Written Answers of 10 December 1997

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Employment Trading Schemes
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what proposals there are to exempt local employment trading schemes from benefit calculations undertaken by local government. [18930]

  Mr. Raynsford
  Local government does not undertake any benefit calculations on behalf of my Department. For information on benefit calculations undertaken on behalf of the Department for Social Security, I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given today by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Social Security, my hon. Friend the Member for Southampton, Itchen (Mr. Denham).

  Telecommunications Masts
  Mr. Prior
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on planning regulations in respect of the building of telecommunication masts in the countryside. [19331]

  Mr. Raynsford
  Planning regulations governing the building of telecommunications masts in the countryside are found in the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995. This grants a general planning permission for certain telecommunications masts providing the mast is erected by a telecommunications code system operator licensed by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry under the Telecommunications Act 1984;
  the mast does not exceed 15 metres in height;
  the mast is not erected in a National Park, area of outstanding natural beauty, conservation area, or the Broads; and
  the mast is not refused prior approval by the local planning authority within the period allowed under the Order. The authority must be given the opportunity to say whether they wish to approve, within 28 days, details of the mast's siting and appearance. The authority may refuse approval if they consider there to be a serious threat to amenity.

  A full application for planning permission is normally required for any mast which does not meet these criteria.

  Road Deaths (A38 Cornwall)
  Mr. Breed
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many fatalities have occurred as a result of accidents on the A38 in Cornwall in each of the last 10 years. [19250]
  544
  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The numbers of fatalities on the A38 in Cornwall in the past ten years are as follows:

  Total number of fatalities on A38 Cornwall: 1987–1996

  Year

  Number of fatalities

  1987

  1

  1988

  3

  1989

  5

  1990

  6

  1991

  2

  1992

  3

  1993

  0

  1994

  4

  1995

  3

  1996

  6

  Advisers
  Mr. Hawkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many(a) special advisers, (b) task force members and (c) review body members his Department employs; what is the total salary and benefits of (a) to (c); and what was the equivalent cost prior to 1 May. [19302]

  Dr. Strang
  There are six paid special advisers in DETR. Two of these are employed on a part time basis each working for half of the week. Prior to 1 May, there were four special advisers in the Department of the Environment and one in the Department of Transport. Special Advisers are paid within a range of £24,349 to £73,484. Their salaries are negotiated individually and are confidential within this range. Details are not provided in order to protect the privacy of the individuals concerned.

  DETR sponsors eight task forces and review panels. The members of these bodies are drawn from bodies including local authorities. The voluntary sector, industry, green bodies and academics. Some members are unpaid or are paid expenses only. Where members are paid their fees are negotiated individually and remain confidential. Information on the membership of task forces and review panels prior to 1 May is not held centrally.

  Local Government (Political Activity)
  Mr. Wood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many local government posts are subject to regulations on political activity; and how many officials have been disciplined under these regulations in each of the last three years. [19256]

  Mr. Raynsford
  I understand that about 47,000 local government posts in England and Wales are politically restricted under the Local Government and Housing Act 1989. Information on the number of officials who have been disciplined under these regulations is not held centrally.

  National Parks
  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what account is taken of PPG Note 22 in determining applications for visible power generation in national parks and areas of outstanding natural beauty. [19564]
  545
  Mr. Raynsford
  Local planning authorities are expected to have regard to relevant published statements of national planning policy, including Planning Policy Guidance notes, in the exercise of their planning functions. PPG22 states that in assessing proposals in designated areas there is a need to take full account of the specific features or qualities which justified designation.

  London Underground
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on current expenditure on the modernisation of the London underground service; and if he will list the current modernisation projects. [19810]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  London Transport expect to invest some £324 million in the Underground network in 1997–98 (excluding investment in the Jubilee Line Extension and in Private Finance Initiative projects). We are looking urgently at public-private partnerships for the Underground in order to increase this level of investment substantially and to create a modern, reliable Underground system.

  Among the larger projects completed or in progress this year are the installation of a new signalling and control system on the Central Line, the refurbishment of the East London Line, the modernisation of stations at the southern end of the Northern Line (including Tooting Bec and Tooting Broadway) and investment in new trains for the Northern Line under a PFI contract with GEC-Alsthom.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the standard spending assessment per head of population for each English shire county in ascending order(a) for 1996–97 and (b) under the draft 1998–99 settlement. [19944]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The figures for shire counties are shown in the tables enclosed. Note that the provisional 1998–99 and settlement 1996–97 Standard Spending Assessment figures are not comparable owing to changes in local government responsibility and local government reorganisation affecting Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Derbyshire, Dorset, Durham, East Sussex, Hampshire, Leicestershire, Staffordshire and Wiltshire in 1997 and Berkshire, Cambridgeshire, Cheshire, Devon, Essex, Hereford and Worcester, Kent, Lancashire, Nottinghamshire and Shropshire in 1998.

  (a) 1996–97 standard spending assessment per head of resident population in ascending order for shire counties

  Local authority

  Standard spending assessment (£/head)

  Surrey

  544

  Oxfordshire

  553

  Warwickshire

  555

  Hereford and Worcester

  556

  Wiltshire

  559

  Dorset

  561

  Hampshire

  572

  Norfolk

  572

  Somerset

  572

  546

  (a)1996–97 standard spending assessment per head of resident population in ascending order for shire counties

  Local authority

  Standard spending assessment (£/head)

  Gloucestershire

  574

  West Sussex

  576

  Staffordshire

  580

  Derbyshire

  582

  Suffolk

  583

  Cambridgeshire

  586

  North Yorkshire

  595

  Devon

  596

  Cheshire

  596

  East Sussex

  597

  Shropshire

  603

  Nottinghamshire

  605

  Lincolnshire

  607

  Berkshire

  608

  Leicestershire

  610

  Northamptonshire

  614

  Cumbria

  614

  Essex

  617

  Cornwall

  617

  Durham

  621

  Buckinghamshire

  621

  Lancashire

  625

  Hertfordshire

  635

  Kent

  644

  Bedfordshire

  645

  Northumberland

  652

  (b) 1998–99 Provisional standard spending assessment per head of resident population in ascending order for shire counties

  Local authority

  Standard spending assessment (£/head)

  Cambridgeshire

  573

  Surrey

  580

  Oxfordshire

  583

  Hampshire

  584

  Dorset

  587

  Wiltshire

  590

  Worcestershire

  590

  Leicestershire

  591

  Warwickshire

  597

  Derbyshire

  605

  West Sussex

  608

  Somerset

  610

  Norfolk

  613

  Gloucestershire

  613

  Shropshire

  615

  Suffolk

  616

  Nottinghamshire

  618

  Staffordshire

  620

  Cheshire

  623

  Devon

  624

  Buckinghamshire

  631

  North Yorkshire

  632

  East Sussex

  643

  Lincolnshire

  645

  Essex

  650

  Durham

  658

  Cumbria

  659

  Northamptonshire

  659

  Cornwall

  659

  Bedfordshire

  668

  Lancashire

  671

  Hertfordshire

  681

  Kent

  684

  Northumberland

  686

  Airport Signs
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will require operators of major airports to display signs in languages in addition to English. [19788]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  [holding answer 9 December 1997]: No. The UK follows the Recommended Practice on international signs contained in the Chicago Convention, Annex 9, provision 6.9, published jointly by the International Civil Aviation Organisation and the International Maritime Organisation for use at airports and Ports. Among the general principles set out in the joint publication (Document 9636) are that as far as possible symbols should be used without words on signs at airports and Ports.

  Drink-driving Campaign
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what resources have been allocated for the campaign to deter drink-driving over the Christmas period. [19843]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  [holding answer 9 December 1997]: The Department has allocated £1.9 million to the 1997 Christmas Drink/Drive campaign. The campaign uses national television supported by cinema and radio advertising. Print material for use in pubs, clubs and restaurants and by road safety officers has also been distributed.

  The Department's campaigns have over the years helped to change the general public's attitude to drink driving to a point where such behaviour is no longer generally acceptable. Deaths have fallen from 1,643 in 1979 to 540 in 1993 and remain steady at this level.

  This year's campaign takes a new approach and addresses those drivers who deceive themselves that they know how much they can drink and still be safe to drive, and who fail to recognise the increased risk they pose to themselves and other road users.

  Rural Development Commission
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will appoint a new Chairman of the Rural Development Commission; and what criteria he will apply in making the appointment. [19748]

  Mr. Meacher
  [holding answer 9 December 1997]: We will appoint someone to chair the Commission, as soon as possible. Criteria include appropriate knowledge and experience, and the ability to take up the appointment without too much delay.

  Registered Fishing Vessels
  Mr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to introduce regulations governing the carriage of survival suits on board all United Kingdom registered fishing vessels. [19554]
  548
  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The 1993 Protocol to the International (Torremolinos) Convention for the Safety of Fishing Vessels, though not yet in force, will require the carriage of immersion suits on larger new vessels. Its provisions will be applied within the European Union during 1999 by means of a Directive for a harmonised safety regime for fishing vessels of 24 meters in length and above. Accordingly, we will introduce regulations to require the carriage of immersion suits on new vessels of 24 meters in length and above. We have no plans to extend this requirement to other UK registered fishing vessels without further consultation with the industry.

  Vehicle Safety
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what progress he has made towards the introduction of measures to improve the safety of coaches and minibuses with particular reference to the transit of school children; and what additional measures he has evaluated. [19689]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Seat belts already have to be provided for children being taken on organised trips in coaches first used after 1 October 1988 and in all minibuses. From 10 February next year this requirement will also apply to older coaches.

  We take the adequacy of seat belts very seriously. We are therefore proposing that all belts in minibuses and coaches are checked at the annual MOT test, and also that the Vehicle Inspectorate include the condition of all minibus and coach seat belts in the random roadside inspections which they carry out. We have consulted on details and hope to announce shortly how we intend to take this forward.

  Mixed Oxide Fuel
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the risk of terrorist activity associated with the United Kingdom's export of mixed oxide fuel. [18496]

  Mr. Battle
  I have been asked to reply.

  Measures designed to minimise the risk of terrorist activity directed against nuclear materials in transit are reviewed constantly in the light of the risk assessments by the government's security experts.

  All international movements of nuclear material carried out by the UK comply fully with the requirements of the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material and with the international guidelines on physical protection published by the IAEA.

  Road Licences (Revocation)
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many licences have been rescinded by the Traffic Commissioners, following inquiries, over the last six months. [19691]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  During the 6 months ended 30 September 1997 the Traffic Commissioners revoked a total of 73 goods vehicle operator and public service vehicle operator licenses following disciplinary Public Inquiries.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Numeracy
  Mrs. Ballard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to introduce proposals for numeracy hours for schools; and if he will make a statement. [19753]

  Mr. Byers
  Numeracy and literacy are at the centre of the Government's drive to raise standards in schools. The Numeracy Task Force was set up in May and is expected to publish a consultative report in January. The length and content of teaching time for mathematics in primary schools will be covered in the report.

  Departmental Information
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will place in the Library a copy of the internal departmental guidance on the dissemination of information; and if he will make a statement. [16298]

  Dr. Howells
  The Department has no specific internal guidance about the dissemination of information but it has made available to its staff details of the Six Central Government Standards for correspondence, appointments, information, consultation, complaints and access. The third of these deals with providing information about services.

  In general terms, the Department follows the Conventions of Central Government Publicity and Advertising in all of the information it makes available to the public via publicity materials and campaigns. It also follows the centrally agreed rules (currently being revised) for the Government Information Service when it supplies information to the media.

  Finally, the Department's staff have been made aware of the requirements of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information to ensure openness.

  Training (Road Haulage)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps he is taking to safeguard training provision in the road haulage industry. [16679]

  Dr. Howells
  In July this year, the Road Haulage and Distribution Training Council was recognised by the Secretary of State as a National Training Organisation, one of a growing network of National Training Organisations currently being established. NTOs have the key responsibility for developing education and training arrangements in their sectors. TECs play a major role in the provision of training and contract with employers and training providers in that sector.

  Out-of-school Hours Activities
  Mr. Randall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what provision has been made in the current year for out-of-school hours activities(a) in general and (b) by training and enterprise councils. [19107]
  550
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The Department makes funds available for after-school childcare under the Out of School Childcare Initiative (OSCI). The Initiative is delivered locally by Training and Enterprise Councils (TECs) who have drawn up strategic plans which best meet the needs of their local labour market. For 1997–98 we made £4.1 million available under OSCI to create 7,200 new places.

  We have made a further £50 million available for OSCI over the next five years as part of the £300 million investment in childcare announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer. For 1998–99, this means that funding has more than doubled (from £4.1 million to £10.1 million) and will create 20,000 new places. The Initiative has already created some 78,000 places and offers parents, especially women, the opportunity to participate more fully in the labour market by increasing the supply of good quality, affordable out of school childcare.

  University Tuition Fees
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the proposed arrangements to means test parents or spouses for the payment of tuition fees; what procedure will be adopted for parents or spouses of EU students; and if he will make a statement. [19185]

  Dr. Howells
  New entrants to higher education in 1998–99, including EU students, who are eligible for a mandatory award will be eligible for assistance with their fees if they are from a lower income family. A parental or spouse's contribution to the award will be assessed by the student's local education authority in accordance with the provisions in the Education (Mandatory Awards) Regulations for 1998–99 which will be laid before Parliament in due course. The means test arrangements will be the same as for 1997–98, subject to any changes which may be needed to ensure that it applies properly to EU citizens, and will ensure that the assessed contribution will be no greater in real terms than this year.

  Disability Discrimination Act
  Mr. Cotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is his Department's current estimate of the proportion of businesses which are exempted from the employment provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 due to the exemption under the legislation for employers with fewer than 20 employees. [19352]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  Around 95 per cent. of private employers have fewer than 20 employees and are therefore exempt from the employment provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. There are also many businesses which have no employees and are therefore not covered by the Act's employment provisions.

  On 3 December, I announced the beginning of a review of the exemption provision, including a wide-ranging consultation exercise.

  School Sport
  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what arrangements are in place for OFSTED to report to him on the range and quality of games offered as part of the PE curriculum. [19487]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools reports to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment on schools' compliance with the National Curriculum. This includes the National Curriculum for physical education, in which games is a compulsory area of activity for all five to 16 year-olds.

  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what proportions of(a) primary and (b) secondary schools are providing two hours or more per week for physical education; what proportions of (a) and (b) offer extra-curricular sport; and what is the average time spent on extra-curricular sport in (a) and (b). [19473]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  This information is not collected or held centrally.

  Further Education
  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the expenditure per student on capital projects within the further education sector for each year from 1978–79 to 1998–99. [17402]

  Dr. Howells
  It is not possible to give figures since 1978–79 on a comparable basis. The following figures show capital expenditure in £s per full-time equivalent student in further education in England since the establishment of the FE sector.

  Academic years

  11993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  FEFC funded

  166

  278

  244

  1 The figure for 1993–94 relates to the 16 months April 1993–July 1994.

  Student Funding
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will give details of the support that will be available to students in England and Wales through mandatory awards and student loans in the academic year 1998–99. [20568]

  Dr. Howells
  The total level of support available to students through grant and loan together in 1998–99 will be 3 per cent. higher than for 1997–98 in line with forecast price increases. I am placing a Memorandum in the Library giving full details of the new grant, loan and fee rates for 1998–99. These rates will be incorporated in the Education (Mandatory Awards) Regulations and the Education (Student Loans) Regulations to be laid before Parliament in due course.

  Special Educational Needs
  Mr. Casale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when the 1996–97 annual report of the President of the Special Educational Needs Tribunal will be published; and if he will make a statement. [20567]
  552
  Ms Estelle Morris
  The report has been published today and copies have been placed in the Library.

  I welcome the report. It demonstrates that the SEN Tribunal has achieved a great deal over the last year and has continued to meet and improve upon its targets for dealing with appeals.

  The Tribunal provides a valuable and independent mechanism for considering appeals. It is to the credit of all those working for the Tribunal—the President, members and staff—that it has gained a reputation for fairness and impartiality, whilst also ensuring that its hearings are as informal as possible.

  A great deal has been achieved over the three year life of the Tribunal and I am confident that it will continue to build on its excellent record.

  General Teaching Councils
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if teachers working in the independent sector will be required to register with the appropriate general teaching council. [19851]

  Mr. Byers
  It will be open to teachers in independent schools who have Qualified Teacher Status to choose to register with the GTC but they will not be required to do so for the purposes of continued employment.

  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment in what circumstances(a) non-practising teachers and (b) retired teachers will be allowed to register with the GTC; and how he proposes to collect their fees. [19849]

  Mr. Byers
  Retired or non-practising teachers will be free to choose to register with the GTC, provided they have Qualified Teacher Status, but will not be required to do so. We shall look to the GTC, when established, to decide how their registration fees will be collected.

  National Education Initiatives (Consultation)
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on consultation with teachers at school level on the introduction of national education initiatives. [19992]

  Mr. Byers
  The Government recognises the key role teachers have to play in raising standards in schools. All major consultation documents have been sent to schools as well as to the teacher associations. They responded in kind: 1,800 teachers or groups of teachers responded to the White Paper "Excellence in schools".

  Head Teachers (Professional Qualifications)
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to involve existing head teachers in the new professional headship qualification; and if his Department will fund in full the training costs for existing head teachers. [19850]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH) is designed for aspiring head teachers rather than those already in post. We have asked the Teacher Training Agency to develop a separate training programme for existing head teachers, based on the same standards as the NPQH, for
  553
  introduction from September 1998. Support for heads following the training programme will be available through the Standards fund at the normal 50 per cent. grant rate.

  Nursery Places
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what progress has been made in providing nursery for four-year-olds. [19993]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  Seventy-nine Local Education Authorities have in place an interim Early Years Development Plan which demonstrates how, through partnership between the maintained, private and voluntary sectors, a free good quality early education place is available for all four year-olds whose parents want one. By April 1998 all will have Early Years Development Plans in place, showing how places for four-year-olds in their areas will be secured through partnership by September 1998.

DEFENCE

  Defence Contracts
  Ms Dari Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about negotiations with the companies involved in the payment of commissions to Gordon Foxley relating to defence contracts. [20507]

  Mr. Spellar
  On 31 July 1997,Official Report, columns 466–67, I announced that a settlement had been reached with the second of the three companies involved in the Foxley case, Junghans GmbH of Germany, under which the company paid an agreed sum in redress to the Ministry of Defence. The company became eligible from that time to be considered for Ministry of Defence orders, but normal commercial relations were not to be resumed for some months while the operation of the agreement was monitored. I am pleased to report that the company has continued to co-operate fully with the MOD since that date, including provision of full access to their relevant accounting records, and has satisfied us in respect of its management arrangements and approach to future contracts. We have therefore decided to resume normal commercial relations with the company.

  MOD officials have had positive discussions with Simmel, the other company involved in the Foxley case, against whom proceedings are still in train.

  Ministerial Announcements
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 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. [18894]

  Dr. Reid
  [holding answer 3 December 1997]: All major policy announcements are made to Parliament first when it is sitting. Since 1 May, my Department has made over 50 announcements by Press Release, including some relating to public speeches and Parliamentary
  554
  announcements. Press briefings are often held to give further explanation to an announcement. In some cases, the importance of the subject matter may not warrant the issue of a Parliamentary announcement, a press notice as well as a press briefing or mention in a speech.

  Royal Yacht
  Ms Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what decision he has reached on the future of Her Majesty's yacht Britannia. [20508]

  Mr. George Robertson
  I have decided that Britannia should be preserved for the wider public benefit, subject to the conclusion of satisfactory arrangements to safeguard her future appearance and use. Following an initial sift earlier this year on a wide range of proposals, seven very imaginative ideas have been considered in detail. I am grateful to all the organisations for their enthusiasm and hard work. Two proposals have been assessed as offering the best prospects for successful preservation, namely those for Edinburgh (Forth Ports plc) and Manchester (Peel Holdings plc). These two proposals stood out from all the rest with firm, costed plans for the appropriate preservation and care of Britannia, and finance already in place. Detailed discussions will begin on these with a view to a final decision in the Spring. Her Majesty the Queen has been kept closely advised.

  RAF Quedgeley
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proposals his Department has for the future ownership of sites at RAF Quedgeley; and what is the current status of the development brief on options for the sites. [19688]

  Mr. Spellar
  RAF Quedgeley consists of several sites. The Main Site, is currently being advertised for sale inviting expressions of interest for the freehold on a Joint Venture basis. Gloucester City Council have identified the Main Site as being potentially suitable for redevelopment and are preparing a Planning Brief for the site and surrounding area. The brief will identify the opportunities and constraints for redevelopment.

