office budget. On top of that local authorities will receive a further £75 million of support to fund pre-school education, £9 million more than the published plans, £7 million for Early Intervention and £1 million for Alternatives to Exclusion, plus £325 million of non-housing capital allocations.

  I am also announcing today provisional capping principles which will allow local authorities to increase their capped expenditure by 3.4 per cent. or £191 million, almost £150 million more than the inherited plans. The proposed regime is tiered to allow councils spending close to GAE a greater increase in expenditure than those spending well above GAE.

  Government Supported Expenditure

  I propose that Government Supported Expenditure (GSE) for 1998–99 should be set at £6,223.9 million. This compares with previous plans of £6,132 million.

  Grant Aided Expenditure

  Local authorities will incur an estimated £728.8 million on loan and leasing charges in 1998–99. After deducting this sum from the GSE total, £5,495.1 million is available for allocation as Grant Aided Expenditure (GAE). This GAE amount is 3.7 per cent. or almost £198 million higher than that for the current year (after making the above adjustments). I shall announce GAE figures for individual local authorities as soon as possible.

  Aggregate External Finance

  I further propose that Government support for local authority current expenditure-that is, Aggregte External Finance (AEF) which consists of Revenue Support Grant, Specific Grants and Non-Domestic Rate Income—for 1998–99 should be set at £5,271.3 million, which compares with the previous plans of £5,180 million. Proposals for the distribution of AEF to individual local authorities are likely to be isued to councils before Christmas. I announced yesterday that the National Non-Domestic Rate poundage would be 47.4p, the same as in England.

  Capping

  I have the power to cap a local authority either where I consider that its planned expenditure is excessive or where there is an excessive increase in its planned expenditure as compared with the previous year. My provisional capping principles for 1998–99 are:
  any increase in budget between 1997–98 and 1998–99 of more than 1.75 per cent. will be an excessive increase if the resulting budget is above the council's GAE for 1998–99;
  any increase in budget between 1997–98 and 1998–99 of more than 1.25 per cent. will be an excessive increase if the resulting budget is more than 2 per cent. above the council's GAE for 1998–99;

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  any increase in budget between 1997–98 and 1998–99 of more than 0.75 per cent. will be an excessive increase if the resulting budget is more than 4 per cent. above the council's GAE for 1998–99;

  The Scottish Office public expenditure plans: Allocations for 1998–99

  £ million

  1997–98 Estimated outturn

  1997–98 Planned Provision

  1998–99 Planned Provision

  Changes

  1998–99 Revised Provision

  Central government expenditure (including public corporations other than nationalised industries)

  Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

  565

  565

  538

  4.0

  542

  Industry, enterprise and training

  592

  591

  584

  -1.3

  583

  Roads and transport

  284

  282

  300

  -22.8

  277

  Housing

  268

  268

  261

  39.0

  300

  Scottish Homes loan book sale1

  -80

  -80

  0

  —

  0

  Scottish Homes debt repayment2

  -59

  -59

  -48

  —

  -48

  Other environmental services

  325

  325

  321

  5.6

  327

  Law, order and protective services3

  479

  479

  465

  -4.4

  461

  Education

  1,221

  1,219

  1,245

  5.9

  1,251

  Arts and libraries

  81

  81

  77

  0.3

  77

  Health

  4,393

  4,376

  4,475

  106.6

  4,581

  Social Work services

  61

  61

  61

  3.0

  64

  Other public services3

  158

  158

  146

  17.5

  163

  Total central government expenditure

  8,289

  8,267

  8,424

  153.4

  8,578

  Local authority capital expenditure (excluding Water)

  568

  568

  552

  —

  552

  of which:

  342

  342

  325

  —

  325

  Single allocation

  180

  180

  180

  —

  180

  HRA

  Other

  45

  45

  47

  —

  47

  Provision to match receipts from European Social Fund and European Regional Development Fund

  155

  160

  176

  -52.9

  123

  Central government support to local authorities' current expenditure4

  5,255

  5,255

  5,172

  85.6

  5,257

  of which:

  AEF5

  5,220

  5,220

  5,165

  87.6

  5,252

  of which:

  Specific grants6

  412

  412

  420

  -4.0

  416

  Nationalised industries' financing limits7

  22

  22

  17

  9.5

  26

  Non-Control Total Expenditure from Windfall Tax

  21

  —

  —

  74

  74

  of which:

  New Deal for Schools

  9

  —

  —

  27

  27

  Housing capital receipts initiative

  12

  —

  —

  44

  44

  Childcare

  —

  —

  —

  3

  3

  Total expenditure within the Secretary of State's responsibilities8

  14,309

  14,271

  14,341

  269

  14,610

  of which, the Scottish Block9

  13,702

  13,685

  13,786

  182

  13,968

  1 Reflects the repayment of loans to the National Loans Fund which will fall due in 1997–98 following the delayed disposal of Scottish Homes portfolio of loans to housing associations.

  2 Scottish Homes' repayment of debt from capital receipts.

  3 From 1998–99 departments will take on responsibility from PRS for the buildings which the government owns and occupies. From 1998–99 they will no longer pay rents to PRS, but will pay capital charges on the value of the property. This has resulted in a reduction in planned expenditure for 1998–99 of some £10 million on the LOPS programme, relating to the Scottish Courts estate, and £10 million on Other Public Services, relating to the Scottish Office, GRO(S) and SRO estates.

  4 Includes Housing Support Grant of £15 million/5 million.

  5 AEF comprises revenue support grant, income from non-domestic rates (NDRI) and grants to local authorities for specific purposes.

  6 Specific grants include-police £334 million/£339 million, urban £45 million/£43 million, mental illness £13 million/£13 million.

  7 Includes Caledonian MacBrayne and Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd.

  8 As a result of rounding, the figures may not sum to the totals shown.

  9 The Scottish Block comprises all expenditure within the responsibility of the Secretary of State with the exception of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, and nationalised industries' external financing requirements.

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  any budget for 1998–99 more than 12.5 per cent. above the Council's GAE assessment (as admusted if necessary) will be excessive save that if that budget is no greater than the budget set by that council for 1997–98, the council will not be capped.

  Renewables Obligation
  Mr. Ernie Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about a third round under the Scottish Renewables Obligation. [19299]

  Mr. Wilson
  A consultation exercise held earlier this year by my Department showed broad support for the Government's approach to developing renewable energy. I am therefore proposing a third order under the SRO to oblige ScottishPower and Hydro-Electric to secure the availability of more capacity from new renewable sources in Scotland.

  The first two orders led to 56 renewables projects with a combined capacity of 189MW securing contracts with ScottishPower and Hydro-Electric, although many of these have not yet been commissioned. I am very keen to see SR03, which will come into force in early 1999, again attracting technically sound yet innovative projects which must be extremely competitive on price, with the downward trend in prices seen under SRO2 being continued in so far as that is possible.

  Capacity will be made available to those technologies that are able to demonstrate these qualities. On that basis I am minded that the third order should cover wind, small hydro, waste to energy and biomass projects, and that it should also make limited capacity available to small wind schemes and wave power projects. I hope that community-based projects will take advantage of this opportunity.

  The Government is committed to a new and strong drive to promote renewables and a review of renewable energy policy is underway. I intend that the SR03, which represents the culmination of the current programme in Scotland, should be for around 110–120MW in capacity, i.e. about the same size as SR02.

  I am aware of certain concerns about the local environmental impact of particular renewables projects, and for that reason I expect prospective developers to consult interested parties, including local planning authorities, at an early stage. Evidence of having done so will be required as part of the application process. Developers are further reminded that the award of a contract under the SRO in no way implies preferential treatment when it comes to the planning process and planning permission will still have to be sought in the usual way.

  My Department will shortly be writing to ScottishPower and Hydro-Electric setting out these proposals in more detail and will also issue detailed guidance to prospective applicants under SR03. Developers who are interested in bidding are invited to register their interest with my Department as soon as possible.

  Coastal Waters (Radioactive Material)
  Mr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will discuss the report of the National Radiological Protection Board Assessment of the Radiological Implications of Dumping in Beaufort's Dyke and Other Coastal Waters from the 1950s with representatives of(a) the Clyde Fishermen's Association and (b) other fishermen's organisations; and if he will make a statement. [18640]
  220
  Mr. Chisholm
  The National Radiological Protection Board report concludes that any doses of radiation from the past dumpings identified would be well within the International Commission on Radiological Protections's recommended limit and that further additional monitoring is not required. However, the Board recommended that advice should be drawn up against the possibility, which it acknowledges is remote, that two anti-static devices dumped off Arran in 1958 might be trawled up and washed ashore. My officials will be in touch with the fishermen's association once that advice has been finalised.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Contaminated Land
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the estimated acreage of contaminated land in England; and what proposals his Department has to encourage the reclamation of contaminated land. [18143]

  Angela Eagle
  The Environment Agency has estimated that there may be some 300,000 hectares of land across Britain as a whole which is affected, to some extent, by industrial or natural contamination. However, much of this contamination will be relatively minor. In only a small proportion of cases will there be a need for detailed investigation, assessment or remediation either with respect to current risks to human health and the environment or to facilitate the redevelopment of the land.

  A range of policy programmes are already in place to encourage the reclamation of derelict and potentially contaminated land. My Department, together with other public bodies including the Environment Agency and the research councils, funds research and development for site investigation and remediation techniques, as well as publishing technical advice and guidance. Planning policies and guidance seek directly to encourage the recycling of brown-field sites rather than permitting the development of greenfield sites, and also seek to ensure that contamination risks are properly dealt with as particular developments are taken forward. Significant sums of public investment in the regeneration of vacant, derelict and contaminated land are committed each year by the statutory regeneration agencies, such as English Partnerships.

  My right hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment will be announcing shortly proposals for the implementation of legislation providing a statutory regime for the identification and remediation of contaminated land which is not necessarily subject to development proposals, but which is currently causing significant risks to human health or the environment.

  Worthing By-pass
  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will review the plans for a Worthing by-pass; and if he will make a statement. [18144]
  221
  Ms Glenda Jackson
  We are currently undertaking a strategic Roads Review. It is intended that the output of the Roads Review should include, firstly, a short-term investment programme; and, secondly, a programme of studies to look at the remaining problems—from which we will develop the medium and longer-term investment programme.

  Once the Roads Review has been completed, we expect to be able to set out what future work is needed on plans for the A27 at Worthing.

  Jubilee Line
  Mr. Allan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what were the original projected costs to public funds and what are the latest forecast outturn costs of the Jubilee Line extension. [18221]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  At project commencement in October 1993, the estimated overall cost of the Jubilee Line extension was £2.1 billion at cash outturn prices. This included £1.9 billion ring-fenced cost, funded by Government grant, the rest being costs for associated works, funded by the London Transport core business. A further £100 million in ring-fenced grant was later added to mitigate the rise in costs following the New Austrian Tunnelling Method collapse on the Heathrow Express project in 1994. London Transport now estimate outturn cost at £2.76 billion. Of this total, £2 billion will be directly funded by ring-fenced grant; the remainder will be met from London Transport's core resources (which include substantial Government grant) and from private sector contributions of over £400 million, over £100 million of which have already been received.

  South Yorkshire Supertram
  Mr. Allan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what were(a) the projected and (b) the outturn costs to public funds of the South Yorkshire Supertram. [18220]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The South Yorkshire Supertram scheme was forecast to cost £240.610 million in outturn prices. The final outturn expenditure reported by South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive in March 1997 was £240.609 million.

  Fatal Accidents at Work
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what long-term measures his Department(a) has in place and (b) proposes to reduce the number of fatal accidents at work; and if he will make a statement. [18574]

  Angela Eagle
  The Government share my hon. Friend's concern about the increase in the number of fatal accidents at work in 1996–97. In July, I approved the Health and Safety Commission's Plan of Work for 1997–98. The Plan of Work sets out the actions that the Commission and the Health and Safety Executive have agreed with me should be taken now and in the longer term to reduce fatalities, and more generally to promote health and safety in the workplace.

  Nuclear Sites (Emergency Plans)
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will place in the Library a copy of the report commissioned by the Health and Safety Executive on nuclear site emergency plan extendability; and if he will make a statement. [18367]

  Angela Eagle
  Yes. A copy of the report of the review, commissioned by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and undertaken by WS Atkins Science and Technology on the extendibility of local authority plans for responding to nuclear emergencies, will be placed in the Library.

  Extendibility was one of many issues considered by the Hinkley Point C Public Inquiry. In response to the recommendations, HSE's Nuclear Installations Inspectorate published in 1990 a quantified scenario against which extended plans could be drawn up and tested. The scenario was last used to drive the Heysham Level 2 emergency exercise "Madonna" in September 1997. The review report was part of a process of evaluation which, together with the experience of the Heysham exercise, will be fed into a paper on outline planning for extendibility which will be considered by the Nuclear Emergency Planning Liaison Group (NEPLG) for issue during 1998.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Watts
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what assessment he has made of the likely effects on each local authority of returning non-domestic rates to local government; [18346]

  (2) what plans he has to incorporate a resource equalisation scheme into the SSA in respect of the return of non-domestic rates to local authorities. [18347]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The Government will be publishing shortly a consultation paper on options for the localisation of non-domestic rates. The effects on individual authorities will depend on the specifications of the scheme, which will not be decided until after we have seen the responses to the consultation. However, resource equalisation between authorities will clearly remain essential.

  Housing Associations
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much funding has been allocated in 1997 to housing associations for the conversion of properties to meet housing needs. [18570]

  Mr. Raynsford
  Allocations are made by financial year, rather than calendar year. In 1996–97 £191 million public funding was allocated to housing associations through the Housing Corporation's Approved Development Programme and local authorities' Social Housing Grant for the acquisition and rehabilitation or conversion of properties to meet housing need.

  A further £43 million was allocated to housing associations for improvement or conversion works to their existing stock.

  New Housing (Water Supply)
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the adequacy of procedures to take account of local water supply in respect of planning for new housing. [18524]

  Mr. Raynsford
  Planning Policy Guidance Note 12 (PPG12) already requires local planning authorities to take account of the capacity of existing infrastructure and the need for additional facilities in preparing their development plans. However, we are currently considering the need to revise and update PPG12 and we will consider whether further advice is required on this issue as part of that review.

  Construction and Agriculture Industries
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many inspections have taken place of working conditions in the construction and agriculture industries in 1997 to date. [18572]

  Angela Eagle
  In the period 1 January 1997–21 November 1997, the Field Operations Directorate of the Health and Safety Executive made 31,843 inspection contacts in the construction industry. Inspection contacts in the agricultural sector over the same time period were 11,946. In addition to inspections, contacts are made for other purposes, including the investigation of accidents and complaints and for enforcement.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many inspectors are employed by his Department to inspect working conditions in the construction and agriculture industries in England and Wales. [18573]

  Angela Eagle
  For England and Wales, the Field Operations Directorate of the Health and Safety Executive has allocated 103 operational inspectors to the construction sector and 65.9 to the agricultural sector.

  Radioactive Materials
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list all those locations licensed by his Department for the use of radioactive materials; and if he will make a statement. [18368]

  Angela Eagle
  There are 40 nuclear licensed sites, which are licensed and regulated by the Health and Safety Executive under the Nuclear Installations Act 1965 (as amended). As required under Section 6 of this Act, a list of these sites is held by the Department of Trade and Industry and is available for inspection by members of the public. Copies are also available for inspection at the Health and Safety Executive's Regional and other main offices.

  In general, radioactive materials and waste are regulated under the Radioactive Substances Act 1993 (as amended by the Environment Act 1995) and the Ionising Radiation Regulations 1985. Under the Radioactive Substances Act, the keeping and use of radioactive material, other than on nuclear licensed sites, must be registered with the appropriate Agency (that is, the Environment Agency in England and Wales, the Scottish
  224
  Environment Protection Agency in Scotland, and the Environment and Heritage Service in Northern Ireland). In addition, the Act also requires that the disposal of radioactive waste from nuclear licensed sites, and the accumulation and disposal of radioactive waste from all other sites, are authorised by the appropriate Agency. Certain classes of users and radioactive material are exempted from some or all of these requirements, by Exemption Orders which are Statutory Instruments made under the Act, or, in the case of certain Ministry of Defence sites, as a consequence of Crown Immunity.