  The outlying sites, known as No. 2, 4 and 6 Sites, were marketed earlier this year. Site Nos 2 and 6 have been sold. We expect to exchange Contracts for Sale shortly in respect of Site No. 4.

  British Army Weapons (Northern Ireland)
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what(a) number and (b) type of British Army weapons and of what description have been lost, stolen or otherwise unaccounted for in Northern Ireland in each of the past 10 years; how many of these weapons are believed to have fallen into the hands of (a) Republican and (b) Loyalist paramilitaries; and how many have been recovered subsequently. [19496]

  Dr. Reid
  The figures currently available relating to the numbers and types of British Army weapons lost, stolen or otherwise unaccounted for in each of the past 10 years is set out in the table below. These include the number of weapons believed to have fallen in the hands of(a) Republican and (b) Loyalist paramilitaries and the number of weapons recovered subsequently.
  555

  1988

  Serial

  Weapon

  Loyalist

  Republican

  Not Known

  Total

  Recovered

  (a)

  (b)

  (c)

  (d)

  (e)

  (f)

  (g)

  1

  Handgun

  —

  2

  2

  4

  3

  2

  Rifle

  —

  1

  1

  2

  1

  3

  Sub Machine Gun

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  4

  Light Machine Gun

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  5

  Medium Machine Gun

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1989

  Serial

  Weapon

  Loyalist

  Republican

  Not known

  Total

  Recovered

  (a)

  (b)

  (c)

  (d)

  (e)

  (f)

  (g)

  1

  Handgun

  3

  1

  4

  8

  5

  2

  Rifle

  1

  —

  1

  2

  1

  3

  Sub Machine Gun

  —

  —

  1

  1

  1

  4

  Light Machine Gun

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  5

  Medium Machine Gun

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1990

  Serial

  Weapon

  Loyalist

  Republican

  Not Known

  Total

  Recovered

  (a)

  (b)

  (c)

  (d)

  (e)

  (f)

  (g)

  1

  Handgun

  1

  —

  6

  7

  3

  2

  Rifle

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3

  Sub Machine Gun

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  4

  Light Machine Gun

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  5

  Medium Machine Gun

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1991

  Serial

  Weapon

  Loyalist

  Republican

  Not known

  Total

  Recovered

  (a)

  (b)

  (c)

  (d)

  (e)

  (f)

  (g)

  1

  Handgun

  —

  2

  3

  5

  4

  2

  Rifle

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3

  Sub Machine Gun

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  4

  Light Machine Gun

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  5

  Medium Machine Gun

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1992

  Serial

  Weapon

  Loyalist

  Republican

  Not known

  Total

  Recovered

  (a)

  (b)

  (c)

  (d)

  (e)

  (f)

  (g)

  1

  Handgun

  1

  —

  4

  5

  2

  2

  Rifle

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3

  Sub Machine Gun

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  4

  Light Machine Gun

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  5

  Medium Machine Gun

  —

  1

  —

  1

  1

  1993

  Serial

  Weapon

  Loyalist

  Republican

  Not known

  Total

  Recovered

  (a)

  (b)

  (c)

  (d)

  (e)

  (f)

  (g)

  1

  Handgun

  —

  —

  1

  1

  —

  2

  Rifle

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3

  Sub Machine Gun

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  4

  Light Machine Gun

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  5

  Medium Machine Gun

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  556 557

  1994

  Serial

  Weapon

  Loyalist

  Republican

  Not Known

  Total

  Recovered

  (a)

  (b)

  (c)

  (d)

  (e)

  (f)

  (g)

  1

  Handgun

  —

  1

  4

  5

  3

  2

  Rifle

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3

  Sub Machine Gun

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  4

  Light Machine Gun

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  5

  Medium Machine Gun

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1995

  Serial

  Weapon

  Loyalist

  Republican

  Not Known

  Total

  Recovered

  (a)

  (b)

  (c)

  (d)

  (e)

  (f)

  (g)

  1

  Handgun

  —

  —

  2

  2

  2

  2

  Rifle

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3

  Sub Machine Gun

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  4

  Light Machine Gun

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  5

  Medium Machine Gun

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1996

  Serial

  Weapon

  Loyalist

  Republican

  Not known

  Total

  Recovered

  (a)

  (b)

  (c)

  (d)

  (e)

  (f)

  (g)

  1

  Handgun

  —

  —

  3

  3

  2

  2

  Rifle

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3

  Sub Machine Gun

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  4

  Light Machine Gun

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  5

  Medium Machine Gun

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1997

  Serial

  Weapon

  Loyalist

  Republican

  Not Known

  Total

  Recovered

  (a)

  (b)

  (c)

  (d)

  (e)

  (f)

  (g)

  1

  Handgun

  —

  —

  1

  1

  1

  2

  Rifle

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3

  Sub Machine Gun

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  4

  Light Machine Gun

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  5

  Medium Machine Gun

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Athletics (Lottery Funds)
  Mr. Gorrie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will consider using Lottery funds available for athletics to revive the British Athletics Federation or create a successor body. [19773]

  Mr. Banks
  UK Athletics 1998, an interim successor body to the British Athletics Federation, was announced on 28 November. The United Kingdom Sports Council is proposing to make a significant investment through its Exchequer funding to support the body during its envisaged 12 months' life. The Government welcomes the formation of this new body and very much hopes that the consultation process which the new body is to manage will be the first step to establishing the most effective structures for athletics in this country. I am pleased that the United Kingdom Sports Council has been able to assist with this process.

  Professional Athletics Coaching
  Mr. Gorrie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to help the British Athletics Federation to extend professional athletics coaching throughout the country. [19772]

  Mr. Banks
  A grant of £1.46 million has been awarded to British athletics by the National Lottery Sports Fund for their World Class Performance Plan, an agreed development programme for 195 of our top athletes. This includes provision for the employment of a Performance Director and four Technical Directors, as well as support for 18 National Event Coaches. This will ensure that our top athletes have access to the professional coaching they need to achieve greater success on the world stage. A separate stand-alone company has been established to receive the Lottery Grant and manage the programmes set out in the World Class Performance Plan.

  The British Athletics Federation is currently in administration following a High Court decision on 13 October to appoint Insolvency Practitioners to advise on its future administration. As part of the process for

  559
  setting up a new governing body, the Trustees of its interim successor, UK Athletics 1998, will be examining how new structures for coach education can be established so that in future athletes at all levels receive appropriate coaching.

TREASURY

  Duty Free
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of(a) the number of jobs in the UK directly related to the duty free sector and (b) the value of UK spirit sales in the duty free sector in (i) the UK and (ii) the rest of the EU in the last year for which figures are available. [19747]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 9 December 1997]: Information requested is not available.

  Income Tax
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answers of 13 November 1997,Official Report, columns 620–21, and 2 December 1997, Official Report, column 167, if he will model the effect on the number of people of working age who face combined marginal rates of withdrawal of tax, national insurance contributions and means-tested benefits of (a) under 50 per cent., (b) 50 to 59 per cent., (c) 60 to 69 per cent., (d) 70 to 79 per cent., (e) 80 to 89 per cent. and (f) 90 per cent. or above of introducing a 10 pence starting rate of income tax on (i) the first £1,000, (ii) the first £1,500 or (iii) the first £2,000 of taxable income if no other changes were made to the tax and benefit system. [19501]

  Dawn Primarolo
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 2 December 1997,Official Report, column 167.

  Comprehensive Spending Review
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the progress being made towards completion fo the Comprehensive Spending Review. [19938]

  Mr. Darling
  The Comprehensive Spending Review is proceeding in accordance with the timetable I indicated in my announcement on 11 June. I expect the Review to conclude next summer.

  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the timing of the production of Government expenditure plans from 1999–2000 onwards, in relation to the timing of the announcement of the results of the Comprehensive Spending Review. [19937]

  Mr. Darling
  The conclusions of the Comprehensive Spending Review will inform the new set of public expenditure plans for 1999–2000 onwards. The Review is on course to report next summer.

  Economic Growth
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the medium-term trend rate of growth of the economy. [19956]
  560
  Mr. Darling
  The recent Pre-Budget Report (Cm 3804) sets out some of the key elements of the Government's approach to raising the trend rate of growth of the economy. Appendix A of the report includes a separate section on trend growth (paragraphs A08–A16).

  Growth and Inflation
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the risks to the economic outlook for growth and inflation, as set out in the "Pre-Budget Report". [19934]

  Mrs. Liddell
  As an indication of the degree of uncertainty surrounding the economic outlook, table A3 of the Pre-Budget Report includes average errors in autumn forecasts over the past ten years.

  Tax and National Insurance
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the per cent. of GDP which will be accounted for by non-North Sea taxes and national insurance contributions in the financial year 2001–02; and if he will list the ratio for each year since 1975. [19931]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Figures for non-North Sea taxes and social security contributions as a percentage of non-North Sea GDP from 1970–71 to 1998–99 were given in table B9 of the Pre-Budget Report. Projection for later years are as follows:

  1999–2000: 37.7

  2000–2001: 38.1

  2001–2002: 38.5

  Departmental Receipts
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his policy on the use by departments of monies realised by disposal of surplus departmental assets; if departmental spending plans will be adjusted by the Treasury to offset such receipts; and if he will make a statement. [19952]

  Mr. Darling
  I refer the hon. Member to the measures set out in my answer of 24 November to my hon. Friend the Member for East Ham (Mr. Timms) when I announced the publication of the National Asset Register on 24 November,Official Report, columns. 359–60.

  Incontinence Products (VAT)
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when his Department first published its intention to apply the standard rate of VAT to incontinence products. [19716]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 8 December 1997]: The wholesale supply of incontinence products has been

  561
  standard-rated since 1973. Supplies have been zero-rated since 1984 when made direct to handicapped persons, but this relief has been manipulated as part of an avoidance scheme designed to gain a tax advantage. The Value Added Tax (Drugs, Medicines and Aids for the Handicapped) Order 1997, laid before Parliament on 18 November 1997, has restored the position.

  Supplies of incontinence products remain VAT-free to the user, either under the NHS or as part of healthcare in the private sector.

  VAT (Health Service)
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consultations he undertook and representations he received concerning the proposals in the Value Added Tax (Drugs, Medicine and Aids for the Handicapped) Order 1997 (S.I., 1997, No. 2744). [18977]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 3 December 1997]: The Order addresses a number of tax avoidance arrangements. Full consultations were therefore not undertaken. However, this Government announced its intention to legislate on 13 August 1997. Customs conducted very limited consultation, including with the health Departments. The Order was amended following their comments.

  Statistics
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will restate Table B4 of Cm 3804 to show for(a) 1996–97, (b) 1997–98 and (c) 1998–99 updated figures based on the accounting definitions and measurement conventions of the previous plans as published in Cm 3601. [19265]

  Mr. Darling
  [holding answer 8 December 1997]: The following table shows table B4 of Cm 3804, the Pre-Budget Report, based on the accounting definitions and measurement conventions used in Cm 3601, Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses 1997–98.

  General Government expenditure

  £ billion

  Outturn 1996–97

  Estimate 1997–98

  Forecast 1998–99

  Control Total

  260.6

  266.5

  274.2

  Welfare to Work spending

  —

  0.2

  1.2

  LA spending under the capital receipts initiative

  —

  0.2

  0.7

  Cyclical social security

  14.0

  12.7

  13.5

  Central government debt interest

  22.0

  24.6

  25.0

  Accounting adjustments

  10.8

  9.8

  10.3

  GGE(X)

  307.4

  314.0

  324.8

  562

  General Government expenditure

  £ billion

  Outturn 1996–97

  Estimate 1997–98

  Forecast 1998–99

  Privatisation proceeds

  -4.4

  -2.0

  0.0

  Other adjustments

  5.2

  6.1

  6.6

  GGE

  308.1

  318.1

  331.4

  There are three differences as compared with the table published in the Pre-Budget Report:

  (i) The full receipt from the student loanbook sale (including the capitalised value of future subsidies) is scored as reducing general government expenditure (GGE) in 1997–98 and 1998–99;

  (ii) Local authority debt interest payments ultimately financed by the housing element of the central government housing subsidy are included in the Control Total;

  (iii)Certain licence fee receipts are excluded from the Control Total.

  These differences do not affect the PSBR.

  The Control Total figure for 1998–99 reflects the decision not to proceed with the commutation of £4.5 billion of local authorities housing debt to central government that was assumed in the 1997–98 FSBR. The commutation was cancelled because it would have had a net cost to the government and the PSBR, mainly because of administrative costs, and because it had no merits in terms of housing policy. However, it appeared to reduce public spending because of an anomaly in the old definition of the Control Total which scored both the subsidy paid to local authorities' housing revenue accounts by central government and the interest payments by local authorities that the subsidy financed. As the Pre-Budget Report announced, this double counting has now been removed from the Control total.

  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish an expanded version of table B4 of Cm 3804 to show(a) a disaggregation of the Control Total in each year by Department as in table 1.2 of Cm 3601, but adjusting for machinery of government and classification changes, and separately identifying releases from the Reserve for 1997–98 and 1998–99, (b) the use of windfall tax proceeds for uses other than Welfare to Work spending and (c) lottery-financed spending separately from other adjustments identified in the reconciliation of GGE(X) and GGE. [19266]

  Mr. Darling
  [holding answer 8 December 1997]: The following table shows the figures for table B4, with the departmental elements of the Control Total and lottery-financed spending identified separately. Differences from previous plans, which are allocations from and benefits to the Reserve, are identified separately for 1997–98 and 1998–99. Further details on these changes are set out in the answer I gave today to my hon. Friend the Member for East Ham (Mr. Timms). Figures for spending financed by the windfall tax were set out in table 2.1 of the Financial Statement and Budget Report July 1997, HC85.
  563

  Control total by department

  £ billion

  Plans

  Differences from previous plans1

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1997–98

  1998–99

  Defence

  21.4

  21.0

  22.2

  -0.2

  —

  Foreign Office

  1.1

  1.1

  1.1

  —

  —

  Department for International Development

  2.3

  2.2

  2.3

  —

  —

  Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

  4.2

  3.7

  3.4

  —

  —

  Trade and Industry

  2.7

  3.0

  2.8

  -0.1

  —

  Export Credits Guarantee Department

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  DETR—Transport

  4.8

  5.2

  4.6

  —

  —

  DETR—Housing

  5.9

  5.1

  5.6

  -0.2

  —

  DETR—Urban and Environment

  2.4

  2.3

  2.0

  0.1

  —

  DETR—Local Government

  31.3

  31.4

  32.8

  —

  0.9

  Home Office

  6.5

  6.9

  6.9

  —

  —

  Legal Departments

  2.7

  2.7

  2.7

  —

  —

  Education and Employment

  14.5

  14.1

  13.4

  0.2

  —

  Department for Culture, Media and Sport

  1.0

  0.9

  0.9

  —

  —

  Health

  33.8

  35.2

  36.7

  0.2

  1.0

  Social Security

  77.0

  80.1

  83.9

  0.2

  0.9

  Scotland

  14.5

  14.5

  14.6

  0.2

  0.2

  Wales

  6.8

  6.9

  7.0

  —

  0.1

  Northern Ireland

  8.0

  8.2

  8.3

  —

  0.1

  Chancellors' Departments

  3.2

  3.2

  3.1

  —

  —

  Cabinet Office

  1.2

  1.1

  1.4

  —

  —

  European Communities

  1.7

  1.8

  2.4

  -0.5

  0.1

  Local authority self-financed expenditure

  12.7

  13.1

  13.6

  —

  —

  Further EYF takeup

  —

  0.7

  —

  0.7

  —

  Reserve

  —

  1.4

  2.0

  -0.9

  -3.0

  Control total

  259.9

  265.8

  273.5

  0

  0

  Welfare to Work spending

  —

  0.2

  1.2

  —

  —

  LA spending under the capital receipts initiative

  —

  0.2

  0.7

  —

  —

  Cyclical social security

  14.0

  12.7

  13.5

  —

  —

  Central government debt interest

  22.0

  24.6

  25.0

  —

  —

  Accounting adjustments

  11.5

  11.1

  11.5

  —

  —

  GGE(X)

  307.3

  314.6

  325.4

  —

  —

  Privatisation proceeds

  -4.4

  -2.0

  —

  —

  —

  National Lottery

  0.4

  1.2

  1.5

  —

  —

  Other adjustments

  4.9

  4.9

  5.1

  —

  —

  GGE

  308.1

  318.7

  332.1

  —

  —

  1 After adjusting plans published in the Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses, Cm 3601, for the effects of classification and transfer changes, including a switch of £530 million from the Department for Education and Employment to the DETR Local Government programme for Nursery Vouchers and a switch of £350 million from the DETR Local Government programme to the Department of Health for Community Care, both in 1998–99. There is a real terms income in overall provision for education in 1998–99.

  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table, revising table S2.6 of the Pre-Budget publication, The Economy and the Public Finances; Supplementary Material, to show(a) changes between the Financial Statement and Budget Report 1997–98 and FSBR July 1997, (b) changes between FSBR July 1997 and the Pre-Budget Report November 1997 and (c) changes between FSBR 1997–98 and the Pre-Budget Report: November 1997. [19269]

  Mr. Darling
  [holding answer 8 December 1997]: Table A shows the changes between the 1997–98 FSBR (published in November 1996) and the July 1997 FSBR. Table B gives changes between the July 1997 FSBR and the November 1997 Pre-Budget Report. Changes between the 1997–98 FSBR and the November 1997 Pre-Budget Report are given in table C.
  564

  Table A: Changes between the July 1997 FSBR and the 1997–98 FSBR1

  £ billion

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  Expenditure

  Control Total

  -0.2

  0.0

  0.0

  Welfare to work spending

  —

  0.2

  1.2

  LA spending under the capital receipts initiative

  —

  0.2

  0.7

  Cyclical social security

  0.0

  -0.5

  -0.3

  CG debt interest

  0.1

  -0.2

  0.0

  Accounting adjustments

  1.1

  0.9

  0.8

  GGE(X)

  0.9

  0.6

  2.5

  Privatisation proceeds

  0.1

  0.0

  1.5

  Other adjustments

  -0.5

  -0.2

  0.1

  Total GG expenditure

  0.5

  0.4

  4.1

  Receipts

  Income tax

  1.3

  4.7

  7.8

  Corporation tax

  1.6

  2.9

  2.6

  565

  Table A: Changes between the July 1997 FSBR and the 1997–98 FSBR1

  £ billion

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  Windfall tax

  —

  2.6

  2.6

  Value added tax

  -0.8

  -0.7

  -1.2

  Excise duties

  -0.4

  -0.6

  -1.5

  Other taxes

  3.5

  1.6

  2.8

  Social security contributions

  0.7

  0.4

  0.4

  Other receipts

  -0.4

  -1.9

  -0.9

  Total GG receipts

  5.5

  8.9

  12.4

  Public corporations' market and overseas borrowing

  1.3

  0.2

  0.1

  PSBR

  -3.6

  -8.3

  -8.2

  1 For explanatory footnotes see table S2.6 of the Economy and Public Finances Supplementary Material.

  Table B: Changes between the Pre-Budget Report and July 1997 FSBR1

  £ billion

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  Expenditure

  Control Total

  0.2

  0.0

  0.0

  Welfare to work spending

  —

  0.0

  0.0

  LA spending under the capital receipts initiative

  —

  0.0

  0.0

  Cyclical social security

  -0.3

  -1.0

  -0.5

  CG debt interest

  -0.3

  0.0

  0.5

  Accounting adjustments

  -0.6

  -0.4

  0.1

  GGE(X)

  -1.0

  -1.3

  0.1

  Privatisation proceeds

  0.0

  0.0

  0.0

  Other adjustments

  0.1

  -0.1

  0.0

  Total GG expenditure

  -0.9

  -1.4

  0.1

  Receipts

  Income tax

  -0.4

  -1.0

  -0.4

  Corporation tax

  0.1

  0.2

  -0.5

  Windfall tax

  —

  0.0

  0.0

  Value added tax

  0.0

  0.1

  0.0

  Excise duties

  0.0

  -0.6

  -0.6

  Other taxes

  0.1

  0.5

  0.1

  Social security contributions

  0.0

  0.0

  0.2

  Other receipts

  -0.8

  0.2

  0.7

  Total GG receipts

  -0.9

  -0.6

  -0.5

  Public corporations' market and overseas borrowing

  -0.2

  -0.6

  0.0

  PSBR

  -0.2

  -1.4

  0.6

  1 This table differs from table S2.6 of the Pre-Budget Report in that it adjusts for the changed accounting treatment of the student loans sale (see paragraph S2.24 of the Pre-Budget Report) and corrects small errors in the 1996–97 outturn data for corporation tax, VAT and other receipts.