  The Environment Agency advise that in England and Wales there are currently in force approximately 5,700 registrations for the keeping and use of radioactive material and approximately 1,100 authorisations for the accumulation and/or disposal of radioactive waste. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency advise that in Scotland about 700 premises are registered for the keeping and use of radioactive material, and about 400 premises are authorised for the accumulation and/or disposal of radioactive waste. The Northern Ireland Environment and Heritage Service advise that in Northern Ireland approximately 120 sites are registered for the keeping or use of radioactive materials, of which approximately 25 are authorised to accumulate and dispose of radioactive waste.

  Applications and certificates for registrations and authorisations under the Radioactive Substances Act (except any information specifically excluded by virtue of Section 39(1) of the Act on national security or commercial grounds) are available for public inspection at the area offices of the Environment Agency (in England and Wales); at the regional offices of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (in Scotland); and at the Head Office of the Environment and Heritage Service in Northern Ireland. No centrally held list is available. Subject to Section 25 of the Act, the appropriate agencies are also required to provide copies of registration and authorisation certificates and applications to relevant local authorities, which must themselves—subject to the provisions of Section 39(2)—make publicly available the information which they hold.

  Marine Accidents
  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will place in the Library a copy of the Marine Accidents Investigation Branch report on the accident involving the vessels "Seahorse" and "Exodus". [18499]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  This accident, which took place in Irish territorial waters, was investigated by both Irish and UK accident investigators in full co-operation. The Irish authorities intend to publish their report.

  The UK's Marine Accidents Investigation Branch conducted the investigation under their "Inspector's Investigation" procedure whereby the report is not formally published but is made available to involved and interested parties. A short summary of the report will be included in the forthcoming MAIB "Safety Digest". The next edition will be published early next year. Copies will be placed in the library of the House.

  Accidents (Passengers and Crew)
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list for each of the last 10 years, by incident, the number of passengers and crew killed in accidents involving(a) the rail network, (b) UK registered aircraft or aircraft within

  Passenger and staff/crew fatalities in transport accidents1

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  Railways2

  4

  36

  12

  1

  6

  1

  0

  8

  2

  1

  UK registered aircraft or aircraft in UK airspace3

  62

  278

  76

  45

  23

  40

  27

  38

  30

  43

  UK registered passenger ferries or passenger ferries in UK waters

  190

  40

  40

  0

  0

  2

  0

  0

  0

  0

  River craft operating in the UK5

  6—

  3

  51

  6—

  2

  2

  1

  1

  3

  4

  1 As far as possible the fatalities included in the table are those due to an aircraft, train or vessel accident, for example a collision. Fatalities due to the movement of a vehicle etc, for example due to the opening or closing of a carriage door at a railway station, are excluded.

  2 For railways, figures for 1991 are for the period January 1991 to March 1992. Those for the subsequent periods shown relate to financial years. Railways includes all railway undertakings in Great Britain.

  3 Figures cover both public transport flights and general aviation (executive, club and group, private and training flights). Most fatalities occur in this latter group.

  4 There were in addition six fatalities in 1988 and two in 1989 involving a United Kingdom registered merchant vessel. Available records do not indicate whether the vessels were ferries.

  5 Accidents reported to British Waterways.

  6 Not available.

  Railways (Public Accountability)
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on his policy in respect of public accountability for the railway system. [18799]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  We are committed to establishing more effective and accountable regulation of the railways to ensure that the system is run in the public interest. As a first step towards improving public accountability, we have introduced new Objectives, Instructions and Guidance for the Franchising Director and a concordat with the Rail Regulator, designed to strengthen railways regulation. We are also conducting a wide ranging review which will look at all aspects of the rail industry, including the shortcomings of the sanctions already available to the regulators.

  Government Buildings
  Mr. Rhodri Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on Government policy on insuring their building estate against fire and other risks. [18837]

  Angela Eagle
  [holding answer 2 December 1997]: The policy on insurance is set out in Chapter 27 of Government Accounting. There is a requirement to consult HM Treasury before taking out commercial insurance, except for:

  (a) building insurance where insurance is a condition of a lease and the lessor will not accept an indemnity;

  (b) overall site insurance; and

  (c) insurance in respect of boilers and lifts.

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  United Kingdom airspace, (c) ferries in the United Kingdom waters or registered in the United Kingdom and (d) river craft operating in the United Kingdom. [18173]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  [holding answer 18 November 1997]: Individual accidents could be listed only at disproportionate cost. The number of fatalities in each year are as follows:

  Mr. Rhodri Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions on how many occasions since Crown immunity was lifted Government buildings have been insured against fire and general risks; if he will list the buildings involved. [18838]

  Angela Eagle
  [holding answer 2 December 1997]: My Department does not keep a central record of building insured against fire or other risks.

  Political Donations
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what meetings he or his ministers have had with individuals who are connected with house builders or construction companies and who have made donations to the Labor party of more than £5,000. [18979]

  Mr. Prescott
  My Ministers and I have met representatives of the construction and house building industries on numerous occasions as part of our policy responsibilities for efficient construction, land use planning, housing, transport and environmental sustainability.

  Information on donations to the Labour Party at more than £5,000 is published in the Labour Annual Report Donations to the Conservative Party are not of course disclosed.

  Thorne and Hatfield Moors
  Caroline Flint
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much of the area of Thorne and Hatfield Moors is currently in the process of being returned to the legal ownership of English Nature; and when this will be completed. [18972]
  227
  Angela Eagle
  In 1992 Fisons, the predecessor of Levingtons, gave the freehold ownership of 1,175 hectares at Thorne and Hatfield Moors to English Nature. Legal arrangements for the management of the sites for their nature conservation interest were concluded in 1994 and in 1995 this area of land was declared a National Nature Reserve.

  Two further areas of 205.7 hectares and 80 hectares were handed back to English Nature in 1996. Legal arrangements for the handback of these two areas is not yet complete.

  These areas represent 56 per cent. of the SSSI.

  Compulsory Competitive Tendering
  Mr. McNulty
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to issue new guidance on the conduct of compulsory competitive tendering; and if he will make a statement. [19448]

  Ms Armstrong
  I have today published a new Departmental Circular No. 16/97 (Welsh Office 62/97) which gives authorities guidance on the conduct of compulsory competitive tendering (CCT).

  The guidance reflects the new regulations on CCT laid before Parliament on 21 November. These amended the existing framework for CCT in England and Wales to make it more flexible and encourage local authorities to move to a Best Value-based approach to service delivery. The new guidance will allow authorities to pursue the principles of Best Value in a manner consistent with the purpose of the CCT legislation (that is that local authorities carry out work only if they do so competitively) and provide more flexibility to tendering.

  A draft of the guidance formed part of a package of proposed changes to CCT which went out to consultation on 25 July. The new Circular takes account of the views of 112 local authorities and related organisations, professional bodies and private sector interests who responded specifically to the draft. A further 19 responses were received by the Welsh Office. Copies of the responses are held in the DETR's Library.
  228
  The guidance sets out the Government's views on how CCT should be carried out in the period before Best Value is implemented. It emphasises the importance of ensuring that competition is undertaken in an open and transparent manner and that service users and providers are consulted on the level and standard of services to be provided. Local authorities should secure services which are economic, effective and efficient and in which considerations of price and quality are properly balanced. Competing bids need to be evaluated objectively and authorities need to deal fairly with potential contractors to ensure that tendering practice does not advantage any one potential supplier or suppliers.

  The new guidance applies immediately to those services currently subject to CCT. The Secretary of State will take into account the extent to which there has been a contravention of the guidance in determining whether or not authorities have acted anti-competitively.

  Local Authorities (Best Value Duty)
  Mr. Caplin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will announce his decision about which local authorities will pilot the duty of best value; and if he will make a statement. [19462]

  Ms Armstrong
  I intend to announce these decisions later this week. My Department will write to all local authorities and other organisations that submitted proposals to pilot Best Value. I shall place a list of proposals, together with a record of the decision taken on each proposal, in the Library on the day of the announcement.

  Nuclear Materials (Transport)
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions he has had concerning the principle of state liability for damages to citizens and the environment from an accident involving the shipment of nuclear materials. [18403]

  Mr. Battle
  I have been asked to reply.

  I have had no such discussions. Under UK law, which is in line with international conventions, the nuclear operator is exclusively liable for nuclear damage. All nuclear operators are required to have third party insurance arrangements, which include risks associated with nuclear material in transit.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Berlaymont
  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the current costs of the Berlaymont renovation and connected expenses; what was the original projected cost; if he will make a statement on the presence of asbestos in that building; and which other Community institutions are in the process of relocation. [18480]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  The Berlaymont building was evacuated in 1991, after the discovery of asbestos. The cost of renovation is estimated at ECU 325 million. The cost of asbestos removal is estimated at ECU 90 million. These costs will initially be borne by the Belgian Government (which owns the building). The Commission will reimburse the renovation costs (but not the cost of asbestos removal) over 27 years and will pay ECU 50 million for the building's shell. Legal ownership of the Berlaymont will then pass to them.

  The only Community institution in the process of relocating is the European Parliament, which recently moved into a new building in Brussels and is constructing new premises in Strasbourg.

  Decrypting Powers
  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if decrypting powers resulting from discussions centring on COM (97) 503 will be available to(a) Europol and (b) agencies of the European Community; and if he will make a statement. [18489]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  COM (97) 53 is a consultation document. It does not propose specific legislation but seeks comments on the basis of which the Commission intends to come forward with detailed proposals. Its primary focus is on digital signature rather than on encryption. It makes no prescription for decryption powers.

  Agenda 2000
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about his Department's policy towards the EU Commission's Agenda 2000. [18856]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  Enlargement of the European Union (EU) will enhance stability and prosperity across Europe and is strongly in the national interest. Reform of the EU's main policies is essential for enlargement to be successful. That is why we broadly welcome the proposals made in the European Commission's Agenda 2000 document, in particular:to begin EU accession negotiations as soon as possible with those candidate countries that are ready while ensuring an all-inclusive enlargement process.
  to maintain the ceiling on the Community budget's Own Resources at 1.27 per cent. of EU-GDP throughout the next financing period from 2000–2006.
  230
  to reform the CAP by cutting support prices and increasing targeted measures for rural areas and the environment.
  to reform the Structural and Cohesion Funds while maintaining their budget ceiling at 0.46 per cent. of EU-GDP and treating new and present Member States fairly.

  The Luxembourg European Council on 12–13 December 1997 will receive a report from the General Affairs Council on Agenda 2000. We expect the European Council to invite the Commission to open accession negotiations and to table draft legislative proposals early in 1998.

  Bosnia and Herzegovina
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contacts Government Ministers have maintained with the representatives of missing persons from Srebrenica in Bosnia and Herzegovina; and if the British Government will be providing specific assistance in order to determine the fate of the missing persons. [18826]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  I met representatives of the "Women of Srebrenica" group of relatives of victims Srebrenica on 19 November. We are currently considering an appeal for donations to the 1998 exhumation project, launched on 26 November by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.

  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance the Government have provided to the international programme to identify and exhume mass grave sites in Bosnia and Herzegovina and to identify the bodies of missing persons. [18827]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  We are currently considering how to respond to an appeal of 26 November for donations to the International Criminal Tribunal's exhumation programme for 1998. The British contingent of SFOR provides a secure environment within which ICTY' s forensic teams operate.

  Youth Unemployment
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his oral Answer of 25 November 1997,Official Report, column 765, what estimate he has made of the proportion of the decline in youth unemployment in the United Kingdom over the last four years which is attributable (a) to the fall in numbers in that age group and (b) to other factors. [18569]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  [holding answer 1 December 1997]: About 30 per cent. of the reduction in unemployment among young people in the last four years has been due to a decline in the overall population in this age group. The rest is due to a rise in the proportion of young people remaining in full-time education and to the economic upswing, which started earlier in this country than in other major European countries.

  EU Council
  Mr. Ennis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the forthcoming business in the Council of the European Union for
  231
  December; and if he will list the major European Union events for the next six months. [19231]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  The information is as follows:

  Monthly forecast of business for December 1997

  Venue

  Event

  1 December

  Brussels

  Ecofin Council

  1 December

  Brussels

  Telecommunications Council

  December 4

  Brussels

  Health Council

  December 4–5

  Brussels

  Justice and Home Affairs Council

  December 8

  Brussels

  Energy Council

  December 8–9

  Brussels

  General Affairs Council

  December 10–11

  Brussels

  Transport Council

  December 12–13

  Luxembourg

  European Council

  December 15

  Brussels

  Social Affairs Council

  December 15–16

  Brussels

  Agriculture Council

  December 16–17

  Brussels

  Environment Council

  December 18–19

  Copenhagen

  OSCE Ministerial Council

  December 18–19

  Brussels

  Fisheries Council

  The following subjects are likely to be discussed:

  1 December: Ecofin Council

  Approval of agenda.

  Approval of the list of A items.

  Preparation of Stage 3 of European Monetary Union:

  Follow-up to the Amsterdam European Council.

  Date of introduction of euro notes and coins (possible item).

  Adoption of common position on the Regulation on technical characteristics of coins (possible item).

  Taxation policy.

  Fiscalis programme.

  Export credits (possible item).

  1 December: Telecommunications Council

  Adoption of the agenda.

  Approval of the list of A points.

  Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 97/33/EC with regard to operator number portability and carrier pre-selection: Common position.

  Proposal for a Council Decision adopting a multiannual Community programme to stimulate the establishment of the Information Society in Europe: Adoption.

  Internet: Open debate.

  Proposal for a Council decision adopting a multiannual Community action plan to promote safe use of the Internet: Presentation by Commission.

  Communication from the Commission to the Council: "Ensuring security and trust in electronic communication towards a European framework for digital signatures and encryption": Council conclusions.

  Proposal for a European Parliament and Council Directive on connected telecommunications equipment and the mutual recognition of the conformity of equipment: Progress report.

  Communication from the Commission: "Strategy and guidelines on the further development of mobile and wireless communications": Exchange of views—Council conclusions.

  Communication from the Commission on the implementation of the telecommunications regulatory package: First update—Presentation by the Commission.

  Green Paper on the regulatory implications of convergence in the telecommunications, audiovisual and information technology sectors: Presentation by the Commission.

  232

  Other business: Contribution from the United Kingdom delegation on the problems posed by the coming of the millennium.

  4 December: Health Council

  Approval of the agenda.

  Adoption of the list of A items.

  Tobacco advertising: Common position.

  Rare diseases: Orientation debate.

  Pollution related diseases—Injury prevention.

  Women's health: Adoption of Resolution.

  Green Paper on Food Law and Commission Communication on consumer health and food safety: Orientation debate.

  Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies: Orientation debate.

  European Union/United States taskforce on communicable diseases: Orientation debate.

  Draft recommendation on screening donors and donations: Presentation by the Commission.

  Any other business.

  4–5 December: Justice and Home Affairs Council

  Adoption of the agenda.

  Approval of the list of A item.

  Fight against organised crime:

  Draft joint action to create a Judicial Contact Network.

  Draft joint action to establish a mechanism for evaluating the application and implementation at national level of international undertakings in the fight against organised crime.

  Draft joint action making it a criminal offence to participate in a criminal organisation in the Member States of the European Union.

  Draft joint action on making corruption in the private sector a criminal offence.

  Draft joint action establishing a programme of exchanges, training and co-operation for persons responsible for action to combat organised crime (Falcone Programme).

  Report on the state of organised crime in the European Union in 1996.

  Europol: Trafficking in human beings.

  Draft convention on mutual assistance in criminal matters between the Member States of the European Union.

  Customs co-operation:

  Draft convention on mutual assistance and co-operation between Customs Administrations (Naples II).

  Draft resolution adopting a strategic programme for the Customs Administrations (3rd Pillar).

  Draft Convention on driving disqualifications.

  Draft Convention on jurisdiction, recognition and enforcement of judgements in matrimonial matters (Brussels II)

  Preparation of structured dialogue:

  Draft annotated agenda for the meeting with the Ministers for Justice and Home Affairs.

  Rule of law.

  Eurodac:

  Draft Convention concerning the establishment of "Eurodac" for the comparison of fingerprints of applicants for asylum.

  Technical specifications and financial aspects.

  Temporary protection.

  Influx of immigrants from Iraq.

  Draft joint action introducing a programm of training, exchanges and co-operation in the field of asylum, immigration, and crossing of external borders (Odysseus Programme).

  233

  Draft Resolution laying down the priorities for co-operation in the field of Justice and Home Affairs for the period from 1 January 1998 to the date of entry into force of the Treaty of Amsterdam.

  Achievements in the field of Justice and Home Affairs during 1997 (Draft report to the European Council).

  Other business.

  8 December: Energy Council

  Gas liberalisation: Common position.

  Energy Framework: Commission presentation.

  ALTENER II: Decision.

  SYNERGY: Renewal for 1998.

  Renewables: Commission presentation on White Paper.

  Co-generation: Resolution on Commission report.

  Energy Charter Treaty: Progress report.

  8–9 December: General Affairs Council

  Adoption of A points.

  EP Resolutions of 17–21 November.

  Preparation for European Council in Luxembourg.

  Agenda 2000.

  Post-Amsterdam: Policy Planning Cell.

  OSCE: Copenhagen Ministerial.

  Mediterranean Policy: Negotiating Mandates for Syria.

  World Trade Organisation: Financial Services Negotiations.

  Transatlantic Relations: Reports on European Union/United States and European Union/Canada Summits.

  Relations with Switzerland (Possible item). Russia: Cooperation Council (Possible item).

  Former Yugoslavia: Political situation and Autonomous Trade measures.

  Middle East Peace Process (Possible item).

  European Union Armaments Policy (Possible A point). Any other business.

  10–11 December: Transport Council

  Mandates for Maritime negotiations with India and China: For adoption.

  Amendment to Directive 95/21 on Port State Control: Political agreement.

  Maritime external relations: Progress report.

  Extension of maritime cabotage regulation to European Economic Area: Debate.

  Aviation negotiations with the United States: Debate.

  European Aviation Safety Authority: Debate.

  Air Traffic Management: Progress report.

  Airport Charging Directive: Progress report.

  Directive on Cabin Crew Training: Progress report.

  Overflying of Serbia: Debate.

  Agreement with EUROCONTROL and ESA on satellite navigation: For Council agreement.

  Directive on Heavy Goods Vehicle Taxation and charging: For common position.

  Negotiations with Switzerland: Commission report.

  Directive on Vehicle Registration Documents: For Political agreement.

  12–13 December: European Council

  Agenda not yet available.

  234
  15 December: Social Affairs Council

  Approval of the agenda.

  Adoption of A points (possible item).

  Proposal for a Council Directive on the framework agreement on part-time work: Adoption.

  Commission Proposal for guidelines on the employment policy of Member State in 1998: Possible adoption.

  Draft Council Decision establishing community activities on research, analysis and co-operation in the field of employment and labour market: Adoption.

  Follow-up to the Davignon report: Employee involvement in the European Company Stature: Debate.

  Extension of Directives 94/45/EC (European Works Council) and 96/34/EC (Parental Leave) to the United Kingdom: Adoption.

  Proposal for a Council Regulation amending the (EEC) Regulation No. 1408/71 on social security for migrant workers (extension to all insured persons): Adoption.

  Commission White Paper on the sectors excluded from the Working Time Directive: Debate.

  Proposal for a Council Directive on the burden of proof of discrimination cases on the basis of sex: Final adoption.

  Follow-up to the fourth World Conference on women (Peking, September 1995): Presidency report.

  Other business:

  Commission presentation of the European Court of Justice judgement in Marschall.

  Commission Presentation of Community Action Plan for Free Movement of Workers.

  Commission presentation of draft directive on transferability of occupational pensions.

  Commission presentation of extension of Regulation 1408/71 to Third-Countries Nationals.

  15–16 December: Agriculture Council

  Agenda not yet available.

  16–17 December: Environment Council

  Agenda not yet available.

  18–19 December: OSCE Ministerial Council

  Agenda not yet available.

  18–19 December: Fisheries Council

  Annual total allowable catches.

  Fisheries guide prices.

  This calendar is primarily concerned with European Union matters, but certain other relevant events are also included. Events and dates quoted are based on the information available on the date of issue.

  European calendar: December 1997 to May 1998

  Venue

  Event

  December 1997

  1

  Brussels

  Ecofin Council

  1

  Brussels

  Telecommunications Council

  2

  Brussels

  Political Committee

  3–4

  Brussels

  European Parliament Plenary

  4

  Brussels

  Health Council

  4–5

  Brussels

  Justice and Home Affairs Council

  8

  Brussels

  Energy Council

  8–9

  Brussels

  General Affairs Council

  10–11

  Brussels

  Transport Council

  235

  European calendar: December 1997 to May 1998

  Venue

  Event

  12–13

  Luxembourg

  European Council

  15

  Brussels

  Social Affairs Council

  15–16

  Brussels

  Agriculture Council

  15–19

  Strasbourg

  European Parliament Plenary

  16–17

  Brussels

  Environment Council

  18–19

  Copenhagen

  OSCE Ministerial Council

  18–19

  Brussels

  Fisheries Council

  January 1998

  1

  UK Presidency commences

  8

  London

  Visit of college of Commissioners

  12

  Brussels

  Fisheries Council (tbc)

  12–16

  Strasbourg

  European Parliament Plenary

  15

  Brussels

  Political Committee

  19

  Brussels

  Ecofin Council

  19–20

  Brussels

  Agriculture Council

  26–27

  Brussels

  General Affairs Council

  28–29

  Brussels

  European Parliament Plenary

  29–30

  Birmingham

  Justice and Home Affairs Council (Informal)

  February 1998

  3

  Brussels

  Political Committee

  9–11

  Costa Rica

  EU/San José Group

  12

  Brussels

  Research Council

  12–13

  Panama

  EU/Rio Group

  12–13

  London

  Political Committee

  13–15

  Cambridge

  Internal Market (Informal)

  16

  Brussels

  Ecofin Council

  16–17

  Brussels

  Agriculture Council

  16–20

  Strasbourg

  European Parliament Plenary

  23–24

  Brussels

  General Affairs Council

  26

  Brussels

  Telecom Council

  March 1998

  3

  Brussels

  Political Committee

  9

  Brussels

  ECOFIN Council (t.b.c.)

  9–13

  Strasbourg

  European Parliament Plenary

  13–14

  London

  Joint Social and Education (Informal)

  14–15

  Edinburgh

  Foreign Ministers' Informal

  15–17

  Manchester

  Seminar for Cultural Ministers

  16–17

  Brussels

  Agriculture Council

  17

  Brussels

  Transport Council

  19

  Brussels

  Political Committee

  19

  Brussels

  Justice and Home Affairs Council

  20–22

  York

  ECOFIN Informal

  23

  Brussels

  Environment Council

  24

  Brussels

  Fisheries Council

  30

  Brussels

  Internal Market Council

  30–31

  Brussels

  General Affairs Council

  30–31

  Strasbourg

  European Parliament Plenary

  31–1 April

  Moscow

  G8 Energy Ministerial

  April 1998

  1–3

  Strasbourg

  European Parliament Plenary

  2–4

  London

  ASEM II

  6

  Luxembourg

  Social Affairs Council

  7

  Brussels

  Political Committee

  16

  Brussels

  Political Committee

  20–21

  Luxembourg

  Agriculture Council

  21

  Luxembourg

  ECOFIN Council

  23

  Luxembourg

  Consumer Affairs Council

  24–26

  Chester

  Environment and Transport (Informal)

  27–28

  Luxembourg

  General Affairs Council

  29–30

  Brussels

  European Parliament

  30

  Luxembourg

  Health Council

  236

  European calendar: December 1997 to May 1998

  Venue

  Event

  May 1998

  5

  Brussels

  Political Committee (t.b.c.)

  7

  Brussels

  Industry Council

  10–12

  Newcastle

  Agriculture (Informal)

  11

  Brussels

  Energy Council

  11

  Brussels

  Euro-Med Energy Ministerial

  12

  Brussels

  Political Committee

  11–15

  Strasbourg

  European Parliament Plenary

  18

  Brussels

  Development Council

  18

  Brussels

  Internal Market

  19

  Brussels

  Telecommunications Council

  25–26

  Brussels

  General Affairs Council

  25–25

  Brussels

  Agricultural Council

  27–28

  Brussels

  European Parliament Plenary

  28–29

  Brussels

  Justice and Home Affairs Council

  Amsterdam Treaty
  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what legal advice he has received over the challenge to the Protocol on asylum in Title VI of the Amsterdam Treaty based on Article 14(I) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; and if he will make a statement. [17913]

  Ms Quin
  I have been asked to reply.

  We are not aware of any formal legal challenge to the Asylum Protocol. As we have made clear, we will, in accordance with United Kingdom asylum law, continue to give individual consideration to asylum applications from European Union nationals as we do to other nationals. We do not therefore consider that any question arises as to the United Kingdom's adherence to Article 14(1) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Aid and Trade
  Sir Alastair Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the Aid and Trade Provision projects currently in place by country, their costs and their expected dates of completion. [18950]

  Mr. Foulkes
  The following table shows the financial year in which DFID expenditure is expected to end for projects currently under implementation and for projects for which there are ongoing loan subsidy payments.

  Country

  Project

  ATP commitment

  Expenditure ends

  Bangladesh

  Bhairab Bridge:Pre-FeasibilityStudy/Appraisal Report

  0.3

  1997–98

  China

  Cosco Ships

  13.8

  2007–08

  China

  Yue Yang Power Station

  55.7

  2007–08

  China

  Bohai Aluminium Mill I

  8.8

  2008–09

  China

  Xinjiang Ethylene Plant

  47.2

  2011–12

  China

  Urumqi PTA

  33.7

  2007–08

  China

  Fushun Heat and Power Plant

  11.7

  1997–98

  China

  Urumqi PX

  13.0

  2008–09

  China

  Dalian Urban Traffic Control

  1.0

  1997–98

  China

  Nanjing Airport Project

  9.4

  1997–98

  China

  Liuzhou Water Treatment Works

  1.9

  1997–98

  237

  Country

  Project

  ATP commitment

  Expenditure ends

  China

  Guangzhou Metro Overhead Catenary System

  2.5

  1998–99

  China

  Guangzhou Metro Ventilation System Project

  1.3

  1999–2000

  China

  Hepu Water Project

  1.1

  1998–99

  China

  Zhangjiagang Water Project

  0.9

  1999–2000

  China

  Wuxi Water Project

  1.1

  1999–2000

  China

  Shandong Water Projects

  3.1

  1999–2000

  China

  Jiangyin Yangtze River Bridge Project

  21.1

  1999–2000

  Columbia

  System X

  5.1

  2010–11

  Egypt

  Maghara Coal Mine

  0.1

  1997–98

  Ghana

  South Eastern Districts Water Supply Project

  5.1

  1999–2000

  Ghana

  National Vocational Training Institute (NVTI) Centres Support Project

  3.6

  1998–99

  Ghana

  Accra Waste Project

  7.8

  2001–02

  Indonesia

  Steel Bridging

  6.6

  2011–12

  Indonesia

  Steel Bridging II

  2.7

  2015–16

  Indonesia

  Navigational Aids

  6.4

  2012–13

  Indonesia

  Scattered Diesels

  5.9

  2013–14

  Indonesia

  Cigading Port Extension

  13.3

  2014–15

  Indonesia

  Radio Studio Rehabilitation

  5.0

  2015–16

  Indonesia

  Cigading/Serpong Railway Rehabilitation

  24.7

  2015–16

  Indonesia

  Radio Communication Systems for Ministry/Forest

  34.1

  2015/16

  Indonesia

  Citayam/Cibinong Railway

  20.1

  2015/16

  Indonesia

  Western Universities Equipment

  13.7

  2016/17

  Indonesia

  Flight Simulator

  5.0

  2016/17

  Indonesia

  Bali and Medan Airport

  10.5

  2016/17

  Indonesia

  Jambi Power Station

  5.3

  2016/17

  Indonesia

  Samarinda Power Station

  12.6

  1998/99

  Indonesia

  Samarinda Transmission Line

  1.6

  1997/98

  Indonesia

  150/500 KV Substation Project

  15.5

  1997/98

  Indonesia

  Piston Engines Research Laboratory

  4.6

  1998/99

  Indonesia

  Science and Technology Project: (Java University)

  4.9

  1998/99

  Jordan

  Walking Draglines

  4.7

  2001/02

  Lesotho

  Muela Hydropower Project

  4.8

  1998/99

  Morocco

  Tetouan Gas Turbines

  10.9

  1999/2000

  Pakistan

  Karachi Water II

  6.6

  1997/98

  DFID is currently supporting the following non-governmental projects aimed at assisting street children through our Joint Funding Scheme (JFS):

  Agency

  Country

  Project name

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1999–99

  1999–20

  Childhope

  Brazil

  Judicial and Institutional Protection of Child and Adolescent

  £13,714

  £30,713

  £30,745

  £30,779

  Childhope

  Brazil

  Projeto Ibeji for the Streetchildren

  33,062

  50,636

  49,132

  49,744

  Childhope

  Philippines

  Development of Education in the Street

  34,920

  19,275

  —

  —

  Homeless International

  India

  Support for Street Children

  21,812

  21,869

  22,351

  —

  International Childcare Trust

  Kenya

  Street Children's Project

  36,250

  30,227

  35,352

  —

  International Children's Trust

  Ecuador

  Street Children of Guayaquil

  85,500

  86,200

  99,000

  —

  Jubilee Action

  Brazil

  Street Girls' Education, Training Centre and Residential Home

  —

  86,247

  61,239

  44,911

  Teesside Council for Voluntary Service

  Peru

  Care, Education etc for Street Children

  13,272

  30,451

  —

  —

  Toybox Charity

  Guatemala

  The Tower—Rehabilitation Centre for Streetchildren

  18,822

  19,055

  —

  —

  £257,352

  £378,713

  £297,819

  £125,434

  238

  Country

  Project

  ATP commitment

  Expenditure ends

  Pakistan

  Fire Crash Tenders

  2.5

  1998/99

  Panama

  Gas Turbine Power Station

  6.7

  2002/03

  Philippines

  Airport Security Systems

  4.2

  2000/01

  Philippines

  Steel Bridging

  9.2

  1999/2000

  Thailand

  Mini Hydros

  4.1

  2000/01

  Turkey

  Natural Gas Conversion

  58.7

  2008/09

  Turkey

  Equipment Package State Universities

  23.4

  1997/98

  Zimbabwe

  Supply of AWD Bedford Trucks

  16.1

  1997/98

  Zimbabwe

  AWD Trucks Delivery

  0.8

  1997/98

  Zimbabwe

  ATC Radar Phase II

  4.3

  1997/98

  Zimbabwe

  300 Landrovers

  1.4

  1998/99

  Sir Alastair Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate she has made of the number of jobs which will be lost in(a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) Northern Ireland as a result of the discontinuance of ATP. [18949]

  Mr. Foulkes
  As there has been no change in the overall volume or tying status of the aid programme we would anticipate that closing the ATP scheme would have no impact on UK jobs.