  566

  Table C: Changes between the Pre-Budget Report and the 1997–98 FSBR

  £ billion

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  Expenditure

  Control Total

  0.0

  0.0

  0.0

  Welfare to work spending

  —

  0.2

  1.2

  LA spending under the capital receipts initiative

  —

  0.2

  0.7

  Cyclical social security

  -0.3

  -1.5

  -0.8

  CG debt interest

  -0.2

  -0.2

  0.6

  Accounting adjustments

  0.5

  0.5

  0.9

  GGE(X)

  -0.1

  -0.7

  2.6

  Privatisation proceeds

  0.1

  0.0

  1.5

  Other adjustments

  -0.4

  -0.2

  0.1

  Total GG expenditure

  -0.4

  -1.0

  4.2

  Receipts

  Income tax

  0.9

  3.7

  7.3

  Corporation tax

  1.7

  3.1

  2.1

  Windfall tax

  —

  2.6

  2.6

  Value added tax

  -0.8

  -0.6

  -1.3

  Excise duties

  -0.4

  -1.3

  -2.2

  Other taxes

  3.6

  2.1

  2.9

  Social security contributions

  0.7

  0.4

  0.6

  Other receipts

  -1.2

  -1.8

  -0.2

  Total GG receipts

  4.6

  8.4

  11.9

  Public corporations' market and overseas borrowing

  1.2

  -0.4

  0.1

  PSBR

  -3.8

  -9.7

  -7.7

  Private Finance Initiative
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will update the table 6.4 of the Financial Statement and Budget Report 1996–97 for the Private Finance Initiative, to show(a) outturns for each year from 1990–91 to 1995–96, (b) a comparison of the table 6.4 projections with outturns for 1996–97 and (c) comparisons of table 6.4 projections with current projections for 1997–98 and 1998–99. [19267]

  Mr. Darling
  [holding answer 8 December 1997]: Table 1 shows latest figures for publicly sponsored capital expenditure. The differences between the latest figures and the projections for 1996–97 to 1998–99 shown in both the Financial Statement and Budget Report 1996–97 (published in November 1995) and the Financial Statement and Budget Report 1997–98 (published in November 1996) are given in table 2.
  567

  Table 1: Public sector capital expenditure1

  £ billion

  Outturn

  Projection

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–972

  1997–98

  1998–99

  Central government

  9.6

  10.3

  10.9

  9.8

  9.1

  8.7

  7.1

  6.0

  6.9

  Local authorities3

  5.9

  7.0

  7.2

  6.7

  7.3

  7.2

  6.4

  6.8

  7.1

  Public corporations4

  2.0

  2.0

  3.6

  3.4

  4.2

  4.7

  4.4

  4.7

  4.3

  Notional allocation of the Reserve

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0.2

  Total public sector capital expenditure

  17.5

  19.3

  21.6

  19.9

  20.6

  20.6

  17.9

  17.6

  18.6

  Estimated capital expenditure under the Private Finance Initiative

  —

  —

  —

  0.1

  0.2

  0.4

  1.0

  2.7

  3.7

  Total publicly sponsored capital expenditure

  17.5

  19.3

  21.6

  20.0

  20.8

  21.0

  18.9

  20.3

  22.3

  Memo: Public sector capital5

  gross of depreciation

  20.7

  21.6

  23.5

  21.3

  21.7

  21.3

  18.0

  17.6

  18.4

  net of depreciation2

  9.7

  11.8

  14.2

  12.1

  12.1

  11.2

  8.6

  8.2

  8.9

  1 Figures are shown for the national accounts definition of capital spending (including expenditure out of the proceeds of the National Lottery). See paragraph 5A.10.

  2 Outturn figures for 1996–97 are not yet final and will be subject to revision.

  3 The figure for local authority capital spending in 1997–98 corrects that used in preparing figures for the Pre-Budget Report. Cm 3804, which was £0.3 billion too high. The figure for net capital spending in Table B1 of the Pre-Budget Report is therefore inconsistent with the figure shown here for public sector capital expenditure net of depreciation.

  4 Excluding the capital expenditure of industries privatised or planned to be privatised before 31 March 2000.

  5 Including industries now privatised while they were in the public sector.

  Table 2: Public sector capital expenditure: changes

  £ billion

  Differences since FSBR November 1995

  Differences since FSBR November 1996

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  Central government

  -1.0

  -1.7

  -0.6

  0.2

  -0.2

  —

  Local authorities

  -0.1

  0.7

  1.2

  -0.9

  0.5

  1.2

  Public corporations3

  -1.2

  -0.6

  -0.7

  -1.1

  -0.4

  -0.2

  Notional allocation of the Reserve

  -0.2

  -0.5

  -0.6

  —

  -0.2

  -0.3

  Total public sector capital expenditure

  -2.5

  -2.2

  -0.7

  -1.8

  -0.4

  0.7

  Estimated capital expenditure under the Private Finance Initiative

  -0.9

  0.1

  1.0

  -0.1

  0.2

  —

  Total publicly sponsored capital expenditure

  -3.5

  -2.1

  0.3

  -1.9

  -0.2

  0.8

  Insurance Premium Tax
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of tax loss resulting from value-shifting within the travel industry and the basis on which the tax loss has been estimated. [19664]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The evidence to date suggests that the higher rate of insurance premium tax has prevented any tax loss from value shifting in all those business sectors where it has been applied.

  Music Industry
  Mr. Collins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the representatives of the United Kingdom music industry he has met in his official capacity since 1 May. [18330]

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  I meet a wide range of people from all industries in the course of my duties as Chancellor, but since I became Chancellor I have not met a delegation specifically from the music industry.

  "Financial Statement and Budget Report"
  Mr. Timms
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish updated versions of tables 5A.4 and 5A.5 from the "Financial Statement and Budget Report 1997–98". [19125]

  Mr. Darling
  The attached tables are an update of the tables included in the Financial Statement and Budget Report. The figures for 1997–98 and 1998–99 are based on the plans announced in November 1996 and revised to take account of any announced changes in spending plans including the Summer Winter Supplementary Estimates.

  These figures include:
  the £1.2 billion allocated to the NHS and the £1 billion allocated to schools for 1998–99 in the July Budget.
  the additional £300 million for patient services in the NHS for this year announced in October.
  the extra £190 million provision this year and next for pensioners' fuel bills announced in the Pre Budget Report.

  569
  the effect of the abolition of nursery vouchers and the transfer of money to local authorities to fund their early year development plans.

  There are no figures for new plans for 1999–2000 and beyond as new plans will not be set until the completion of the Comprehensive Spending Review.

  In addition we have allocated substantial funds outside the Control Total; over £5 billion for the Welfare to Work programme and for investment in housing. the expected spending in 1997–98 and 1998–99 is shown in the following table. We have also announced a change in allocations from the National Lottery; £1 billion will be allocated over the next four years for the Government's priorities of health and education including spending on out of school activities and on National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts.

  Control total by department

  £ million

  Outturn

  Plans

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  Defence (excluding married quarters)

  22,910

  22,757

  22,562

  21,517

  22,345

  21,660

  22,250

  MoD Married Quarters

  —

  —

  —

  —

  -962

  -700

  —

  Foreign Office

  1,242

  1,244

  1,263

  1,339

  1,059

  1,100

  1,070

  Department for International Development

  2,126

  2,235

  2,385

  2,338

  2,343

  2,210

  2,320

  Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

  2,186

  2,937

  2,445

  2,827

  4,205

  3,740

  3,400

  Trade and Industry—Programmes

  2,812

  2,737

  2,811

  3,223

  3,092

  3,090

  3,020

  Trade and Industry—Nat Inds

  1,300

  1,278

  577

  25

  -394

  -100

  -180

  Export Cre Guar Department

  117

  -60

  -26

  16

  15

  10

  —

  DETR—Transport

  6,557

  5,959

  5,974

  4,619

  4,838

  5,220

  4,590

  DETR—Other

  10,371

  10,284

  9,635

  8,915

  8,300

  7,440

  7,530

  DETR—Local Government1

  31,175

  29,378

  29,913

  30,298

  31,321

  31,380

  32,760

  Memo: Education SSA1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  17,764

  17,840

  19,380

  Education and Employment1

  10,762

  13,616

  14,364

  14,449

  14,494

  14,090

  13,360

  Home Office

  5,824

  5,965

  6,259

  6,480

  6,532

  6,920

  6,860

  Legal Departments

  2,334

  2,415

  2,585

  2,684

  2,749

  2,710

  2,680

  Department for Culture, Media and Sport

  1,005

  977

  978

  1,026

  978

  890

  910

  Health

  28,212

  29,763

  31,575

  32,907

  33,817

  35,160

  36,700

  of which NHS

  27,970

  28,941

  30,570

  31,958

  33,044

  34,590

  36,120

  Social Security

  61,130

  67,091

  69,457

  72,748

  76,970

  80,060

  83,910

  Scotland1

  12,723

  13,580

  14,082

  14,312

  14,490

  14,500

  14,590

  Wales1

  5,992

  6,296

  6,551

  6,719

  6,820

  6.940

  6,980

  Northern Ireland1

  6,606

  7,108

  7,426

  7,717

  8,030

  8,230

  8,330

  Chancellors' Departments

  3,478

  3,393

  3,329

  3,288

  3,201

  3,180

  3,130

  Cabinet Office

  1,012

  1,054

  966

  1,248

  1,214

  1,050

  1,350

  European Communities

  1,912

  1,877

  1,268

  3,370

  1,717

  1,780

  2,440

  Local authority self-financed expenditure

  8,815

  7,999

  10,718

  12,887

  12,718

  13,100

  13,600

  Further EYF Takeup2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  700

  —

  Reserve

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1,400

  2,000

  Control total

  230,602

  239,885

  247,098

  254,952

  259,893

  265,800

  273,500

  1Education

  The £1 billion provided for schools in 1998–99 in the Budget has been added to support for local authorities and appear in the figures for DETR—Local Government, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The Education SSA line shows central government's provision for a nominal "standard level of service" in education. The amount of money is a broad indicator of local authority spending on education; the final decisions are made by individual local authorities. The Education SSA line includes the 1998–99 money transferred to DETR—LG following the abolition of nursery vouchers.

  The spending plans for the Department of Education and Employment are reduced on 1997–98 and 1998–99 by the expected proceeds from sales of student loans (£1.6 billion in each year). The apparent reduction in spending between 1997–98 and 1998–99 principally consists of transfers to other departments including DETR—Local Government and DSS. There is a real terms increase in overall provision for education in 1998–99.

  2 Further EYF Take-up

  This is the Treasury estimate of likely further take-up by departments before the end of 1997–98 of unspent provision carried forward from last year under the end-year flexibility rules. Some £450 million of EYF has already been taken up in the Winter Supplementary Estimates and is included in the departmental totals.

  570

  Expenditure outside the Control Total

  £ million

  1997–98

  1998–99

  Spending by programme1:

  A New Deal for the under 25s unemployed over six months

  100

  700

  A New Deal for people unemployed over two years

  0

  100

  A New Deal for lone parents

  0

  25

  Childcare2

  0

  40

  A New Deal for Schools

  100

  300

  Total expenditure

  200

  1,165

  Capital Receipts Initiative

  200

  700

  1 Illustrative levels of spending based on current levels of unemployment. Actual provision for any particular year will be decided in the light of the number of eligible people and the effectiveness of the programme.

  2 Including changes to Family Credit, and Out of School Clubs.

  571

  Control Total by department in real terms (1996–97 prices)

  £ billion

  Outturn

  Plans

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  Defence (excluding married quarters)

  25.3

  24.4

  23.8

  22.1

  22.3

  21.1

  21.1

  MoD Married Quarters

  —

  —

  —

  —

  -1.0

  -0.7

  —

  Foreign Office

  1.4

  1.3

  1.3

  1.4

  1.1

  1.1

  1.0

  Department for International Development

  2.3

  2.4

  2.5

  2.4

  2.3

  2.2

  2.2

  Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

  2.4

  3.1

  2.6

  2.9

  4.2

  3.6

  3.2

  Trade and Industry—Programmes

  3.1

  2.9

  3.0

  3.3

  3.1

  3.0

  2.9

  Trade and Industry—Nat Inds

  1.4

  1.4

  0.6

  0.0

  -0.4

  -0.1

  -0.2

  Export Cre Guar Dept.

  0.1

  -0.1

  0.0

  0.0

  0.0

  0.0

  0.0

  DETR-Transport

  7.2

  6.4

  6.3

  4.7

  4.8

  5.1

  4.3

  DETR-Other

  11.4

  11.0

  10.2

  9.2

  8.3

  7.2

  7.1

  DETR-Local Government1

  34.4

  31.5

  31.6

  31.1

  31.3

  30.6

  31.0

  Memo: Education SSA1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  17.8

  17.4

  18.4

  Education and Employment1

  11.9

  14.6

  15.2

  14.9

  14.5

  13.7

  12.7

  Home Office

  6.4

  6.4

  6.6

  6.7

  6.5

  6.7

  6.5

  Legal Departments

  2.6

  2.6

  2.7

  2.8

  2.7

  2.6

  2.5

  Dept. for Culture, Media and Sport

  1.1

  1.0

  1.0

  1.1

  1.0

  0.9

  0.9

  Health

  31.1

  31.9

  33.3

  33.8

  33.8

  34.2

  34.8

  of which NHS

  30.9

  31.0

  32.3

  32.8

  33.0

  33.7

  34.2

  Social Security

  67.4

  71.9

  73.3

  74.8

  77.0

  78.0

  79.5

  Scotland1

  14.0

  14.6

  14.9

  14.7

  14.5

  14.1

  13.8

  Wales1

  6.6

  6.7

  6.9

  6.9

  6.8

  6.8

  6.6

  Northern Ireland1

  7.3

  7.6

  7.8

  7.9

  8.0

  8.0

  7.9

  Chancellors' Departments

  3.8

  3.6

  3.5

  3.4

  3.2

  3.1

  3.0

  Cabinet Office

  1.1

  1.1

  1.0

  1.3

  1.2

  1.0

  1.3

  European Communities

  2.1

  2.0

  1.3

  3.5

  1.7

  1.7

  2.3

  Local authority self-financed expenditure

  9.7

  8.6

  11.3

  13.2

  12.7

  12.7

  12.8

  Further EYF Takeup2

  0.0

  0.0

  0.0

  0.0

  0.0

  0.7

  0.0

  Reserve

  0.0

  0.0

  0.0

  0.0

  0.0

  1.4

  1.9

  Control Total

  254.4

  257.1

  260.9

  262.0

  259.9

  258.8

  259.1

  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will update Table 6.5 of the Financial Statement and Budget Report 1996–97 to show comparisons of the outturns with Table 6.5 estimates for 1996–97, and comparisons of current estimates for 1997–98 and 1998–99 with such estimates for these years as appeared in Table 6.5 (FSBR 1996–97). [19268]

  Mr. Geoffrey Robinson
  [holding answer 8 December 1997]: The Government is wholly committed to PFI, and has wasted no time putting into place the changes needed to revitalise the initiative. Following consultation with PFI practitioners, Malcolm Bates' review identified a number of areas that warranted attention, and the Government has acted quickly to issue guidance and help from the centre, to encourage departments to set realistic priorities, to work on establishing standard templates to reduce the need for repetition of effort, and to put in place legislation to facilitate the flow-through of contracts in the health and local authority sectors. We are already seeing positive results, with contracts signed for two major hospitals, and education establishments at Clarendon College and Colfox School in Dorset.

  This table is compiled every six months. The latest version, set out below, represents the latest figures that have been collected centrally. These are estimates, and not targets to be met at any price. The Government's priority is to conclude good value for money projects. We are also promoting a wide range of other public-private partnerships, many of which would not be captured by this table:
  572

  Table 6.5 (FSBR 1996–97):

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  Total

  Defence

  30

  80

  210

  320

  FCO

  10

  10

  10

  30

  MAFF

  10

  20

  10

  40

  DTI

  10

  10

  10

  30

  Transport

  1120

  1320

  1260

  3700

  DfEE

  20

  40

  50

  110

  Environment

  30

  30

  30

  100

  Home Office

  50

  110

  60

  220

  Legal Departments

  10

  20

  10

  40

  National Heritage

  20

  30

  30

  80

  Health

  170

  200

  300

  670

  DSS

  130

  70

  100

  300

  Scotland

  140

  360

  420

  920

  Wales

  60

  150

  150

  360

  Northern Ireland

  50

  80

  80

  210

  Chx's departments

  40

  40

  30

  110

  Total

  1900

  2570

  2760

  7240

  Latest Estimates:

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  Total

  Defence

  50

  270

  390

  710

  FCO

  0

  20

  30

  50

  MAFF

  0

  0

  0

  0

  DTI

  0

  10

  10

  20

  Transport

  570

  1,220

  1,340

  3,130

  DfEE

  0

  10

  10

  20

  Environment

  70

  80

  140

  290

  Home Office

  120

  230

  160

  510

  Legal Departments

  10

  10

  10

  30

  National Heritage

  0

  20

  30

  50

  Health

  60

  110

  270

  440

  573

  Latest Estimates:

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  Total

  DSS

  80

  410

  170

  660

  Scotland

  20

  200

  510

  730

  Wales

  10

  10

  80

  100

  Northern Ireland

  0

  20

  50

  70

  Chancellor's departments

  0

  70

  240

  310

  Local Authorities

  0

  25

  315

  340

  Total

  1,000

  2,705

  3,745

  7,460

  Company Vehicles
  Mr. Levitt
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will provide tax relief on the use of company minibuses where they are used to reduce the use of private cars by employees; and if he will make a statement. [19243]

  Dawn Primarolo
  I have noted my hon. Friend's suggestion.

  Unemployment Figures
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will change the method of collating unemployment figures to that which was used in 1979. [19965]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Chief Executive of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Norman Baker, dated 10 December 1997:
  The Chancellor of the Exchequer has asked me to reply, as the Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), to your recent question on the method of collating unemployment figures.
  ONS uses the International Labour Organisation (ILO) measure of unemployment, derived from the quarterly Labour Force Survey (LFS), and counts as unemployed people who are: (a) without a paid job; (b) available to start work within the next two weeks and (c) have either looked for work in the last four weeks or are waiting to start a job already obtained. The LFS has used the ILO measure since 1984. Prior to this a slightly different definition was used. This included people who were without a paid job who were looking for work in the reference week, or prevented from seeking work by temporary sickness or holiday, or were waiting to start a job they had already obtained or were waiting for the results of a job application. Full-time students who were seeking work but who were not available to start work in the next two weeks because they had to complete their education were excluded. The LFS moved over to the ILO measure because it is defined on a consistent and internationally recognised basis and the ONS does not intend to revert to the earlier definition.
  Since October 1983, the ONS has also published the monthly claimant count, which is based on the administrative system and includes all people claiming unemployment-related benefits (i.e. Jobseeker's Allowance or National Insurance credits) at Employment Service offices on the day of the monthly count, who on that day had signed on as unemployed and available to do any suitable work. Essentially, all people who attend an Employment Service office to sign on the designated day are counted.
  No official estimates are available for current claimant count under any previous coverage as no information is available on how many people would be registered unemployed now, on the basis of old procedures which no longer exist. The effects of changes in the coverage of the monthly claimant count vary over time. Attempting to calculate their effects today would involve speculative estimates about economic, demographic and other factors.

  Methadone (Deaths)
  Dr. Iddon
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many deaths have been attributed to methadone in each region of the United Kingdom in each of the last five years. [19015]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Chief Executive of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Tim Holt to Dr. Brian Iddon, dated 10 December 1997:
  The Chancellor of the Exchequer has asked me to reply, as Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), to your recent parliamentary question on deaths attributed to methadone.
  The number of deaths in the United Kingdom for which methadone was mentioned on the death certificate are given in the table below, for 1993 to 1996.
  The deaths included correspond to those with an underlying cause of death of drug dependence, nondependent abuse of drugs, accidental poisoning, suicidal poisoning or poisoning undetermined whether accidentally or purposely inflicted.
  The figures include deaths attributed to methadone in combination with other drugs. In some cases, therefore, the deaths may not be directly or solely due to methadone.