  Street Children
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the aid and advice currently provided by her Department to countries which have street children. [18968]

  Mr. Foulkes
  As most of Department for International Development's (DFID) bilateral projects cover the wider population it is not possible to isolate expenditure on specific target groups within them. Although data may be readily available for projects designed specifically for children, expenditure on all areas which impinge on children cannot be separated from more general expenditure.
  239
  Funding has also been provided to those agencies which receive block grants through the JFS in support of a variety of street children initiatives in Bangladesh, Brazil, Ethiopia, India, Kenya, Rwanda and Tanzania.

  Mixed Credits
  Sir Alastair Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which countries she expects to qualify for assistance using mixed credits. [18951]

  Mr. Foulkes
  We would expect to use mixed credits only in the poorer countries. Any mixed credit projects will be subject to the agreed strategy and sectoral focus for each country which would have the primary aim of helping to eradicate poverty.

  NGO Projects
  Sir Alastair Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate she has made of the number of people employed(a) full time and (b) part time by the NGO projects which are funded by her Department. [18954]

  Mr. Foulkes
  The Department for International Development (DFID) is supporting a very substantial number of NGO projects across a range of programmes. This includes our volunteer programme through which we are funding around 2,500 volunteers working full time in developing countries, as well as support staff in the UK. We are unable, however, to give an estimate of the total number employed as this information is not held centrally.

  Cuba
  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what European Community humanitarian aid is currently being supplied to Cuba. [17892]

  Mr. Foulkes
  In 1997, the European Community has provided humanitarian aid worth 8.6 million ecu (about £6 million) to the Cuban population. This was mostly in the form of medicines, medical and stomatological equipment, food stuffs, textile material, and hygiene and maintenance products, provided through international NGOs to support medical services in the country. A further 8 million ecu (£5.7 million) is to be provided under a similar programme in 1998.

  UN (National Curriculum)
  Mr. Levitt
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make representations to her Ministerial colleagues to include the topic of the United Nations within the National Curriculum. [18790]

  Mr. Foulkes
  We hold ongoing discussions with the Department for Education and Employment on the place of development education in the national curriculum. This includes the role of the United Nations in development.

  Aid Assessment
  Sir Alastair Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when she will publish the list of countries in which her Department has assessed the UK to be not well placed to make an impact. [18952]
  240
  Mr. Foulkes
  My Department has not produced such a list. The impact the UK can have in a particular country depends on a number of factors including the nature and quality of the relationship and the extent to which we share policy objectives. These may change over time and will be reviewed in our country strategy papers and in the annual resource allocation round.

  Ministerial Announcements
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many ministerial announcements have not been made in the first instance to the House; and of those how many were(a) speeches to outside bodies, (b) press releases, (c) press briefings and (d) made by other means, since 1 May; and if she will make a statement about her Department's policy in respect of making public ministerial announcements. [18899]

  Mr. Foulkes
  No tally is kept of ministerial announcements, which come in many forms. Announcements are made in the first instance to the House when it is appropriate to do so.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Mr. Ian Magill
  Mr. Walker
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will refer the case of Mr. Ian Magill, sentenced at Belfast Crown Court on 14 November, to the Court of Appeal on the ground of undue leniency. [18503]

  The Attorney-General
  The Criminal Justice Act 1988, which creates the power to refer a sentence I consider to be unduly lenient to the Court of Appeal, limits that power to sentences imposed for certain offences specified in the Act or in Orders made under it. My power does not extend to the offences for which Ian Patrick Magill was sentenced.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Further Education
  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate he has made of the average weekly income of(a) students in further education as part of the New Deal and (b) students in further education. [17398]

  Dr. Howells
  Young people in the full-time education and training option within the New Deal for 18–24 year olds will receive an allowance equivalent to their usual benefits. No figures are centrally available in respect of other students in further education.

  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is his estimate of the impact on student numbers in further education by 1999–2000 of the funding announced on 12 November. [17397]

  Dr. Howells
  The additional funding announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is for 1998–99
  241
  and provides for an additional 20,000 full-time equivalents which could equate to between 70,000 to 80,000 actual students. Decisions on funding for financial year 1999–2000 and beyond will be announced next summer in the light of the Government's comprehensive spending review.

  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the impact of the funding for further education he announced on 12 November. [17394]

  Dr. Howells
  The additional funding, announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, for further education in England next year provides for the resumption of growth on a financially sound basis. The funding provides for an additional 20,000 full-time equivalent students, with the efficiency squeeze on the sector restricted to the costs arising from inflation.

  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what potential additional sources of income for the further education sector he has assessed; and if he will make a statement; [17403]

  (2) if he will make a statement on the sources of the additional funding for further education for the year 1998–99. [17413]

  Dr. Howells
  On 12 November my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced additional funding for the Further Education sector next year totalling £83 million. This includes an extra £20 million from employers in respect of employer-led provision. Colleges will also have the opportunity to bid for well over £100 million worth of the New Deal education and training budget next year and, in 1998 and 1999, for some £140 million available from Objective 4 of the European Social Fund to help prepare workers for industrial change.

  Diving Courses
  Ms Hodge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was spent by the Further Education Funding Council on funding courses leading to PADI levels 1 and 2 qualifications in each year since 1992–93. [17823]

  Ms Hodge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when funding by the Further Education Funding Council for the provision of diving courses leading to PADI level 1 and 2 courses was cancelled. [17821]

  Dr. Howells
  I have asked the Chief Executive of the Further Education Funding Council to write to my hon. Friend concerning these matters.

  Disability Rights Task Force
  Mr. Berry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will announce the terms of reference and membership of the Disability Rights Task Force. [19471]
  242
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The Disability Rights Task Force's Terms of Reference are:"To consider how best to secure comprehensive, enforceable civil rights for disabled people within the context of our wider society, and to make recommendations on the role and functions of a Disability Rights Commission. To provide the latter by March 1998 and to provide a full report of its recommendations on wider issues no later than July 1999.
  The Task Force will take full account of the costs as well as the benefits of any proposals, so far as is quantifiable and practicable, and in particular ensure that its recommendations for a Disability Rights Commission achieve value for money for the taxpayer."

  The following have been invited to serve as members of the Task Force:

  Name

  Stephen Alambritis

  Head of Press and Parliamentary Affairs, Federation of Small Businesses

  Bob Benson

  Director of Disability Scotland

  Jane Campbell

  Member of the National Centre for Independent Living and British Council of Organisations of Disabled People

  Caroline Gooding

  Member of Trades Union Disability Alliance

  David Grayson

  Chair of the National Disability Council, Business Links National Advisory Panel, a director of Business in the Community

  Rachel Hurst

  Chair of Rights Now

  David Jenkins

  General Secretary of Welsh TUC

  Su Jenkins

  Legal Adviser, J. Sainsbury Plc

  Brian Lamb

  Assistant Director and Head of Public Affairs, SCOPE

  Colin Low

  Vice Chair, Royal National Institute for the Blind

  Tracey-Jane Malthouse

  Employment Research Executive, Institute of Directors

  Joe Mann

  General Secretary, National League of the Blind and Disabled

  Bert Massie

  Director of Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation

  Denise Platt

  Head of Social Services, Local Government Association

  Brian Pomeroy

  Senior Partner, Deloitte and Touche Consulting Group

  Philippa Russell

  Director of the Council for Disabled Children

  Liz Sayce

  Policy Director, Mind (National Association for Mental Health)

  Susan Scott-Parker

  Chief Executive, Employers' Forum on Disability

  Ranjit Sondhi

  Former Deputy Chairman of Commission for Racial Equity

  243

  Name

  James Strachan

  Chief Executive, Royal National Institute for Deaf people

  Richard Taylor

  Chief Executive, Lifespan NHS Trust

  Keith Welton

  Group Chief Executive, Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce and Industry Limited

  Monica Wilson

  Chief Executive of Disability Action

  Richard Wood

  Chief Executive, British Council of Organisations of Disabled People

  Disability Discrimination Act 1995
  Mr. Healey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will review the threshold exempting employers with fewer than 20 employees from the employment provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995; and if he will make a statement. [19449]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  I am pleased today to announce such a review. It will provide an early opportunity to seek views on one way in which the position of disabled people in society might be improved. A key aspect of the review will be a consultation exercise aimed at gleaning views and information from a wide range of disability and employer organisations, especially those representing small firms, as well as individual disabled people and employers. It will include meetings with interested parties.

  The Act requires a review to be held, begun immediately after the fourth anniversary of the commencement of the exemption provision if not held sooner, and allows the threshold to be lowered, but not removed completely, following the review. Any change must come into force within a year of the review starting.

  The Government will consider carefully the responses to the consultation before deciding whether the threshold should be lowered to extend the Act's employment rights to more disabled employees and job applicants and, if so, to what level. We shall take account of any problems which may particularly apply to smaller employers, as well as looking at the wider costs and benefits of change.

TREASURY

  Tax (Self-assessment)
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he plans to take to correct errors in the instructions in tax self-assessment forms in connection with single premium bonds. [17231]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 25 November 1997]: This has been discussed with Tax Offices and Taxpayer Representative Bodies and corrective procedures put in place. It affects a very small number of people.

  Dividends (Tax Credits)
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 18 November 1997,Official
  244
  Report, column 111, if he will list (a) the representations his Department received from (i) trade associations, (ii) major corporations and (iii) others, (b) the concerns raised in those representations and (c) the nature of the technical clarifications sought by the United States Government. [17973]

  Mr. Geoffrey Robinson
  [holding answer 1 December 1997]: Confirmation was sought and given, informally, to the US Government that their understanding of the Budget changes to the UK's CT legislation was correct, insofar as it related to payments of tax credits on dividends received by US residents. It would not be appropriate to publish the identities of others who have made representations, or the nature of their comments, without their prior consent.

  Alcohol Duty
  Mr. Green
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will publish the results of the review of duty on alcoholic drinks. [18185]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 1 December 1997]: The review team, which is looking into the effects on the Exchequer and industry revenue of alcohol and tobacco fraud, smuggling and cross-border shopping, are due to report by the end of December. After considering the report, I will decide when to publish.

  Mr. Green
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the review of alcohol duties is taking into account projections on the Treasury economic model of the effects of differential duties. [18184]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 1 December 1997]: The review is looking into the effects on the Exchequer and industry revenue of alcohol and tobacco fraud, smuggling and cross-border shopping. The effects of differential duties on the Treasury economic model is a separate issue.

  Duty Free Trade
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many letters he has received supporting the continuation of the duty free system after June 1999. [18158]

  Dawn Primarolo
  My Treasury colleagues and I have received 257 letters from hon. Members on behalf of constituents in support of the continuation of intra-EU duty free sales after June 1999.

  Tobacco Smuggling
  Mrs. Brinton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures he is taking to eradicate the smuggling of tobacco from the continent into the United Kingdom [18546]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The number of front-line Customs staff to deal with Single Market excise smuggling has been significantly increased in the last 15 months. An extra 70 have been allocated throughout the country under the Spend to Save initiative. In addition, a further 30, backed up by specialist investigation officers, are currently being deployed at Dover to intensify the drive
  245
  against the illegal trade. Customs announced new measures on 26 September 1997 to crack down on hired vehicles used for smuggling.

  My right hon. Friend announced in his Budget a review of the effects on the Exchequer and the industry of alcohol and tobacco fraud, smuggling and cross-border shopping. The review, which is being conducted in partnership with all the trade sectors concerned and with key Government departments, will report to me by the end of the year with options for dealing with these issues.

  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what have been the seizures of(a) alcohol, (b) cigarettes and (c) rolling tobacco at ports of entry to the United Kingdom in 1994, 1995, 1996; and what are the latest available figures. [18371]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Detections throughout the UK of goods smuggled from the Single Market were as follows, in terms of the duty (in £ million) that should have been paid.

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1996–97

  1996–97

  Alcohol

  0.8

  2.75

  8

  11.8

  Cigarettes

  0.3

  0.9

  1.2

  5.3

  Handling Rolling Tobacco

  1

  3.1

  5.6

  12.3

  Economic and Monetary Union
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions have taken place between the European Monetary Institute and the United States Federal Reserve over joint management of global currency matters after Economic and Monetary Union. [17219]

  Mrs. Liddell
  Treasury Ministers cannot answer for any discussions that may have taken place between these independent bodies.

  International Monetary Fund (Korea)
  Mr. Timms
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the negotiations between the IMF and Korea. [19463]

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  I am pleased the Managing Director of the IMF has reported today agreement with the Korean authorities to a strong programme, which he will recommend to the Board of the IMF. If the programme is agreed, the UK is prepared with some of our European and other G7 partners to consider, if needed, supplementary finance in support of the programme. The UK would consider an amount up to the equivalent of $1.25 billion. Any loan would depend on a financing need and would only be made with agreement by the IMF. Were such a loan to be made it would be advanced by the Bank of England to the Central Bank of Korea. The Treasury would provide to the Bank of England an indemnity under the International Monetary Arrangements Act 1983.

  Export Initiative
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what date the Minister for Firms, Trade and Industry was informed of the termination of the Home Office Export Initiative. [16213]
  246
  Mrs. Roche
  [holding answer 17 November 1997]: I have been asked to reply.

  I wrote to the hon. Member about this matter on 19 November and I have placed a copy of that letter in the Library of the House.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Royal Ulster Constabulary
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will itemise and place in the Library copies of RUC correspondence, submissions and monitoring returns to the Fair Employment Commission in the past eight years. [13072]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 6 November 1997]: Correspondence and submissions between any organisation and the Fair Employment Commission are confidential. As such it is not considered appropriate to make this information public.

  However the monitoring returns for the past eight years will be placed in the library.

  Personal Security
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many individuals have been advised about personal safety by the RUC or notified that their personal details may have come into the possession of paramilitary organisations in each of the last four years, indicating where possible the community affiliation of the individuals affected. [15896]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 18 November 1997]: The information sought is not readily available and could only be produced at disproportionate cost.

  Artificial Breasts and Limbs
  Mr. Peter Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the shortest current waiting time for(a) non-fundholder and (b) fundholder patients for the fitting of a prosthesis following (i) the amputation of a leg and (ii) breast reconstruction following a mastectomy. [17893]

  Mr. Worthington
  No one is waiting outside the three week timescale for the fitting of a prosthesis. Information relating to breast reconstruction is not available centrally.

  Mr. Peter Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if the Eastern Health and Social Services Board treats(a) breast reconstruction following a mastectomy and (b) the fitting of a prosthesis following amputation of a limb as a cosmetic procedure. [17904]

  Mr. Worthington
  (a) Breast reconstruction following a mastectomy is generally regarded by the Eastern Board, as a cosmetic procedure. The Board and the surgeons who carry out this operation are however very aware of the deep distress which patients who wish to undergo reconstruction may suffer while waiting.

  (b) The Board takes a different view of the fitting of a prosthesis following amputation of a limb and does not regard that as a cosmetic procedure.
  247
  Mr. Peter Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many(a) non-fundholder and (b) fundholder patients are currently waiting for the fitting of a prosthesis following the amputation of (i) an arm and (ii) a leg. [17900]

  Mr. Worthington
  No distinction is made between non-fundholder and fundholder patients. Fitting is completed within three weeks of a patient being ready to commence prosthetic treatment following amputation. No one is currently waiting outside this timescale.

  Mr. Peter Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans the Eastern Health and Social Services Board has to commit additional resources for breast reconstruction following mastectomies. [17882]

  Mr. Worthington
  The Eastern Board, following receipt of additional funding, has agreed, at the request of the Royal Group of Hospitals, to purchase a further seven breast reconstruction procedures there. The Board also intends to pay for a further 100 plastic surgery procedures and 340 general surgery procedures at the Ulster Hospital. These may include post mastectomy reconstruction but this will depend on decisions by the appropriate consultants about clinical priority.

  Mr. Peter Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many GP fundholder patients have had a mastectomy in 1996–97; [17902]

  (2) how many GP non-fundholder patients had a mastectomy in 1996–97. [17883]

  Mr. Worthington
  The number of inpatient episodes involving procedures for total or other excision of the breast in health service hospitals in Northern Ireland during the year 1996–97 was 1,652. Of these episodes, 728 involved patients of GP fundholders and 895 involved patients of non-fundholders. Central records do not distinguish whether the GP was a fundholder or a non-fundholder for the remaining 29 episodes.

  Source:

  Hospital Inpatients System. Figures for 1996–97 are provisional.

  Mr. Peter Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many breast reconstructions following mastectomy the Eastern Health and Social Services Board has contracted for in the current financial year; and what funds have been committed to purchase these services. [17901]

  Mr. Worthington
  In the normal process the Eastern Board does not contract specifically for breast reconstruction as this is commissioned as either a general surgery or plastic surgery procedure. It is not therefore possible to say what funds have been committed to purchase procedures of this kind in 1997–98.

  Mr. Peter Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many GP fundholders patients who have had a mastectomy have been advised to have breast reconstruction in 1996–97; and how many have had their operation for reconstruction delayed by more than three months; [17887]

  (2) what is the longest current waiting time for (a) non-fundholder and (b) fundholder patients for reconstruction of breast surgery following a mastectomy; [17897]
  248
  (3) how many GP non-fundholder patients who have had a mastectomy were advised to have breast reconstruction in 1996–97; and how many of these have had their operation for reconstruction delayed by more than three months; [17884]

  (4) how many (a) non-fundholder and (b) fundholder patients are currently waiting for reconstruction of breast surgery following a mastectomy. [17899]

  Mr. Worthington
  The information is not available centrally.

  Mr. Peter Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what consultations the Eastern Health and Social Services Board has had with medical experts in respect of the allocation of resources for breast reconstruction; [17880]

  (2) what consultation the Eastern Health and Social Services Board has had with surgeons specialising in breast surgery over (a) delays in breast reconstruction treatment following mastectomies and (b) the priority accorded to this treatment. [17881]

  Mr. Worthington
  In August additional funding was made available, some of it for waiting list pressures. The Eastern Board approached the Trusts in its area to ask for proposals from them for waiting list work. The Royal Group put forward, inter alia a proposal for the treatment of seven additional patients requiring breast reconstruction to which the Board has agreed. The Ulster Hospital in its response indicated that it could undertake 100 additional plastic surgery procedures and 240 in general surgery. The appropriate consultants will consider the clinical priority of those waiting, including the one patient waiting for post mastectomy reconstruction on the plastic surgery list at the Ulster. The Board has also advised that it has not received any indication of concerns about this specific service from any of the Trusts providing it either in respect of waiting times or the level of investment in it.

  Springvale Site
  Mr. Salter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will make a statement on the planning process for the provision of educational facilities on the Springvale site. [19300]

  Mr. Worthington
  The Government welcome the close collaboration between the University of Ulster and the Belfast Institute of Further and Higher Education which has brought forward consideration of new approaches to joint further and higher education provision at Springvale. These considerations reflect both the recommendations of the recent Dearing Report and local circumstances. They are currently subject to economic appraisal, the findings of which the Government await with interest. Any decision will take account of value for money, affordability and the potential attractiveness as a PFI project.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Nuclear Fuel
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assistance her Department has given for the
  249
  export of mixed oxide fuel from the United Kingdom within the last five years; what has been the cost of such assistance to date; what additional assistance is to be offered; and if she will estimate the future costs to be incurred during the next five years. [18498]

  Mr. Battle
  The Department has not given, or is scheduled to give, any financial assistance for the export of mixed oxide fuel from the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will list the total quantities of plutonium currently held(a) at Sellafield and (b) at Dounreay, indicating the form in which each category of plutonium is currently managed. [18411]

  Mr. Battle
  Details of the quantities of plutonium stored at United Kingdom nuclear facilities, including its form and ownership, are published by my Department each year. Copies of the latest annual plutonium figures for the year ended 31 March 1997 were published on 31 July 1997 and placed in the Library of House.

  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade which states have signed the 1980 Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material; which of these have confirmed their ratification to the International Atomic Energy Agency; what states have to date notified the IAEA of(a) reservations and (b) withdrawals under Article 17 of the Convention; which parties to the Convention have proposed amending the Treaty since it was opened for signature; and how many prosecutions have been conducted to date under the convention. [18404]

  Mr. Battle
  The Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material was signed in the 1980s by: Argentina*, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria*, Canada, Czechoslovakia*, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, European Atomic Energy Community*, Finland, France*, Federal Republic of Germany, German Democratic Republic*, Greece, Guatemala*, Haiti, Hungary*, Indonesia*, Republic of Ireland, Israel*, Italy*, Republic of Korea*, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Mongolia*, Morocco, Netherlands*, Niger, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Philippines, Poland*, Portugal, Romania*, South Africa*, Soviet Union*, Spain*, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey*, United Kingdom, United States of America and Yugoslavia. Of these, all except Dominican Republic, Haiti, Morocco, Niger, Panama, Romania and South Africa have confirmed their ratification to the International Atomic Energy Agency.

  Those marked with an asterisk notified the IAEA of reservations when signing the Convention. I am not aware of any of these reservations having been withdrawn or of any formal proposals for amendment to the Convention. There is no provision in the Convention for prosecutions to be conducted under it.

  Plutonium and Uranium
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what values were set on the(a) plutonium and (b) uranium stocks held by (i) British Nuclear Fuels and (ii) the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority in the National Asset Register. [18666]
  250
  Mr. Battle
  The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) National Asset Register records all material fixed assets owned and controlled directly by the DTI and those in executive non-departmental public bodies and public corporations for which it is responsible.

  Stocks of plutonium and uranium do not form part of fixed assets held by British Nuclear Fuels plc (BNFL) and United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA).

  BNFL hold stocks of separated civil plutonium and uranium on behalf of UK and overseas customers, including British Energy and Magnox Electric who also own the vast majority. The UKAEA hold stocks of uranium. In view of this, no values of these materials appear in the accounts of BNFL and UKAEA. It is for the owners to decide on what value to place on these materials.

  Textile Industry
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps she is taking to support the textile industry; and if she will make a statement. [18721]

  Mr. Battle
  My Department provides considerable support to the UK's textiles and clothing industries and is working with representatives of the sector to take forward a wide variety of sector-specific activities and initiatives which will both raise the profile of the industry and improve its competitiveness. Eleven separate textiles and clothing projects are currently being supported under the Sector Challenge. We support many of the highly successful supply chain activities of the Apparel and Textiles Challenge and provide financial support for young designers to show at London Fashion Week. The highly praised Education Pack for Schools received DTI funding and the textiles and clothing industry is one of the major beneficiaries under the Trade Fair Support Scheme. These examples give an indication of the breadth of our support for the industry covering areas as diverse as education and training, export promotion, supply chain development, and technology dissemination.

  "Managing UK Nuclear Liabilities"
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment she has made of the recent report, a copy of which has been sent to her Department, from the Sussex University Science Policy Research Unit, "Managing UK Nuclear Liabilities". [18656]

  Mr. Battle
  The SPRU report is a substantial piece of work that merits serious attention. My Department is currently considering it but I do not expect us to reach any conclusion about SPRU recommendations before the New Year.

  Enterprise Zone Web Site
  Mrs. May
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what the specifications are for the provision of the Enterprise Zone web site. [18564]

  Mrs. Roche
  The Enterprise Zone Internet has been designed to provide UK businesses with quick and easy access to relevant and authoritative sources of business related information on the World Wide Web. Only sites
  251
  which are assessed by a group of business information experts as meeting quality criteria published on the Enterprise Zone will be linked to the Enterprise Zone.

  Mrs. May
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will publish the results of the tendering process for the contract for her Department's Enterprise zone web site. [18566]

  Mrs. Roche
  Seventeen companies were invited to submit proposals to develop the Enterprise Zone. The proposals were assessed by a selection group that included representatives of the Department of Trade and Industry, Cabinet Office and the Business Link Network. The proposal from Microsoft was recommended by the group as best meeting the specification and representing best value for money.

  Mrs. May
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the role of her Department in the provision of information for the Enterprise Zone web site; and if there are any rules restricting use of the site for advertising particular products. [18563]

  Mrs. Roche
  The Enterprise Zone has been developed to provide UK businesses with quick and easy access to authoritative sources of business information on the World Wide Web. Sites linked to the Enterprise Zone are provided by a wide range of organisations. There is a link from the Enterprise Zone to the Department of Trade and Industry web site.

  The Enterprise Zone does not provide links to sites that simply advertise business related products. To be linked to the Enterprise Zone, sites of commercial providers must give business users free access to useful and authoritative information, in addition to providing them with the opportunity to purchase further information or products.

  Mrs. May
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many companies tendered for the contract to provide the Enterprise Zone web site; and if she will list them. [18565]

  Mrs. Roche
  Of the 17 companies invited to submit proposals, the following 14 tendered for the contract to develop the Enterprise Zone web site:

  Augusta Technology Ltd.

  Brainstorm Computer Solutions

  Brand ID

  British Telecom

  CMG

  Complete Works Ltd.

  IBM

  ICL Multimedia Solutions

  Infernet

  Marketing Net Ltd.

  Microsoft

  Online Magic Ltd.

  SAC Technographic Ltd.

  SSA Softwright.

  Nuclear Emergencies
  Ms Walley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans she has to review the(a) mechanism and (b) responsibility for informing the public of a nuclear emergency; and if she will make a statement. [18369]

  Mr. Battle
  Currently, the legislative requirements for informing the public of a nuclear emergency are given in the "Public Information for Radiation Emergencies Regulations 1992" (PIRER). Guidance has been published by the Health and Safety Executive in support of the Regulations and further relevant guidance has been issued to the emergency response bodies concerned by the Nuclear Emergency Planning Liaison Group (NEPLG).

  Consultative proposals are at present being developed on the new "Radioactive Emergency Preparedness and Public Information Regulations" (REPPIR) which will subsume PIRER and implement the Emergency Preparedness requirements of the European Council Directive 96/29 EURATOM laying down Basic Safety Standards for the protection of the health of workers and the general public against the dangers arising from ionising radiation. These proposals will be published in a consultative document in Spring 1998.

  In parallel with these activities, a National Steering Committee on Warning and Informing the Public is meeting to develop a view on the broad issue of informing the public in a variety of emergency situations.

  Loan Guarantee Scheme
  Mr. Geraint Davies
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what proportions of businesses eligible for the DTI Loan Guarantee Scheme were granted a loan by a bank during the last year for which figures are available. [15326]

  Mrs. Roche
  No figures on the proportion of eligible businesses successful in obtaining a loan are available. All applications are made direct to lenders who must consider whether or not conventional finance can be made available. Eligibility for the Small Firms Loan Guarantee Scheme is considered only in cases where the lender would be prepared to lend but for a lack of available assets which could be used as security.

  Motor Dealers
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will include motor dealers who do not provide credit in the licensing system at present operated by trading standards departments. [17144]

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  While there are legal provisions in Scotland for local councils to license second-hand car dealers, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions has no plans currently to introduce similar provisions here.

  Shipbuilding
  Mr. Flight
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards the proposed extension of the Seventh European Council Directive on aid to shipbuilding. [17905]
  253
  Mr. Battle
  The Government support the proposed extension of the Seventh Directive on aids to shipbuilding until the end of 1998 as it is conditional on the EU negotiating a tougher replacement regime. This will lead to an earlier reduction in EU state aids for this sector, which is a key Government objective.

  The extension of the Seventh Directive is part of the EU contingency arrangements in the light of the continuing delay in US ratification of the OECD Shipbuilding Agreement and is accompanied by a Commission proposal for a replacement shipbuilding aids regime. The Government support the main thrust of this Commission proposal as its overall impact will be to reduce EU shipbuilding aids and it is a transitional regime leading to the final elimination of special shipbuilding aids after 5 years. It envisages the removal of contract related aid by the end of 2000 and switches the emphasis to improving the competitiveness of the shipbuilding industry. (Further details of these two proposals are contained in Explanatory Memorandum 11165/97 and 11167/97 which are available in the Library of the House).

  The Government still believe that the OECD Shipbuilding Agreement offers the best multilateral basis for removing shipbuilding aids and for restoring normal competitive conditions to the world shipbuilding market and hopes that the US will be able to complete its ratification. However in the meantime it regards the EU contingency arrangements as the next best option.

  Duty Free Trade
  Mr. Gale
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will estimate the number of permanent jobs in the United Kingdom that are(a) directly and (b) indirectly dependent upon the trade in duty-free goods. [18062]

  Mrs. Roche
  [holding answer 27 November 1997]: The figures requested are not available because statistics are not collected in that form. Moreover, because of the number of different factors affecting retail activity at ports, airports, etc., I do not consider it would be possible to arrive at an accurate estimate.

  Fixed Term Contract Staff
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make it her policy that fixed term contract staff(a) employed and (b) funded by research councils will not be required to sign waiver clauses in their employment contracts. [18628]

  Mr. Battle
  [holding answer 2 December 1997]: The Research Councils fund research in higher education institutions and other organisations in which the institution is responsible for the terms and conditions of employment of staff recruited to carry out the research. With very few exceptions, the Research Councils already make no requirement on institutions to include waiver clauses in the relevant contracts of employment. The Research Councils also employ research staff directly in their own institutes and units. The Management Statement and Financial Memorandum which sets the framework for the relationship between the Councils and the Office of Science and Technology requires the Councils to use waiver clauses in certain fixed-term employment contracts. We will keep that document under review.

  Business Links
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will list the business links that have been closed or amalgamated since 1 May. [13518]

  Mrs. Roche
  [holding answer 30 October 1997]: There were 89 business link partnerships on 1 May and there are still the same number of partnerships to date.

  Business link partnerships reflect local business needs in their decisions on how they are organised to manage the delivery of business link services in their areas, including the number of local outlets within each partnership.

  Small and Medium Enterprises
  Mr. Jenkins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment she has made of the performance of SMEs in Staffordshire. [13891]

  Mrs. Roche
  [holding answer 3 November 1997]: According to the Interdepartmental Business Register (IDBR) there are 3,328 SMEs in Staffordshire who fall into the 10–199 employee category.

  VAT registration data suggest that new business generation in Staffordshire is slightly below the regional and national averages. In 1995 the Staffordshire business formation rate was 9.4 per cent., West Midlands 9.9 per cent. and the UK 10.3 per cent. However, there is evidence to show that Staffordshire Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are more likely to survive in business. Of the Staffordshire SMEs joining the VAT register in 1990, 43.4 per cent. were still registered 4 years later compared with 42.2 per cent. regionally and 41.9 per cent. nationally.

  Of the 3,238 SMEs in Staffordshire,
  1,099 (33 per cent.) have used the services of Business Link Staffordshire.
  356 Staffordshire companies which have 3–250 employees are committed to attaining the Investors in People Standard.
  A further 116 companies of this size have already attained the Investors in People Standard.

  Power Generation
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what estimate she has made of the amount of existing coal-fired generating capacity which will be replaced by the generating projects to be awarded under the 5th round of the non fossil fuel obligation order. [18323]

  Mrs. Beckett
  The size of the fifth non-fossil fuel obligation order will be decided next year in the light of the quality and cost of the bids received. The impact of the new renewable generating stations will depend on their mode of operation, the competitive position of other stations and the level of demand that is required to be met. It is probable that little NFFO-5 capacity will come on stream before 2002–03.

  Coal Industry
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will meet representatives of(a) mining unions and (b) the coal mining companies to discuss the future of the coal industry. [18326]
  255
  Mrs. Beckett
  DTI Ministers have had several extensive meetings with miners' representatives and the coal mining companies to discuss the important future role that the coal industry can play.

  Inward Investment
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when she expects to complete her discussions with the territorial Secretaries of State on co-ordinating inward investment packages; and if she will make a statement when agreement has been reached. [17064]

  Mrs. Beckett
  [holding answer 21 November 1997]: Discussions with my colleagues are continuing. Parliament will be informed when those discussions have been concluded and the Concordat on financial assistance to industry has been published.