  Deaths involving methadone in each region in the United Kingdom, 1993–1996

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  North

  3

  3

  19

  15

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  16

  28

  26

  33

  East Midlands

  10

  6

  10

  16

  East Anglia

  6

  14

  13

  18

  South East

  77

  87

  80

  105

  South West

  13

  4

  20

  31

  West Midlands

  15

  20

  12

  22

  North West

  70

  84

  93

  88

  Wales

  5

  8

  18

  16

  Scotland

  25

  55

  58

  101

  Northern Ireland

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Non-resident

  1

  2

  3

  7

  Total

  241

  311

  352

  452

  Note: Since 1993, the ONS has coded all diseases, injuries, drugs, operations and external causes mentioned on death certificates for England and Wales. This information is held electronically and we were able to extract data from 1993 to 1996. Comparable figures for years prior to 1993 could only be produced at disproportionate cost. A revised system for collecting information on drug-related deaths in Scotland was introduced in 1994. It is likely that the increase in numbers since 1993 is in part due to better information being provided by this new system.

  Self-assessment
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what criteria individuals were selected for self-assessment for income tax purposes; and how many people were so selected. [19335]

  Dawn Primarolo
  In broad terms, tax returns are issued to the self employed (including business partners), trustees, directors, employees liable to pay higher rate tax and some other employees with more complex affairs. Around nine million 1996–97 tax returns have been issued.

  Economic and Monetary Union
  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact of the United Kingdom joining EMU on funds invested in private pension provision in the United Kingdom. [18988]

  Mr. Denham
  I have been asked to reply.

  My right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, made it clear in his statement of 27 October that, whether the UK is in or out of EMU, the Government's assessment is that the financial services industry, including the pensions industry, has the potential to thrive as long as it is properly prepared.

  Ministerial Interests
  Mr. Lilley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the Paymaster General's press statement of 29 November (1) if the Orion Trust owns properties(a) in France, (b) in Italy and (c) elsewhere abroad which are used by the Paymaster General; [19007]

  (2) if he will list the trustees of the Orion Trust; when it was established; and what assets it possessed in the United Kingdom at that time; [19005]

  (3) if the Paymaster General' receives regular payments from the Orion Trust; [19714]

  (4) if the Paymaster General receives any benefits in kind from the Orion Trust. [19750]

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  [holding answers 4, 8 and 9 December 1997]: The Paymaster General has issued a detailed statement, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Lilley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the Inland Revenue has agreed the tax returns in which the Paymaster General reported the sale to the Orion Trust of shares that arose from the rights issue by Trans Tec. [19719]

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  [holding answer 8 December 1997]: The position under successive Governments has been that the law on taxpayer confidentiality prevents the Inland Revenue from disclosing any information relating to the tax affairs of any particular taxpayer.

  Mr. Lilley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he took to ensure that no conflict of interest arose as a result of the Paymaster General's role in sponsoring the working group on the financing of high technology companies and his beneficial interest in Trans Tec plc. [19112]

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  [holding answer 4 December 1997]: The report of the working group on high-tech companies is being prepared for me and the President of the Board of Trade as part of our wide-ranging look at ways of improving the UK's record of investment in R and D.

  Offshore Trusts
  Mr. Lilley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the tax treatment of capital gains on shares held for a United Kingdom beneficiary in an offshore trust in Guernsey. [19006]
  576
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  [holding answer 4 December 1997]: The tax treatment is set out in Section 86 and Schedule 5 of the Taxation of chargeable Gains Act 1992.

  Mr. Lilley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the Paymaster General(a) receives papers and (b) participates in meetings relating to taxation of offshore trusts and the closing of tax loopholes. [19004]

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  [holding answer 4 December 1997]: I consult widely with colleagues on a variety of policy issues but any decisions are made by me.

  Mr. Lilley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent the Paymaster General has been involved in policy discussions relating to the taxation of offshore trusts. [19002]

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  [holding answer 4 December 1997]: Wide ranging reviews of taxation issues are currently under way. The results of these reviews will be announced to Parliament in the usual way.

  Tax Avoidance
  Mr. Lilley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the current Inland Revenue review of tax avoidance measures will cover the use of discretionary trusts set up by foreign nationals for the benefit of United Kingdom residents. [19111]

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  [holding answer 4 December 1997]: The present tax treatment of offshore trusts is being considered in the wide ranging review of areas of tax which I announced in my Budget Statement.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Legal Aid
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what assessment he has made of the advantages of extending legal aid eligibility to recipients of(a) incapacity benefit at the long-term rate and (b) severe disablement allowance. [19857]

  Mr. Hoon
  The recently announced proposals for the reform of the legal aid scheme are aimed at controlling expenditure. It is only when spending is under better control that we can consider extending the number of benefits which automatically qualify an applicant for legal aid.

  Recipients of the benefits mentioned are not excluded from the legal aid scheme. However, they do not automatically qualify. Since the award of these benefits is not means tested a financial assessment must be undertaken before legal aid can be granted.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  EU Presidency (Environment)
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received in relation to environmental issues in respect of the United Kingdom's Presidency of the European Union. [19945]
  577
  Mr. Fatchett
  FCO and DETR Ministers and officials are in contact with a wide range of interests to discuss environmental aspects of the UK Presidency. These include governments of other EU Member States, members of the European Parliament and representatives of business and Non-Governmental Organisations. It will be an important theme of the UK Presidency to make progress on environmental issues which have a direct impact on people's lives in Europe.

  India (P and O)
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received regarding the proposed port development by P and O at Vadhavan in Dahanu Taluka, India. [19913]

  Mr. Fatchett
  This and other Government Departments have received a number of letters on this subject.

  Indonesia
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his Answer of 23 July 1997,Official Report, column 604, if his Department has (a) completed the study into the alleged use of United Kingdom supplied water-cannons in Indonesia in summer 1996 and (b) reached any conclusions. [19741]

  Mr. Fatchett
  One or more British water-cannon may well have been used in incidents at Bandung in June 1996, but the exact circumstances are not clear. The findings of our extensive enquiries into this and other incidents are inconclusive. But the Indonesians are well aware of our concerns.

  Caribbean Dependent Territories
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Government's policies for the Caribbean Dependent Territories. [18442]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  We remain committed to the prosperity, well-being, good government and defence of the Caribbean Dependent Territories for as long as the Territories wish to maintain the link with the United Kingdom. This will be one of the underlying principles of the review of policy towards the Dependent Territories which my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary announced on 27 August.

  Child Labour
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the alleged sale of children from Bangladesh to the United Arab Emirates. [20001]

  Mr. Fatchett
  I asked our Embassy in Abu Dhabi to look carefully into recent media reports of young children from Bangladesh and other countries being sold into employment as camel jockeys in the UAE. They have been unable to substantiate these allegations of trafficking. I have asked them to continue to monitor the situation closely.
  578
  In 1993, the UAE Government prohibited the employment of children under 15 as jockeys (as well as of jockeys weighing less than 45 kilograms). The UAE Camel Racing Association is responsible for enforcing these regulations.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Departmental Information
  Fiona Mactaggart
  To ask the Attorney-General what was the aggregate amount spent by his Department and its agencies during 1996–97 on(a) advertising, (b) public relations, (c) promotions, (d) public information campaigns, (e) press and information services and (f) market research and opinion polls. [19164]

  The Attorney-General
  During 1996–97 my departments and agencies (namely the Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers, the Treasury Solicitor's Department, the Government Property Lawyers Agency, the Crown Prosecution Service and the Serious Fraud Office) spent the following amounts under the heads described:

  (a) £3,037

  (b) £4,818

  (c) £189,169

  (d) Nil

  (e) £21,218

  (f) £458

  The figures at (a) do not include advertising costs associated with recruitment to fill particular posts.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Portcullis House
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee when construction of Portcullis House will begin on the site above the new Westminster underground station; and if he will make a statement. [20117]

  Sir Sydney Chapman
  Since my predecessor as Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee, the hon. Member for Ogmore (Sir R. Powell), last reported to the House on 20 March 1997,Official Report column 686, good progress has been made by our designers and contractors. However, we have had to wait 11 months longer than London Underground Ltd. promised for its Jubilee Line Extension works at Westminster Station to be completed to an acceptable standard, so that construction on our site above the new station could start. On 13 October 1997 London Underground Limited made part of the site available so that the House's contractor could start preliminary work, and it is planned that our contractor will occupy further parts of the site, sufficient for the main construction to begin, on 5 January 1998.

  When complete, Portcullis House will dramatically reduce the pressure on parliamentary accommodation and in particular it will help to relieve the severe overcrowding in the Palace of Westminster. It will provide offices for over two hundred Members and their staff; with six select committee rooms, two of which can

  579
  be used flexibly in the manner of the Jubilee Room and one of which is equipped for simultaneous interpretation. There will also be eight conference rooms, a library, a vote office, exhibition space, appropriate refreshment facilities, a post office and a necessities shop.

  The project remains on budget: £250 million including an allowance for forecast construction price inflation up to the year 2000. The figure includes the purchase of the site, all fees and expenses, furnishing and fitting out costs, and VAT. The total also includes the additional committee accommodation, security aspects, data and communications facilities which the House of Commons Commission agreed should be added to the brief.

  The House commissioned the architects, Michael Hopkins and Partners to produce a building, designed for a life of 200 years or more, using materials of high quality including natural stone, bronze and English oak, as befits a site of international importance. The structural engineers, Ove Arup and Partners, have had to resolve complex design issues to span the building over the District and Circle lines and the Jubilee Line extension, and to accommodate special security requirements. Our construction managers, Laing Management Limited, also face a most demanding engineering task in assembling this unique structure and commissioning the building. Manufacture of components is now proceeding satisfactorily to meet requirements of the programme, and it is planned that the House will be able to occupy the building from the beginning of 2001.

WALES

  Immunisation
  Mr. Caton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what plans he has to ensure that children whose parents refuse to have them immunised are registered with local GP practices; [18621]

  (2) if he will make a statement on the number of GPs in Wales refusing to register children whose parents choose not to have them immunised. [18622]

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  Every patient has a right to be registered with a GP. Health Authorities have a statutory responsibility to ensure that patients resident in their administrative area have adequate access to general medical services. Health Authorities have the power to allocate patients to GPs in exceptional circumstances where no GP is willing to take them on.

  Information on the number of GPs refusing to register children whose parents choose not to have them immunised is not available. This is because GPS are not obliged to give their reasons for refusing to register patients or to notify their Health Authority of the overall number involved. However, information relating to number of patients removed from GPs' lists is collected. Reasons for removal vary and include an act or threat of violence against a GP, a breakdown in the GP/patient relationship and patients themselves requesting a transfer to another GP. In 1995–96, 2,913 patients were removed from GP lists in Wales (out of a total patient registration of nearly 3 million). A breakdown of this figure is
  580
  attached. The General Medical Council has signalled clearly that it is unprofessional for any GP to discriminate against patients.

  Patients removed from GP lists—1995–96

  Number

  Patients transferred at their own request

  35

  Patients transferred at the request of a GP

  2,830

  Patients removed from a GP's list because of an act or threat of violence

  48

  Total

  2,913

  Montserration Evacuees
  Mr. Caton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what arrangements will be put in place to assist local authorities in Wales that provide accommodation for evacuees from Montserrat. [20456]

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  My right hon. Friend the Minister for Local Government and Housing at the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions announced on 29 October 1997,Official Report, column 817, that a special Grant Scheme would operate in England. I can confirm that a similar scheme will operate in Wales.

  A special grant will be provided under the Local Government Finance Act 1988, and we intend to submit a report for the House's approval early next year. Officials in the Welsh Office will write today to Chief Executives and Chief Housing Officers of Welsh local authoritie setting out details of the scheme and arrangements for making claims. Copies of the letter have been placed in the Library. Subject to the approval of the House, £1,500 will be made available for each unit of accommodation provided for qualifying households placed with local authorities by the Home Office between 27 August 1997 and 31 January 1998. The grants scheme has been drawn up after consultation with the Welsh Local Government and Tai Cymru.

  Finance
  Mr. Caton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are his plans for allocating the Welsh Block provision in 1998–99; and if he will make a statement. [20457]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  In 1998–99, the Welsh Office budget will amount to over £7.1 billion. This provision is based on plans set by the previous administration. The Government took the view that it would not be sensible to make hasty decisions about changing existing public expenditure plans. We do not want to put money into areas where the objectives are unclear and the outputs uncertain. Instead, we are conducting a Comprehensive Spending Review of public expenditure across all Government Departments. In Wales, the Review is well underway and I expect it to be completed in the spring of 1998. This will help to ensure that we are better equipped to make informed judgments of where to target public expenditure to meet our priorities and achieve the best results. It will provide a sound basis for the Assembly to set its own priorities. In the meantime, we have recognised that there are some sectors which require immediate help and that is why we have made additional provision for health and education.
  581
  In a written answer to a question tabled by my hon. Friend the Member for Gower (Mr. Caton) Official Report, 2 December 1997, columns 117–20 I have already announced the provisional settlement for local government. I have now allocated the remainder of the Welsh Block resources and the major elements are set out in the following table. It is my intention to discuss the details of the allocation at a sitting of the Welsh Grand Committee on 16 December.

  In the consultation document which I issued on 27 October, I made it clear there would be difficult decisions to make. The plans which I inherited have left little scope for manoeuvre. As a consequence, while I have been able to redistribute some cash this inevitably means those programmes which gain do so at the expense of others.

  For the NHS, I have allocated £2,455 million which is an increase of over £113 million or 4.9 per cent. in cash terms over 1997–98. This will provide real growth on health authority revenue allocations which will be announced soon.

  I have increased the plans I inherited for the Education Sector. In addition to the £65 million extra announced for schools in the July budget, the reallocations I have made to my Block enables me to provide £175 million for the Further Education Funding Council which will provide for an increase of 2,100 students on the original plan for 1998–99. £232 million is provided for the Higher Education Funding Council which will give an extra 1,000 students over the original planning figure.

  Although the Training and Enterprise budget shows a reduction from the current plans, this should be seen in the context of the range of measures which have been introduced to help unemployed people. Under these "New Deal" arrangements I expect Wales to benefit by around £190 million during the lifetime of this Parliament.

  For Industry programmes, I have made provision to meet the forecast demand for Regional Selective Assistance.

  I have looked closely at the budgets of all the quangos in Wales. I have taken particular interest in those which will form the Economic Powerhouse, and collectively, I have increased the amount of grant-in-aid available to these bodies to take account of the fall in the level of receipts that they will be able to generate. This will allow for a total gross programme of the combined bodies of £185 million.

  Although there is a reduction in the overall provision for Roads and Transport, I am able to allow a start on some integrated transport schemes.

  In the housing sector, I have allocated sufficient funding to housing associations so as to allow around 2,300 new homes to be started next year which is an increase of 500 over the plans I inherited.

  I have maintained spending on the Arts bodies.

  For all the other bodies which receive funding from the Welsh Office I have retained the same provision as planned, although I have increased the budget for the Countryside Council for Wales to help it progress the new agri-environmental programme.
  582
  I have also provided a sum of £17 million to enable suitable accommodation to be obtained to house the National Assembly of Wales.

  Further to my announcement of the proposals for local government revenue spending for 1998–99 on 2 December, my officials have today written to all Welsh councils setting out my proposals for capping and council tax damping. The letter also gives councils details of their provisional standard spending assessment or SSAs—the amount included in my expenditure plans (total standard spending) for their individual spending.

  My capping proposals will enable Welsh councils overall to increase 1997–98 budgets by around £125 million or over 4.6 per cent., if they see fit to do so. Each authority will have a 3 per cent. basic increase in its budget. In addition they will each receive a share of the £26.5 million I am making available for community care, education for 4-year-olds and the National Grid for Learning. Around half of Welsh authorities will also benefit from the "passporting" of year-on-year SSA increases which are greater than the cash increase they receive under the 3 per cent. basic increase.

  Within each authority's SSA I propose to identify the sums relating to the extra £50 million I am providing for schools; the $41.5 million (which includes the £37.1 million in returned nursery voucher money) which I am making available for 4 year olds education; and community care.

  In my Answer of 2 December I said that the increased discretion my capping proposals give local authorities mean that the average band D council tax could rise by £60. I also emphasised the need for local authorities to take full account of the impact on council taxpayers in using their discretion. My hope is that the average band D increase will not exceed £50-or one pound per week.

  I accept, however, that there will be variations in tax increase between authorities, and for this reason I am proposing a community-based council tax reduction scheme for 1998–99 which will ensure that no council taxpayer faces an increase at band D of more than £70. For the majority of people, who live in properties in bands A to C the increase will be less—slightly over £1 a week for those living in bands B and C; under £1 a week for those in band A properties.

  I am making £31 million available within aggregate external finance to fund the tax reduction scheme. This includes £6 million extra I am providing specifically for damping.

  Welsh Office Block—main allocations: 1998–99

  £ million

  Programme

  1997–98 Plans

  1998–99 Plans

  Local Authority Total Standard Spending

  2,757.3

  2,868.6

  National Health Service

  2,341.5

  2,455.3

  Further Education Funding Council

  176.8

  175.0

  Higher Education Funding Council

  236.8

  232.3

  Curriculum Council and Assessment Authority

  9.9

  9.4

  583

  Welsh Office Block—main allocations: 1998–99

  £ million

  Programme

  1997–98 Plans

  1998–99 Plans

  Training and Enterprise

  132.5

  123.8

  Regional Selective Assistance

  70.0

  61.3

  Welsh Development Agency

  84.7

  114.0

  Development Board for Rural Wales

  9.5

  9.0

  Cardiff Bay Development Corporation

  47.9

  44.9

  Wales Tourist Board

  14.6

  14.7

  Central Government Roads and Transport

  115.1

  100.4

  Housing for Wales

  60.2

  62.9

  Welsh Language Board

  3.7

  3.8

  Arts Council of Wales

  14.5

  14.3

  National Library for Wales

  6.0

  6.0

  National Museums and Galleries of Wales

  12.4

  12.4

  Cadw (including Royal Commission on Ancient and Historic Monuments)

  7.8

  7.8

  Sports Council for Wales

  6.6

  6.6

  Countryside Council for Wales

  23.2

  23.7

  Local Government Capital Settlement (not including LGR and Fire Service1)

  440.8

  423.8

  National Assembly for Wales Capital Costs

  —

  17.0

  1 Includes non-block items and other Government Departments.

  General Teaching Council
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales for what reasons the General Teaching Council for Wales will not be set up simultaneously with the General Teaching Council for England. [19848]

  Mr. Hain
  Clause 1 of the Teaching and Higher Education Bill will allow for the establishment of a General Teaching Council for England and Wales and Clause 6 allows for the establishment of the General Teaching Council for Wales as and when the Secretary of State decides. The Welsh Council could be set up at the same time as the English one or at a later date. In deciding when it should be established, the Secretary of State will take account of the emerging constitutional changes affecting the governance of Wales.

PRIME MINISTER

  Green Belt (Hertfordshire)
  Mr. Wells
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will review the measures to protect the green belt contained in the proposed Hertfordshire county structure plan revision. [18457]

  The Prime Minister
  We are committed both to protecting the countryside and to regenerating our towns and cities. Policy on the Green Belt remains unchanged. My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister will consider the proposed modifications to the Hertfordshire County Council's Structure Plan, which are open to public objection until 16 January 1998.

  North-West Leicestershire
  9. Mr. David Taylor
  To ask the Prime Minister when he next intends to visit North-West Leicestershire. [18460]

  The Prime Minister
  I have no plans to visit the hon. Member's constituency, but will continue to visit all regions of the country.

  Meirionnydd Nant Conwy
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Prime Minister when he plans to visit the constituency of Meirionnydd Nant Conwy. [18463]

  The Prime Minister
  I have no plans to visit the hon. Member's constituency at the present time.

  Sanctions
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to the oral statement of the Secretary of State for International Development of 5 November 1997,Official Report, column 328, what steps he has taken to ensure that sanctions affect elites more than poor people in (a) Iraq and (b) Libya. [18648]

  The Prime Minister
  The impact of sanctions regimes on poor people is under review by the Department for International Development. In the context of Iraq DFID officials have visited northern Iraq, and are studying the 180 day report of the Secretary General, issued on 1 December, on the implementation of UN Security Council Resolutions 986 and 1111 in order to improve the effectiveness of the humanitarian assistance provided under those arrangements in helping meet the needs of Iraqi people. The vast majority of Libya's exports and imports are unaffected by sanctions.

  Heads of State (Gifts)
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Prime Minister how much has been spent from public funds in respect of gifts given by(a) the Queen and (b) other members of the Royal Family to heads of state in the last year for which figures are available; and how many gifts such funding supported. [19789]

  The Prime Minister
  During 1997 The Queen has given 4 gifts to Heads of State at a total cost of £11,734.99. Other members of the Royal Family have to date given 13 gifts to Heads of State at a total cost of £4,233.23.

  Security Services (Commissioner)
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) what arrangements have been made to appoint a Commissioner under section 4 of the Security Service Act 1989 when Lord Justice Stuart-Smith's appointment expires on 14 December; [20453]

  (2) what arrangements have been made to appoint a Commissioner under section 8 of the Intelligence Services Act 1994 when Lord Justice Stuart-Smith's appointment expires on 14 December. [20454]

  The Prime Minister
  Lord Justice Stuart-Smith has accepted re-appointment for a further two years until 13 December 1999.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Prison Service Management
  Dr. Palmer
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will publish the Government's response to the Home Affairs Committee report into the management of the Prison Service (Second Report of Session 1996–97 HC57). [20455]

  Mr. Straw
  I am pleased to report that I will tomorrow publish the Government's response to the Home Affairs Select Committee's inquiry report into the management of the Prison Service. Copies will be placed in the Library.

  I am grateful for the Committee's report, and have studied its conclusions and recommendations carefully. I agree with the Committee's conclusion that the Prison Service has done well to manage a rapidly rising prison population and, against this background, has made considerable progress in providing acceptable accommodation for prisoners. The Government accept in principle the desirability of reducing the present high levels of overcrowding, although the Audit of Prison Service Resources, published on 25 July, shows that this will be difficult to achieve in the current circumstances. In the meantime, it will be a priority for the Prison Service to seek to provide adequate regime activities for those prison which are overcrowded. In order to ensure that the projected numbers can be accommodated safely, I have provided the Prison Service with an additional £43 million this year and next to increase capacity and to pay for the costs of overcrowding and purposeful activity. Longer term resourcing issues will be considered as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review.

  The Committee's conclusions that the needs for accountability and responsibility require Ministerial involvement are correct, and support the steps I have already taken to implement the Government's manifesto commitment to take proper Ministerial responsibility for the Prison Service. I have made clear that there are no present plans to end the Prison Service's agency status. I have considered and endorsed the findings of the Director General's organisational review of the Service, published on 10 November, which included measures to re-assert and reinforce Ministerial responsibility for the Prison Service.

  The Committee also endorses the role of the private sector, and recommends that its involvement in the Prison Service should be allowed to develop further. The Government have expressed reservations about the principle of contracting out the management of prisons. It is generally accepted that responsibility for the incarceration of offenders must remain with the state. As I explained in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Bedford (Mr. Hall) on 19 June 1997, Official Report, columns 247–49, the issue is whether that responsibility should, as a matter of principle, be discharged through direct management in the public sector or whether it can properly and effectively be discharged under a regulatory framework. The Government will give careful consideration to the conclusions put forward by the Home Affairs Select Committee before settling their overall approach to this issue.

  Animal Experiments
  Mrs. Fiona Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer to the hon. Member for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn) of 6 November 1997,Official Report, column 284, if additional funds have been secured for research into alternatives to animal use in scientific procedures. [20615]

  Mr. George Howarth
  I am pleased to announce that the budget which will be made available to the Animal Procedures Committee on 1998–99 to sponsor research to reduce, refine or replace animal experiments will be £259,000. This is an increase of £77,000 compared to the 1997–98 figures.

  Prison Service (Health Care)
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of(a) doctors and (b) other staff currently working in the Prison Service have undergone recognised training courses in dealing with mentally disordered offenders. [19292]

  Ms Quin
  Fourteen doctors (8 per cent.) are members of the Royal College of Psychiatrists. Since 1 April 1997, 63 doctors (32 per cent.) attended two Mental Health training days organised by the Prison Service. These courses have received recognition from the Postgraduate Education Offices of the Regional Health Authorities. In addition, 20 doctors are currently studying for a Diploma in Prison Medicine which has a significant training element in dealing with mentally disordered offenders.

  A further 332 other members of staff are Registered Mental Nurses, representing 21 per cent. of the total Health Care Officer and Nursing grades.

  Prison Suicides
  Ms Roseanna Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the numbers of(a) female prisoners held, (b) female deaths in prison and (c) female suicides in prison in each of the last 10 years. [19835]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 9 December 1997]: The following table shows the numbers of female prisoners held, female deaths (other than self-inflicted) in prison and female self-inflicted deaths in prison in each of the last 10 years.

  Year

  Female1 prisoners held

  Female deaths

  Female self-inflicted deaths

  Total female deaths

  1988

  1,789

  0

  0

  0

  1989

  1,767

  0

  2

  2

  1990

  1,597

  1

  1

  2

  1991

  1,561

  0

  0

  0

  1992

  1,577

  0

  2

  2

  1993

  1,561

  2

  1

  3

  1994

  1,811

  0

  1

  1

  1995

  1,979

  1

  2

  3

  1996

  2,262

  2

  2

  4

  19972

  2,926

  1

  3

  4

  1 Average female prisoner population.

  2 Figures as at 8 December 1997.

  Not all self-inflicted deaths conclude with a verdict of suicide.

  587
  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for each financial year since 1992–93 and for the present year to date(a) the total number of suicides in establishments which are his responsibility and (b) the numbers of those who were aged under 21 years at the time of death. [18841]

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  11997–98

  Total number of self-inflicted deaths

  43

  47

  65

  59

  65

  50

  Numbers of prisoners who were aged under 21 years

  6

  4

  8

  7

  16

  5

  1 Figures for 1997–98 as at 1 December 1997. Not all self-inflicted deaths conclude with a verdict of suicide.

  Ms Roseanna Cunningham
  To ask the secretary of State for the Home Department what research his Department has undertaken into(a) prison suicides and (b) female prison suicides in the last five years. [19838]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 9 December 1997]: During 1992, the Prison Service reviewed existing research and best practice in suicide prevention. This review formed the basis for the revised suicide awareness strategy and is described in "The Way Forward".

  The revised strategy was piloted in 1993 prior to implementation in 1994. The results of this research were published in the Guidance Pack "Caring for the Suicidal in Custody".

  A research and development group on suicide and self-injury at Prison Service headquarters acts as a forum for formulating and co-ordinating research into suicide and self-injury in forensic settings.

  Routine research, reviewing patterns and trends of completed suicides is undertaken, and a range of research has been conducted, including: the effectiveness of prisoner Listener schemes; the effect of staff attitudes in managing suicidal behaviour; audits of completed suicides; suicides amongst life sentence prisoners; developing risk screening procedures amongst young offenders; evaluation of the 1994 revised strategy; the impact of staff training; reception and induction procedures within local prisons and communication of risk information between criminal justice agencies. Current commissioned research includes a project being undertaken at the University of Kent at Canterbury, examining current practices of recording and monitoring self-injury and suicidal behaviours, with the objective of identifying more effective methods of management.

  The majority of research conducted on suicide and self-injury amongst female prisoners has been undertaken locally and includes research into the links between coping styles and suicidal behaviour; an evaluation of cognitive behavioural interventions in reducing risk of suicide; an examination of the distinctions between staff and women prisoners' perceptions of self-injury and a review of completed suicides by female prisoners since 1989.

  The 1997 publication "Suicide and Self-Injury in Prisons" (by the British Psychological Society) includes an overview of recent and current research in the area.

  Ms Roseanna Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what mechanisms he has in place to provide suicide counselling and monitoring for female prisoners. [19836]
  588
  Ms Quin
  The total number of self-inflicted deaths in Prison Service establishments for each financial year since 1992–93 and for the present year to date, together with the numbers of those who were aged under 21 years at the time of death, are as follows:

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 9 December 1997]: The Prison Service is actively involved in identifying and caring for all prisoners, both female and male, who are at risk of suicide and/or self-harm. Their strategy on caring for the suicidal in custody involves being able to identify and support prisoners at risk of suicidal behaviour. Every prison has a local Suicide Awareness Team which has oversight of the strategy in their establishment.

  The strategy involves the Samaritans, who befriend prisoners in crisis through visits to prison and by phone. Over the last five years, the Samaritans have been actively involved in setting up Listener/Befriender schemes in prisons where selected prisoners are trained to provide peer group support for fellow prisoners in crisis. These schemes have been effective in reducing instances of suicide and self-harm

  Female Prisoners
  Ms Roseanna Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his policy in respect of detaining convicted and remand female prisoners in the same prison. [19830]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 9 December 1997]: It is Prison Service policy to detain convicted and unconvicted female prisoners in the same prison to enable them, on their return from court, to await transfer to a training prison, to serve a short sentence, to be held close to their homes and, for those facing further charges, to remain near the courts.

  This does not necessarily mean that unconvicted prisoners should mix with convicted prisoners, unless they are willing to do so. At most local prisons, however, overcrowding prevents complete separation and some mixing is unavoidable, both for activities and in living areas. Where unconvicted prisoners have to live on the same landing as convicted prisoners, they cannot be required to share cells with convicted prisoners.

  Ms Roseanna Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research he has commissioned into the psychological effect of incarceration on female prisoners. [19837]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 9 December 1997]: The Prison Service has commissioned no research which has been specifically concerned to measure the psychological impact of imprisonment on women prisoners.

  Electronic Tagging
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total cost to date of the three electronic monitoring pilot projects which commenced in July 1995; and what was the total number of orders made at the latest date available. [19460]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 9 December 1997]: Because of considerations of commercial confidentiality, it would not be appropriate to publish details of the payments made to contractors which are the major part of the cost of the pilots.

  However, we estimate that the average cost of a curfew order enforced by electronic monitoring would be around £1,900. If the scheme were available throughout England and Wales. On 1 December 1997, a total of 771 orders had been made since the pilots commenced in July 1995.

  Probation Service
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research he has commissioned on the effectiveness of the Probation Service. [19461]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 9 December 1997]: Since 1 May, the Home Office has published two research studies which are relevant to the effectiveness of the probation service: Home Office Research Studies 169 (which examined how the service deals with offenders' literacy problems) and 171 (which examined the effectiveness of supervision programmes directed towards changing offenders' behaviour).

  The following pieces of research are in progress or being prepared for publication: a study of the impact, in terms of rate of reconviction, of different kinds of programme aimed specifically at young offenders convicted of motoring-related offences; a study of new approaches in the Inner London and Surrey probation areas to improving offenders' employability; an evaluation of the community sentence demonstration projects in Teesside and Shropshire; and a study of the effectiveness of supervision programmes involving physically demanding activities. A review by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Probation of supervision programmes against the critical success factors identified through research is also to be published early next year.

  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the percentage change in(a) probation staff, (b) probation administrative staff and (c) probation staff working in prisons since June 1994; and if he will make a statement. [18646]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 8 December 1997]: Between June 1994 and June 1997, there was a 10 per cent. reduction in probation staff as a whole, a 16 per cent. reduction in administrative clerical and secretarial staff and a per cent. reduction in probation staff working in Prison Service establishments.

  Police (Complaints)
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many complaints were made against(a) the Metropolitan Police and (b) the police in England and Wales; what is the ratio of the number of complaints to (i) the population of the jurisdiction, (ii) the
  590
  number of police officers and (iii) the number investigated; how many of these complaints were investigated; how many investigations led to the instigation of disciplinary proceedings against officers; what is the ratio of proceedings instigated to complaints made; how many disciplinary proceedings led to disciplinary action; and what is the ratio between disciplinary action to complaints made for the last year for which figures are available. [19494]

  Mr. Michael
  The readily available information is given in the following table. This includes details of the number of complaints recorded and completed. Information is not available on the number of complaints where disciplinary proceedings led to disciplinary action. Instead, information has been provided for the number of officers for whom disciplinary proceedings led to disciplinary action together with ratios of officers proceeded against and disciplined to completed complaints.

  Police complaints and discipline 1996–97

  Metropolitan Police

  England and Wales

  Total complaints recorded1

  9,122

  33,859

  Total complaints completed2

  9,919

  36,731

  (i) Ratio complaints recorded to the population

  0.0012

  0.0007

  (ii) Ratio complaints recorded to police officers

  0.3372

  0.2708

  (iii) Number of completed complaints investigated

  2,667

  10,820

  Investigated complaints resulting in disciplinary charges

  39

  148

  Officers charged with disciplinary offence as a result of a complaint

  36

  141

  Officers receiving disciplinary action as a result of a complaint

  20

  102

  Ratio of officers proceeded against to complaints completed

  0.0036

  0.0038

  Ratio of officers disciplined to complaints completed

  0.0020

  0.0028

  1 Complaints recorded in a year are not necessarily completed in that year.

  2 Complaints completed in a year could have been recorded in previous years.

  Manslaughter
  Mr. Wills
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what percentage of cases passed to the CPS as being capable of sustaining a charge of manslaughter have been prosecuted in each of the last three years; [19247]

  (2) what percentage of road deaths which the Police have considered might sustain a charge of (a) manslaughter, (b) causing death by (i) careless and (ii) reckless driving and (c) causing death by careless driving when under the influence of drink or drugs have been prosecuted in each of the last three years; [19322]

  (3) what percentage of cases passed to the CPS as being capable of sustaining a charge of causing death by (i) reckless driving and (ii) careless driving when under the influence of drink or drugs have been prosecuted in each of the last three years. [19329]
  591
  Mr. Michael
  The data collected centrally on court proceedings by the Home Office do not identify the charge under which a defendant is prosecuted.

  Also, the data held centrally by the Crown Prosecution Service do not generally identify the category of offence. However, the numbers of defendants proceeded against in magistrates' courts and tried in the Crown Court for these offences in each of the last three years are as follows:

  1994

  1995

  1996

  Defendants proceeded against in the Magistrates' court

  Manslaughter1

  50

  69

  81

  Causing death by:

  reckless driving2

  235

  247

  260

  careless driving when under the influence of drink or drugs

  30

  31

  39

  Defendants tried in the Crown Court3

  Manslaughter1

  267

  269

  285

  Causing death by:

  reckless driving2

  230

  239

  241

  careless driving when under the influence of drink or drugs

  48

  52

  57

  1 Includes offences under sections 5, 9 and 10 of the Common Law and Offences against the Person Act 1861 and section 2 of the Homicide Act 1957.

  2 Includes the offence of causing death by careless driving.

  3 The data cover defendants either acquitted or found guilty of the offence. Hence they cover those who were prosecuted under a more serious offence but convicted of one of the above offences and do not cover those prosecuted for these offences but found guilty of a lesser offence.

  Mr. Wills
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average sentence for a conviction for manslaughter, in each of the last three years. [19244]

  Mr. Michael
  The average custodial sentence length, based on all sentence lengths excluding life, for a person convicted of manslaughter under sections 5, 9 and 10 of the Common Law and Offences against the Person Act 1861, and section 2 of the Homicide Act 1957 in each of the last three years is as follows:

  Average sentence length (months)

  1994

  58.5

  1995

  58.3

  1996

  61.2

  EU Conventions
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 14 November 1997,Official Report, columns 690–91, concerning draft conventions in respect of driver disqualification, if he will take steps to consult relevant organisations concerned with the consequences and operation of each convention. [19477]

  Ms Quin
  As I indicated in that answer, the Home Office regularly consults relevant Departments and agencies over both draft Conventions. In addition, both texts have been deposited with the House of Lords Select Committee on the European Communities. I understand 592
  that the Select Committee has already received evidence on the draft Mutual Legal Assistance Convention from at least two organisations.

  Electro-shock Devices
  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer of 20 June 1997,Official Report, column 307–08, if he will list the licences which have been granted to companies under section 5 of the Firearms Act 1968 to handle, distribute, store or manufacture electric shock devices since that date. [19454]

  Mr. Michael
  No. The position remains as set out in my reply to my hon. Friend of 20 June 1997,Official Report, columns 307–08. Since 1992, only one company has been granted authority to possess prohibited electro-shock devices, and that authority does not allow the company to sell or otherwise dispose of the devices in any way. When the time comes for the company to dispose of the weapons, they will have to apply for their authority to be varied so as to allow them to do so. That authority will be worded to ensure that the devices are disposed of safely with no risk of their falling into the wrong hands.

  Meanwhile, it remains Government policy that no authority to possess, purchase or acquire, manufacture, sell or transfer electro-shock weapons will be granted unless there are wholly exceptional and compelling reasons for so doing.

  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) which police forces witnessed the Air Taser electro-shock device being demonstrated; [19455]

  (2) if he will place in the Library a copy of the completed evaluation carried out by the Home Office Police Scientific Development Branch into the Taser electro-shock device. [19456]

  Mr. Michael
  The Home Office Police Scientific Development Branch has not evaluated the Taser electro-shock device and has no plans to do so. I am not aware of any demonstration of the device in this country.

  Altcourse Prison
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will make a statement on the employment of social workers by Group 4 at HMP Altcourse indicating(a) the number to be employed and (b) the duties involved; [16556]

  (2) what probation provision there will be at HMP Altcourse; what discussions have taken place with his Department concerning the level of that provision; and if he will make a statement. [16557]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answers 20 November 1997]: The contract for Her Majesty's Prison Altcourse requires the contractor, Group 4, with the Chief Probation Officer for Merseyside, to carry out negotiations under the terms of the Framework Document published by the Prison Service under cover of Instruction to Governors 30/93 and entitled National Framework for the Throughcare of Offenders in Custody for the Completion of Supervision in the Community. In the light of these negotiations, the contractor may decide whether or not to employ seconded

  593
  probation officers in order to undertake his contractual obligations to provide welfare assistance, discharge reports and plans for individual prisoners that are fully compatible with the Prison Service's Sentence Planning Manual. Group 4 have decided not to do so. Instead, the contractor will employ its own staff.

  As in many prisons, responsibility for this work will be shared. At Her Majesty's Prison Altcourse, it will be undertaken by staff, including prisoner custody officers, based on houseblocks, a specialist counselling team who will work closely with a clinical psychologist and a throughcare team. The latter will include four social workers required to hold one of the recognised qualifications for appointment as a probation officer, that is the Certificate of Qualification in Social Work or the Diploma in Social Work. Their duties include risk and needs assessments, plans for supporting individual prisoners, prisoner programmes, in-care and resettlement, reports for conditional release and external liaison with community supervision agencies.

  Prison Service staff responsible for the administration of the contract have discussed these arrangements with Group 4 while reviewing preparations to open Her Majesty's Prison Altcourse on 1 December. Their effectiveness will be monitored as part of the general oversight of the contract undertaken by prison staff on site when the prison is operational. These arrangements do not reflect a change in Government attitude towards the issue of throughcare. Subsequent design, construct, manage and finance contracts reflect different principles which have been agreed in discussions between the Prison Service and the Association of Chief Probation Officers.

  Prison Population
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what shortfalls in prison accommodation have been identified from the prison population projections over the next two years; and if he will make a statement. [16558]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 20 November 1997]: The Prison Service was allocated an additional £43 million in July this year to increase prison capacities to avoid a shortage of accommodation during this financial year and next. However, the short-term population projection prepared by the Research and Statistics Directorate of the Home Office in October 1997 indicates that a shortage of accommodation may emerge in early 1999.

  The projection was based on the surmise that recent trends in sentencing would continue. Measures have already been put in place which will reduce the prison population, including plea before venue, which is expected to save between 1,100 and 2,600 places. The recently announced home detention curfews are also expected to free up between 3,000 to 4,000 prison places a year.

  The next prison population projection is scheduled for publication in January 1998.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Computers (Century Date Change)
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is her Department's estimates of the percentage of businesses that are(a) currently aware of the year 2000 problem relating to computer systems and (b) taking action at shop level; and what estimate she has made of the subsequent loss of gross domestic product based on these figures. [14553]

  Mrs. Roche
  The Department has not made a formal assessment of levels of awareness or actions under way. However, in October DTI supported Sage Software in announcing the results of their survey. One of their key findings is that awareness of the problem is high (at 95 per cent.) but that the number of those that have completed an audit is lower (at 55 per cent.), while the number for those planning to allocate budget in 1997–98 to resolve the problem is only 43 per cent.

  Nor has the Department been able to make any formal assessment of potential loss of GDP. The impact on GDP will depend on the action taken from now on and I am urging businesses to act without delay.

  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on her Department's assessment of the level of preparedness of UK business in relation to year 2000 computer compliance. [13228]

  Mrs. Roche
  [holding answer 4 November 1997]: The Department has not made a formal assessment. However, in October DTI supported Sage Software in announcing the results of their survey which, as I said at the time, are clearly a cause for concern. One of the key findings is that awareness of the problem is high (at 95 per cent.) but that the number of these that have completed an audit is lower (at 55 per cent.), while the number for those planning to allocate budget in 1997–98 to resolve the problem is only 43 per cent.