  Meetings
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade which business directors and executives she has met in her official capacity in her London offices. [17950]

  Mrs. Beckett
  I have regular meetings with business executives both in my office and elsewhere.

  Minister for Trade and Competitiveness in Europe
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will ask the Minister for Trade and Competitiveness in Europe to disclose which charities received the profits from the sale of his BP shares. [17563]

  Mrs. Beckett
  [holding answer 24 November 1997]: No. The distribution is being managed by a trust on the Minister's behalf.

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many public appointments she has made since 1 May; and how many and what percentage of these(a) receive remuneration and (b) are of (i) Afro-Caribbean and (ii) Asian origin. [16786]

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  Since 1 May 1997 Ministers have made 92 new appointments to Public Bodies. Forty of these (43 per cent.) receive some remuneration and I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to him by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 28 November 1997,official report, column 669.

  Overhead Power Lines
  Miss Geraldine Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when an application for a 33Kv overhead line from Butt Yeats to Tatham Bridge and from Wennington Station to Lower Ravens Close Wood Wennington in the Lune Valley was received from Norweb; and if she has determined it. [18904]

  Mr. Battle
  The application was received on 11 November 1997. It is now under consideration by the Department in line with the statutory procedures designed to permit interested parties to make their views known. As part of this process, we shall have regard to planning guidance relevant to areas of outstanding natural beauty 256
  and will consider the company's argument for the need for such a line, and the views of the local community, the local planning authorities, individuals and hon. Members.

HEALTH

  George House Trust
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he intends to reply to letters to him dated 28 May, 3 July and 28 August from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to the George House Trust. [13713]

  Ms Jowell
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State wrote to my right hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Gorton (Mr. Kaufman) on 27 November 1997, with a full explanation for the delay in replying.

  Superannuation Schemes
  Mr. Heppell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment he has made of the impact on requests for early retirement resulting from the delays in processing requests for transfer from the NHS Superannuation Scheme to(a) the Universities Superannuation Scheme and (b) the Teachers' Superannuation Scheme; and if he will make statement; [17055]

  (2) what is the average time for processing a request to transfer from the NHS Superannuation Scheme to (a) the Universities Superannuation Scheme and (b) the Teachers' Superannuation Scheme; and if he will make a statement; [17059]

  (3) if he will make a statement on the staffing levels necessary to process applications for transfers from the NHS Superannuation Scheme to (a) the Universities Superannuation Scheme and (b) the Teachers' Superannuation Scheme to avoid delays to applicants; [17057]

  (4) how many requests for transfer from the NHS Superannuation Scheme to (a) the Universities Superannuation Scheme and (b) the Teachers' Superannuation Scheme have been subject to a delay of (i) three months, (ii) six months, (iii) one year, (iv) 18 months and (v) two years; and if he will provide a breakdown by local authority; [17054]

  (5) how many cases involving miscalculations in the amounts involved in transfers from the NHS Superannuation Scheme to (a) the Universities Superannuation Scheme and (b) the Teachers' Superannuation Scheme have led to (i) overpayment, (ii) court orders and (iii) referral to the Ombudsman; and if he will make a statement; [17056]

  (6) how many requests for transfer from the NHS Superannuation Scheme to the Universities Superannuation Scheme involve staff currently employed at (a) Nottingham and (b) Trent universities; and how many have been subject to delays of (i) three months, (ii) six months, (iii) one year, (iv) 18 months and (v) two years; and if he will make a statement. [17058]

  Mr. Milburn
  Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the National Health Service Pensions Agency under its Chief Executive, Mr. A. F. Cowan. I have asked him to reply to my hon. Friend.
  257
  Letter from A. F. Cowan to Mr. John Heppell, dated 3 December 1997:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions, as their substance falls within my area of responsibility. The answers to each question are set out below. I am afraid they are not all in the precise format you have requested. I also need to place them into the broader context of College of Education Transfers.

  Background
  When NHS staff were moved to Colleges of Education it was agreed that the most favourable available transfer of pension rights should be given. For those transferring to the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) a bulk transfer arrangement was agreed. Bulk transfers are more favourable than individual transfers because their transfer value is based upon movement in wages rather than prices. By its nature, however, a bulk transfer is not finalised until every case has been calculated. There have been many delays; while some of these have been unavoidable some were the result of poor performance by this Agency. With the benefit of hindsight we would have treated them differently. The bulk transfer of funds has not yet been completed; however the individuals pension entitlements are secured because the liabilities are accepted in full by the USS. To underpin this, significant payments on account have been made by the NHS Scheme to fund these liabilities. We are hoping, with the co-operation of the USS and their actuaries to be in a position within the next few weeks to be able to make the final payment to complete the transfers.
  For those NHS staff who were transferring to the Teachers Superannuation Scheme (TSS) different arrangements were agreed, amounting to a 1:1 transfer of service. This involves no transfer of funds because both Schemes are notionally funded by the Exchequer. However the detailed work to complete the transfers has been undertaken on a case by case basis. To our knowledge all but a few of the 2.864 cases have been cleared.
  Against this background the answers to your questions are as follows:
  What assessment has the Secretary of State made of the impact on requests for early retirement resulting fro the delays in processing requests for transfer from the NHS Superannuation Scheme to:

  (a) the USS; and

  (b) the TSS.

  While there have been significant delays in finalising the bulk transfer payment to the USS, the pensions entitlements of the individuals concerned have been safeguarded between the USS and the NHS Pension Scheme. The Schemes are not aware of any direct impact that the delay in finalising the bulk transfer payment has had on transactions involving early retirements.
  In administering early retirements from the TSS, where a transfer was outstanding, both schemes have given such cases priority treatment conclusion. Again, the Schemes are not aware of any retirees who have been adversely affected by delays in the transfer process.
  What is the average time limit for processing a transfer from the NHS Superannuation Scheme to:

  (a) the USS;

  (b) the TSS.

  The Agency only maintains figures for average clearance times for all transfers casework. We cannot distinguish between individual Schemes. Normal transfers go through two stages—provisional, covering an estimate and members option process; and final, which culminates either in a payment reflecting the capitalised value of the pension entitlement or confirmation of the service being transferred. The average times to clear, in working days over the past two years are:

  Provisional

  Final

  1996–97

  60

  37

  1997–98

  68

  47

  258 A statement on the staffing levels necessary to process applications for transfers from the NHS Superannuation Scheme to:

  (a) the USS;

  (b) the TSS;

  To avoid delays to applicants All operational work is processed within the Agency by multi-skilled teams dealing with all aspects of the Scheme, not just transfers. In 1996–97 the equivalent of some 21 full-time staff were deployed on transfer cases, 22 in 1997–98. However at any one time the Agency can deploy many more staff than this, if it would help a particular situation. The delays in finalising the USS and TSS special exercises have not been attributable to staffing levels, but more to their complexity and difficulties with data. The TSS exercise is nearly completed. The USS exercise is expected to be completed by 31 December 1997.How many requests for transfer from the NHS Superannuation Scheme to:

  (a) the USS;

  (b) the TSS;

  have been subject to a delay of:

  (i) 3 months;

  (ii) 6 months;

  (iii) 1 year;

  (iv) 18 months;

  (v) 2 years.

  The USS bulk transfer was planned to be completed by the Schemes and their actuaries by May 1997. I should point out that this recognises that the completion date has had to be reschedules to reflect each new college merger as it came within the ambit of the overall bulk transfer. The last such merger took place in November 1996. I am afraid the Agency does not hold separate clearance data about individual TSS cases related to the College of Education transfers.How many cases involving miscalculations in the amounts involved in transfers from the NHS Superannuation Scheme to:

  (a) the USS;

  (b) the TSS;

  have led to:

  (i) overpayment;

  (ii) court orders;

  (iii) referral to the Ombudsman.

  The USS transfers are covered by a bulk payment and this has not yet been finalised. The individual TSS cases do not involve transfers of amounts because the Schemes are both notionally funded by the exchequer. We are not aware that any transfer transaction has led to an overpayment, court orders or referrals to the Ombudsman.How many requests for transfer from the NHS Superannuation Scheme to the USS involve staff currently employed at:

  (a) Nottingham;

  (b) Trent Universities;

  and how many have been subject to delays of:

  (i) 3 months;

  (ii) 6 months;

  (iii) 1 year;

  (iv) 18 months;

  (v) 2 years.

  Staff at Mid Trent College merged with Nottingham University and transfer data about the 189 staff transferring to the University of Nottingham was released to USS just over 3 months later than planned. A query for one member of staff remains outstanding. Staff at North Trent College merged with Sheffield University and transfer data about the 198 staff transferring to the University of Sheffield was released to USS some 9 months later than originally planned. We are not aware of any outstanding queries relating to these cases.

  Dental Services
  Mrs. Ballard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures his Department takes to monitor the quality of private dental treatment. [18400]

  Mr. Milburn
  The General Dental Council is the regulatory body responsible for dental treatment provided outside the National Health Service. The Department, which provides funding for the continuing education and training of dentists who have an arrangement to provide general dental services under the National Health Service, gets regular feedback from the Council on matters like professional conduct and fitness to practise. The great majority of general dental practitioners carry out some NHS work even if they also undertake private practice.

  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he is taking to ensure access to NHS dentistry for all residents of the South Staffordshire health authority district. [18487]

  Mr. Milburn
  On 9 September we announced the "Investing In Dentistry" initiative, which makes available up to £9 million in 1997–98 to help health authorities improve the availability of National Health Service dentistry in areas of the country where there are particular problems of access to NHS dental services.

  Breast Screening
  Mr. Stinchcombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans he has to provide national guidelines on the introduction of two-view screening for each round of breast screening; [18506]

  (2) what plans the Government have to improve the United Kingdom's detection ratio for those rounds of breast screening following the first screening; [18508]

  (3) what assessment he has made of the advantages of two-view mammography for detecting small cancers. [18510]

  Mr. Boateng
  The Cancer Screening Evaluation Unit, which is funded by the Department of Health, is reviewing the advantages of two-view mammography. Recently published data suggest that for a woman's first screen, the use of two-view mammography increases by 45 per cent. the detection of invasive cancers of less than 15 millimetres, and for subsequent screens it increases the detection rate by 25 per cent.

  All breast screening units currently take a second mammographic view of the breast at a woman's first visit to the screening programme. Breast screening units have discretion over the use of two view mammography at subsequent screening rounds. The case for requiring all units to take two views at every screening round will have to be assessed along with the outcome of research currently being carried out into other changes that might be made to improve the quality of the service offered to women, for example extending the screening programme to older women, and reducing the screening interval.

  Mr. Stinchcombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what is Her Majesty's Government's policy on extending the upper age limit of those automatically invited to breast screening; [18507]
  260
  (2) if he will assess the advantages of extending the upper age limit of those automatically invited to breast screening to 69 years of age. [18526]

  Mr. Boateng
  The Government are funding a pilot schemes in Northern and Yorkshire, Trent and South Thames regions to evaluate the effectiveness of extending the screening programme to include women aged 65–69. These pilots will run for three years to 1999–2000 to give a clear picture of likely uptake among older women, and effectiveness in terms of the number of cancers detected. We will base any changes to policy on the evidence emerging from these.

  Screening every three years is currently available to older women on request. This is well publicised in a number of ways. Women who have already been screened through the programme are informed of their right to request screening after the age of 65. The booklet "Your Health: A Guide to Services for Women", which is widely available through general practitioner's surgeries, clinics, post offices and some shops, makes clear that women aged 65 and over will be screened free of charge three yearly if they request it.

  Social Service Provision
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will review the incidence of patients forced to remain in hospital after they have been discharged because of a lack of appropriate social service provision. [18518]

  Mr. Boateng
  The incidence of patients who remain in hospital after they have been declared clinically fit for discharge is reviewed quarterly by the National Health Service Executive and the reasons for the delay in discharge are collected.

  Dental Students (Tuition Fees)
  Mrs. Ballard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what calculations his Department has made of the impact on the National Health Service budget of the introduction of tuition fees for dental students. [18360]

  Mr. Milburn
  Dental students will make a means-tested contribution to their tuition fees for the first four years of their course. The Department of Health will pay the contribution from year five onwards. This will not be at the expense of patient care—a transfer of resources from the Department for Education and Employment is being agreed to meet the cost.

  Myalgic Encephalomyelitis
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans he has to commission research into the physical causes of myalgic encephalomyelitis; [18660]

  (2) what consultation the Government have carried out with those who suffer from myalgic encephalomyelitis; [18658]

  (3) what assessment he has made of existing services provided by health authorities for those suffering with myalgic encephalomyelitis; [18662]

  (4) what guidance has been given to GPs on the treatment of myalgic encephalomyelitis; [18661]
  261
  (5) if he will commission a national epidemiological study into myalgic encephalomyelitis. [18659]

  Mr. Boateng
  Priorities for funding research in the Department are set very carefully, based on the burden of disease and other criteria. Bids for conducting research into chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)/myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) are therefore always considered on that basis. The Department continues to fund research into the management and treatment of CFS/ME through the National Health Service Research and Development Programme.

  It is currently funding an on-going research project, costing about £60,000, which is looking at whether general practitioners are best placed to manage CFS/ME patients. A recently completed research project, costing over £65,000, considered whether a particular type of psychological treatment was effective in reducing disability in CFS/ME patients. The main agency through which the Government support medical and clinical research is the Medical Research Council. The Council currently provides support for one Small Project Grant in the area of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome entitled "The role of noradrenaline in the neuropsychological pathogenesis of the chronic fatigue syndrome". The total amount awarded was £37,000.

  There are no plans to commission a national epidemiological study into CFS/ME. A number of small studies of epidemiology have indicated that prevalence is around 1–2/1000 of the population with a peak incidence in the 20–40 age group and a slight female predominance. Obtaining accurate epidemiological information is particularly difficult in the case of CFS/ME due to variations in definitions and the difficulties in making an accurate diagnosis. There is no single diagnostic test for CFS/ME. It is usually diagnosed by testing for and eliminating other conditions. People with CFS/ME can experience any or all of a wide range of symptoms, but chronic fatigue is a key factor in the syndrome.

  The Government have not carried out a consultation of people who suffer from CFS/ME. However, we have funded CFS/ME voluntary organisations who have close contact with sufferers. Since 1988, we have made over £225,000 available to CFS/ME organisations and by 1998, this will have risen to over a quarter of a million pounds.

  The NHS provides a wide range of services to which sufferers of CFS/ME have access and such patients are seen within a wide range of community services and hospital specialties. Patients can discuss the options available to them with their GP and they may also request an assessment of their needs by local authority social services departments. It is the responsibility of health authorities to decide how the needs of CFS/ME sufferers should be met and whether or not they should purchase dedicated services. All such decisions are made in the light of competing priorities and finite resources.

  We consider that it is more appropriate for clinical guidelines to be produced by clinicians themselves or through their representative professional bodies. Establishing definitions of disease and the criteria for their diagnosis is also a matter for the professions. Furthermore, the Medical Royal Colleges point out that, whilst CFS/ME should be managed by GPs, it is inappropriate at present to issue clinical guidelines given
  262
  the lack of methodologically sound research. There is no single effective treatment for CFS/ME. The condition varies significantly from one patient to another and therefore individual patients benefit from different treatment regimes.

  Ministerial Announcements
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many ministerial announcements have not been made in the first instance to the House; and of those how many were(a) speeches to outside bodies, (b) press releases, (c) press briefings and (d) made by other means, since 1 May; and if he will make a statement about his Department's policy in respect of making public ministerial announcements. [18892]

  Ms Jowell
  The most important announcements of Government policy are made, in the first instance, to Parliament. A considerable number of announcements have been made in a variety of ways, often combining different approaches, reflecting the nature of the announcement. Our policy is to adopt the most appropriate vehicle.