  This justifies DTI's new initiative—"Action 2000" which will help provide businesses with what they need to tackle the problem.

  Offset Exhibition
  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assistance her Department gave to the organisers of the Offset exhibition at the north Wales Centre, Aberconwy; and what was the cost to public funds. [15291]

  Mr. Battle
  The involvement of my department was limited to officials discussing this exhibition with its organisers in advance. No cost was borne by my department.

  European Coal and Steel Community
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on the redirection of moneys
  595
  and continuation of projects covered by the European Coal and Steel Community after expiry of that Treaty. [18834]

  Mr. Battle
  [holding answer 2 December 1997]: The Commission has put to the Council a proposal that income from the reserves of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) should, after the expiry of the Treaty, be used to fund research and development projects in sectors related to the coal and steel industries. The Council has welcomed this in principal and is now considering the detail of the proposal. Research projects currently funded by the ECSC will continue to be funded in accordance with the terms of the individual offers of support made by the ECSC.

  Correspondence
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when she expects to reply to the letter of 20 November from the hon. Member for Chesham and Amersham. [19986]

  Mrs. Beckett
  [holding answer 9 December 1997]: I replied to the hon. Member on 9 December.

  Enemy Property Report
  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when she expects the repot on British policy towards enemy property during and after World War II will be published. [19596]

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  [holding answer 8 December 1997]: As I announced in reply to a question from my hon. Friend the Member from Leyton and Wanstead, on 31 July 1997, Official Report, column 641, the Government has set in train a research project to examine papers relevant to the Trading with the Enemy legislation under which the property of enemy countries was confiscated during the Second World War. The project, which has been co-ordinated by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, in close partnership with the DTI, is now nearly complete. A report of the findings will be published early in the New Year.

  Port Development (India)
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations she has received regarding the proposed port development by P and O at Vadharan in Dahanu Taluka, India. [19917]

  Mrs. Roche
  My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade has received one letter from the World Wide Fund for Nature.

  Renewable Energy
  Mr. Brake
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if the guidance contained in PPG Note 22 is used to determine applications for renewable energy development which are dealt with by her Department under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989. [19565]

  Mr. Battle
  Yes.

  Export Initiative
  Mr. Cotter
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what initiatives her Department will undertake in response to the report by the joint DTI/FCO Export Forum, Towards an Export Initiative; and what part the Business Links will have in this initiative. [19582]

  Mrs. Roche
  The Government has welcomed the thrust of the Export Forum's report and will be looking to take action in a number of areas identified by the report. Our response to some Forum recommendations will need to await the completion of the DTI and FCO Comprehensive Spending Reviews. Consistent with the Government's vision statement on Business Links, we will be taking forward the Forum's recommendations to raise quality and standards across the Business Link network, to encourage the spread of best practice and to improve communications between the Overseas Trade Services and Business Links.

  Export Licences
  Mr. Faber
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what percentage of applications for export licences are currently being processed by her Department's export licensing unit within 20 days; and what was the equivalent percentage on(a) 1 December 1996 and (b) 1 May 1997. [19360]

  Mrs. Roche
  [holding answer 5 December 1997]: The Export Control Organisation (ECO) of DTI measures its performance against two aims:
  to provide a substantive response to an application within 20 working days of receipt for applications that need to be circulated to other Government Departments according to their policy requirements ("circulated" cases);
  to provide such a response within 10 working days of receipt for applications that are dealt with by DTI itself ("non circulated" cases).

  In each case full documentation in support of the application must be provided by the applicant at the outset, for these targets to apply.

  ECO management data on the processing of licence application is compiled on the basis of four-week periods. The figures to the nearest percentage point for the periods ending nearest to the dates specified are as follow:

  Per cent.

  Four-weeks periods

  13 December 1996

  2 May 1997

  14 November 1997

  Circulated applications completed in 20 days

  72

  69

  47

  Non circulated applications completed in 10 days

  93

  97

  66

  Intellectual Property Treaties
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what plans she has to ratify the treaties adopted at the WIPO conference in Geneva in December 1996 intended to enable British music companies to make their recordings available to consumers world-wide via digital networks; [19959]
  597
  (2) what plans she has to raise the issue of copyright protection of recordings on digital networks within the European Union; [19960]

  (3) what action she plans to take to encourage other member states of the European Union to ratify the WIPO treaties; [19961]

  (4) what plans she has to discuss the European Copyright Directive at meetings of the Council of Ministers; [19962]

  (5) what plans she has to ratify the treaties adopted at WIPO Conference Geneva in December 1996. [19963]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  The Government fully appreciates the fundamental significance of the new treaties to the UK music industry, which was one of the principal reasons why officials from my Department were at the forefront in securing the successful conclusion of the treaties last December. It follows therefore that we wish to ensure that the UK is in a position to ratify the treaties at the earliest possible time. We also intend to take every opportunity during the forthcoming UK Presidency of the EU Council of Ministers to impress the urgency of the task upon our European partners. In doing so, we will stress the particular relevance of the treaties to the protection of sound recordings in digital networks.

  A number of changes to UK law are however needed to enable us to ratify the treaties. Several of these are in areas which the European Commission's planned Directive on copyright and related rights is expected to cover. We will need, therefore, to know the likely form of future EC law in these areas with reasonable certainty before we can reach conclusions on legislation to implement the treaties in the UK, in order to avoid inconsistencies between the two. We do not expect to be in such a position for some months at least, since the draft Directive has yet to be submitted to the Council of Ministers. Although we would hope to be able to proceed with treaty implementing legislation as soon as the situation regarding EC law becomes clear, it will not be possible for legal and other reasons for the UK to ratify the treaties until the Community as a whole and all of its Member States are in a position to do so.

  Once the draft Directive is submitted, which we anticipate will be early in 1998, discussions on it will start at Council Working Group level, and we hope to make as much progress as possible during our Presidency. However, before the Council can reach a common position on the draft Directive, the European Parliament will have to give its opinion and we believe that this is unlikely to occur during the UK Presidency.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND GOOD

  Ministerial Meetings
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list, with dates, for each of his ministers, from 2 May to date,(a) which organisations he has met, (b) which organisations and companies he has visited and where they are located, (c) what regional visits have been made and whom he saw and (d) which Council
  598
  of Ministers meetings were attended; and which individuals have had meetings with ministers and officials. [16346]

  Dr. John Cunningham
  The information requested could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

  Common Agricultural Policy
  Sir Alastair Goodlad
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which Minister in his Department is responsible for liaising with the Department for International Development on matters relating to the future of the Common Agricultural Policy. [18945]

  Dr. John Cunningham
  My Noble Friend the Parliamentary Secretary (Lord Donoughue) has specific responsibility for policy matters relating to the Common Agricultural Policy.

  Land
  Sir Geoffrey Johnson Smith
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many transfers of IACS eligibility arising from the alteration of status with an equivalent area of ineligible land have been allowed by his Department during the last year. [19010]

  Mr. Rooker
  During the period 1 April 1996 to 31 March 1997 ninety two such transfers were approved in England. This involved 745.23 hectares of land made ineligible to receive payments under the Arable Area Payments Scheme and 721.59 hectares of previously ineligible land made eligible.

  Water Safety
  Charlotte Atkins
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if the Code of Good Agricultural Practice for the Protection of Water will include a requirement not to spread waste from rendering plants on agricultural land. [19930]

  Mr. Morley
  The spreading of waste on land for the benefit of agriculture is subject to the requirements of the waste management licensing system under Part II of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. The Environment Agency is responsible for enforcement of the system.

  The text of the revised version of the Code of Good Agricultural Practice for the Protection of Water has not yet been finalised. However, it is likely to state that any processed animal waste, in solid form, from rendering plants must not be spread on agricultural land and that the Environment Agency should first be consulted before the spreading liquid waste.

  The aim is to publish the revised Code in 1998.

HEALTH

  Gene Therapy Advisory Committee
  Mr. Pond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to review the work of the Gene Therapy Advisory Committee. [20452]
  599
  Ms Jowell
  The Gene Therapy Advisory Committee has performed extremely successfully since its establishment in 1993. As is usual with all advisory bodies, which have operated for a number of years, I have asked a small team to undertake a review of GTAC's role and functions. I expect the review team to present its recommendations early in the new year.

  The members are Mrs. Marcia Fry (Department of Health) Chair, Professor Kay avies—Professor of Genetics, Oxford University, Dr. Brian Davis—Medicines Control Agency, Professor Jim McEwen—Multicentre Research Ethics Committee Chairman, Scotland, Dr. Peter Rigby—National Institute for Medical Research, Mr. Indarjit Singh—Member of British Medical Association Ethics Committee and Dr. Richard Tiner—Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry.

  Medical and Dental Students
  Dr. Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what financial support will be provided to medical students covering an additional, intercalated year in order to achieve a science degree. [19855]

  Mr. Milburn
  Where medical and dental students take an intercalated degree, it will be counted as part of their overall course. As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced on 23 September, the Department will pay the students' contribution towards tuition fees and provide means-tested National Health Service bursaries for those students who are eligible from year five of their course onwards.

  Dr. Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what financial support will be made available by his Department to students who take(a) medicine and (b) dentistry as a second degree. [19856]

  Mr. Milburn
  As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced on 23 September, the Department will pay the students' contribution towards tuition fees and provide means-tested National Health Service bursaries for those students who are eligible from year five of their medicine or dentistry course onwards. No public support is available for second degree in any discipline.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Council Tax Benefit
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much(a) lone parents, (b) the elderly,(c) the disabled and (d) couples with children, who are claiming council tax benefit and living in properties in bands F, G, and H will have to find on average to meet the shortfall resulting from the restriction of council tax benefit to the band E level; and what will be the average shortfall for all such claimants. [19572]
  600
  Mr. Keith Bradley
  The information is set our in the table.

  Type of recipient

  Average weekly shortfall (£)

  Elderly

  3.90

  Disabled

  4.00

  Lone parent

  3.60

  Couple with children

  4.00

  All of the above recipients

  3.90

  1. Figures are rounded to the nearest ten pence and quoted at 1998–99 levels.

  2. Final figures exclude those recipients who do not fall into any of the categories given in the table, and are not therefore the same as the losses for all recipients.

  Lone Parents
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will estimate the numbers of lone parents who are(a) working and (b) not working in each region and nation of Britain. [18084]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  The information is set out in the table.

  Number of lone parents

  Region

  Working

  Not working

  North

  35,000

  55,000

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  60,000

  70,000

  North West

  80,000

  150,000

  East Midlands

  40,000

  65,000

  West Midlands

  55,000

  100,000

  East Anglia

  25,000

  30,000

  Greater London

  85,000

  190,000

  South East (excluding London)

  90,000

  125,000

  South West

  55,000

  75,000

  Wales

  35,000

  55,000

  Scotland

  60,000

  110,000

  Total

  620,000

  1,025,000

  Notes:

  1. All figures are rounded to the nearest 5,000.

  2. Working is defined as all those who are (i) employees (ii) self-employed (iii) employees temporarily not at work or (iv) those in work related government training. Not working is defined as those who are (i) unemployed or (ii) inactive. These are based on the International Labour Organisation categorisations.

  3.The figures should be treated as broad estimates since they are drawn from Family Resource Survey data which is subject to sampling error and to possible variations in response rates between regions and between working and non-working lone parents. Figures for the regions with smaller lone parent populations should be treated with particular caution.

  Source:

  1995–96 Family Resources Survey which covers Great Britain.

  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the average age of lone parents on income support. [18875]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  As at February 1997, the average age of lone parents on Income Support was 32 years.

  Notes:

  1. Sample size 5 per cent.

  2. Lone parents are defined as those claimants receiving the lone parent premium.

  Source:

  Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiry, February 1997.
  601
  Ms Julie Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what information services are used in the New Deal for Lone Parent pilot areas; and who provides them; [16462]

  (2) what resources she will make available for local partnerships as a result of the New Deal for Lone Parents pilots. [16442]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  New Deal for Lone Parents will fulfil the Government's commitment to provide practical help and advice for lone parents on Income Support whose youngest child is at school and who want to work. The programme is already available in eight areas and will be rolled out nationally from October next year, at a cost of £150 million over the course of this Parliament, raised from the Windfall Levy.

  Results from the first eight areas are encouraging. Many lone parents with pre-school children are asking if they can participate in the New Deal. An additional £25 million has therefore been made available from October next year to offer the service to lone parents with a child under five who want to work. In addition, the New Deal for Lone Parents will be available to all lone parents who make a new claim for Income Support from April 1998.

  New Deal Advisers are able to provide a range of information to participating lone parents. A key feature of the New Deal service is the provision of advice on how in-work benefits can help lone parents to be better off in-work. Advisers obtain estimates of likely entitlements to in-work benefits such as Family Credit from the Integrated Benefit Information System (IBIS) developed by the Benefits Agency.

  Information on job vacancies is available via the Employment Service Labour Market System (LMS). Advisers based in Employment Service Jobcentres can access this information direct, whilst those based in Benefits Agency offices can receive information on LMS vacancies from the Vacancy Manager at their local Jobcentre. This information helps Advisers to match job vacancies to the needs of lone parents.

  The lone parents who move into work as a result of the New Deal may need help to find suitable childcare. Advisers in all of the first eight areas of the New Deal for Lone Parents have access to a database of local childcare facilities which has been prepared by a consultancy following a competitive tender. In some areas, Advisers are making use of other childcare information services where these offer a better service. Advisers in Cardiff are using the Chwarae Teg database of childcare facilities in Wales, whilst those in Cambridgeshire have direct access, via the internet, to the Opportunity Links system.

  Although there are no formal local partnerships in place in the eight first phase areas, New Deal Advisers have been encouraged to form close links with local employers, Training and Enterprise Councils, Local Authorities and voluntary organisations. As part of the process of planning for national implementation of the New Deal for Lone Parents, the Government is consulting with employers, Local Authorities, the TEC National Council and voluntary sector organisations. Any partnerships resulting from these negotiations will be financed from the funds already allocated to deliver the New Deal over the course of this Parliament.

  Family Credit
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will estimate the growth in take up of the child care disregard in family credit in the most recent year for which figures are available. [18082]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  The information is not available in the format requested. The take up estimates produced for the income-related benefits do not provide estimates of component elements such as the childcare disregard.

  The number of Family Credit claimants with an allowed claim for help with childcare charges over the last 12 months has increased from 25,000 (May 1996) to 30,000 (May 1997), an increase of 20 per cent.

  Women's National Commission
  Ms Moran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will make a statement on her plans for the Women's National Commission. [19145]

  Ms Ruddock
  As part of our strategy to achieve our priority of improving dialogue with women, we are looking at communications with women's organisations. The Government are reviewing the role and status of the Women's National Commission (WNC). The terms of reference of the review are:to examine the objectives, membership and the funding of the WNC in the light of the Government's need to ensure that there is an effective, efficient independent channel of communication between women's organisations and Government for the 21st Century; to assess costs and benefits; and to develop, if appropriate, options for change.

  The WNC has also decided to review its own structure and organisation. We have therefore agreed with them that, rather than have two consultation exercises, the WNC should obtain the views of its members and these will form part of the evidence for our review.

  During the past six months, I have met with many women's organisations in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. As part of my wider dialogue with them I have sought their views on the WNC, of which some, but not all, were members.

  Local Employment Trading Schemes
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proposals there are to exempt local employment trading schemes from benefit calculations. [18931]

  Mr. Denham
  The Government believes that work is the best form of welfare for people of working age. Our Welfare to Work objectives are to provide work incentives, to reduce poverty and welfare dependency and to strike a new balance between responsibilities and rights. A programme of monitoring and evaluation is under way to enable us to ensure that Jobseeker's Allowance contributes to achieving our objectives.

  In addition to this major evaluation exercise, we shall also keep the individual benefit rules, including the treatment of LETS, under active consideration as we develop our plans.

  Pensioners' Age Addition
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the effect of(a) an increase in the pension age addition for the over-80s from 25 pence to £5, (b) the introduction of a new pension age addition of £3 for those aged 75 to 79 and (c) both (a) and (b) together on (i) gross pension expenditure, (ii) income tax revenues and (iii) expenditure on means-tested benefits; and what would be the overall effect on the Exchequer in each case. [18370]

  Mr. Denham
  The information is set out in the table.

  Age additions in 1997–98

  £ million

  (a) Age addition for over 80s of £5

  (b) Age addition for 75–79s of £3

  Both (a) and (b)

  Gross costs

  600

  310

  910

  Income-related benefit offset

  -250

  -90

  -330

  Income tax offset

  -40

  -20

  -60

  Net Exchequer cost

  310

  210

  520

  Source:

  Gross costs provided by Government Actuary's Department. Net costs taking account of income related benefit offsets have been calculated by the Department of Social Security Analytical Services Division. The income tax offset has been provided by Inland Revenue.

  Note:

  Figures are rounded to the nearest £10 million.

  Pension Funds
  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate she has made of the total funds invested in order to meet private pension and annuity liabilities in the United Kingdom. [19008]

  Mr. Denham
  The Government is committed to supporting and strengthening the framework of occupational pensions, and to create a new framework of secure, flexible and value for money second pensions for those who do not have the opportunity of contributing to a second pension, either because they lack the resources or because they do not have access to a decent second pension.

  In 1995, the total amount of money invested in private pension funds in the United Kingdom was estimated to be £750 billion. This includes financial assets in all funded occupational pension schemes and personal pensions, including retirement annuity contracts.

  Child Benefit
  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proposals she has to extend child benefit to those who become 19 years old in their last year of full-time education at school or college. [16929]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  We have no plans to extend child benefit to those who become 19 years old in their last year of full-time education at school or college.

  Industrial Disability Claims
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many people had good cause to make a late claim and were made an award for industrial disease in 1996; [16472]
  604
  (2) how many people had good cause to make a late claim and were made an award for industrial injury in 1997. [16473]

  Mr. Denham
  The information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Equal Opportunities
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will list the names of the officials appointed to appraise policy on gender equality grounds in each government department. [17271]

  Ms Ruddock
  One of the key areas for the Ministers for Women is to ensure that all Government Departments consider the views and needs of women when developing policy. The issue of policy appraisal on gender equality grounds is currently under review.

  We do not normally name officials appointed for specific tasks.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what involvement the Minister for Women had in the decision by the Secretary of State for Defence to allow women to fight on the front line. [17270]

  Ms Ruddock
  My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Defence, responded to the need to ensure equality of treatment for women in the armed forces. I fully support his decision. One of my key priority areas is to ensure that all Government Departments consider the views and needs of women when developing policy.

  Council Tax Benefit
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment has been made of the number of(a) owner occupiers, (b) private tenants and (c) social housing tenants in each local authority area, who will be affected by the restriction in council tax benefit to the band E level. [19344]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is as follows.

  Estimated number of council tax benefit recipients affected by the restrictions to band E

  Tenure group

  Number of recipients

  Owner occupiers

  25,000

  Social housing tenants

  5,000

  Private tenants

  15,000

  Not identified1

  15,000

  Total

  65,000

  Notes:

  1 Not identified. However, it is likely that the majority of these cases will be owner occupiers.

  1. Numbers of recipients have been rounded to the nearest 5,000 cases. Figures do not sum due to rounding.

  Source:

  Housing Benefit Management Information Statistics.

  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the estimated savings in each of the first three years, from the restrictions of council tax benefit to the band E level from April 1998. [19343]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  The information is set out in the table.
  605

  Estimated savings in each of the first three years from restrictions of council tax benefit to band E

  £ million

  Year

  Estimated savings

  1998–1999

  15

  1999–2000

  15

  2000–2001

  15

  1. Savings have been rounded to the nearest £5 million.

  2. Figures are modelled using the May 1995 Housing Benefit (Management Information System) uprated to each of the above years in line with March 1997 Departmental Report forecasts of caseloads and expenditure.

  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment has been made of the(a) additional council tax arrears and (b) costs to local authorities and magistrates courts of additional enforcement action, which will result from the restriction of council tax benefit to the band E level. [19346]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  This measure will affect only those people living in the most expensive properties, and the numbers are small: less than 2 per cent. of Council Tax Benefit recipients will be affected, the majority of whom will lose less than £3.00 per week. It will be for individual Local Authorities to determine what action to take in respect of individuals who do not meet their liability.

  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimates have been made of(a) the average and (b) the maximum annual shortfall council tax benefit claimants will have to meet in respect of those living in properties in bands F, G and H as a result of the restriction of council tax benefit to the band E level. [19345]

  Mr. Denham
  The information is set out in the table.

  Estimated average and maximum annual shortfalls to be met by council tax benefit recipients in bands F, G and H

  Band

  Average annual shortfall (£)

  Maximum annual shortfall (£)

  F

  150

  247

  G

  290

  494

  H

  243

  864

  1. The average annual shortfall is based on projections for 1998–99.

  2. The available data cannot predict the maximum annual shortfall Council Tax Benefit recipients will have to meet. Therefore, the maximum annual figures are hypothetical based on the 1997 council tax in Liverpool.

  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security which 20 local authority areas he estimates will yield the greatest savings from restricting council tax benefit to band E from April 1998. [19347]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  A reliable estimate on an individual Local Authority basis is not available.

  Note:
  The effects of this policy are modelled using Housing Benefit Management Information Statistics. This is sample data encompassing 1 per cent. of Council Tax Benefit recipients. This data provides an accurate picture of the characteristics of the Council Tax Benefit recipient population as a whole.606
  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans she has to amend the nominal rate for interest received on savings, used in the calculation of council tax benefit. [19349]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Wales (Mr. Hinchliffe) on 2 July 1997,Official Report, columns 205–06.

  Invalid Care Allowance
  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will review the inclusion of widows pension in the list of benefits treated as overlapping benefits for the purposes of paying invalid care allowance. [18859]

  Mr. Denham
  The Social Security system, including the relationships between the different benefits, is under consideration in the Department's Comprehensive Spending Review.

  Child Support Agency
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will make a statement on the recent performance of the Child Support Agency. [18730]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  Although there are some signs that the Child Support Agency's performance may have improved since its early days, there is still a long way to go before public confidence in it reaches an acceptable level. We are therefore looking closely at all aspects of the Agency's work to ensure that it provides a consistent, fair and efficient service to all its clients. We aim to bring forward proposals in the first half of next year.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when she plans to visit the CSA in Belfast. [14224]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, regularly visits the operational units of the Department. She has no immediate plans to visit the Child Support Agency in Belfast which is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

  Incapacity Benefit
  Audrey Wise
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many and what percentage of people on incapacity benefit were called back for medical re-assessment; what percentage of them were then disallowed benefit; what percentage appealed to tribunal; and what percentage won at the tribunal in the last year for which figures are available. [18825]

  Mr. Denham
  The information is not currently available. A study is in hand which will provide some measure of the issues raised.

  VAT on Fuel
  Ms Abbott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate she has made of the average value of the reduction in VAT on fuel to a pensioner on income support; and if she will make a statement. [14991]
  607
  Mr. Keith Bradley
  Everyone will see the benefit of the reduction in the rate of VAT on fuel in their winter fuel bills. In addition, this winter and next pensioner households in receipt of income support will receive an additional payment of £50 to help with fuel costs, and other pensioner households will receive £20.

  The current average value of the reduction in VAT on fuel to a pensioner in receipt of income support including the higher pensioner premium is 25 pence per week.

  Industrial Injuries Benefit
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the saving on industrial injuries benefit from a 10 per cent. reduction in industrial accidents. [18808]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 2 December 1997]:Less than 10 per cent. of all industrial injuries disablement benefit accident assessments payable per year are in respect of new claims. Based on the most recently available figures for 1995–96, the estimated savings from
  608
  a 10 per cent. reduction in new industrial accident claims would be up to £5 million in the first year, rising eventually to £25 million in the very long term.

  Child Care
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much money will be made available in Scotland for out-of-school care as part of the National Childcare Strategy; to whom it will be made available; and if existing out-of-school clubs will be able to apply for it. [19577]

  Mr. Wilson
  I have been asked to reply.

  I announced on 26 November our plans for £28 million to be made available over the next few years for out of school care as part of the National Childcare Strategy for Scotland. We propose that £3 million of this will come from windfall tax receipts and £25 million from the New Opportunities Fund, the new National Lottery distributing body provided for in the National Lottery Bill which is now before Parliament. We are working up proposals for the use of the funding and method of disbursement.

CABINET OFFICE

  Millennium Experience
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Minister without Portfolio what contingency arrangements he has formulated to ensure the Dome is completed and fitted out before the Millennium. [18652]

  Mr. Mandelson
  The New Millennium Experience Company's overall cash budget of £758 million includes prudent provision for cost contingency. Construction at Greenwich is currently on time and to budget. I am confident that it will remain so and that the Dome will be ready to open to the public in time for the Millennium.

  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Minister without Portfolio what estimate he has made of the operating costs of the Millennium Experience at Greenwich. [18731]

  Mr. Mandelson
  The New Millennium Experience Company's overall cash budget for the Experience at Greenwich and the associated National Programme is £758 million. Income to cover these costs comes from a £399 million (net) grant from the Millennium Commission and forecast £359 million from sponsorship, commercial activities, visitor revenues and disposal proceeds. The Company currently estimates that the operating costs of the Experience at Greenwich will be in the region of £100 million which includes the costs of the staff who will be recruited for the operational period and servicing of the site.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Population Issues
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent representations she has received on the population issues raised by the Commonwealth Heads of Government final declaration. [18432]

  Mr. Foulkes
  The outcome of the deliberations of the CHOGM meeting of All Party Group on Population, Development and Reproductive Health were reflected in the (final) Declaration. Department for International Development's Health and Population division also made a summary report of the proceedings of the meeting which was widely distributed.

  Bangladesh
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on her priorities for assistance in education and training to Bangladesh. [18433]

  Clare Short
  Our priorities for education and training activities in Bangladesh are achieving primary education for all; enhancing the quality of primary education; and achieving equal access for girls and women benefit from education.

  Current education and training projects in Bangladesh commit resources of nearly £40 million.

  World Bank
  Mrs. Ballard
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the United Kingdom's contribution in 1996–97 to the World bank. [18434]

  Mr. Foulkes
  In 1996–97 the United Kingdom contributed a total of £174 million to the World Bank Group, of which £167 million was for the International Development Association (IDA)—the soft lending arm of the Bank which lends to the poorest countries.

  Mr. Tyrie
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the World bank's world development report 1997: "The State in a Changing World". [18436]

  Clare Short
  I very much welcome this report. It contains some key messages about governance and poverty elimination. It supports the view outlined in our White Paper that a proper balance between efficient state institutions and well regulated markets creates the best conditions for sustainable development and economic growth that benefits the poor.

  Aid Budget
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans she has to set a timetable for reaching the UN target of aid as a percentage of gross domestic product. [18435]

  Mr. Foulkes
  While we are firmly committed to reversing the decline in the development assistance budget of the last 18 years and to moving towards the 0.7 per cent. UN target, usually expressed a percentage of GNP, rather than GDP, we will not set a timetable for doing so.

  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations she has received regarding the UN target for overseas aid as a percentage of gross domestic product. [18443]

  Clare Short
  Since 1 May, we have received numerous representations about this target, which is normally expressed as a percentage of GNP, from a wide range of Parliamentarians, NGOs and members of the public, most of whom have welcomed our firm commitment to reverse the decline in spending of the last 18 years and to move towards the 0.7 per cent. target.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when United Kingdom official aid will exceed 0.35 per cent. of national income. [18448]

  Clare Short
  We are committed to reversing the decline in the development assistance budget and to the UN target of 0.7 per cent. of GNP. But we have not set a timetable for achieving the target. We have undertaken to work within existing financial ceilings this year and next, while conducting a comprehensive expenditure review to ensure that all our resources are used as effectively as possible in support of the poverty eradication targets. Having done so, we can justify increasing the development assistance budget from 1999–2000.

  EU Aid Contributions
  Mr. McNulty
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what are her Department's priorities for co-ordinating European contributions to international aid programmes during the United Kingdom presidency of the European Union; and if she will make a statement. [18437]

  Clare Short
  During the UK Presidency, we will continue to seek to improve the poverty focus and effectiveness of the European Community's aid programmes. Our top priorities will be to agree the EU negotiating mandate on the future of Lomé and secure the EC's commitment to the DAC' s 21st century strategy and international development targets.

  Know-how Fund
  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will make a statement on the future of the know-how fund. [18438]

  Clare Short
  As the White Paper makes clear my Department will continue to support the countries in transition in Central and Eastern Europe and the Former Soviet Union through the Know How Fund. We shall seek particularly to ensure that the benefits of transition are sustainable and spread through all levels of society.

  Climate Change
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will make a statement on the contribution which her Department has made to the global climate change discussions. [18439]

  Clare Short
  My Department works closely with the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions on UK policy on global climate change, as it relates to developing countries. DFID provides the UK contributions to the Global Environment Facility which is the financial mechanism for the Climate Change Convention. Through our bilateral development assistance we support programmes to increase energy efficiency.

  Land Mines
  Ms Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will make a statement on progress on the elimination of land-mines. [18440]

  Clare Short
  One hundred and twenty countries have already signed the Ottawa Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Land-mines and on their Destruction. I was proud to sign on behalf of Britain on 3 December and to set out our plans for increased support to increase local capacity for demining. Britain will continue to play an active role in ensuring the momentum achieved at Ottawa is maintained.

  Street Children
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what plans she has to support 612
  non-governmental organisations working with street children in South America. [18441]

  Clare Short
  We are co-funding five projects with NGOs in South America amounting to approximately £288,000 in 1997–98. A detailed table is attached.

  Support for local NGOs working with street children has also been provided through some of the British Partnership Schemes administered by our Embassies across South America. In addition, we are contributing £25,700 this financial year to Consortium for Street Children UK for the production of two Resource Packs on Non-Formal Education and Empowerment of Street Girls and the Prevention of Migration. These packs will be used by NGOs in South America and elsewhere.

  Street children projects funded through the Joint Funding Scheme

  Agency

  Country

  Project name

  1997–98

  Childhope

  Brazil

  Judicial and Institutional Protection of Child and Adolescent

  30,713

  Childhope

  Brazil

  Projeto Ibeji for the Streetchildren

  50,636

  International Children's Trust

  Ecuador

  Street Children of Guayaquil

  88,200

  Jubilee Action

  Brazil

  Street Girls Education, Training Centre and Residence Home

  88,287

  Teesside Council for Voluntary Service

  Peru

  Care, Education, etc for Street Children

  30,451

  Total

  288,287

  Figures in respect of block grant agencies of the JFS for 1997–98 are not yet available.

  Bananas
  Mr. Savidge
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what additional steps her Department proposes to take to support small banana farmers in the Caribbean. [18444]

  Clare Short
  My Department is concerned about the potential impact on Caribbean banana producers of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) ruling on the European banana regime. We accept that the Community's arrangements will need to be brought into conformity with WTO rules but Caribbean banana producers can be assured that we have their interests high on our agenda and will work with them to help support the necessary adjustments.

  Aid and Development Co-operation (Japan)
  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on co-operation with Japan in international aid and development. [18445]

  Clare Short
  The UK and Japan worked closely together with developing the OECD DAC strategy for halving the proposition of people living in extreme poverty by 2015. We are both firmly committed to the
  613
  agreed international development targets and to working closely together. We are co-operating on specific joint projects in key social sectors such as health, education and water in Africa and Asia, and on reconstruction projects in Bosnia.

  Sustainable Development
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what targets her Department has set for sustainable development. [18447]

  Clare Short
  The Government have accepted the targets agreed by the international community at UNGASS and in the OECD which is that every country should have in place policies which contribute to the reduction of poverty, improvement in social development and environmental sustainability by 2015. These are set out in the White Paper. They are ambitious but achievable. We will measure the effectiveness of our efforts, alongside others, against these targets.

  Debt
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress she expects to be made by the year 2000 towards cancelling the unpayable debts of the poorest countries. [18449]

  Clare Short
  My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer leads on debt policy. We want to see every country with an unsustainable debt burden at least to have started the process of securing a sustainable exit from their debt problems by the year 2000. And by then, decisions to grant debt relief to have been made for three quarters of the heavily indebted poor countries that need it.

  These are achievable objectives, as set out in the "Mauritius Mandate" launched at the Commonwealth Finance Ministers meeting in September. We will continue to press other creditors to support these targets.

  UNESCO
  Mr. Green
  To ask the Secretary of State if she will make a statement on the cost of UNESCO membership in the last year for which figures are available. [18450]

  Clare Short
  The cost of UNESCO membership since rejoining the Organisation on 1 July 1997, until the end of the UNESCO financial year, 31 December 1997, is £5,001,775.

  Publicity and Advertising
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to her Answer of 2 December,Official Report, colum 131–32, on publicity and advertising, if she will provide a breakdown of (a) publicity expenditure by category for the last year for which information is available and (b) spending on recruitment advertising in 1997–98; for what reasons spending on recruitment advertising has risen since 1993–94; and if she will make a statement. [20058]
  614
  Clare Short
  The total estimated expenditure on publicity for 1997–98 is £1.3 million, broken down as follows:

  £

  Publications

  220,000

  British Overseas Development Newspaper

  182,000

  Exhibitions and Events

  161,000

  Video News Release

  6,000

  Development Education Grants

  724,000

  The Development Education Grants are to non-government organisations producing work which increases the public's awareness of development issues.

  The current total expenditure on recruitment advertising in 1997–98 is £863,682.77.

  The increase in the cost of advertising is principally due to a higher number of posts now being advertised as a result of the enhanced role and remit of the department. The cost of advertising has also increased by about 5 per cent. per annum. It is our practice to hold open competitions and to advertise for all posts where possible, unless there are compelling circumstances to justify a nominated candidate.

  The number of recruitment advertisements placed in the last three years was:

  1995: 167

  1996: 190

  1997: 247 (to date).

  We have also spent £2,746 in 1997–98 as the Department of International Development's contribution to the advertising of fast stream administrative posts by the Recruitment and Assessment Services.

  Optical Services
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development of she will assess the benefits of self-correcting spectacles in countries with limited optical services; and if she will make a statement. [20255]

  Clare Short
  My Department supported the first trials of these spectacles in Ghana. We concluded that spectacles with adaptable focal length could improve the eyesight and productivity of million of poor people. We has recently supported further development of technology. We continue discussions with the inventor on means to make the spectacles available to people in poor countries.

  Water Filtration
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the applicability in development work of nanofiltration techniques developed by Strathclyde Water Services in co-operation with Thames Water. [20250]

  Clare Short
  Department for International Development (DFID) supports research into a range of water filtration techniques suitable for application in development work, and in this context has considered nanofiltration. The process is sensitive to the quality of the raw water and the technology places significant demands on operators, DRID therefore favours more robust and simple processes such as
  615
  slow sand filtration to meet the needs of poor communications. Our research programmes will review the potential of the process for DFID as UK water industry research and practical experience evolves.

  Child Labour
  Mr. Stephen Twigg
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps she takes to ensure that contracts funded by her Department are not given to companies which use child labour; and what monitoring is undertaken of this issue. [20050]

  Clare Short
  My Department is reviewing the procedures it follows in order to ensure there is no exploitation of child labour in the contracts we finance.

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will publish the names of all those people she has appointed to public bodies since 1 May, indicating the positions to which they have been appointed and whether they receive remuneration. [19984]

  Clare Short
  Professor D. Luscombe was reappointed to the Commonwealth Scholarships Commission for a period of three years from 1 August 1997. The appointment is unremunerated.

  Indonesia
  Sir Alastair Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance has been given to Indonesia since 1 May for police training; and what plans she has for future assistance. [20057]

  Clare Short
  My Department has provided no new assistance, nor do I have any plans to do so. We did, however, meet the residual training costs of one Indonesian Police Officer whose training had started under the previous Government and has now ended.

  Sanctions
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to her oral statement of 5 November 1997,Official Report, column 328, what progress she is making in refining the sanctions instrument so that it affects elites more than poor people. [18647]

  Clare Short
  My Department is reviewing the impact of sanctions regimes on poor people. Work is progressing on these highly complex issues. We are also continuing our efforts to ensure that humanitarian assistance is tightly controlled and monitored, so that it reaches only the people for whom it is intended.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Firearms
  Mr. Donaldson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans she has to introduce legislation to ban the use of handguns in Northern Ireland. [12462]

  Mr. Ingram
  The Northern Ireland Office has concluded a fundamental review of the Firearms (Northern Ireland) Order 1981, which included an 616
  assessment of the existing controls on handguns. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State intends to publish her proposals for legislative reform as a consultation paper early in the new year and the Government's intentions with regard to handguns will be announced at the same time.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the conclusions of the review of the Firearms (Northern Ireland) Order 1981; and if she will make a statement. [13070]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 6 November 1997]: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has concluded her review of the Firearms (NI) Order 1981, and will publish her legislative proposals as a consultation early in the new year.

  Official Hospitality
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is her estimate of the expenditure by(a) her Department, (b) its agencies and (c) its non-departmental public bodies on official hospitality for (i) 1980–81, (ii) 1987–88, (iii) 1990–91, (iv) 1991–92, (v) 1992–93, (vi) 1993–94, (vii) 1994–95, (viii) 1995–96, (ix) 1996–97 and (x) 1 May to 30 September 1997. [15250]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  [holding answer 11 November 1997]: For the Northern Ireland Office and Northern Ireland Departments, the available information is as follows:1,2

  £000s

  (a)

  (b)

  1990–91

  418

  7

  1991–92

  476

  28

  1992–93

  498

  337

  1993–94

  513

  360

  1994–95

  527

  337

  1995–96

  627

  359

  1996–97

  632

  3,4165

  September 1997

  216

  381

  1 Information of NDPBs could be provided only at disproportionate costs.

  2 Information for 1980–81 and 1987–88 are not available.

  3 Costs for the year 1992–93 to September 1997 include figures for the Paid Order Unit, Lisahally and the Belfast Benefit Centre which could not be separated for this question. These offices carry out "back-office work" for the GB Benefits Agency.

  4On 1 April 1996 a number of agencies came into existence leading to an increase in expenditure.

  The information given above has been revised from that provided in answers to previous parliamentary questions on this subject.

  Publicity and Advertising
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is her estimate of the total expenditure on all forms of publicity and advertising by(a) her Department, (b) its agencies and (c) non-departmental public bodies for (i) 1993–94,(ii) 1994–95, (iii) 1995–96, (iv) 1996–97, (iv) the 1997–98, year to date, (vi) the 1997–98, full year estimate and (vii) the 1998–99 planned expenditure. [15253]
  617
  Mr. Paul Murphy
  [holding answer 11 November 1997]: For the Northern Ireland Office and Northern Ireland Departments, the available information is as follows:1

  £000

  (a)

  (b)

  1993–94

  7,408

  697

  1994–95

  7,494

  825

  1995–96

  10,064

  934

  1996–97

  6,467

  1,642

  1997–98 to date

  2,478

  873

  1997–98 estimated full year

  6,224

  1,651

  1998–99 planned2

  2,853

  964

  1 Information on NDPBs could be provided only at disproportionate costs.

  2 The Department of Economic Development could not provide figures due to the budgets not being disaggregated to the level required.

  The information given has been revised from that provided in answers to previous parliamentary questions on this subject.

SCOTLAND

  Health Board and NHS Trust Employees
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make it obligatory for employees of health boards and NHS trusts to register any interests which they may have in private nursing homes. [18614]

  Mr. Galbraith
  All Nursing Homes in Scotland must be registered with the local Health Board.

  In terms of the recently published Nursing Homes Scotland Core Standards for registration and inspection of nursing homes, each individual connected with an application for registration of a Nursing Home must provide a declaration that there is no potential conflict of interest. This provision extends in all respects to those nominated by the Home owners to be in daily charge of the Home. Health Boards are instructed to follow up all references.

  Nursing Research
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to appoint a professor of nursing research at the Scottish Office Department of Health; and if he will make a statement. [18817]

  Mr. Galbraith
  I have no plans to appoint a professor of nursing research at the Scottish Office Department of Health.

  My Chief Scientist's office sponsor the Nursing Research Initiative in Scotland which is progressing nursing research in Scotland admirably. It is headed by Professor Jennifer Hunt.

  I do not believe that the appointment of a professor of nursing at The Scottish Office would contribute further to nursing research in Scotland at this time.
  618
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish the total expenditure by his Department on(a) research and (b) nursing research within the NHS in Scotland for each year since 1990 broken down by health board. [18663]

  Mr. Galbraith
  The Chief Scientist Office (CSO) of the Management Executive of the NHS in Scotland has responsibility for managing funds which support research activity to further the development of health care in Scotland. Details of CSO expenditure for each year since 1990 are given in the attached table 1a.

  Since 1994–95, the CSO has funded the Nursing Research Initiative for Scotland (NRIS) in Glasgow and, before that, the Nursing Research Unit (NRU) in Edinburgh specifically for nursing research. In addition, other CSO-funded research includes nursing research. It is possible only to distinguish nursing research funding in recent years, as shown in Table lb. (It should be noted that nursing grants awarded in-year can be spent over a number of years).