  Incontinence Products
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the extra cost to the NHS would be if VAT was applied to home-delivered incontinence products at 17.5 per cent. [18978]

  Mr. Boateng
  Under the Value Added Tax Act 1994, Schedule 8, Group 12, Item 2(g) incontinence products are zero-rated only when supplied to a disabled person or to a charity that makes them available to a disabled person. As the National Health Service falls into neither of these categories, it has always been the intention that supplies of these products by the NHS should have been standard rated and the NHS is funded on this understanding. Since there is no change to this intention, there will be no associated increased cost for the NHS. NHS trusts have been temporarily able to take advantage of a VAT reimbursement on these products due to a loophole which Customs and Excise are now seeking to close.

DEFENCE

  Otterburn Ranges
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the local authorities with which he or his Department have held discussions about the future of the Otterburn ranges. [18800]

  Dr. Reid
  The Ministry of Defence has held discussions with the following local authorities about the future of the Otterburn ranges:

  The Northumberland National Park Authority

  The Northumberland County Council

  The Tynedale District Council

  The Alnwick District Council

  The Castle Morpeth District Council.

  RAF Menwith Hill
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the function of the Menwith Hill base in North Yorkshire. [18792]

  Dr. Reid
  RAF Menwith Hill is a site owned by the Ministry of Defence and made available to the US Department of Defense as a communications facility. The station is an integral part of the US Department of Defense's world wide network which supports the UK, US and NATO interests.

  Royal Military Police
  Mr. Tyrie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what rationalisation studies affecting the Royal Military Police are taking place in his Department; and when these will report. [18787]

  Dr. Reid
  The Army Training and Recruiting Agency is currently conducting a study into the scope for rationalisation within the Adjutant General's Corps Training Group, which includes the Royal Military Police Training School at Chichester. The study is in two phases. Phase One is examining the feasibility of relocating the RMPTS to another AGC Training Group site or to the MOD Police Training school in Essex, or of leaving it where it is. Phase Two will examine the wider scope for rationalisation within the AGC Training Group as a whole. Phase One is expected to be completed early in the new year, and Phase Two in the spring.

  Stabilisation Force (Women)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many United Kingdom women service personnel are serving in Bosnia as part of the stabilisation force. [18583]

  Dr. Reid
  On 1 December, there were 387 UK women Service personnel serving with the Stabilisation Force in former Yugoslavia: 47 officers and 340 other ranks.

  Nimrod
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what assessment he has made of the improvements in performance of the Nimrod 2000 over the existing aircraft; [18616]

  (2) when the Nimrod 2000 aircraft will enter full service. [18594]

  Mr. Spellar
  The Nimrod Maritime Reconnaissance and Attack Mark 4, as the new aircraft will be known, should be significantly more capable, and cheaper to operate, than the current Nimrod MR2.

  The in-service date is defined as the date when the first front line squadron of seven aircraft is declared operational. This is scheduled for April 2003. The final aircraft is planned for delivery in June 2006.

  Chinook Helicopters
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 18 November 1997,official report, column 153, about the fully automated digital engine control system, if he will place in the Library copies of the 70 incident signals relating to FADEL on the Chinook Mark II helicopter. [18983]
  264
  Mr. Spellar
  The subject documents are a part of the flight safety reporting procedures and disclosure would harm the frankness and candour of internal reporting. I am withholding the information requested under exemption 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the Textron Lycoming White Paper on Chinook FADEL. [18973]

  Mr. Spellar
  The information provided by Textron Lycoming in their White Paper is commercially confidential. Accordingly, I am withholding the information requested under exemption 13 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the minute ref. D/DHP/HP1/4/3, dated 29 April 1994 covering the Textron Lycoming White Paper on Chinook FADEL. [18974]

  Mr. Spellar
  The subject document contains internal opinions and advice, disclosure of which would harm the frankness and candour of internal discussion. Accordingly, I am withholding the information requested under exemption 2b of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Animal Welfare Reforms
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he has had with other EU states to co-ordinate national policies on(a) animal testing, (b) animal husbandry and (c) other animal welfare reforms. [18680]

  Mr. Morley
  My right hon. Friend, in his contacts with his colleagues in all the EU Member States in preparation for the Presidency, is seeking to establish how best to advance this Department's aim of promoting progress on farm animal welfare at the EU level. Officials of the relevant Departments also have frequent contacts with their counterparts in the other Member States and in countries who are parties to the Council of Europe conventions concerning animal welfare.

  Low Pay
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list, by regions defined by the boundaries of the regional government offices, the lowest hourly rate paid by his Department to(a) full-time employees, (b) part-time employees, (c) persons employed under personal contract and (d) persons employed by firms undertaking contracted-out services for central government offices, defining the job title in each case. [18118]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 2 December 1997]: I will answer for the Department, the Pesticides Safety Directorate (PSD) and the Farming and Rural Conservation Agency (FRCA). Chief Executives of the Department's other Agencies will be replying direct.
  265
  Staff in the Department, PSD and FRCA are salaried. They are not paid by the hour and, in common with other Government Departments, only two geographical rates of salary exist—London and National. However, I am able to provide data based on salary levels divided by normal full-time working hours of 36 hours per week in London or 37 hours elsewhere.

  (a) for full-time employees the lowest hourly rate using a formula based on the above is as follows:

  Job Title

  Administrative assistant

  London pay rate

  £4.13 per hour

  National pay rate

  £3.42 per hour

  (b) for part-time employees in the same grade, the above rates are paid according to the number of hours they work.

  (c) employees in the same grade on fixed term contracts are also paid at the above rates.

  (d) the rates of pay of employees of firms in the private sector undertaking contracted-out services are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Letter form T.W.A. Little to Mr. David Chidgey, dated 3 December 1997:
  The Minster has asked me to reply to your question about the lowest hourly rate paid to staff within the VLA.
  Staff in this Agency are salaried and are not paid by the hour. However, I am able to provide data based on salary levels divided by normal full-time working hours of 36 hours per week in London or 37 hours elsewhere.
  In the VLA there are no geographical distinctions in pay.

  (a) For full-time employees the lowest hourly rate using a formula based on the above is an follows:

  Pay Band G

  Working 37 hours per week received £4.27 per hour

  Working 36 hours per week received £4.38 per hour

  (b) For part-time employees in the same grade the above rates are paid according to the number of hours they work.

  (c) Employees in the same pay band on personal contracts are also paid at the above rate.

  (d) This information is not available.

  At (c) we have regarded "personal contracts" as fixed term appointees.

  Letter from Michael Finnigan to Mr. David Chidgey, Dated 3 December 1997:
  The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and food has asked me to reply to your question about the lowest hourly rate paid to staff within the Farming and Rural Conservation Agency (FRCA).
  Staff in the FRCA are salaried and not paid by the hour. However, I am able to provide data based on salary levels divided by normal full-time working hours of 36 hours per week in London or 37 hours elsewhere.

  (a) For full-time employees the lowest hourly rate using a formula based on the above is as follows:

  Job Title: Administrative Assistant

  London pay rate: £4.13 per hour

  National pay rate: £3.42 per hour

  266

  (b) For part-time employees in the same grade, the above rates are paid according to the number of hours they work.

  (c) Employees in the same pay band on personal contracts are also paid at the above rate.

  (d) This information is not available.

  Letter from Professor P. I. Stanley to Mr. David Chidgey, dated 3 December 1997:
  The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has asked me to reply, in respect of the Central Science Laboratory (CSL), to your question concerning the lowest hourly rate paid to employees.
  Staff in CSL are salaried and are not paid by the hour. However, I am able to provide data based on salary levels divided by the normal full-time working hours of 37 per week.
  For full-time employees the lowest hourly rate, based on the formula above, is £3.62 per hour for a member of staff in the CSL Level 1 grade.
  For part-time employees in the same grade the above rate is paid according to the number of hours worked. Employees in the same grade on fixed-term contracts are also paid at the above rate. There are no geographical distinctions in the rates of pay.

  Letter from J.M. Rutter to Mr. David Chidgey, dated 3 December 1997:
  The Minister has asked me to reply to your question about lowest hourly rates of pay in the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD), as this is an operational matter for which I am responsible.
  Staff in the VMD are salaried and not paid by the hour. However, I am able to provide data based on salary levels divided by normal full time working hours of 36 hours per week. For full or part time staff the lowest rate is for an Administrative Assistant earning £4.13 per hour. We do not employ any staff on personal contracts in this grade, and the rates of pay of employees working for companies contracted by VMD are not held by VMD.

  Letter from Johnston McNeill to Mr. David Chidgey, dated 3 December 1997:
  As Chief Executive of the Meat Hygiene Services (MHS), your question to the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food enquiring about the lowest hourly rate paid to full-time employees, part-time employees and others has been passed to me for reply with regard to this Executive Agency.
  MHS staff are salaried and not paid by the hour. However I am able to provide data based on salary levels divided by normal full time and part time working hours of 37 and 16 hours per week respectively. MHS pay levels are on a national (Great Britain) basis and not differentiated by regional boundaries.
  For full time employees the lowest hourly rate is £4.00 per hour for the Office Junior post.
  For part time employees the lowest hourly rate is £5.29 hour for the Executive Assistant post.
  The MHS does not have any persons employed under personal contracts.
  The MHS employs the services of contract Official Veterinary Surgeons (OVSs) to carry out the enforcement of fresh meat hygiene, inspection and animal welfare at slaughter legislation in licensed premises. The MHS has no information of the rates of pay of such contract OVSs employed by private veterinary practices.

  Letter from P.W. Greig-Smith to Mr. David Chidgey, dated 3 December 1997:
  In response to your Parliamentary Question on hourly rates of pay, I have been asked to provide you with the relevant figures covering the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Agriculture Science (CEFAS).
  Staff in CEFAS are salaried and are not paid by the hour. However, we are able to provide an hourly rate, based on the salary level divided by normal full-time working hours of 37 hours per week.

  267

  (a) For full-time employees the lowest hourly rate using the above formula is as follows:

  Job Title: Administrative Assistant

  Hourly rate: £3.42

  (b) For part-time employees in the same grade, the above rate is paid according to the number of hours they work.

  (c) Employees in the same grade on personal contracts are also paid at the above rate.

  (d) The rates of pay of employees working for companies contracted by CEFAS are not known.

WALES

  Minimum Wage
  Mr. Hammond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received regarding the impact of a minimum wage on inward investment in Wales. [17481]

  Mr. Hain
  None.

  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received from trade unions in Wales on the minimum wage. [17487]

  Mr. Hain
  We have received one such representation—from the National Farmers Union of England and Wales.

  Youth Assembly
  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will introduce proposals to create a youth assembly for Wales to act in an advisory capacity to the main Welsh Assembly. [17482]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  This is an interesting suggestion that the Assembly itself might wish to consider in its attempt to listen to and represent the whole of Wales.

  Welsh Assembly
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how the standing orders of the Welsh Assembly will be formulated; and if he will make a statement. [17483]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  The Assembly's first standing orders will be prepared by a multi-party Commission and submitted to me for approval. I propose to appoint the Commission following Royal Assent to the Bill.

  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals the Government intend to make to accommodate the concerns of the areas that voted no in the referendum on the Welsh Assembly proposal. [17484]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  I propose to set up an advisory group to assist me in preparing guidance to the Commission which, subject to the provisions of the Government of Wales Bill, will draw up the Assembly's first standing orders. The advisory group will include people from different political parties and individuals with expertise in a range of fields such as business, local government and the voluntary sector. There will be opportunities for organisations and individuals from all parts of Wales to put their views to the advisory group.

  Mr. Collins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to publish further details of how the Welsh Assembly will operate. [17494]
  268
  Mr. Ron Davies
  The Government of Wales Bill was published on 27 November 1997. It establishes principles of openness, accountability and integrity under which the Assembly will operate. Standing Orders, prepared by Commissioners appointed by me and representing a wide range of political and other interests in Wales, will provide detailed working arrangements for the Assembly.

  Ms Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what progress has been made in establishing an independent body to advise on matters relating to the Welsh Assembly. [17480]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  The White Paper stated that a multi-party Commission would be appointed to draft the Assembly's first standing orders. I propose to appoint that Commission following Royal Assent to the Government of Wales Bill. In the meantime I propose to set up an advisory group to assist me in preparing guidance to the Standing Orders Commission. The National Assembly Advisory Group will consider matters such as: the Assembly's decision-making arrangements, its business procedures, and the responsibilities of Assembly members. There will be opportunities for organisations and individuals around Wales to put their views to the advisory group. The group will include members from different political parties as well as individuals with expertise in a range of fields such as business, local government and the voluntary sector. I am pleased to announce that the Chairman of the National Assembly Advisory Group will be John Elfed Jones CBE. He is currently chairman of International Greetings plc. and a former chairman of the Welsh Language Board and of Welsh Water. He has extensive experience of both the private and public sectors in Wales. I am sure he will make an excellent chairman of the group. I expect to announce the names of the other members of the group shortly.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Ms Julie Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when his review of the PH will be completed; and if he will make a statement. [17485]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  I announced details of my priority PFI schemes together with local authority Pathfinder projects at the Welsh Grand Committee meeting in Mold on 30 June.

  Opencast Mining
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the environmental effects of opencast mining. [17488]

  Mr. Hain
  National planning policy on opencast mining is set out in Minerals Planning Guidance Note 3 "Coal Mining and Colliery Spoil Disposal". The guidance provides a policy framework for local authorities and the industry to ensure that environmental considerations are taken into account into assessing proposals for opencast mining. A consultation paper seeking views on opencasting has been distributed widely, inviting comments by 5 December.

  All-Wales Agri-environment Scheme
  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what progress is being made in developing the all-Wales agri-environmental scheme. [17489]

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Clwyd, South (Mr. Jones) on 18 November 1997,official report, Welsh Grand Committee, column 42.

  Uniform Business Rate
  Mrs. Laing
  To ask the Secretary of State of State for Wales what representations he has received regarding the uniform business rate from Welsh businesses. [17490]

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  We have received six representations from Welsh businesses regarding the uniform business rate on their own or other properties.

  Health Service Waiting Lists
  Mr. Walter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to reduce hospital waiting lists in Wales. [17491]

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  Along with Emergency Admissions and ensuring that adequate intensive care facilities are available, cutting waiting lists and reducing waiting times continue to be a key priority for the Government and the NHS in Wales. I have recently announced plans to develop a strategy which will include fresh thinking and a new approach for a more effective means to tackle waiting lists and waiting times and their causes.

  I expect the £9.548 million of additional money allocated to the NHS this year, will significantly help to ease the pressures on the health and social care system during the winter period while also restraining the growth in waiting lists and waiting times.

  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the trend is in health service waiting lists in Wales; and what target he is working to for the next 12 months. [17493]

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  Between September 1996 and September 1997 the numbers of people in Wales waiting over six months for their first outpatient appointment have reduced by some 14 per cent., from 9,664 to 8,340 and since September 1994 by 74 per cent. from 31,825.

  Those waiting over 12 months in Wales for inpatient or day case admission rose by 28 per cent. between September 1996 and September 1997 from 5,345 to 6,810 but since September 1994 decreased by 2 per cent. from 6,953.

  Over 90 per cent. of patients are seen within the times set out in the Patient's Charter, but I am determined to improve on this and recently announced plans to develop a waiting times strategy which will include fresh thinking and a new approach to tackle the problems of waiting lists and waiting times.

  Hill and Upland Farming
  Mr Livsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will introduce measure to assist the hill and upland farm sector in Wales. [17492]
  270
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  An announcement on the outcome of the autumn review of Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowances will be made shortly. In addition, I am working to introduce an all-Wales agri-environment scheme, and to develop the Welsh Food Strategy so that Welsh agriculture is better able to compete in the long term.

  Health Service Trusts
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the national health service trust reconfiguration exercise. [17495]

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  I launched the reconfiguration exercise to improve the quality of hospital and community health services in Wales through the establishment of a more effective and efficient structure of NHS Trusts. It is expected that the review will lead to improvements in the planning and delivery of services to patients, the replacement of competition between Trusts and a new collaborative approach and the transfer of considerable resources from management and administration towards direct patient care.