  It is not possible to break down the expenditure in Tables la and b by health board. NRIS is a national body (as was NRU before it), and other research funding frequently crosses health board boundaries and is collaborative.

  Information regarding expenditure by health boards and NHS Trusts to support research infrastructural costs is not readily available prior to 1995–96. From that year, NHS Trusts in Scotland were asked to declare their expenditure to support research. As a result, the declared amount of £27,743 thousand for each of the years 1995–96 and 1996–97 was allocated to Trusts. Details of allocation by health board area are given in the attached Table 2. Costs specific to nursing cannot readily be broken down by health board area but totalled £0.7 million in the Declaration.

  Table 1a: CSO research expenditure

  £000

  Year

  NRU/NRIS

  Other research

  CSO expenditure

  1990–91

  190.9

  5,366.1

  5,557

  1991–92

  195.7

  6,368.3

  6,564

  1992–93

  248.1

  8,401.9

  8,650

  1993–94

  122.4

  9,615.6

  9,738

  1994–95

  15.9

  10,046.1

  10,062

  1995–96

  166.4

  10,067.6

  10,234

  1996–97

  100.9

  10,416.1

  10,517

  Totals

  1,040.3

  60,281.7

  61,322

  Table 1b: Funds committed to nursing research in recent years

  £000

  Year

  Grant

  1993–94

  690

  1994–95

  190

  1995–96

  512

  1996–97

  434

  Total

  1,826

  619

  Table 2: CSO support fund allocation

  Health Board

  1995–96 £000

  1996–97 £000

  Argyll and Bute

  12.4

  12.4

  Ayrshire and Arran

  246

  246

  Fife

  28

  28

  Forth Valley

  41

  41

  Grampian

  5,643

  5,643

  Greater Glasgow

  10,956

  10,956

  Highland

  13

  13

  Lanarkshire

  55

  55

  Lothian

  7,124

  7,124

  Tayside

  3,626

  3,626

  Total

  27,743

  27,743

  Criminal Justice System
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on his priorities for the Scottish criminal justice system. [18797]

  Mr. McLeish
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for Tewkesbury (Mr. Robertson) on 4 November 1997,Official Report, columns 95–96.

  Ministerial Announcements
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland 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. [18897]

  Mr. Dewar
  [holding answer 3 December 1997]: Since 1 May, the number of ministerial announcements which were not made in the first instance to the House are as follows:

  Speeches to

  outside bodies: 20

  press releases: 95

  press briefings: 8

  other means: 2.

  These figures include the period covered by the summer recess. A large number of these announcements were minor, routine or advisory.

  My Department will continue to follow the normal conventions, as set out in the Ministerial Code, in making ministerial announcements.

  Highlands and Islands University
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the progress towards the creation of the University of the Highlands and Islands; and what recent representations he has received in respect of the proposed establishment. [19210]

  Mr. Wilson
  [holding answer 4 December 1997]: The Government remain fully committed to encouraging the development of the proposed University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI). Planned provision for the UHI Project in 1997–98 remains at £5 million. I have not received any
  620
  recent representations in respect of the proposed establishment since visiting the UHI Project Executive Office in September.

  Mental Illness Specific Grant
  Mr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about the mental illness specific grant. [19713]

  Mr. Galbraith
  In September 1997 The Scottish Office published a report on an independent evaluation of the mental illness specific grant entitled "Dedicated Resources: Dedicated Responses." It confirmed the positive impact the grant has made on the quality of life and independence of people with mental health problems. At the time of publication we confirmed our view that the grant should continue to provide ring-fenced resources for the development of community-based mental health services for the foreseeable future.

  Dental Services
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many dental graduates have entered community dental service training schemes in Scotland in each of the last three years. [18704]

  Mr. Galbraith
  [holding answer 8 December 1997]

  The information requested is as follows:

  Numbers of dental graduates undertaking vocational training in the community dental service in Scotland 1994–95 to 1997–98:

  1994–95: 3

  1995–96: 5

  1996–97: 1

  1997–98: 0.

  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many vocational training posts for dental graduates were available in Scotland in (i) 1995, (ii) 1996 and (iii) 1997. [18706]

  Mr. Galbraith
  [holding answer 8 December 1997]:

  The information requested is as follows:

  Vocational training posts in the general dental service in Scotland 1994–95 to 1997–98:

  1994–95: 88

  1995–96: 78

  1996–97: 83

  1997–98:87.

  Scottish Parliament
  Mr. Swinney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to ensure that the range of social and economic statistical information currently provided in respect of the United Kingdom will be provided in respect of Scotland in time for the establishment of the Scottish Parliament; and if he will make a statement. [19153]

  Mr. Wilson
  [holding answer 8 December 1997]: In almost all cases, social statistical information published by the Government about the UK is also available about Scotland. Members of the Government Statistical Service working in the Scottish Office are working with colleagues in other Departments to ensure this can

  621
  continue after the establishment of a Scottish Parliament. My officials are also working with staff in local authorities, the Scottish Health Service and other organisations to develop and improve the range and quality of social statistics available about Scotland.

  An extensive range of Scottish economic and labour market statistics is already available for Scotland. Scottish Office economists and statisticians are currently consulting with the Office for National Statistics and with academics, consultants and overseas statistical offices to identify and consider how to meet the likely additional needs of a Scottish Parliament for economic and labour market statistics, both in terms of new information and in providing more detailed, timely and robust estimates of current figures.

  These developments are designed to anticipate and meet the information needs of a Scottish Parliament. It will, of course, be for the Parliament itself to determine its own priorities.

  Medical and Dental Students
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if his Department will fund the cost of the special support beyond year four for Scottish medical and dental students studying in England, Wales or Northern Ireland; and if he will make an estimate of the cost. [19587]

  Mr. Galbraith
  [holding answer 8 December 1997]: It is the Government's intention that all eligible UK medical and dental students should benefit from the special provisions announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health on 23 September. The arrangements and costs will be the subject of further discussion between the Departments concerned.

  Computers (Century Date Change)
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the cost to(a) his Department, (b) the National Health Service in Scotland and (c) local authorities in Scotland of the steps required to deal with the millennium date problem for computers; and if he will make a statement. [18707]

  Mr. Dewar
  [holding answer 9 December 1997]My Department and the National Health Service in Scotland are continuing to assess in detail the likely costs of dealing with the millennium date problem. Appropriate programmes of action are underway. My Department is submitting regular progress reports to the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency (CCTA). It is expected that the cost of Year 2000 preventive and remedial action will be met within existing planned financial provisions. Action by local authorities is a matter for themselves as independent corporate bodies. However, my Department has taken action to ensure that local authorities are aware of action needed to address the problem, including the commissioning and distribution in May 1997 of a consultancy report containing a suggested action plan.

  Female Prisoners
  Ms Roseanna Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the numbers of(a) female
  622
  prisoners held, (b) female deaths in prison and (c) female suicides in prison in Scotland for each of the last 10 years. [19831]

  Mr. McLeish
  [holding answer 9 December 1997]: The information requested is as follows:

  Year April to March

  Average daily number of female prisoners (including young offenders)

  Number of deaths

  Number of suicides or apparent suicides

  1988–89

  171

  —

  —

  1989–90

  137

  —

  —

  1990–91

  141

  —

  —

  1991–92

  145

  —

  —

  1992–93

  163

  —

  —

  1993–94

  172

  —

  —

  1994–95

  181

  —

  —

  1995–96

  174

  3

  3

  1996–97

  189

  3

  3

  1997–98

  1182

  1

  21

  1 At 5 December 1997.

  2 A fatal accident inquiry into this death is still to be held.

  Ms Roseanna Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on his policy on detaining female remand and convicted prisoners in the same prison. [19834]

  Mr. McLeish
  The Scottish Prison Service's policy is to keep female remand and convicted prisoners in the same prison in separate accommodation, so far as reasonably practicable.

  Ms Roseanna Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what research he has commissioned into the psychological effect of incarceration on female prisoners. [19833]

  Mr. McLeish
  [holding answer 9 December 1997]: A twelve month study, commencing December 1996, was commissioned to examine, among other things, the impact of incarceration on female offenders. The study was conducted by Dr. Nancy Loucks, an independent experienced criminological researcher, and will be published early in 1998.

  Trans-sexual Prisoners
  Ms Roseanna Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the current arrangements for the(a) police, (b) courts and (c) Prison Service in respect of trans-sexuals; what plans he has to review these arrangements; and if he will make a statement. [19825]

  Mr. McLeish
  [holding answer 9 December 1997]: (a) There are no existing guidelines for police forces in Scotland in respect of transsexuals although the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland is considering the need for specific guidance; (b) The Scottish Courts Service has no special arrangements in respect of transsexuals. All court users are dealt with on an equal basis. There are no plans to review these arrangements; (c) To date, the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) has not received any transsexual into its custody. SPS would confine the transsexual in whichever prison was most appropriate for the individual, taking account of the requirement to maintain good order and to care for all prisoners with humanity. Each case would be considered on an individual basis. There are no plans to review current arrangements.

  Community Service Orders
  Ms Roseanna Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many actions were raised under section 240(1) and (3) of the Criminal Procedures (Scotland) Act 1995 in relation to amendment or revocation of a community service order in the last year for which figures are available; and in how many cases legal aid was available; [19726]

  (2) how many actions were raised under paragraph 5(1) and (3) of schedule 7 to the Criminal Procedures (Scotland) Act 1995 in relation to amendment or revocation of a supervised attendance order in the last year for which figures are available; and in how many cases legal aid was available; [19728]

  (3) how many actions were raised under (i) section 42 of the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988 for the removal of a disqualification, (ii) section 232 of the Criminal Procedures (Scotland) Act 1995 in relation to failure to comply with the requirements of a probation order and (iii) section 233 of the Criminal Procedures (Scotland) Act 1995 in relation to the conviction of a probationer by a court in Great Britain of an offence committed during his probation period in the last year for which figures are available; and in how many of these cases in each category legal aid was available; [19735]

  (4) how many actions were raised under paragraph 4 of schedule 7 to the Criminal Procedures (Scotland) Act 1995 in relation to failure to comply with the requirements of supervised attendance order in the last year for which figures are available; and in how many of these cases legal aid was available; [19727]

  (5) how many actions were raised under section 239(4) to (6) of the Criminal Procedures (Scotland) Act 1995 in relation to failure to comply with the requirements of a community service order in the last year for which figures are available; and in how many of these cases legal aid was available. [19725]

  Mr. McLeish
  [holding answer 9 December 1997]: The information available on actions relates to breach of community service orders under Section 239(4) to (6) of the Criminal Procedures (Scotland) Act 1995 of which there were 568 in 1994; no information is available centrally for actions under the other provisions.

  As for legal aid, in 1996–97 Assistance by Way of Representation (ABWOR) was granted for 606 cases under Section 42 of the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988; 1,260 cases under Section 232 of the Criminal Procedures (Scotland) Act 1995; 597 cases under Sections 239(4) to (6)of the 1995 Act; and 84 cases under paragraph 4 of schedule 7 to the 1995 Act.

  ABWOR is available for actions under Section 233 of the 1995 Act but no information on numbers is available. For the remaining provisions, criminal legal aid is available for actions but only if it was previously granted in relation to the original procedure which resulted in the orders.

  Proceeds of Crime
  Ms Roseanna Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many actions were raised under(a) section 5(4) in relation to an appeal against a court decision under section 5(3) and (b) section 6(4) in relation
  624
  to an appeal against a court decision under section 6(3) of the Proceeds of Crime (Scotland) Act 1995 in the last year for which figures are available; and in how many cases legal aid was available. [19729]

  Mr. McLeish
  [holding answer 9 December 1997]: Although no central record is kept of applications brought under sections 5(3) or 6(3), or of appeals under sections 5(4) or 6(4) of the Proceeds of Crime (Scotland) Act 1995, I understand from the Lord Advocate that he is not aware of any applications or appeals having been made under section 5 of the Act, and that in relation to section 6, he is aware of only three applications and one appeal.

  Information is not available on which of these cases received legal aid. However, where a third party was involved legal aid covering representation would not have been available to them. That anomaly is however being resolved through regulations which have recently been laid before the House.

  Fishing
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the fishery closures in the Moray Firth; what assessment he has made of the cause and source of the Captain's Field oil spillage; and by what means local fishermen will be able to pursue damages for loss of fishing opportunity. [19568]

  Mr. Dewar
  [holding answer 9 December 1997]: The imposition of the exclusion zone on 21 October under Part I of the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 followed the discovery of hydrocarbon contamination and associated taint in samples of shellfish (Nephrops) together with elevated levels of hydrocarbons in sea-bed sediment. Further testing subsequently confirmed that round fish taken from the area were uncontaminated and free from taint and the restrictions on these species were lifted on 14 November. Restrictions will remain in place for flatfish and shellfish until results of analysis show that these species are unaffected or no longer affected.

  Originally it was considered that the contamination may have been caused by the oil spill from the Captain Field in August. However it is now clear that this was not the case. The scope for fishermen to pursue compensation claims will be dependent on an exact source of the contamination being established. Meanwhile it is very much in the interst of the fishing industry that contaminated catches do not find their way on to the market.

  The Department of Trade and Industry has undertaken an investigation into the circumstances of the Captain oil spill and a report has been submitted to the Procurator Fiscal. As the Procurator Fiscal's own investigation is currently underway no further information can be given at this stage.

  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if the proposed Scottish Executive will be able to hold bilateral talks with(a) the Spanish Government, (b) the European Parliament, (c) the European Commission and (d) the Irish Government on fishing issues. [19567]

  Mr. Dewar
  [holding answer 9 December 1997]: Relations with Europe are the responsibility of the United Kingdom Parliament and Government. However, the Government intend that Ministers and officials of the

  625
  Scottish Executive should be involved in negotiations with our EU partners. This will extend to bilateral talks on fishing issues, where the role of Scottish Ministers and officials will be to support and advance the single UK negotiating line which they have played a part in developing.

  Prisons (Suicide Counselling)
  Ms Roseanna Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportion of the Scottish Prisons budget was allocated to suicide counselling in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [19829]

  Mr. McLeish
  [holding answer 9 December 1997]: Counselling is not a separate cost centre within the Scottish Prison Service's suicide prevention and healthcare strategies and the figures sought are therefore not available.

  Ms Roseanna Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what mechanisms he has in place to provide suicide counselling and monitoring for female prisoners in Scotland. [19832]

  Mr. McLeish
  [holding answer 9 December 1997]: On admission to Cornton Vale Prison, every prisoner is assessed by a nurse. Every prisoner is also seen within 24 hours by the Medical Officer for a full assessment including current and past mental health history and treatment. Each Prisoner is the subject of a weekly care meeting attended by a multi-disciplinary team of prison staff and professionals. If a problem is identified, the needs of the individual are established and progress monitored. Prisoners may be referred at any stage for counselling and have ready access to staff, psychologists, psychiatrists, nursing and medical support. Support is also available from a range of voluntary organisations and the prison's "Listener" scheme.

  Cornton Vale Prison
  Ms Roseanna Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the funds allocated to Cornton Vale Prison for(a) each of the last five years and (b) the next two years. [19827]

  Mr. McLeish
  [holding answer 9 December 1997]: Total net expenditure (excluding capital, Headquarters and other central costs) on Cornton Vale Prison is as shown. Budgets for 1998–99 and 1999–2000 have not yet been determined.

  April to March

  £million

  1993–94

  5.9

  1994–95

  6.0

  1995–96

  5.7

  1996–97

  6.5

  1997–98 (budget)

  6.8

  Scotch Whisky
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has made to(a) the Foreign Office, (b) the Treasury and (c) the European Commission
  626
  on the importance of duty free sales in the EU for the Scotch whisky industry; and if he will make a statement. [19826]

  Mr. Wilson
  [holding answer 9 December 1997]: I am aware of the implications for the Scotch whisky industry of the proposed abolition of intra-EU duty free sales by the Scotch Whisky Association and others, and I am in regular contact with my colleagues on this and other matters relating to the Scotch whisky industry.

  Prisons (Expenditure)
  Ms Roseanna Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list per capita spending for(a) male prisoners, (b) female prisoners and (c) each prison in Scotland in the last year for which figures are available. [19828]

  Mr. McLeish
  [holding answer 9 December 1997]The budgeted average annual cost per prisoner in Scotland in the current financial year (April 1997 to March 1998) is(a) £20,790 for male prisoners, and (b) £36,728 for female prisoners at Cornton Vale, and (c) as listed for each establishment in Scotland.

  Prison

  Cost per prisoner £

  Aberdeen

  27,354

  Barlinnie

  15,032

  Castle Huntly

  19,742

  Cornton Vale

  36,728

  Dumfries

  32,628

  Dungavel

  21,033

  Edinburgh

  19,715

  Friarton

  23,935

  Glenochil

  21,927

  Greenock

  17,500

  Inverness

  24,974

  Longriggend

  27,090

  Low Moss

  13,195

  Noranside

  19,865

  Penninghame

  19,225

  Perth

  24,140

  Peterhead

  35,609

  Peterhead Unit

  84,402

  Polmont

  20,190

  Shotts

  23,943

  Shotts Unit

  99,394

  Shotts National Induction Centre

  24,186

  The above costs have been calculated as total budgeted expenditure (excluding capital, Headquarters and other central costs) divided by the forecast daily average prisoner population for the year, at the time at which budgets were set.

  National Sleep Laboratory
  Mr. Alasdair Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what guidance he issues to health boards to assist them in determining the level of funding which they provide to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh NHS Trust in respect of the Scottish National Sleep Laboratory. [19553]

  Mr. Galbraith
  The level of funding for Sleep Laboratory Services at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary is primarily a matter for Health Boards.

  Police (Complaints)
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many complaints were made against the police in Scotland; what is the ratio of the number of complaints to(a) the population of the jurisdiction, (b) the number of police officers and (c) the number investigated; how many complaints were investigated; how many investigations led to the instigation of disciplinary proceedings against officers; what is the ratio of proceedings instigated to complaints made; how many disciplinary proceedings led to disciplinary action; and what is the ratio between disciplinary action to complaints made for the last year for which figures are available. [19495]

  Mr. McLeish
  Information on complaints against the police is not available in the form requested. In 1996–97, however, there were 1,333 complaint cases (which may involve more than one complaint) against the police in Scotland. The ratio of complaints cases to(a) the estimated population of Scotland is 1:3,847; (b) the number of serving police officers at 31 March 1997 is 1:11; and (c) the number investigated is 1:1 (because all complaint allegations against the police are investigated). Information held on disciplinary proceedings and
  628
  disciplinary action against police officers does not, however, differentiate between those complaints cases raised during any specific year.

  Laser Pens
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will consider legislation to ban the sale of laser pointers. [13191]

  Mr. McLeish
  [holding answer 30 October 1997]: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister for Competition and Consumer Affairs to my hon. Friend the Member for Blackpool, South (Mr. Marsden) on 27 November 1997,Official Report, columns 644–45.

  Cairn Gorm Funicular Railway
  Sir Robert Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many representations he has received(a) supporting and (b) opposing the development of the proposed funicular railway on Cairn Gorm. [15654]

  Mr. Dewar
  [holding answer 12 November 1997]I have received 184 letters supporting and 2,873 opposing the proposed funicular railway development on Cairn Gorm.

  New Housing: Urban Intensification
  New Housing: Urban Intensification
  Seat Belt Wearing by Children
  Seat Belt Wearing by Children
  Minicabs: Child Safety Seats
  Minicabs: Child Safety Seats
  Seat Belts and Casualty Figures
  Seat Belts and Casualty Figures
  Radioactive Material: Carriage by Road
  Radioactive Material: Carriage by Road
  Year 2000 and Air Traffic Safety
  Year 2000 and Air Traffic Safety
  Tourist Industry: Support
  Tourist Industry: Support
  European Court of Human Rights Judgments
  European Court of Human Rights Judgments
  Strasbourg "Victim" Test
  Strasbourg "Victim" Test
  Animal Experiments
  Animal Experiments
  Prison Service Management: Report
  Prison Service Management: Report
  NI Eastern Health and Social Services Board: Funding
  NI Eastern Health and Social Services Board: Funding
  Apiaries: Varroa Infestation
  Apiaries: Varroa Infestation
  Zimbabwe: Land Ownership
  Zimbabwe: Land Ownership
  Zimbabwe: Land Acquisition
  Zimbabwe: Land Acquisition
  Poland: NATO Membership
  Poland: NATO Membership
  "Britannia"
  "Britannia"
  Student Support
  Student Support