  Rare Cattle Breeds
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he is taking to promote the farming of rare Welsh beef cattle breeds. [17496]

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  None—The Vaynol and White Park are the only rare breeds of cattle in Wales.

  Inward Investment
  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much inward investment there has been in Wales since 1 May. [17497]

  Mr. Hain
  In the period 1 May to 31 October 1997, the Welsh Development Agency has recorded inward investment projects which promise 4,939 new and safeguarded jobs and capital investment of just over £250 million.

  Local Government Finance
  Mrs. Betty Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the Welsh Local Government Association concerning next year's financial settlement. [17498]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  I discussed the 1998–99 settlement with the Welsh Local Government Association at the Welsh Consultative Council on Local Government Finance meeting of 27 October. I have given careful consideration to the Association's views in making the proposals for the revenue settlement which I announced to the House yesterday.

  Teachers
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the prospects for LEAs in Wales being able to employ additional teachers; and if he will make a statement. [17949]
  271
  Mr. Hain
  Staffing levels in schools are a matter for local education authorities and governing bodies in the light of their statutory duties and their perception of local needs and priorities. An additional £50 million is being made available for revenue spending in schools in Wales in 1998–99, the great bulk of which will be included in school budgets.

  Smoking
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of NHS spending on treatment for people suffering smoking-related diseases in the most recent available year; and if he will make a statement. [17945]

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  Smoking contributes to a number of illness and disabilities, the treatment costs for which are not all readily identifiable from estimates of primary and acute service costs.

  The last estimate of the cost was compiled for the Health Promotion Authority for Wales in 1993 on research and surveys carried out in the late 1980s and early 1990s. This indicated that the annual cost to the NHS in Wales was in the region of £34 million per annum at 1992–93 prices.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much his Department spent on smoking cessation initiatives in each of the last three years; what his estimate is of expenditure in (i) 1997–98 and (ii) 1998–99; and if he will make a statement. [17944]

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  Responsibility for national health promotion initiatives in Wales, such as smoking cessation initiatives, rests with the Health Promotion Authority for Wales. Expenditure on smoking cessation initiatives is as follows:

  1994–95 £

  1995–96 £

  1996–97 £

  1997–98 £

  Campaigns

  255,825

  337,183

  214,862

  185,620

  Pilot projects

  154,837

  13,213

  140,828

  —

  Research

  584

  55,291

  38,426

  46,400

  European funded work

  —

  —

  34,542

  36,000

  Total

  411,246

  405,687

  428,658

  268,020

  Plans for 1998–99 have yet to be finalised but expenditure is expected to be in the region of £300,000.

  The above information relates to initiatives directed solely at smoking. Smoking cessation advice also features strongly in other general health promotion initiatives funded by the Authority.

  Vandalism in Schools
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what measures he is taking to assist LEAs in combating out-of-hours vandalism in their schools. [17947]

  Mr. Hain
  £1.25 million has been allocated for school security measures, divided on a formula basis to the 22 LEAs under the Grants for Education Support and Training (GEST) programme in 1997–98. I recently announced the successful bids under the New Deals for 272
  Schools for which an additional £5.025 million capital funding is available this financial year; over £650,000 was allocated for improvements to school security.

  Police Numbers
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many police officers there are per head of population in(a) Wales and (b) the North Wales Constabulary area; and if he will make a statement. [17946]

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  Provisional figures as at 30 September 1997, provided by the Home Office, show that there were 226 officers per 100,000 population for Wales as a whole and 209 officers per 100,000 population in the North Wales police force area.

  Windfall Tax (Education Authorities)
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much Welsh local education authorities have received from the windfall tax; what that figure is expressed as a per capita figure for Welsh school students; and if he will make a statement. [18209]

  Mr. Hain
  £5.025 million capital funding for schools has been allocated in 1997–98 to Welsh local authorities from the windfall tax. This equates to £10.12 per capita for Welsh school students. A further £15.076 million per annum will be available each year between 1998–99 and 2001–02.

  Government Estate (Sales)
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what items of the Government estate in Wales are planned to be sold; and if he will make a statement. [18210]

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  Of the items shown in the recently published National Asset Register as being in the ownership of the Welsh Office there are plans to dispose of the following properties.

  Ely Hospital, Cardiff

  1 Neville Street, Cardiff

  Clinic at Gelli Deg

  Mid-Wales Hospital, Talgarth

  Brynhyfred Hospital, Forden

  Land at Pen Y Gores Health Centre, West Glamorgan

  Former ambulance station, Fishguard

  Pen y Fal Hospital, Abergavenny

  Oakdale Clinic

  Former clinic, Meas y Cymmer

  Former ambulance station, Bargoed

  Land at Llanfrecha Grange, Cwmbran

  Pontypool Hospital

  Land, Griffithstown

  Land, Brynmawr Clinic

  Land, Bettws Clinic

  Varteg radio mast site

  Llynfi Hospital, Swansea

  WHCSA Stores, Garngoch, Swansea

  Bridgend Hospital

  Garth Mor Neath

  Druid Hospital, Llangefni

  Valley Hospital

  273

  Broughton Hospital

  St. David's Hospital, Bangor

  North Wales Hospital, Denbigh

  Groesfynydd Conwy

  Land, Blackbridge, Near Holyhead.

  In addition surplus land and buildings acquired by agreement or compulsory purchase in connection with Trunk Road improvement schemes are disposed of at the earliest opportunity.

  The following NDPBs are involved in land acquisition and disposals as a normal part of their business:

  Land Authority for Wales

  Welsh Development Agency

  Development Board for Rural Wales

  Cardiff Bay Development Corporation.

  Health Service Administration
  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what net savings have been made since 1 May in

  TEC funding 1990–91 to 1997–98

  1 1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  2 1997–98

  Gwent3

  2,489

  16,320

  17,769

  16,647

  17,284

  16,018

  22,163

  24,098

  Mid Glamorgan3

  10,038

  18,722

  20,048

  18,777

  18,994

  16,376

  15,839

  14,630

  North East Wales4

  5,756

  10,679

  10,622

  9,742

  9,590

  10,018

  9,580

  —

  North West Wales4

  1,619

  12,167

  12,770

  13,333

  14,489

  13,266

  13,491

  —

  CELTEC4

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  21,551

  Powys

  nil

  4,676

  4,474

  4,148

  4,908

  4,749

  4,844

  4,304

  South Glamorgan

  2,076

  10,852

  12,089

  11,863

  13,499

  11,444

  13,344

  13,714

  West Wales

  15,728

  20,659

  27,395

  27,284

  27,077

  29,787

  29,851

  27,770

  1 1990–91 was the development phase of TECs in Wales. The network was completed in April 1991.

  2 All figures are outturns except those for 1997–98 which show the funding initially contracted with each TEC.

  3 The boundaries between Gwent and Mid Glamorgan TECs changed from 1 April 1996 when Gwent took over responsibility for the Rhymney Valley.

  4 As from 1 April 1997 North East Wales TEC and North West Wales TEC merged to form CELTEC.

  Ministerial Announcements
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many ministerial announcements have not been made in the first instance to the House; and of those how many were(a) speeches to outside bodies, (b) press releases, (c) press briefings and (d) made by other means, since 1 May; and if he will make a statement about his Department's policy in respect of making public ministerial announcements. [18896]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  The information requested is not readily available, and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  It is my policy that major announcements should be made to the House whenever possible and this is usually the case. However there are cases, particularly when Parliament is not sitting, when this is not possible.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much money was spent on housing benefit for residents for(a) houses in multiple occupation, (b) the
  274
  administration within the health service; if he will itemise these; and what proportion they constitute of the target savings. [18504]

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  Information on health authority and Trust savings is not collected in year. Figures for this year will be available from the 1997–98 audited accounts, which will be available on 1 August 1998.

  The general efficiency target of 2.7 per cent. that health authorities and trusts have been asked to meet should release £38 million into patient care, including some £1.8 million from trust management costs. In addition, there should be £2.3 million in ongoing savings from the reorganisation of health authorities, and the suspension of the 8th wave of GP Fundholding released £1.9 million immediately.

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what has been the level of public funding per year for each training and enterprise council in Wales since they were established. [18657]

  Mr. Hain
  The information requested is in the following table.

  rest of the private rented sector, (c) council housing and (d) other social housing; and what was the average cost per person in each case. [16511]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  I have been asked to reply.

  The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is set out in the table.

  Housing benefit expenditure in Wales

  Estimated expenditure 1996–97 £ million

  Average weekly amounts 1996–97 £.p

  Rent rebates for council tenants

  280

  34.20

  Rent allowances for private rented sector tenants, (excluding housing associations)

  163

  46.40

  Rent allowances for housing association tenants

  78

  41.80

  Sources:

  Departmental Report and Housing Benefit Management Information System.

  Note:

  There is no information available specific to tenants of houses in multiple occupation.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Disability Benefits
  Mr. Denis Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many benefit claimants have been required to complete form IB50 in relation to the all work test during the last 12 months; how many of these have then been required to attend for a medical examination; and how many claimants have been required to complete form IB50 and/or attend a medical examination on more than one occasion. [17030]

  Mr. Denham
  The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is set out in the table.

  October 1996 to September 1997

  Number of questionnaires (IB50s) issued

  11,465,120

  Number of examinations performed

  2 675,424

  1 100 per cent. scan of the Incapacity Benefit Computer. Excludes a small number of clerically processed cases.

  2 The figures quoted for the number of examinations will include cases where the questionnaire was issued prior to October 1996. Information provided by Benefits Agency Medical Service central data unit. Includes all work test and own occupation test examinations.

  Income Support
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claimants of income support who are also claiming support for mortgage interest payments there are currently in each government office region. [16637]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is set out in the table.

  GSS region

  Income support

  Jobseeker's allowance (IB)

  London and South East

  99,000

  39,000

  North

  16,000

  5,000

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  27,000

  8,000

  East Midlands

  20,000

  6,000

  East Anglia

  9,000

  3,000

  South West

  26,000

  8,000

  West Midlands

  31,000

  9,000

  North West

  46,000

  10,000

  Wales

  23.000

  4,000

  Scotland

  17,000

  5,000

  Great Britain

  313,000

  98,000

  Note:

  The information in the table shows income support/income based jobseeker's allowance claimants with mortgage interest by Government Standard Statistical Region in November 1996.

  Source:

  Income Support and Jobseeker's Allowance Quarterly Statistical Enquiries—November 1996.

  National Insurance (Actors)
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans she has to alter the treatment of actors in respect of class 1 national insurance contributions. [16906]
  276
  Mr. Denham
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Northavon (Mr. Webb) on 20 November 1997,official report, column 294.

  Pensioners
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what the administrative cost is of the disbursement of the extra money for pensioners announced by the Chancellor in his Green Budget, as a proportion of its value. [18975]

  Mr. Denham
  The information is not yet available. Precise operational arrangements will depend on the Regulations currently being drafted.

  Lone Parents
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion of lone parents on income support receive child maintenance; and what is the average amount of child maintenance received(a) by all such parents and (b) by those with non-zero receipt. [18885]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  At February 1997, there were 1,020,0001 lone parents receiving Income Support. Of these, 67,0001 had maintenance taken into account in their Income Support assessment. In addition, there were 300,0002 lone parents on Income Support with a full maintenance assessment using the Child Support Agency's collection service, of whom 160,000 had an assessment of more than nil.

  Information on the proportion of absent parents actually paying maintenance is not separately available for these cases. But, where payments were made they were retained by the Secretary of State to offset Income Support.

  Where maintenance was taken into account in the Income Support assessment, the average weekly payment was £27.761. for those lone parents on Income Support using the Agency's collection service, average child support assessments were £16.602. The average assessment excluding those where the assessment was nil was £32.302.

  The receipt of regular maintenance is a key part of the Government's strategy for helping lone mothers move off income support into work. We are determined to ensure that the Child Support Agency provides an effective and efficient service in assessing and collecting the amounts of maintenance which are due.

  Sources:

  1 Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiry—February 1997.

  2 Child Support Agency Quarterly Summary of Statistics—February 1997.

  Ministerial Announcements
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many ministerial announcements have not been made in the first instance to the House; and of those how many were(a) speeches to outside bodies, (b) press releases, (c) press briefings and (d) made by other means, since 1 May; and if she will make a statement about her Department's policy in respect of making public ministerial announcements. [18900]
  277
  Ms Harman
  The Department of Social Security has made 21 minor ministerial announcements by press notice since 1 May, which were not made in the first instance to Parliament; two of these were contained in speeches to outside bodies; three involved press briefings.

  No other announcements have been made by the Department by other means.

  When Parliament is in session, all significant announcements are made in the first instance to Parliament.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Cabinet Office (Information Technology)
  Mr. Ruffley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what contracts for services the Cabinet Office(a) has entered into since 2 May and (b) is proposing to enter into with (i) the Digital Equipment Company and (ii) Microsoft Corporation, or any of their subsidiaries. [18982]

  Dr. David Clark
  Since 2 May, the Cabinet Office (including the Prime Minister's Office and the Office of Public Service) and its agencies have entered into the following contracts:

  (i) With the Digital Equipment Company, the Prime Minister's Office has engaged some 4.5 days technical support to re-configure existing Digital equipment.

  (ii) With Microsoft, an existing contract for the provision of telephone support services for the Property Advisers to the Civil Estate has been renewed. The Prime Minister's Office has entered into a contract for telephone support of Microsoft products used in No. 10.

  278
  In addition, the Central Office of Information, for which I also have responsibility, took out a Microsoft Annual Incident Contract and Technet Licence for support of Microsoft products.

  The services of the Digital Equipment Company are being used to design a replacement CAB-E-NET system under the terms of a contract with the Cabinet Office awarded in 1996 after a full and open competition complying with EC and GATT rules, for which Digital are working with Microsoft. This work does not involve a new contract.

  No new contracts with either organisation are presently foreseen.

  Mr. Ruffley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what contracts for installing or supplying a replacement to the CAB-E-NET information technology system have been put out to open tender. [18980]

  Dr. David Clark
  The services of the Digital Equipment Company are being used to design a replacement CAB-E-NET system under the terms of a contract with the Cabinet Office awarded in 1996 after a full and open competition complying with EC and GATT rules.

  Mr. Ruffley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what discussions Ministers have had with representatives of(a) the Digital Equipment Company or Microsoft Corporation or any of their subsidiaries, regarding the replacement of the CAB-E-NET information technology system. [18981]

  Dr. David Clark
  Ministers in my Department have had no discussions with representatives of(a) the Digital Equipment Company and (b) Microsoft, or any of their subsidiaries, regarding the replacement of the CAB-E-NET information technology system. Discussions about the design of such a replacement have taken place at official level under a pre-existing contract with Digital.

  Museum Visits
  Museum Visits
  The Barnett Formula
  The Barnett Formula
  Inheritance Tax
  Inheritance Tax
  House of Commons Medals Cabinet: Gulf War Medal
  House of Commons Medals Cabinet: Gulf War Medal
  Scotland: Religious Observance in Non-denominational Schools
  Scotland: Religious Observance in Non-denominational Schools
  MGN plc: Flotation
  MGN plc: Flotation
  Lambeth Firearms Amnesty
  Lambeth Firearms Amnesty
  "Grand Theft Auto" Computer Game
  "Grand Theft Auto" Computer Game
  Youth Justice: Responses to Consultation
  Youth Justice: Responses to Consultation
  Terminally Ill Patients
  Terminally Ill Patients
  Terminally Ill Patients: Care
  Terminally Ill Patients: Care
  Drug Prescription by Dentists
  Drug Prescription by Dentists
  Service Personnel and NHS Waiting Lists
  Service Personnel and NHS Waiting Lists
  Smoking-related Disease: Treatment Costs
  Smoking-related Disease: Treatment Costs
  Compulsory Competitive Tendering
  Compulsory Competitive Tendering
  Best Value Duty
  Best Value Duty